Eh Yung Hindi Naman Tayo? DATI (COMPLETED)

The Meeting- 2

I park in front of your house at around 9:30pm. After checking myself in the rear view mirror, I take the boxes of cake and pastries and a paper bag with toys for Matti from the passenger seat. I balance them in one arm and place my other hand on the lever of the door when it suddenly opens.

"Bakit nandito ka? Sabi ko wag ka na pumunta." You frown.

"Love! Wag kang nanggugulat nang ganoon! Muntik na kitang masiko!" I exclaim.

"Buti pa nga tapos itakbo mo ako sa hospital para wala na tayo dito." You pout.

"Ano?! Wag! Jusko! Baka mabugbog ako ng Tatay at Kuya mo pero bago nila gawin yun malamang nasakal ko na sarili ko pag nasaktan kita kahit di sinasadya." I say.

"Sorry." You sigh. "Ang paranoid ko na kasi si Nanay di ako kinakausap ng maayos, ayaw sabihin kung para saan ba tong pa-meeting nila."

"Galit ba?"

"Oo. Hindi. Ewan. Walang emosyon. Basta pag kakausapin ko puro mamaya na lang tapos di naman ako halos tinitignan." You pout.

I get out of the car and place the items I brought on the roof. I then pull you into my arms and hug you tight.

"Wag ka nang mag-alala. I'm sure okay lang yun. Wala naman tayong ginagawang masama kaya walang dapat ipag-alala." I tell you as I gently stroke your back and kiss your temple.

You snuggle on my chest and sigh. "Yung totoo, I'm glad you're here. Ikaw naman talaga ang pampakalma ko. feel so much better."

"Pupunta talaga ako. Nandito ka eh." I smile. "Tsaka lagi akong handang harapin ang mga magulang mo dahil tapat at malinis ang hangarin ko sa'yo."

"I know." You look up to me and smile. "I love you."

"I love you more." I whisper and kiss your forehead. "Kaya natin to. Let's go!" I grin and hold your hand.

--

We sit in the living room with your parents. We are on separate single sofas while your Nanay and Tatay sit on the big couch.

After the pleasantries of greeting me when I arrived, your parents gave an order to your siblings to go upstairs so we can have a private conversation with them. To which everyone followed, demonstrating just how much respect you all have for them.

We all exchange glances quietly and I can sense your struggle not to squirm nervously on your seat. I wish I can hold your hand and comfort you but I can't just yet.

"Dun ka daw natulog sa condo?" Your Tatay finally breaks the increasingly uncomfortable silence.

"Opo pero sa sala lang po. Sinamahan ko po si Meng kasi nag-aalala po ako sa kanya. Medyo nakainom po." I answer.

He nods his head quietly. "Noon ka lang ba natulog doon?"

Lord! Ano na?

"Hindi po. Iilang beses na din po pero laging sa sala atsaka pinapaalam po lagi sa inyo nina Meng." I say. I cannot lie. If I am to prove my sincerity, I have to say nothing else but the truth.

"Meng, totoo ba yun?" Nanay asks you.

"Opo, Nay." You answer quietly.

"Bakit kinakabahan ka?" She smiles at you. "Di naman kami mangangagat ng Tatay."

You sigh in relief when you see her smile. "Nanay naman kasi ang daming pa-suspense eh." You chuckle and Nanay laughs while Tatay remains quiet.

"RJ, ano ba talagang plano mo sa anak ko?" He asks.

"Tay... Dalawang buwan pa lang po kami." You say.

"Anak, ang lalake bago pa lumapit sa babae yan, nakatatak na sa isip kung ano ang balak niya. May plano na yan kung panandalian lang o seryoso, isang gabi lang, mahabang relasyon or pang-habang buhay. Nung ako sa Nanay mo, alam ko na bago pa ako mag-Hello na seryosohan ito at pang-habang buhay." He tells you and you nod. "Kaya, RJ, anong sagot?" He asks me again.

"Kagaya po nang sinabi ko noon. Seryoso po ako kay Meng. Sigurado po ako na siya na ang gusto kong makasama habang buhay at hinding-hindi na ako magmamahal na iba gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa kanya." I say in response to your Tatay while I am staring at you.

You smile at me and your eyes glimmer.

"Bata pa si Menggay." He tells me.

"Handa po akong maghintay."

"Sumpungin yan." He says and you pout.

"Handa po akong umunawa."

"Paano kung may mga pagkakataon na mahirap siyang mahalin?" He asks.

"Mas magmamahal pa po ako." I answer then turn to look at you. "Mas mamahalin ko po siya."

"Mukhang matigas ang ulo ng isang to, Tay." Nanay snickers.

"At mukhang malakas talaga ang loob. Ito lang ata ang sumagot sa akin ng ganito." Tatay says.

"Tay, Nay. Andiyan lang po si RJ. Parang wala dito kung pag-usapan niyo eh." You protest.

"Alam namin, Nak. Trip namin yun. Wag kang mambasag." Nanay tells you.

"Sorry na po." You say.

"Tiwala kami sa'yo, RJ. Kita naman namin kung gaano mo kamahal at inaalagaan si Menggay. Ang hiling ko lang naman wag mong sasaktan. Wag mong lolokohin. Ibalik mo na lang sa amin, kung ayaw mo na." Tatay says and I feel the tears that brim my eyes at that time.

I shake my head and look him in the eye. "Hindi po mangyayari yun. Ako na lang po ang masaktan, wag lang siya at mamamatay muna po ako bago ko siya maisip man lang na lokohin." I answer.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero naniniwala ako." Tatay says.

"Salamat po, Tito." I respond, trying hard to fight back the tears of joy and relief that threaten my eyes.

You on the other hand, brush a few that flowed down your cheeks.

"Salamat din, nak. Tatay na lang."

I think I'm going to burst out crying with happiness if I didn't feel that would be too embarrassing.

"Opo, Tatay." I tell him.

"At ikaw naman, Menggay. Hindi mo na kailangan i-text sa amin tuwing susunduin, ihahatid at ide-date ka ni RJ. Malaki ka na. Tiwala kami sa desisyon mo. Sa lahat ba naman ng pinagdaanan niyong dalawa, tiwala akong gagawin niyo ang tama at nakabubuti sa inyong dalawa." Nanay smiles at us.

"Opo, Nanay. Salamat po." You say. "Nay? Tay?"

"Ano yun, nak?" Your Tatay asks.

"Pwede ko na bang mayakap ang boyfriend ko? Mukhang stressed na stressed na siya eh." You ask, making me giggle.

"Ano ba naman, Menggay?" Nanay say, rolling her eyes. "Sabi nang wag nang magpaalam eh."

You grin and immediately stand up to run towards me and hug me tight.

And that concludes the most nerve-racking meeting of my life so far.

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Unbeta'ed and not proofread. Thank you for reading.