No Strings Attached

NSA: 20

Pagkaalis ni Cat ay sakto naman na may tumawag sa'kin.

"Wow, mate! Hindi ka naman miss lagi niyang girlfriend mo 'no?" Nanunuksong sabi ni Rin nang mabasa niya sa screen ng phone ko ang pangalan ni Lilith.

"Inggit ka lang." Natatawang sabi ko at sineniyasan na siya na tumahimik dahil sasagutin ko na ang tawag.

"Yes, babe?"

"BABE!" Excited na sabi ni Lilith na napataas pa ng kaunti ang boses.

"Woah, lady. Calm down." Napapangiting sabi ko. "What's up?"

"My mom wants to meet you tonight." Masayang sabi niya.

"Wait! Are you s-serious?" Kinakabahang tanong ko. "Bakit naman ngayong gabi agad, babe?"

Gosh! Hindi ba pwedeng bigyan niya ako ng time para maghanda?

"Yup! It's my mom's birthday so this is the best time, babe. My relatives will be there too." Masayang pagbabalita niya. Napabangon naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Oh my gosh, Lilith! It's your mom's birthday and you're inviting me tonight to meet your relatives?! Without giving me prior notice?!" Nahihintakutang sabi ko. "I have no gift and time to prepare my clothes. Are you trying to kill me, Lilith?!"

"Shh, calm down. Babe, listen to me. Breathe in... Breathe out." Pagpapakalma niya sa'kin.

Sinunod ko naman ang sinabi niya.

"Are you calm now, babe?" Tanong niya. Huminga pa ako ulit ng malalim bago sumagot.

"Yeah, just tell me what to do. Please." Hopeless na sabi ko.

"Okay, so my mom learned about us through my cousin because she saw us in the grocery store." Napapikit na lang ako sa narinig. "Continue."

"She reported me to my mom and now she wants to meet you."

"Wow, ngayon palang alam ko nang hindi ako magugustuhan ng mom mo. I didn't even know that it's her birthday today, and I'm totally unprepared to impress any of your relatives."

"Come on, babe. They'll gonna love you. Stop worrying, okay? I'll be with you the whole time." Pag-a-assure niya. Oh, you better be.

"Fine, help me buy your mom a present at least." Sumusukong sabi ko.

"How about be with Cat and let her help you with that? I'm kinda busy today, babe. Basta I'll pick you up at 7, okay? Love you!" She said then hung up before I could even say I love you, too.

Napahiga na lang ulit ako sa kama. "Ugh! I hate parties."

"What happened, Mate? Para kang nalugi d'yan." Natatawang sabi ni Rin habang naglalaro ng cards sa phone niya.

"She's gonna introduce me to her entire family at her mom's birthday tonight! Like not next week nor tomorrow. Like tonight!" Hysterical na sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Kumalma ka, Mate. Maganda ka kaya! Magugustuhan ka nila." Parang wala lang na sabi ni Rin. "And besides, ayaw mo no'n? Magiging legal na kayo sa family niya, meaning seryoso siya sa'yo."

"Ako nga hindi ko siya mapakilala kanila Mimi but that doesn't mean na hindi ako seryoso sa kaniya." I argued.

"Ayaw mo bang makilala family niya?" Seryosong tanong niya.

"Gusto." Mahinang sagot ko.

"Ayon naman pala! Huwag ka na kabahan d'yan, maaga pa naman. Buy the gift and your dress. Then you're off to go!" Masayang sabi niya at hinila pa ako pabangon sa higaan niya.