My Greatest What If - Moira Gokongwei (Published)

Chapter 24

I was so anxious at the prospect of meeting Gio's family. Of course, I believed Gio when she said that their approval wasn't needed but still...

"Baby..."

"Hm...?"

"The only man in the world who matters to me and my favorite cousin both love you. Just as I had expected. Now, had it happened that they didn't, I would continue to love you because everything and everyone comes after you," she said.

I glanced sideways to smile at her.

"Kaya, Baby, h'wag ka nang matakot na makilala 'yung ibang miyembro ng pamilya namin. I know they'll love you just like how my Dad and Shey are charmed by you. At tulad ng sinabi ko, kahit hindi ka man nila magustuhan, mamahalin pa rin kita kasi 'yun lang naman ang importante, 'yung pagmamahal ko sa'yo at 'yung pagmamahal mo sa akin. Ikaw at ako lang."

"Paano si Duchess?"

"Hindi kasama sa bilang si Duchess kasi anak natin 'yun. Natural mahal natin s'ya parehas. Pero, Baby, itong relasyong ito, this takes the highest priority. Naiintindihan mo ba?"

I nodded.

She buried her face into my hair. "Cheer up, okay? Nag-aalala ako kasi parang malungkot ka."

"Hindi naman, nag-iisip lang."

We were inside Gio's father's Ford Expedition – Shey and Engr. Ortega took the second row while Gio and I opted for the third.

"H'wag ka nang mag-isip nang kung anu-ano. Besides, nakita mo naman kung anong klaseng pamilya meron ako. Mabait silang lahat, kahit na 'yung lolo at lola ko."

"My God, pati sila nand'un?" I couldn't help but ask.

She laughed. "Hindi. Wala sila. Ayaw nila rito sa Manila. Nand'un sila sa probinsya and two to three times a month, the whole family visits them. Sumama ka next time kapag binisita namin sila, ha. I'm sure nakarating na sa kanila ang balita tungkol sa napakaganda kong girlfriend kaya sigurado akong excited na excited na silang makilala ka."

"G, alam mo, ang galing mong magsalita talaga. Grabe ka, masyado kang nakaka-in love."

She laughed again.

"Totoo, I have never met someone as good with words as you."

She leaned towards me and whispered in my ear. "Sa bahay mo na ako purihin, please...kapag tayo na lang...kasi mahirap na."

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Kakaiba ka talaga," I whispered back.

She discretely kissed me on the cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you," I replied and heard Shey clear her throat.

"'Yung mga bulungang gan'yan...naku, naku, naku..."

"I love you, Baby!" Gio loudly said. "Mahal na mahal na mahal kita. Iparinig natin kay Shey para lalo n'yang maramdaman ang pait ng kanyang pagiging sawi."

Shey turned in her seat to glower at her cousin. "Benta ka, eh, George. Hintayin mo talagang banatan kita."

"Ano naman ang ibabanat mo sa akin, eh, nandito sa tabi ko ang girlfriend ko?"

Shey pouted before her gaze fell on me; she then smiled. "Moira..."

"Yes, Shey?"

"May kaibigan ako. Mabait, matalino, guwapo, at mayaman. Ipakilala ko sa'yo para...dumami ang friends mo," she remarked offhandedly before she batted her eyelashes at Gio.

"From this day forward, you are banned from interacting with my girlfriend," Gio said.

Sheila laughed hard. "Tito, ang selosa po ng anak n'yo. Pati po ba naman ako pinagseselosan?"