Morning Blushes

chapter twenty-seven

"Oh siya! Hanggang alas diyes lang 'yan ha."

Manang is talking to Navi about her conditions. I think 10 pm is too late for me. Tulog na ako n'yan e. But why is Manang so confident that my mother won't go home? Or maybe she'll cover up for me. I wish. I am really secretly excited.

"Sure, Manang." Navi smiled at her. "Uwian kitang pasalubong."

Manang laughed at him. "Sige, ha. Aasahan ko 'yan."

Nilingon ako ni Navi. "I guess you trust my driving skills now?" He opened the door for me. "It's an appreciation for letting you go with me tonight."

Sumakay na ako sa kotse niya. May huling habilin pa si Manang sa kanya bago siya pumasok sa loob. 

"Anong sinabi ni Manang sa'yo?" I asked as soon as he came.

"Wala naman. Ingat daw tayo."

I nodded. "I thought you're really gonna let that birthday dinner slide."

"It's not about the birthday dinner now anyway."

Napalingon ako sa kanya. "Eh, what?"

He looked at me. "I told you you're gonna meet my mom."

My mouth was left hanging open when he started driving away. I don't know what to ask him. I'm like gonna take the most important exam of my life. 

"Malayo ba pupuntahan natin?"

"Hindi naman. Sakto lang."

I relaxed my eyes looking at the road. But there's no such thing as relax in my mind. Walang kasama si Manang kumain sa bahay. I feel guilty. She keeps insisting kanina na okay lang naman siya. But still. And also, I can't stop thinking about the fact that I'm gonna meet his mom. Kinakabahan ako. 

"Do you want to play some music? Phantom, perhaps?" he asked me.

"No. I've been burned out with Phantom."

Dinaldal niya ako habang busy din siya sa pag-aayos ng music niya. When it's finally settled, a familiar intro really hit my drumming heart so fast.

"Oh my God, Navi... Where did you get that song?"

He played You Matter to Me from Waitress. Right now. It's on his phone. The song is on his phone!

"When I watched your audition video, I searched for the whole soundtrack. I like this once." 

"Wait, you watched it?" Oh my god, that is so embarrassing.

"Syempre, ako naglagay sa'yo doon e." He grinned.

"You are one hell of a fearless monkey, Navi."

"Oh, hell, I wish you could say my name every time you speak."

"Navi." My head slightly tilted as his name lingered in my ears. "Navi... I've never heard of that name."

"Hindi ko rin alam saan kinuha 'yan e. Nung hinanap ko, DOTA ang lumalabas."

"Navi... Navigate? Navigation? Navigator? Because you brought directions into her life?"

"Wait, what is it again? I want that. Ayan na lang iisipin kong meaning ng pangalan ko," he said with a grin. 

"Wait, I'll look for it."

I pulled out my phone and anticipatingly typed his name on the search bar. The first one is really the DOTA one. I kept on searching for something until I found some.

"Your name means kind to people. It's an Indian origin."

"Really?" He huffed a laugh. "I guess I'm gonna stick to your meaning now. It's Navigator."