Best for Us (GU #3)

fifty-four

Fifty-Four: Tyler Osmond

There were a hundred different ways I've imagined how it'll gonna be once I meet Vanessa's parents.

But this was not so one of them. Never did I picture it'll be like this.

Hindi pa rin ako makatingin sa mga magulang ni Vanessa na ngayon ay nakaupo doon sa sofa. Kung saan naroon kami kanina, nadatnan nilang may ginagawang milagro.

Well, we were just kissing. Yung posisyon lang talaga namin.

"Why aren't you talking? We're waiting," si Tito Ricardo, yung daddy ni Vanessa ang nagsalita.

From my seat, I took a quick glance at Vanessa who was sitting on a chair a meter away from me.

Tumingin din siya pabalik. At nang mayroon kaming narinig na tumikhim ay sabay kaming nag-iwas ng tingin.

Saka ko narinig ang boses ni Vanessa. "Tyler's my boyfriend."

"Ano? Hindi ba't girlfriend mo rin yung anak ng senador? Pinagsasabay mo silang nitong anak ko?" pagalit na sagot ni Tito Ricardo.

"Ricardo, break na sila nung babae. It's on the newspaper this morning. Di ka kasi nagbabasa eh," sagot ni Tita Gemma.

"It's because you spent so much time reading it. Kapag tapos ka na, wala na ako sa mood magbasa," saad naman ni Tito Ricardo.

"What are you trying to say, Ricardo?" balik ni Tita Gemma at nagsimula na silang magdiskusyon.

Nagkatinginan kaming muli ni Vanessa at hindi napigilang matawa. Her parents were cute.

"At sinong may sabi sa inyong pwede kayong tumawa dyan?" biglang saway sa amin ni Tita Gemma. "Itong mga batang 'to, hindi pa nga kayo tapos mag-explain sa amin."

That's when I took a deep breath. And at that moment, I started to tell them everything, "Ganito po kasi yun..."

I told them the full story. From me courting Vanessa to what happened with Olivia. Wala akong ni-left out even Olivia's pregnancy. I just know they would understand it better that way. I apologized too for keeping from them my relationship with Vanessa. Pero sinabi ko naman 'yung intensyon kong magpaalam at magpakilala, 'yun nga lang hindi talaga napayagan ng pagkakataon sa kadahilanang alam na nila ngayon.

"So you were the visitor that Vanessa was talking about nung anniversary namin," Tita Gemma was the first one to talk.

Tumango ako sa kanya.

She sighed. "Grabe pala ang pinagdaanan mo, hijo. I am sincerely glad that you were able to overcome that trouble. Ang sa akin naman, I won't say I'm not disappointed na late na namin nalaman ang relationship niyo. But then again, it already happened. And to be honest, I approve of you for my daughter, Tyler. Just hearing you a while ago and looking at you now, I know what you feel for Vanessa is genuine. So, okay you guys have my blessing."

"Really, mommy?" hindi mapigilang tili ni Vanessa.

Napangiti naman ako saka mahinang sumagot kay Tita Gemma, "Thank you po."

Ngunit nagbago agad ang atmosphere nang tumikhim si Tito Ricardo. "Don't be happy too much, you little ones. Hindi ko pa sinasabi ang verdict ko."

Kinakabahan akong naghintay ng sasabihin nito. I was hoping for the best but I can't stop thinking of the worst. Tito Ricardo blew out a deep breath then he nodded once. "Okay. May magagawa pa ba ako? Um-oo na 'yung reyna ng buhay ko. What Gemma believes to be okay, I believe it too."

"Thank you, Dad," si Vanessa ulit ang unang nag-react. Then I seconded that.

"But hephep kids," singit ni Tita Gemma. "Just because we already gave you the blessing, that does not mean we're also giving you the permission to do everything. You get what I mean, right? Maghinay-hinay muna. Finish your studies, and if you still feel the same way by that time, get married and then you can have the freedom to do everything you want. I hope you both can respect this request of ours."