Missy
Yuan was starting to get nervous as the day neared. As I've told him a number of times, there was really nothing to worry about.
"I told you! You don't even have to do this. Hindi naman kailangan ng family ko na magpaalam ka sa kanila."
He looked at me, frowning. "Ows? Eh kanino ako magsasabi?"
"Sa akin. Katawan ko to, buhay ko to. Pinalaki ako ng maayos ng magulang ko and they know that I can make wise decisions."
But, because they had already set their minds to it, he and Inay were on their way to my house.
"Iwan yung mom and dad ko."
"Why?!" I asked.
"Ayaw ni Inay. Baka daw ma-turn off kayo sa kanila, hehehehehe!"
True enough, Inay said as much. "Magugulo sila, mabuti na yung maiwan ang mga iyun."
Inay was very cute though. She looked excited as soon as she got down. "This is my best bestida, apo! And Juan bought me new lipstick. I asked for the reddest one. Bagay di ba?"
"Nagpa-parlor pa yan," Yuan commented.
Ayan, nabatukan na naman.
When introductions were made, everyone gave Yuan a brief once over. Inay then said, "This is my favorite apo, but don't tell the others. And all of you are as gwapo as my Juan!"
All of my relatives turned to putty and fawned over Inay. And Yuan beamed with pride.
"Tell your family later thank you for showering Inay with attention. She's been prone to being sad since we lost my lolo. Tapos, gusto man namin i-pasyal, naging sakitin naman. Kaya she enjoys when she gets to go out, tapos ganito pa. Wow. Sobrang thank you."
It was at that moment, I knew. Hindi na lang si Inay ang crush ko. Si Yuan na din.
*
"Oh, kiss kayo sa akin kasi aalis na kami!" Inay declared a few hours later.
It was only mid-afternoon and everyone still basked in her presence but we could see that she needed some rest. Yuan politely whispered that they needed to go soon.
"Mukhang pagod na, pero nahihiya magsabi," he said.
Inay gave me a big hug before she got in the car. "Thank you for having us! This was such a wonderful day for me, apo. I took all their attention so you could spend time with Juan."
I chuckled. "Pansin ko nga po."
"Uy, ano yang secret niyo?" Yuan asked.
"Heh. Hindi ka kasali," Inay said. Turning back to me, "Thank you again. I'll see you soon, okay? Visit me so Juan does. I miss him all the time. He looks like my husband the most."
"Promise yan, Inay."
When they were gone, my mom pinched me. "He's very handsome and impeccable manners."
"He's funny, too, mommy."
"And everyone loves his grandmother."
I chuckled. "She IS adorable."
That night, Yuan sent a message later than he usually would. I wad starting to wonder, when his text came in. "Hey Missy, sorry now lang ako nakamessage. Inay got a fever kasi and we had to make sure she took her meds and rested. She's asleep now. Dito muna ako sa bahay niya matutulog."
"Naku! I'm sorry I asked her to come. Napagod siguro."
"Yes, pagod, But don't be sorry. Sobra niyang happy! Your cousins fawning over her prompted her to tell us of all her manliligaws before. Tawa siya ng tawa kahit masama ang pakiramdam."
We said good night then. He wanted to focus on Inay first and I didn't want it any other way.
"I wish I could watch her every day."
I felt for him, so I did the next best thing.
"Fam, may sakit si Inay and Yuan can't watch over her as much as he wants." I sent this message to our chat group.
Within the hour, all fifteen cousins had schedules to visit within the week. Inay would not be left alone.
Yuan teared up when he saw us the next morning. "Sobrang thank you! Tara, pasok kayo. Matutuwa yun!"
I was wonderful to see him that happy and it was great that Inay seemed better.
"Thank you, Missy. Sasabihin ko sa tropa kong scammer na wag ka ng guluhin."
I laughed.
But the way he looked at me? It made my heart skip a beat.
