Chapter 19
"Maganding gabi, po." I smiled at Axev's mother.
Although I am still confused of what she said, hindi ko naman pwedeng tanungin si Axev sa harap ng Mama niya. Her mother looks simple but something tells me that she's not. She looks sophisticatedly simple and beautiful. Mas kamukha rin siya ni Ely.
"Magandang gabi rin," she gave me a small smile.
"Ely," Axev said and tried to get Ely from me, "huwag kang magpabuhat kay Ate Dea mo, mabigat ka."
Hindi naman nagreklamo si Ely at nagpabuhat sa Kuya niya. My heart was pounding hard a little. This is the first I met my boyfriend's mother! Bakit parang magde-defense ako at kinakabahan ako ng ganito?
"Anong ginagawa niyo rito, Ma?"
"Ah, Ely wanted to eat his favourite burger. Pinagbigyan ko na dahil matagal na rin naman nang huling kain niya. How about you? Are you still going somewhere?"
And even the way she speaks English seems to be erudite and elegant. Mas lalo tuloy akong na-intimidate. Tumikhim ako at nilingon si Axev.
"Hatid ko lang si Dea tapos uuwi na ako." Aniya.
Agad akong umiling at tipid na ngumiti kay Axev. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita ang reaksyon ko.
"Ah... hindi na, Evander..." nilingon ko ang Mama niyang nakatingin sa akin, "sabay ka na sa kanila, kaya ko namang umuwi ng mag-isa."
"Gabi na. Ihahatid na kita."
"My son is right, gabi na hija." His mother said that made me suck my breath. "Akin na si Ely, you two should go para hindi na masyadong late."
Binigay ni Axev ang kapatid niya sa Mama nila. Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pang muli dahil pakiramdam ko ang sinabi ng Mama niya ay final na. I cannot go against it anymore. Shit, why am I so intimidated?
Nang makasakay na kami ay malalim akong napabuntong hininga. Humawak ako sa aking dibdib at napa-iling. Tumikhim si Axev kaya nilingon ko siya. He was raising his brows on me.
"Ano?" I pursed my lips.
"Nahihiya ka ba kay Mama?"
"Iyong totoo?" Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "I was surprised! I wasn't expecting that. Para akong tinawag sa recitation tapos 'di ko alam ang isasagot ko."
I glared at him when he chuckled. He looks amused. Is that amusing? Kinurot ko siya sa baywang kaya bahagya siyang lumayo sa akin, nakahawak sa kamay ko para 'di ko siya makurot ulit.
"Unang beses kitang nakitang ganito. I didn't know you were capable of being intimidated." He shook his head and intertwined our hands so I can't pinch him again.
"It's you mother, Evander. Gano'n ka rin naman no'ng biglaan mong na-meet sina Tita, ah?"
"Pero kalmado ako... at humihinga pa rin. Ikaw parang 'di ka na humihinga kanina."
"Inaasar mo ba ako?" Hinampas ko ang hita niya.
"Aray!" He chuckled and caught my other hand. "Ang liit ng kamay mo pero ang bigat. Hindi kita inaasar... naku-kyutan ako sayo."
Ngumuso ako at inirapan na lang siya. He sighed and pointed my noise. Pinisil niya ang kamay ko at mas hinila ako palapit.
"Alam ni Mama na may girlfriend ako. Nasabi ko na sa kaniya dati pa. She told me she wanted to meet you pero sabi ko hahanap ako ng pagkakataon. Nalilimutan ko namang ayain ka sa amin dahil busy tayo pareho sa mga nakaraang buwan."
Is that why his mother said that? Hindi ko alam pero kahit papaano'y gumaan ang pakiramdam ko ro'n. I was really nervous... maybe because I wasn't prepared and I was afraid his mom wouldn't approve of me.
