Lost in Tokyo

Ni

"Nay, this is Richard," Maine says nervously because how else do you explain the flowers and the hug.

"Hello, Mrs. Mendoza. Richard Faulkerson, Jr. po. I just helped her find Ikinari. It's so nice to meet you."

Nanay gives me this look, and I can't help but roll my eyes. Nanay has a thing for extremely good looking and well-bred men. She says it's what Filipino boys lack sometimes.

"I got lost. I went down the wrong stop," I tried to explain.

"Ikaw naman kasi Meng. Nagtitipid ka pa sa pocket wifi eh hindi mo naman alam paano umikot."

I thought she was done rambling. "Buti nalang sinamahan ka ni tisoy!"

"Nay!"

"Pogi pa oh!"

"Nay!" I start to feel my cheeks turn red. I don't think she has a clue that this man can understand what she's saying.

"Salamat po, Mrs. Mendoza. Alam ko na po kung kanino nagmana si Maine." He says all of a sudden. I don't know how to get out of this awkward situation.

"Hay nako! Tita Mary Ann nalang! Mrs. Mendoza is my mother-in-law."

So I just faced him. "Richard. I'm sorry to hassle you. Thank you for bringing me here."

"My pleasure, Maine." Then he turns to face Nanay, "Uhm, if you need help getting around the city or anything here is my card."

He hands a business card to my mom and another one for me.

"Sige. Thank you Richard! Do you wanna join us for lunch?"

"Nay!"

"Come on, I insist. After all the hassle my daughter put you through, please let us repay you with lunch."

All I could do was smile at him, and let him know it was okay.

"Sure po, Tita."

Nanay leads us to our private room and there sat all my siblings, Kuya John, Matti, Yaya Pepe, my Tito, my Tita, and my dad. I have never brought any man to our family lunches or functions because I wasn't one to be open about relationships, but then this man whom I just met literally thirty minutes ago joins us for lunch.

Just as I was going to introduce Richard to them, my dad stands up from the table.

"Richard! What brings you here?"

And the awkward situation becomes another awkward situation. How and why does my dad know this guy? Lord, if this is all a dream, I'd like to wake up. Quite frankly, this is getting creepy.

"Uhm, hello Mr. Mendoza. I..."

"I got lost and he was nice enough to accompany me to Ikinari."

"Ah ganon ba?"

Nanay chimes in and tells Tatay, "I told him to stay for lunch na rin."

"Yes, Mr. Mendoza. It's a pleasure meeting your whole family," turns to me and smirks.

Tatay explains how small the world is. He and Richard were supposed to meet up for an upcoming business venture between him and the company Richard works for. They were supposed to meet tomorrow for lunch.

Everyone seemed to love Richard, and he wasn't hard to talk to. Coleen pinches me and gives me a look. "Ikaw ha! Para-paraan ka ha! Kunwaring lost pero yung tataa!"

I wave her off and take a bite of my kobe steak. "Che! Inggit ka lang, kasi sa taba mong yan, si Mike lang may gusto!"

"Eh ano naman! Love ko naman siya."

"Maine, si Richard went to business school in Stanford. Now he works here. Sobrang sipag na bata!" Tatay tells us.

"Wow naman. Barely an hour and you might just be part of our family. I think Tatay loves you more than us." I whispered to him.

"Edi good." That was all he said with a wink.

Tatay gets the bill and Richard and the waiter talk in Japanese. Richard waved him off and tells us, "It's okay po, Mr. Mendoza. It's been paid for."

"Ha? By whom?" I tell him.

"The owner."

"Who's the owner? Can I at least thank him?" Tatay tells the waiter.

"Mr. Richard, sir." Pointing his hand to the man beside me. This guy is full of surprises.

I don't know how to get through this day without the butterflies and all the animals that could move in my stomach. I don't know how my make up is going to conceal all the blushing I've done today. Most of all, I don't think this is the last time I'll ever see Richard. And I think that's a good thing.