Too Far Away

23

It's December 31st.

I already packed my things yesterday maybe because I was too excited. But right now, just thinking about meeting his family makes me nervous. Really nervous. I was watching a movie in our sala while waiting for him to come when someone covered my eyes from behind.

"Missed me?" Somebody whispered through my ear. I sniffed and smelled a very familiar scent.

Benj.

"So much..." I answered. I held his hands and removed it from my eyes. I gazed at him and he gave me a swift soft kiss on the lips.

"I missed you, too. And I still miss you despite the fact that you are already in front of me. Oh, Mady. What have you done to me? I became so addicted to you." I smiled when he cupped my cheeks. I admit, medyo nahihiya pa rin ako sa kanya kapag nilalambing niya ako.

"Uh, let's go?" Aya ko sa kanya. Pinagbuksan niya ako bago siya pumasok sa loob ng driver's seat. So, he's going to drive for today. He revved the engine and started driving.

"Are you nervous?" Of course! Sobrang kinakabahan nga ako ngayon habang iniisip kung ano ang sasabihin ng pamilya niya sa akin. Pero umiling ako bilang sagot.

"Really?" Tumawa siya at panandaliang tumingin sa akin. "Then why do you look so nervous? Don't overthink, okay? They will like you, that's for sure. Lalo na si Dad."

"Paano mo naman nasabi yun?"

He smiled. "I showed him some of our pics before and he said that we do look good together. Do you agree?"

"I couldn't agree more." Pero biglang kumunot ang aking noo nang may bigla akong maalala.

"Wait, what? You showed him our pics?" Tumango siya habang nagpipigil ng tawa. "But all of our pics were epic! Benjamín, nakakahiya!" I facepalmed at umiling.

Hindi niya na napigilan at humagalpak na siya sa tawa.

--

It took us hours for us to arrive here in Tagaytay. Medyo traffic din kasi. I just realized that we are already in his house... or should I say a mansion, when he stopped driving and a chauffeur opened the car door for us. Sabay kaming naglakad papasok at binati pa si Benj ng mga maid na napapadaan sa harap namin. Inikot ko ang paningin ko sa buong mansion. Black and white ang kulay ng kanilang bahay. May red carpet sa gitna ng hagdan, puro muebles ang mga kagamitan, at may iilang halaman sa bawat sulok ng bahay. It's simple, yet so classy.

Sinalubong kami ng dalawang taong magkaakbay. Isang babae at isang lalaki. Kamukhang kamukha ni Benj ang lalaki. Ganito siguro ang mukha niya kapag tumanda na siya. Nakuha naman ni Benj ang mata ng babaeng nasa harap namin ngayon. Sila siguro ang parents ni Benj. Niyakap ng babae si Benj at tumingin sa akin.

"Who is this pretty lady with you, son?" Nakangiting tanong ng babae habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Mom, Dad, this is Madison. Mady, these are my parents. You guys can call her Mady." His mom welcomed me with a warm hug while his dad's just staring at me. Nakaka-intimidate.

"Feel at home!" His mom said cheerfully.

"Thanks po." I mumbled and smiled a little bit.

Biglang ngumiti ang papa niya at binati ako. "Hi, Mady. Feel free to do anything you want." I nodded and smiled. Muli siyang ngumiti bago sila umalis ng kanyang asawa.

"What are their names? You haven't told it to me before."

"My dad's name is Killian while mom is Hailey." Wow, they have pretty names. So simple yet so elegant.