Change and Chances

Chapter 4 - Mamanhikan

"So you two have met before?" My Mom queried.

Even Mathilda was surprised upon knowing that his son and I met even before they have introduced us formally to each other.

Aramis who's currently grinning at me in delight then replied swiftly, "Who wouldn't want to meet such a beauty, Ma'am?"

Mom smiled by Aramis' statement habang napataas naman ang isang kilay ko. This one is a smooth talker naman pala.

"Complementing me won't get you anywhere, Aramis." I stated frankly and it made my Mom gape at me.

"Ashinyah, where are your manners? Nakakahiya sa kanila." sabi ni Mom at pinanglakihan pa ko ng mata to silently warn me.

"I'm sorry about that, Mathilda. Ashinyah is a very straightforward person even when she was still a kid. Kung ano ang nasa isip nya yun agad ang lalabas sa bibig nya."

Mathilda chuckled, "No, no. It was nothing, Christina. It's surprising and nice to finally meet a woman who's not stunned nor attracted to my son." she said with amusement visible in her eyes.

Well, what she said is not true on my side. I was stunned the very first time that I saw Aramis. Di ba nga halos sumabog din ovaries ko pag nakangiti ang anak nya? Pero syempre, hindi ko ipapaalam yun. Why would I?

"You have a very fine young man, Mathilda. It's just my daughter is very hard to please that's why she's like that." sagot naman ng Mommy ko and I mentally rolled my eyes.

"And that makes everything more interesting." Mathilda muttered under her breath and eyed me with fascination.

*

Here we are, alone once again. After that talk pinaalis nalang nila kami bigla para daw makilala pa daw namin ang isa't isa.

Are they trying to set us up? I shook my head on the thought.

"May pangalan naman pala talaga ang Dyosa. Akala ko matatagalan pa ang pagtawag ko sayo ng Dyosa e." Aramis grinningly commented that made me roll my eyes.

"At ikaw, marunong ka naman palang mag-english, pinapadugo mo pa ang ilong ko sa straight at malalim na tagalog mo." I retorted hinting annoyance on my tone.

Bahagyang sumiryoso naman ang mukha nya sa sinabi ko. "Hindi por que sa isang probinsya ako lumaki ay ibig sabihin hindi na ako edukado."

One of my brows rose from what he said, is he thinking that I'm mocking him?

"I didn't say anything about you being uneducated. And I'm not judging anyone here. I was just surprised." I replied in irritation.

All of a sudden, he smirked at me. "Ngayon naiintindihan ko na ang lahat."

"What?" I questioned in confusion

"Nung una kitang makita alam kong hindi ka isang ordinaryong tao at dayo lamang na nagmula sa Maynila. Ang mga galaw mo at ang paraan mo ng pagsasalita, ay kakaiba din. At nang talunin mo ko sa karera natin, mas lalong hindi kapani-paniwala. At walang maniniwala kung aking ibabalita sa mga kaibigan ko na natalo ako ng isang babae sa karera. Ngayon ay maliwanag na sa akin. Isa kang Montenegro. Pamilyang kilala at respetado sa probinsyang ito at isa na sa palatandaan sa inyong pamilya ay pagiging mahusay sa pangangabayo." Aramis explained.