Kabanata 22.2 - Jauregui

Pumasok na kami sa loob gaya ng gusto niya. Gusto ko sanang alisin ang kamay niya sa pagkakahawak sa kamay ko dahil nakakahiya kapag nakita ng mga magulang niya kaso ayaw niya talagang bitawan ito.

"Bawal na ba talaga mag-back out? Hindi ako prepared!" reklamo ko rito habang papasok.

Iginala ko ang mata ko sa loob, gaya ng inaasahan ay magarbo nga ito, maraming palamuti sa bawat sulok, marami ding paintings.

"I'm not also prepared when you told them that I'm your boyfriend," aniya.

Aba, at rumebutt pa nga.

"Of course you shouldn't be prepared, it's a surprise, duh?" sagot ko rito at inirapan pa siya.

Bumuntong hininga siya at lumapit sa akin para yakapin ako.

"It's a surprise, too. Come on, baby. They are excited to see my girlfriend," he whispered.

Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay may kung sino nang sumigaw mula sa likuran namin.

"Is that her? Oh my God!" a woman's voice.

Agad akong lumayo kay Isaiah at hinarap ang kung sinong nagsalita. I saw a woman, she looks elegant and sophisticated. This might be his mother. Sa likod nito ay ang paparating na lalaki, his smile reminded me of how devilish Kuya Isagani's smile is. No doubt, that's their father.

"Sup, Treia!" bati ni Kuya Isagani, lumapit ito sa akin at pasimple akong hinalikan sa pisngi.

The fuck?

Sa gulat ay hindi na 'ko nakaiwas, Isaiah gave him a death glare bago ako inilayo rito. His mother went to us and hugged me tightly, hinalikan ako nito sa magkabilang pisngi bago humarap sa'kin. Her intimidating aura vanished the moment she smiled at me, she reminded me of Isaiah. Kung titingnan physically, si Kuya Isagani ay nagmana sa tatay nila samantalang si Isaiah naman ay sa nanay nila.

"I'm Nikita Jauregui, Niko's mother. This is his brother, I assume you already know him?" aniya at itinuro si Kuya Isagani. Tumango naman ako.

"And this is his father, Israeli Jauregui." Dugtong niya sabay turo doon sa tatay ni Isaiah.

"I-I'm Chantreia Fabregar po.." pagpapakilala ko.

Ngumiti ito at ginawaran ulit ako ng mahigpit na yakap.

"Welcome to the family, hija," sambit pa nito.

Lahat ng kaba ko kanina, biglang nawala dahil doon. I thought they won't like me, but hey! His mother welcomed me in their family!

"Mother, you're scaring her," sambit ni Isaiah at binawi ako sa Mommy niya.

Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito nang marinig 'yon. Napailing naman ako.

"No, it's okay po Ma'am, I'm.. fine." I assure her.

Biglang umamo ang mukha nito at hinawakang muli ang kamay ko.

"You can call me Mommy, sa simbahan rin naman ang punta niyo, am I right?" makahulugang sambit niya na hinawakan pa ang singsing na bigay ni Isaiah.

Hala, gago! Paano nila nalaman na kay Isaiah galing 'yon? Oh my!

"Mom!"

"Chill, son. Okay, call me Tita, hija," sambit nito, natatawa pa dahil sa inasta ng anak niya.

"Maybe we can eat while you guys interviewing her?" bored na suhestyon ni Kuya Isagani.

Nagtungo kaming lahat sa dining area nila, mabuti nalang at hindi ako kumain sa bahay. I don't know how to decline their offer, mabuti nalang talaga.

At first, I thought we will be silent the whole time but I guess this family is too loud. Hindi ko na alam kung sino ang pakikinggan sakanila dahil kapag nagsabi ng opinion ang isa, sasabat naman yung iba. At sabay-sabay na silang magsasalita. Nakakaloka!

"No, Mom! They should get married when they're twenty-seven or above. They should focus on their priorities and career first before entering marriage," ani Kuya Isagani.

Napairap si Tita at binalingan ang anak niya. They are talking about our marriage, kung kailan daw kami dapat magpakasal. The heck? Kasal agad?

"Son, that's too old. Hindi niyo mae-enjoy yung married life niyo, hindi na kayo pabata, paano kung hindi kayo magka-anak? 'Di ba?" si Tita.

"Your mother is right, Gani—" si Tito na magsasalita palang.

"Of course, you always agree on her. She's your wife!" sabat ni Kuya Isagani dahilan para matigilan si Tito.

Natawa ito pati na rin ang Mommy niya. Kung titingnan ay para lang silang magtotropa na nagtatalo.

Isaiah shot a glance at me, he looks worried and apologetic so I smiled at him and held his hand to say that I'm fine with his family.

"As I was saying, son. Your mother is right, look at us! Maaga kaming kinasal, sinulit namin yung married life namin until we decided to have both of you. If you get married, let's say at the age of twenty-seven just like what Gani said and you decided to have child at the age of thirty or above. When you turn forty, your child will turn ten, what if you die early? Who would take care of your child? See? I suggest you get married at the age twenty-three or below and have children after two or three years of being a married couple." Tito Israeli explained.

They all got a point. Nahirapan tuloy akong mag-decide kung anong edad ba 'ko dapat magpakasal, gosh! Nakaka-pressure naman 'to!

But..

"I think the perfect time to get married and build your own family is the time when you're ready.." opinion ko.

Nakatingin sila sa akin, Tita nodded while Tito smiled at me. Si Kuya Isagani naman na halatang bored kanina sa topic na napili nila ay mukhang nabuhayan ngayon.

"That's right, Treia. Don't let our dear parents influence or change your principles," aniya sabay ngisi sa mga magulang nito.

Hindi naman ito pinansin ng mag-asawa at umiling na lamang bago tumingin kay Isaiah.

"What do you think son?" masiglang tanong ni Tita Niki.

I glance at Isaiah and waited for his answer. I'd like to hear his opinion regarding this kind of matter, too.

"Whenever she's ready.. as long as she will marry me," tugon nito habang seryosong nakatingin sa'kin.

Napangiwi si Tita at Kuya Isagani sa sinabi ni Isaiah habang si Tito naman ay mukhang kinikilig sa sinabi ng anak niya.

"Too cheesy, son!" ani Tita.

I glance at Isaiah, my lips slowly formed a genuine smile. Nagsisimula palang kami pero planado niya na lahat ng mangyayari, para bang sigurado na siya sa'kin. Kasama na 'ko sa lahat ng plano niya, nakakatuwa na nakakabahala.

"How about you Isagani, aren't you ready to get married?" tanong ni Tito kay Kuya Isagani dahilan para sakaniya mapunta ang atensyon namin.

Natigilan sandali si Kuya Isagani, kami naman ay tahimik na naghihintay ng isasagot niya.

"Of course, I'm ready.." tugon nito.

"Then why aren't you not getting married already? I want to have grandchildren na!" reklamo ni Tita.

Napaubo si Kuya Isagani, he sipped on his water before answering Tita's question without facing us.

"I need to get her back first before we both decide about that matter." May lungkot sa mga salita nito. "Anyway, if you badly want to have grandchild, tell Niko, maybe he can give you one," dugtong niya.

Napunok ako sa sinabi nito. I saw him smirked kaya inirapan ko nalang siya. Sa amin na naman napunta ang usapan. Mabuti nalang at pinigilan na sila ni Isaiah, mabuti nalang din at tumigil na sila. May tumawag din kasi kay Tito at doon na nagtapos ang usapan. Thank God!

"How I wish we can have fun and get to know each other more, hija. I badly want to have quality time with you but we have businesses and gatherings to attend around the globe. I hope we can bond soon?" malambing na sambit ni Tita.

Naiwan kaming dalawa sa living room, hinihintay si Isaiah dahil may pinakuha si Tita dito.

"Ayos lang po, Tita. May ibang araw pa naman.." tugon ko.

"Promise me, we will spend quality time together soon?" aniya, para siyang bata ngayon. Ang cute ni Tita!

"Promise po." Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at nangako pa sakaniya. Parehas kaming natawa.

Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na rin ang mga lalaki. May dalang malaking paper bag si Isaiah, naging curious tuloy ako sa laman nito. Inabot niya ito kay Tita at binigay naman sa'kin ito ni Tita. Dahil sa gulat ay hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin ko ba 'yon o hindi, I didn't expect her to give me a gift! Hell, I didn't expect to meet them today!

"This is my gift for you, you will surely love it!" She gave me the paper bag and kissed me on my cheeks.

I hugged her while uttering thank you. I didn't really expect this. Nakakahiya dahil wala akong regalo sakanila! Maybe I should sent her one?

Pagkatapos no'n ay hinatid na nila kami hanggang sa pinto bago nagpaalam. Si Kuya Isagani naman ay sinamahan kami hanggang sa makalabas kami ng gate nila.

"Spill it, brother. I know you have questions." si Isaiah.

Napakunot ang noo ko at binalingan sila. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig niyang sabihin, mukhang hindi rin naman nagulat si Kuya Isagani sa sinabi nito.

"How is she?" tanong ni Kuya.

Doon ko lang napagtanto na si Ate Laureen pala ang tinutukoy niya. Isaiah glance at me, ganoon din ang kuya nito.

"She seems.. fine," sagot ko rito.

Kuya Isagani nodded before entering their house again. He waved us goodbye. Naglakad na rin kami pabalik sa bahay ngunit dumaan muna kami sa club house dahil ayoko pang umuwi. Hindi rin naman ako hahanapin nila mama dahil alam nilang si Isaiah ang kasama ko.

Pareho kaming umupo sa bench, wala ni isang nangahas magsalita. I didn't find it awkward, in fact, I found peace whenever I'm with him.

"I wanna hear your opinion regarding that matter, yung topic natin kanina.." panimula ko.

He seems confused now, kunot ang noo nito nang balingan ako. I just smile at him.

"I already told you, whenever you're ready. I don't want to pressure you, kaya kong maghintay, Treia," aniya.

Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay namumula na ang mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Sinimangutan ko ito para hindi niya mahalata na kinikilig ako.

"Come on, Isaiah. Don't depend on me, please. Let's say we both don't know each other, if someone asks you about that topic, what's your opinion then?" I curiously asked.

I really want to know his opinion because I feel like whatever it is, it matter. I want to know him more. It's funny how we didn't get the chance to get to know each other more but look at us now, love really find its way to make two destined people conspire.

"If we didn't get the chance to know each other in this lifetime, then I can't find any reason for me to get married."