Never Really Over

Prologue

#NeverReallyOver

Prologue

“Kumusta naman ang mga magulang mo, hija?” I raised my gaze to Tita Sharon as she asked about my parents, a question she wouldn't overlook, of course!

“They're fine naman po.” Tipid kong sagot bago muling ibinaling ang atensiyon sa pagkain pero dahil dakila siyang chismosa ay hindi niya palalagpasin ang sitwasyong ito.

“I hope so. Ang balita ko ay mukhang malaki-laki raw ang atraso ng tatay mo kay Mr. Villegas. Hindi ba’t kaibigan mo ang anak noon?”  Seriously? Do we need to discuss this now? I glanced at Erin, who seemed bothered by my discomfort with her mother's questions.

“Mom, can we not talk about this right now? Besides, they're already sorting things out. Let's not dwell on that. Please?” Erin intervened, and Tita Sharon scowled after being told off.

Sometimes, I wonder if she does it on purpose or if she's just oblivious to the people around her. Hindi naman ganito si Erin, but why is her mother so different? We've been in a relationship for years, and during that time, she's always been like this. I don't understand why there hasn't been any change. I'm aware she doesn't approve of my relationship with her daughter, but since she can't go against Erin, she reluctantly accepts it. Accept me. 

“Wait, is that the reason why you're going abroad with Erin?”

Abroad? Who's going abroad?

I glanced at Erin briefly, and she seemed caught off guard by what her Mom said. My eyebrows raised as I looked at her, waiting for an answer because, as far as I remember, we haven't discussed anything like this. I have a job, and she's managing their businesses here.

“So, that's it? You're going abroad with Erin until your father's issue settles down?”

“Mom!”

I'm getting confused about what they're talking about.

“But anak, aren't you planning to stay there for business? Kasama mo pa rin ba si Lauren? What about your job here?” Now, Tita Sharon has shifted her attention to me. What's going on? I don't even know what both of them are discussing.

“I actually don't know what you're talking about,” I turned to Erin, who swiftly avoided eye contact with me. May hindi siya sinasabi sa akin.

“Let's just talk about it later,” She suggested, but Tita promptly inserted herself into the conversation.

“Oh, hindi mo alam? Hindi mo pa sinasabi sa kaniya, Anak?” What the heck is that? I feel like a fool here, confused and trying so hard to figure out what they're talking about. Bakit ba ayaw pa nilang sabihin?

“What is that about, Rin?”

“Later, Love.”

That dinner ended up being no different from our previous dinners with her mom. Sabi na nga ba’t hindi naman dinner ang ipinunta namin dito, ni-hindi ko nga maramdaman na may kinain ako dahil mas madalas ko pang marinig ang bunganga ng nanay niya. Well, that's just how she is, and I'm used to it. The only reason she called for a gathering like this is to pry, remind me she doesn't like me, or maybe she really just wants to see Erin, pero dahil ayaw ng anak niya na hindi ako kasama ay napipilitan siyang makipag-plastikan sa akin.

Still, I can't shake off whatever they were arguing about earlier. Wala akong natatandaang napag-usapan namin, ni-hindi nga kami masyado nakakapag-usap ngayon dahil parehas kaming busy sa kaniya-kaniyang trabaho. Kanina pa rin kating-kati ang dila kong itanong kay Erin ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon pero dahil sinabi naman niyang mamaya ay naghintay na lang ako. I don't want to discuss it in front of her mom either.