A Little Bit Of Something (On-Going)

#49

(Lea)

"Tulungan ko na po kayo." Jonnie insisted to help in doing the dishes. That action of her drew a smile on my face.

   I've known her for a long time, I've seen her grow. And I've been vocal how much I adore her as if she's the daughter I never had.

   And now she's dating my son.

   At first I didn't know what to feel.

     "Binibenta niyo rin ba ang green tea na gawa ng Mama mo?"

   She grinned. She always has this bright smile, a kind of smile that will make you form a curve on your lips as well.

     "Hindi po."

     "Sayang. Balak ko naman sana'ng bumili kapag naubos na 'yun'g binigay mo."

     "Naku, Tita, hindi pa nga po sure kung magugustuhan niyo ang lasa."

     "I trust your Mom's magic hand. She's pretty skillful when it comes to food. I'm sure pinaglaanan din niya ng panahon ang paggawa ng tsaa."

     "Ahh, opo. Tama naman po kayo. May magic nga ang kamay ni Mama. Sayang lang hindi ko po namana."

     "Pero magaling ka sa iba'ng bagay, gaya nang pag-aayos ng ilaw."

   Natawa siya.

   I admit, I underestimated her.

   But she just effortlessly showed how special she is. Ang dami ko'ng nababasa online na direct attacks sa kanya, some are just below the belt. Kung alam lang nila how she really is as a person, mahihiya sila panigurado sa mga binabato nila'ng salita.

   How could they spew hate on someone's child?

     "Curious lang ako. What made you fall for my son?"

   Hindi agad ito nakasagot. Maybe I caught her off guard.

     "Parang para sa'kin kasi masyado'ng biglaan? Though I know that my observation isn't the whole truth. Kaya gusto ko malaman kung kailan nagbago."

     "Sa totoo lang po hindi ko rin alam kailan nagsimula. Bakit bigla ako'ng nailang, bakit parang iba na ang tingin ko sa kanya. Siguro matagal na ako'ng nafo-fall, hindi ko lang napapansin kasi sa isip ko, kaibigan ko siya. Hanggan'g sa mapagtanto ko na hindi na lang pala."

     "What did you like about him? Bakit mo siya sinagot?"

   That's when she blushed with a grin, she's almost closing her eyes from that huge smile.

     "Ma-effort po siya."

   I got more interested.

     "Napaka-understanding niya po at pasensyoso, noon'g hindi pa kami tapos lumalabas kami na kami lang, madalas late ako. Pero hindi siya nagagalit o gini-guilty ako sa nangyari. May mga bagay na hindi ko maintindihan o alam gawin pero hindi niya pinagtatawanan ang kulang sa'kin. Maalaga siya at hindi mapilit.

     "Dati, ayoko'ng makipag-usap sa kanya kasi pakiramdam ko ang bobo ko kapag kami ang nag-uusap, pero habang tumatagal, narealize ko na, oo nga noh? Ako lang 'yun'g nagbigay nang pagitan sa'min, ako lang 'yun'g nag-iisip na ang boba ko kapag pinagtabi kami.

     "Napagtanto ko po na marunong siya'ng makinig at gusto niya'ng makinig kaya siya tahimik. Habang tumatagal napansin ko na kapag kasama ko siya pakiramdam ko lahat nang sinasabi ko may kabuluhan. Tinititigan niya 'ko nang may pagkamangha, na parang ang talino ko."

   Halata sa mukha niya ang saya, her eyes were glimming as she spoke her adoration towards my son.

   And I smiled. I was satisfied.

   Cace's past girlfriends were vocal that they liked him because he's patient and a gentleman, yet quiet. Kung meron man sila'ng gusto'ng baguhin sa ugali ni Cace, they hoped he'd be more proactive in the relationship.

   However, to Jonnie, Cace's silence doesn't mean he's being distant. To her, him being quiet is him being attentive.

     "Kaya thank you po, thank you dahil kay Cace."

     "Thank you, too, for accepting my son."

   I am guilty with my prejudice against them being a thing. I was really hesitant at first with the idea of her as my son's lover. I like Jonnie, but I wasn't sold with the notion of her taking the most important role in my son's life. Para sa'kin, they're two kids who are so different from each other, how would they make the relationship work? Jonnie who chirps nonstop and is an active woman, while Cace is someone who enjoys the silence and calm. To me, they'd have a hard time communicating with each other. 

   I didn't want them to level up their relationship because I was already fine with them as friends. And keeping Jonnie as a friend is much better, kesa naman maging sila tapos maghihiwalay lang din pala. I was against the relationship because I don't want to lose Jonnie. She's a precious kid, and I want her to be in our life for a long time. I was afraid they'd only end up hurting each other if they'd become a couple.

   But that was just me being judgemental and selfish.

   I didn't entertain the thought that maybe Cace needed Jonnie's bottomless stories and energy, the same way Jonnie would need Cace's ears and full attention.

   She, who would make his silence less of a flaw.

   And he, who would make her stories worth listening.

   I am a fool to think this two wouldn't match well.

   It might be early to say this, but I am already rooting for them and I pray for this two to have a happy and stable relationship that they both deserve.