Saving Harper

Surprises

Well what I just said definitely wiped off the smug look on my sister's face but I quickly looked at Xavier. Shit. What did I just do??? All those times today I've repeatedly said to myself that this is not a date has just gone up in smoke with what I blurted out.

Yup, this is not a date but I used it to show off that I have a life.

I swallowed hard. Feeling ko ang tagal nyang nakatitig saakin because of what I just blurted out. Feeling ko lang yon. Feeling ko din naman gusto ko ng mamatay e pero yun ba yung nangyayari ngayon? Hindi. 

Shit, please play along Xavier. I internally prayed. I can't exactly give him any discreet sign to just do it kasi I'm sure nakatingin lang saamin yung pamilya ko. Wala akong ibang mabigay sakanya kung hindi ngiti while dying slowly in my seat. This is beyond humiliating. And for what? To impress my family? I thought I've long given up on that?

Xavier stood up to face my parents and nakipag kamay sya sa tatay ko. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Javier." He said with a smile. Wait paano nya nalaman na doctor yung tatay ko? Xavier did the same to my mom. Okaaay. Alam nyang parehong doctor yung magulang ko? How?

Because he's proven for days now that he's a competent assistant, Harper. Unlike his boss who just introduced him as the fake boyfriend. God. Why did I do it???

Teka mamaya nako pwedeng madistract pag upo na ng pamilya ko sa mesa nila which hopefully is far, far, far, from where we are seated so I can explain myself sa assistant ko.

"This is my sister Hilda, and her fiancé, Nick." I gestured to my sister and Nick and kinamayan din sila ni Xavier. Wala pa ding nagbabago kay Nick since I last saw him. Mukha parin syang bored over everything. Di nya alam na sya yung boring. As far as I know, Hilda met him in med school and he's completely like her and a parent's dream son-in-law. Doctor, check. Rich, check. Overachiever, check. Again, doctor, check.

Fuck I'm dying tapusin na natin to.

"Why don't you join us?" My dad said, to my horror. Oh shit. I don't know for how long I can hold the fake smile on my face.

"Uhhhm—" I started to say. Paano ko ba tatanggihan to without sounding too much like the worst daughter of the decade to Xavier? Should I say I'm suddenly not feeling well? Nope, not going to work since all of them are doctors and they're going to see right through that lie. Should I say na paalis na kami?? Again, not going to work since the menus we were reading when they arrived are still on our table. I really don't want to eat dinner with my family, lalu na if kasama pa yung last-minute fake boyfriend ko.

"Sure." Xavier answered my dad at the same time I was about to deny the request. Hindi nya alam what he just signed up for by saying yes to dinner with my parents.

TANGINA. WHY.

We followed them to their table and Xavier placed his hand sa likod ko para alalayan ako to walk ahead. Hopefully yung electricity na nararamdaman ko sa katawan ko was because of all the panic I was still feeling. And not because hinawakan nya ko.

Shit. I don't know anything about Xavier! And knowing his last name doesn't count! Paano kami mag iimbento?!