Her Unheard Weeps

Meeting his family

Chapter 12

"Baby...ash, it's okay. Hindi mo kailangang nerbyosin" my teasing boyfriend chuckled still eyes on the road.

I clasped my hands together and each second, i would rub them at kung minsan ay hindi din ako mapakali at papatayin ko 'yong AC, isiswitch ko 'yong radyo sa ibang station at minsan ay tinataas-baba ko 'yung bintana.

Hindi naman ako sinasaway ni oliver. Bahagyang tatawanan lang which makes it more annoying. I'm beginning to think that i'm easily annoyed when i'm hella nervous.

"I am..calm" i huffed.

Hindi siya nagsalita at inilingan lang ako.

It was weekend, meaning, today is his mother's birthday, and we are on our way to their house which will be my first time going there.

At hindi pa kami nakarating ng tuluyan ay mukhang matatae na ako sa nerbyos. Like the anxiety is flooding me.

What will happen during the whole time?

Will they like me? O baka naman hindi nila ako magugustuhan and just like on movies, his family would do everything on their power to separate us? Is that even possible?

Of course! They have the money!

"What is my baby thinking?" A voice said na nagpabalik sa akin sa kasalukuyan.

"What if they'll realize that i'm no good for you?" I whispered deep in daze.

"They won't. You're amazing" he simply said oblivious that the words stirred something in me.

"Pero paano nga?"

"Baby, i assure you, they won't. Hindi sila gano'n. Besides, didn't i already told you that they already know about us? They should've discuss their concerns earlier bago pa tayo nagtagal"

Okay, can't deny that he has a point. Kaya tumahimik na lang ako.

Isang oras din ang tinagal ng biyahe namin dahil medyo traffic. Plus another half an hour of just entering their neighborhood, malayo-layo pa ang binyahe namin bago kami makarating sa tapat ng guard house. Yes, it's not called a subdivision but a neighborhood! Filled with high-priced looking huge mansions and villas. Even the guard house ay pepwede ng tirahan sa pagkalaki!

"Wow" i uttered amazed looking at the clear view of the mountains sa likod mismo lang ng mga buhay.

Iniisip ko na siguro ang ganda ng childhood ni oliver dito, imagining waking up to this mesmerizing scenery.

Kada bahay ay ang layo ng mga agwat. Sobrang laki at tataas.

"Here we are" he said when the car stopped at a large gate. He made a honk at doon ko na lang tuluyan nakita ang kabuoan ng bahay ng bumukas iyong gate.

Oh my God! Sobrang laki at ang ganda! No doubt this is a house of a filipino-chinese business man. The walls were made of glass and steels with an alternate color of grey, white and brown.

Pumasok ang sasakyan at doon ko pa lang napansin na aakyat ka pa ng hagdan bago ka makarating sa mismong entrance door. Sobrang taas ng walls no'n at sa gilid lang ay may mini waterfall na ang tubig ay napupunta doon sa malapad na pool.

Pool ba iyon o design lang?

Ah basta!

The car stopped in front of a 4 door closed garage. Naglibot si oliver para mabuksan ako ng pinto at ng makalabas ng tuluyan sa sasakyan ay doon ko pa lang nakita na dalawa ang mini waterfall design doon, 'yong isa ay nandoon malapit sa aakyatan na hagdan pero wala siyang pool which left me wondering where the water from above goes. Hindi ko na prinoblemahan pa lalo na't pinagsiklop na ni oliver ang kamay namin at hinila na ako paakyat.

"Sandali" i breathed out once we were at the door.

He sensed the tension on my voice kaya hindi niya muna binuksan ang malaki at mataas na front door.

"Sandali lang"

"I got you. Hindi kita iiwan okay? Nasa tabi mo lang ako throughout the entire day." He assured pero hindi ako nagsalita at tinitigan lang siya.

He lightly sighed and placed both his hands on my shoulder, thumb reaching for my cheeks, caressing them in a slow motion.

"If you're not comfortable mingling with my family. You are free to stay in my room until we are called for dinner. Sasamahan kita"

I looked at his eyes for a minute. I know that what he was offering was not part of his plan for the entire day. And I don't want to disappoint him just because natatakot akong ma judge ng pamilya niya.

Ngumiti ako bago umiling. "No. As much as your offer is tempting. I won't. Staying in your room for the entire day will come out as rude. And i don't want that for a first impression."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah" tango ko at ako na mismo ang humila sa kaniya para buksan ang pintuan.

When the door opened, isa lang ang masasabi ko.

Woah..

Kung gaano kaganda sa labas, mas maganda ang sa loob. Pinpalibutan ng kulay white at gold ang bahay. The designs, the walls, the vases, furnitures, chandeliers and paintings, all look damn expensive. It's like a mix of greek and chinese designs. Natatakot akong gumalaw dahil baka masagi ko 'yong gold na vase doon sa corner malapit sa akin.

"Oh my God." I said completely awed. "You used to live here?"

Tumawa lang siya tsaka tumango.

I expected the house to be packed of people, family and friends but i'm surprised na walang gaanong tao who was roaming around the house, in fact it was pretty silent. The only sound that can be heard was a small one, coming from afar.

"Where is everyone?"

"They're not here yet. We came early."

Tumango ako. He placed a hand behind my back at giniya ako patungong saan. It took us a few seconds to arrive at a certain room. The kitchen.

So this is where the sound was coming from? The sound of cooking and few chattering. Inviting smoke filled the awfully organized-looking room.

May mga babaeng naka uniporme doon. Hula ko ay mga katulong iyon. The woman standing in front of the stove, back facing us is only the odd one looking. With her glowing and elegant posture. Even if she was wearing an apron.

"Mom" tawag ng katabi.

At doon ko na lang tuluyan nakita ng buo ang kaniyang mukha. I gasped silently. Is this my boyfriend's mother? s**t! Mukhang ka age niya lang! Sa katunayan nga kung ipagtabi sila ay mukha silang magkapatid o mag tita.

She has a flawless white complexion. I thought she would possess a chinky eyes but boy i was wrong, like me she had a hooded eyes. A body like a teenager who works out a lot. And Given her age, wala siyang ka wrinkles wrinkles. Nahihiya naman ang noo ko.

"Oliver! Son! You're here!" Ngiti niya at naglakad takbo na sinalubong ng yakap ang anak. "I am so glad."

"You say that like we haven't met in a whole year. Last week lang akong umuwi dito my..." He chuckled and kissed his mother on the forehead.

Hindi ko mapiligan ang mapangiti.

Her mother also chuckled at ilang segundo pa ay dumako ang tingin niya sa akin. I looked at oliver to avoid his mother's gaze. He chuckled, amused by my silly gesture.

"You're astrid?" Aniya na nagpalunok sa akin ng wala sa oras.

"Y-yes po"

"So you're my son's girlfriend?"

"Opo"

"Look at me" aniya sa striktong boses which made me still. Nakita kong umiling si oliver. And when i was about to turn my gaze, i yelped in surprise nang bigla akong niyakap ng kaharap.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa bigla. The last thing i expected was a hug...

"I told you" ani oliver.

"M-ma'am"

"Oh no! No ma'am for you. And absolutely...don't call me tita" aniya ng makabitaw na sa mahigpit niyang yakap sa akin.

"P-po?"

"Address me on what you're boyfriend addresses me"

"Ano ho?" Alam ko na ang ibig niyang sabihin, i just wanted to confirm to see kung hindi nga ba ako pinaglalaruan ng pandinig ko.

"Call me mommy lisa...or mom. Whatever makes you comfortable"

But tita is comfortable..

"Come on, say it" she said expectingly like a little girl waiting for her puppy to execute her self-though tricks.

"Mom. Don't force her. It's weird" oliver rolled his eyes. Tila nahihiya sa pinagagawa ng ina niya.

"Are you weirded out sweetie?" Baling ng ina niya pagkatapos siyang samaan ng tingin.

"H-hindi po...." i looked at her and she replied with an expecting look. I gulped. "Mommy?..."

"Oh my God! You're so cute! I like her!" She clapped.

Napatingin ako kay oliver. He smiled at me tsaka tumango as a confirmation.

"I think we should get going. I'd wager dad would like to meet her too"

"Oh yes! He's been wanting to meet you ever since my son here brought you up" kausap niya sa akin. "But he's in his office upstairs. If you want, ikaw na lang ang pumunta sa kaniya, iwan mo si astrid dito"

His mother pulled me on arm. Oliver laughed.

"Mom, can i just borrow my girlfriend real quick?"

"No! You can't. Go along now. Mauna ka na doon. If he wants to meet her, he should be the one to come down here. Sige na, Kanina ka pa niya hinahanap"

"But momm—"

"Shh! don't make me repeat myself twice." she cut him at wala naman siyang nagawa kundi bumuntong-hininga and kiss me on the temple saying he would just come back and bring his father downstairs with him after a short conversation.

"So! Marunong ka ba sa kusina?" Aniya pagkatapos umalis ng anak.

"Po?"

"Do you know how to cook dearie"

Kagat labi akong umiling. Nahihiya. Never in my life akong nahiya na sabihin sa ibang tao na hindi ako marunong magluto, ngayon lang.

"You don't?"

Ngumiwi ako. "Pasensya na po. I don't"

"Oh, it's okay sweetie, not a big deal"

"Not that I don't want to learn, it's just that, wala po kasing nagtuturo sa akin kung paano"

"Oh! Bakit naman? 'Yong mama mo? Hindi ka ba tinuturuan? Ang ate mo?"

I'm surprised she even knew that i have a sibling.

"They're both busy. And my mom and i barely even bond" i smiled to hide my disappointment.

"Oh! It's okay. I can teach you" she said gleefully. "And i can be your second mom if you want."

Nahihiya akong napangiti. She barely has an idea of how touching her words are for me.

"Thank you so much tita—i mean...mommy lisa...you're so sweet"

"Wala 'yon. You're my son's girlfriend, first girlfriend na pinakilala niya sa amin at dinala dito, so i think it's just right and consider yourself as family"

"If you don't mind me asking po? Are you pure filipino or half chinese?" I asked when i was halfway through helping her on cutting the fresh lettuces.

"I'm half chinese. While his father is pure chinese."

"Oh"

"Bakit mo naman natanong?"

"I'm just curious on how—kasi po diba there are some culture...tradition na ang chinese ay para lang sa chinese? I mean, that's what i heard most of"

"Ah" she chuckled a bit. "So you're asking na kung bakit ka namin natanggap kung gayon ay wala ka namang dugong chinese na dumadaloy diyan sa mga ugat mo?"

"Yes po"

"To tell you honestly sweetie, there are some family who cares—truly makes that a big deal to the point na sila ang pumipili na kung kanino nila ipapakasal ang kanilang mga anak. But we...ash, it's not that we really don't care, we're just you know, open...to new things, we're open-minded. My parents were not that old-fashioned, and oliver's father too, so why would we? Kung kanino sasaya ang mga anak namin. Doon kami"

Tumango ako. "That makes you an amazing parent po" wala sa sarili kong sabi.

She looked at me awed. "Aww...what makes you say that sweetie?"

"Because you're the kind of parent i wish to have"

"Oh sweetie! I'm touched" she reached for my hand and gently squeezed it.

"Is that your daughters po?"

The maids were asked to take over the cooking at kami naman ng mommy ni oliver ay nahtutungo ngayon sa mahaba nilang hallway sa second floor. Tita lisa decided to fetch her son and husband dahil kanina pa sila ay hindi pa din nakababa.

The hallway was full of portraits and paintings, mostly family pictures. And i happen to notice two beautiful ladies na medyo kahawig ni oliver.

"Yes, they are. But sadly, they can't join us today since they are in manila. Nag-aaral"

"They're twins" i stated.

"Oh, yes. I was more than thrilled when i found out"

"Ano pong mga pangalan nila?" I was curious. I wish to know more about my boyfriend's loved ones.

"Tasmin Savannah And Yassa yvette Tan"

"They got unique names. I'm confused ckung bakit hindi sila kinekwento ni oliver sa akin"

"Oh yeah?" Her laugh echoed through the hall. "It's because he is always annoyed by them. He is always overpowered, at wala din siyang nagagawa dahil siya ang kuya"

I laughed. Imaging oliver's frowning annoyed face.

"Here we are" We stopped at a certain door. My hands runs cold in an instant.

"It's time for you to meet my husband"