My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

73: Mira

Today's a weekend, and by some miracle ay nagkatipon ang aking buong pamilya sa iisang bubong — both the Custodios and the dela Merceds. Ipinagpilitan kasi ni Mom na magkaroon kami ng bonding time, kaya naman kahit medyo awkward pa rin ang aming sitwasyon ay wala nang nagawa sina Mama at Papa nang sunduin ko sila at dalhin dito sa mansyon. Hindi rin nagpaiwan si Myron na heto't prenteng-prente ang pagkakaupo sa harap ng TV, kasama si Zac.

Unfortunately, this made me the odd one out. My both sets of parents were deep in conversation, and my brother, as mentioned, had already bonded with my nephew.

If only Vren was here...

As if on cue, my phone rang, signaling that I had an incoming call from my boyfriend.

"Vren! Napatawag ka?" I may or may not have sounded too delighted, but I was really feeling left out at the moment.

"Hey, babe." Kahit hindi kami magkaharap ay alam kong nakangisi ang mokong. "Are you home?"

"Yup."

"Which one?" he asked with a chuckle. "Custodio or dela Merced?"

"dela Merced." Tumawa rin ako. "Bakit mo naman naitanong?"

"Because I'm on my way to fetch you. Mom and Dad want you to have lunch with us."

"What? As in ngayon na?" Muntik ko nang mabitiwan ang phone ko. "Bakit parang biglaan naman? Akala ko, nasa abroad pa sila?"

"They arrived home last night." I heard yet another chuckle from the other line. "Why do you seem panicked? You've already met my parents, haven't you?"

"Oo nga. Pero dati 'yon, noong hindi pa tayo," mangiyak-ngiyak kong sagot. "This will be my first time to meet them as your girlfriend!"

"That's adorable." Vren's tone carried a hint of teasing. "But really, there's no need for you to get all flustered. It's just Mom and Dad, for God's sake."

"Seryoso ka ba?" Alam kong pataas nang pataas ang boses ko — in fact ay napalingon na sa akin ang mga kasama ko rito sa bahay — pero wala akong pakialam. My boyfriend was acting like me meeting his parents was no big deal, which I found ridiculous. "Alam mo ba kung ano ang suot ko ngayon? Isang kupas na t-shirt at kupas ding pantalon! Are you telling me that I should meet your parents looking like this?"

"Calm down, Mira. I'll see you in an hour, okay?"

And before I could say anything else, my boyfriend had already ended the call.

"Hello? Vren? Loko 'to, ah. Babaan ba naman ako ng tawag!" I stared at my phone in incredulity.

"Anong problema, Ate?" pag-uusisa ni Myron. "LQ ba kayo ni Kuya Vren?"

Umiling ako. "Hindi, 'no. Susunduin niya nga raw ako ngayon."

"E bakit high pitched ka habang kinakausap siya, 'nak?" tanong naman ni Mama. "Nakakanerbiyos ka naman."

"Sorry po, nag-panic lang ako. Gusto raw kasi akong makita ng parents niya," I answered morosely. "Hindi po ako prepared."

At my words, my family exchanged grins.

"Armand and Vina are back, I see." Dad remarked, looking amused.

"Kaya pala natataranta itong anak natin," Papa commented.

"You should dress nicely, hija!" linya naman ni Mom. "You're meeting your boyfriend's parents. You should make a good impression."

"'Yon na nga po, e. Paano naman po ako makakagawa ng good impression sa itsura kong ito?" I swept a hand to bring attention to my nondescript clothes. "Meron po bang malapit na mall dito, para naman makabili ako ng mas matinong isusuot? On the way na raw po si Vren, e."