Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Wala pang isang minuto ang nakalipas mula nang sabihin ni Leon na imi-meet namin ang parents niya, pero pakiramdam ko para akong nabilaukan ng isang buong tinapay.

"What?" Napakurap ako, hoping na maling dinig ko lang.

Pero ngumisi lang siya, nakatingin sa akin na parang natutuwa sa reaksyon ko. "You heard me. We’re meeting my parents today."

Halos gusto kong buksan ang pinto ng kotse at tumalon palabas. "Ngayon agad?!"

He shrugged, looking completely unbothered. "Why not?"

"Sir— I mean… Leon!" Napahawak ako sa noo ko, trying to process everything. "Hindi pa ako handa! Wala akong alam sa pamilya mo! Hindi ko pa kabisado ang kwento natin!"

Natawa siya, halatang aliw na aliw sa panic ko. "Relax, fiancée. Just follow my lead."

Madali lang sabihin ‘yon kung hindi ko kailangan humarap sa pamilya ng isang Monteverde. Isang makapangyarihang pamilya na siguradong pagdududahan ako.

"Ano bang sinabi mo sa kanila tungkol sa’kin?" tanong ko, kinakabahan.

"That you’re my fiancée, of course."

Napanganga ako. "Wala na? ‘Yun lang? Kahit konting details?!"

Muli siyang ngumiti, pero this time, may bahid ng pang-aasar. "What, you want me to tell them how much I adore you?"

"Leon!"

He sighed, shaking his head as if napipilitan siya. "Fine. They know we met at work. They know we’re engaged. And they’re expecting to see you today. That’s all you need to know."

Napapitlag ako. "At kung may tanong sila?"

"Then answer them," he said simply. "But don’t worry, I’ll handle most of it. Just look at me lovingly from time to time para mukhang totoo."

Binalingan ko siya nang masama. "Mukhang nage-enjoy ka masyado, ah."

He smirked. "Maybe I am."

Pinilig ko ang ulo ko at huminga nang malalim. Wala na akong choice. I have to face this.

Pagdating namin sa isang napakalaking mansion—hindi, mas tama sigurong sabihin na isang mini palace—mas lalo akong kinabahan. Parang gusto kong mag-back out.

"Okay, baka hindi ko na kaya." Hinawakan ko ang seatbelt ko na parang sandata.

Leon sighed, obviously expecting this reaction. "Solen, you’re already here. Let’s just get this over with."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Fine. Pero ‘pag may ginawa akong mali—"

"Relax." He suddenly reached out and took my hand, his grip firm yet warm. "Just stay by my side, and you’ll be fine."

Nag-freeze ako.

For a second, hindi ako makagalaw. The warmth of his hand, the way his thumb slightly brushed against my skin—lahat ‘yon ay parang nakaka-distract.

Then he smirked. "Unless gusto mong bitawan kita?"

Mabilis kong binawi ang kamay ko. "Hindi! Diyan ka lang!"

Damn it. Bakit parang siya lang ang cool and composed sa sitwasyong ‘to?

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng mansion, agad akong sinalubong ng malamig na tingin ng isang matandang babae.

She was elegant, imposing, and terrifyingly intimidating. Hindi siya nagsasalita, pero ramdam ko ang bigat ng presence niya. Parang kaya niyang kuyugin ang sinumang hindi niya magustuhan gamit lang ang tingin.

Leon leaned toward me and whispered, "Meet my grandmother."

Lalong lumakas ang kaba ko.

"Leonidas." Ang boses ng matanda ay mababa at kalmado, pero may bahid ng awtoridad.

Leon gave a small nod. "Lola."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure.

Tiningnan ako ng matanda mula ulo hanggang paa, as if assessing every detail about me in one glance. Then, she turned back to Leon. "So this is the woman you're marrying?"

"Yes, lola," Leon answered smoothly.

"Hmph." Hindi ako sigurado kung anong ibig sabihin ng tunog na ‘yon, pero hindi ‘yon mukhang magandang sign.

Bago pa ako makapag-react, isang matandang lalaki naman ang lumitaw sa tabi ng lola ni Leon. Kung intimidating ang matandang babae, ang lalaking ito ay mukhang mas delikado. Matikas ang tindig, kita ang kapangyarihan at awtoridad sa bawat kilos niya.

"This is my father," Leon murmured.

Tumikhim ang ama niya bago ako tiningnan nang diretso sa mata. "What do you want from my son?"

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig.

Halos hindi ako makahinga sa bigat ng tanong. Wala man lang introduction? Diretso agad sa interrogation?

Leon, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm. "Father, that’s not how you greet your future daughter-in-law."

Pero hindi natinag ang ama niya. Nakatingin pa rin ito sa akin, hinihintay ang sagot ko.

Napalunok ako, forcing myself to speak. "I… I don’t want anything from him."

The older man raised an eyebrow, obviously unconvinced.

My heart pounded so hard I was sure they could hear it. Pero hindi ako puwedeng umatras.

Hinawakan bigla ni Leon ang kamay ko, mas mahigpit kaysa kanina. "Solen is with me because I chose her," he said, voice steady. "And I won’t tolerate any disrespect towards her."

Nagtaas ng kilay ang ama niya, halatang nagulat sa sinabi ni Leon. Even his grandmother looked slightly intrigued.

I, on the other hand, was completely speechless.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago muling nagsalita ang matandang lalaki. "Let’s see how long that choice of yours lasts, then."

Then, he turned and walked away, leaving a suffocating silence in the room.

Leon sighed, squeezing my hand one last time before letting go. "Well, that went well."

Napatingin ako sa kanya, incredulous. "That went well?! Anong parte noon ang ‘well’ para sa’yo?"

Ngumiti siya, but there was something unreadable in his expression. "You survived. That’s a good start."

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matawa o lalong kabahan.

This was just the beginning. And something told me, it was only going to get harder from here.