I'm Coming Back, Manila

15

"Do I look good?"

I looked at the mirror while asking Caeleb. I'm a bit nervous, It's my first time. Ngayon lang ako mapapakilala ng mga naging lalake ko. Mostly, isang gabi o isang araw lang sila, pagtapos, wala na. Kaya hindi ko alam kung anong pananaw nila sa'kin.

"You look beautiful. Let's go down?" He offered me a hand to hold. "Don't be nervous."

It hurts everytime I think about us. We're just friends and nothing more special and now, I don't know where's this going. He'll introduce me to his mom and I don't know what's gonna happen. He intertwined our hands before walking out of his room.

"That's Mama," He pointed a woman in a mid-50's of age. "She's kind, don't worry."

"Okay, she looks pure." I looked at Caeleb.

"She is. She's the strongest woman I know." He smiled at me.

Nang makababa kami, agad din naman kaming lumapit sa may sala, dahil andon 'yong mother niya, nakaupo sa couch.

"Ma," Caeleb called.

"Cae," His mother stood up and give Caeleb a kiss on his cheek.

"Ma, this is Amanda. Kahapon ko sana ipapakilala pero natulog kami agad, kapagod biyahe." Caeleb said.

"Hi po," I gave her a kiss on her cheek. Is that okay? Do I look rude? No naman diba? Okay good. "Amanda po, Caeleb's... Friend."

"Friend ba talaga?" His mom chuckled. "First time niya magdala ng babae dito. Hindi ako naniniwalang friend lang."

"Ma," Caeleb shook his head, parang nahihiya na. "Anyways, ma. Aalis ka ngayon? Off to work?"

"Yes, anak. I need to leave." His mom said while looking at her watch.

"Okay, ma. You'll eat dinner here?" Caeleb asked, nagpplano atang magluto.

"Siguro. Cook for me," His mom pat Caeleb's shoulder before leaving.

I sat down on the couch, breathing heavily. Kinakabahan pa rin ako, eh tapos naman na! Goodness!

"Are you okay?" Caeleb asked and he also sat down beside me. "Calm down, everything's fine. Mama is kind, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit siya pinagpalit ni Daddy."

"O-Oh.. Really? I'm sorry to hear that, Cae." I looked at Cae.

"I'm good, we're all good." Caeleb chuckled. "It's one of my reasons kung bakit ayaw 'kong magmahal. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng tao lolokohin lang ako." He gave me a small smile.