Bedroom Negotiations Classic (Published)

Chapter 9

My engagement party? What engagement party?! I froze. Pati si pempem din yata nalito sa mga pangyayari. I was certain that pempem adored Dustin as a playmate but as a fiancé? Jusko, nakakapagod yun, pempem because you'll have to accommodate him everyday, every afternoon and every night. Wasak.

People swarmed around us as they shook my hand and congratulated me. Some asked kung kelan ang kasal, others wished us good luck at yung iba naman ay nagtanong kung buntis ba ako. I was very confused and when I get confused, I do nothing but smile. Kaya sumakit ang panga ko sa kakangiti. Napaisip ako tuloy kung Abril na ba at parang isang malaking joke time lang itong lahat.

"Sa wakas, magkakaroon na rin ng apo ang mga Montemayor." An elegant old lady gushed. "Ang ganda ng mapapangasawa mo, pamangkin. Such an statusque beauty! I hope you're already pregnant, iha. Matagal na kaming nag-aabang ng apo galing kay Dustin!" Jusme! Anak? Agad-agad?!

"Auntie Dally, wala pa po." Dustin laughed. "Pero sana magkaroon na although I would prefer na kasal muna." He smiled at me. Ha? Aba, abusado ka! Hindi na lang yung mighty meaty mo ang balak mong ilabas-masok sa pempem ko ngayon! Pati tagapagmana mo balak mong iluwal ko pa?!

"Wag na kayong mahiya, kahit hindi pa kayo kasal pwede nyo nang unahin yung bata." Someone piped in. "Welcome to the family, iha. Too bad, Anita isn't here." She added as she gave me a hug. Sino si Anita? May Suzette na nga, may Lauren pa? Ang dami namang mga babae nito ni Dustin! Bigla akong nairita sa narinig ko. Feeling ko isa akong proxy sa isang beauty pageant—hindi sumipot yung isa kaya ako muna ang representative.

"Anita is my Mom." Dustin whispered in my ear. "Ang bilis mong sumimangot. Pati nanay ko pinagseselosan mo?" He grinned at me. Ang kapal mo ha.

I turned to him to retort but he was quick to cover my mouth with his. I heard laughter and clapping as the guests cheered. Lia, ano ba ito! What did you get yourself into? Palabas lang ba to? Kinailangan lang ba ni Dustin ng tulong? Anong nangyayari?!

"Dustin! Lia!" The man who made the announcement happily called as he approached us. He immediately gave me a bear hug and kissed me on the forehead. He had an easy smile and kind eyes and he reminded me so much of Dad. "Welcome to the family, Lia." He said as he took both my hands in his. "I was so eager to meet you. Parati kang naikukwento ni Dustin sa amin ng Mommy nya and your Mommy Anita would have loved to be here but she was called for an emergency operation kaya wala sya dito."

"Thank you po." I said. He was so warm that I felt it would be rude not to reply kahit naloloka na ako sa mga pangyayari.

"Don't worry, we'll have dinner with the family para masolo ka naman namin. Dito kasi ang daming tao at hindi tuloy tayo makapag-usap nang maayos."

"Oo nga po eh." I replied.

"I almost forgot, I'm Dr. Marco Montemayor, Dustin's father and your future father-in-law." He announced as he patted my shoulder. Ngumiti lang ako. Anong sasabihin mo sa mga ganoong declaration? Ay, no, Sir mali po kayo, ang totoo po nyan yung malaki at pinagmamalaking kaligayahan lang po ng anak ninyo ang gusto ko. Tsaka hindi po kami ang may relasyon, yung pempem ko po. Mamaya kailangan ko pang i-muestra kung sino si pempem eh di naiskandalo kaming lahat at naging headline pa ang ganda ko?

 "Hello po." I said. Bigla akong naging demure at hindi ko alam bakit bigla akong nagmano. Ano yan, Lia?!  He affectionately patted my head.

"Bweno, I have to talk to the other guests. I'll leave you lovers by yourselves, alam ko namang this night is yours. I hope we can talk longer next time, Lia." He smiled before he left. I felt disoriented. Ano ka ba, Lia! Kailangan mong magpasalamat?! Kailangan mong magmano?! Hindi mo nga naiintindihan kung anong nangyayari? Tanga ka ba?!