The Man in Strings

XV. Reunions

A/N: Surprise, bitches. Wahahahahaha

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"You know, that child, Nicomaine," her father relaxed into the seat, as if he's ready to retell America's history. "She... has always been different."

Okay, so I found myself sitting with all the Mendoza males tonight unexpectedly, and I thought that being burned by Drogon would be absolutely better. Bigla na lang akong hinila ni Maine, one weekend, off my bed, and told me that she'd be introducing me to the family. For the nth time, dahil kilala naman ako ng Nanay nya.

"Let me at least buy something for your family. I don't want to go there empty-handed." We stopped at the nearest store that sells cake. Sabi kasi nya, umuwi ang Tatay nya, so it's a kind of celebration, and maybe bringing fruits would be too traditional. "Pumili ka ng cake."

Maine then excitedly pointed at a chocolate-flavored cake. Na punung-puno pa ng chocolate sa ibabaw. "That one," she giggled. "Buy that one."

My eyes narrowed at her. "Maine, choose for your parents and siblings, not for yourself." Parang hindi naman kapani-paniwala na purong tsokolate ang gusto ng mga may edad na magulang ni Maine.

She pouted because I saw through her innocent lies. "Okay," she sighed, and pointed at the mango-flavored cake instead. Hindi na sya umimik pa pagkabalot nu'ng cake at napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. Paano na lang kami magkaka-anak nito e para na akong may babaeng anak na hindi napagbigyan ang gusto ngayon pa lang?

So I bought another slice of the cake she chose first and gave it to her. Nagliwanag naman ang mukha nya agad na para bang batang napagbigyan ang gusto. Hayyy. I swear she sometimes confuses me between her father and her... boyfriend.

"Sasabihin ko," she started talking when we got into the car. "Boyfriend na kita. Pero hindi talaga ah. Sasabihin ko lang sa kanila."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "But isn't telling your parents that we are together makes it more official?"

"Bakit naman?" She mirrored the exact look of confusion written in my face. "Tayo lang sa harap nila pero hindi talaga tayo. Okay?"

"Eh 'di sabihin mo na lang, friend mo ako," I told her. "Or manliligaw."

"Ayoko nga," she shook her head. "Ang babaw naman ng mga terms na 'yun. You're more than a friend and a suitor. Pwede ko bang sabihin sa parents ko na gustong-gusto talaga kita pero ayaw pa lang kitang sagutin sa ngayon?"

"Stop making me blush."

"Sasabihin lang nila papunta rin 'yun du'n," she explained. "So to cut the long story short, boyfriend na lang. Duh! Mas matalino ako sa'yo this time, Rj!"

Napailing na lang ako habang nangingiti.

So here I am, being interrogated over chicken and beer. Alam na nila ang buong family background ko. Nico and Dean must have seen and remembered me for a few occasions, but it's my first time meeting her father, so I made sure that all of my answers are polite.

"Nasa ibang bansa na ang mga magulang mo at mga kapatid mo?"

"Opo."

"Bakit 'di ka sumama?"

"Gusto ko pa pong magtrabaho dito sa Pinas."

"Gusto mo pang mahirapan?"

"Hindi naman po," I smiled. "But I think it's just the same, working here and abroad, except the pay. Mahirap din naman ang buhay doon. I just felt like... my heart will always be here." With Maine's, but of course I wouldn't insert cheesy stuff in front of her father.