"Happy Monthsarry, babe!"

I hugged Blake as I greeted him. Tumawa pa ito saka ako niyakap pabalik. We're one month in a relationship now. And since it's been a month of us, being in a relationship, he said that he wants me to meet his family, too.

Hindi ako sure sa plano niya pero magiging unfair naman sa kanya 'yun kapag hindi ako pumayag. I wonder if his parents are strict. Kinakabahan ako kahit wala pa naman. Feeling ko nga, masusuka ako anytime, eh.

Sumakay na lang kami sa tricycle kasi wala kaming masakyan na jeep. Ayos lang naman 'yun sa kanya basta daw ang mahalaga, makarating kami. Habang siya, excited na excited, ako naman ay parang mabubuwal na sa inuupuan ko.

Mas nadagdagan lang ang kaba ko nang marating ko na ang bahay nila. Ang malaking gate na kulay puti tapos pagkapasok, makikita ang isang puting bahay na may pulang bubong. May mga kotse din na nakaparada sa garahe nila. Dalawang hindi ako pamilyar kung anong kotse. Nilibot ko pa ang paningin ko at pansin ko na ang daming halaman sa paligid.

"Ang daming halaman ng mama mo..." I uttered. Narinig ko naman ang mahinang tawa nito. "Bakit?"

"That's not Mom's. Those plants around are my dad's pet." He said before pulling me with him. Nagpatianod na lang ako sa kanya.

"H-Hala, sandali." Hininto niya ang paglalakad at hinintay ako. Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko baka kasi hindi na ako mukhang presentable. "O-Okay lang ba ako?"

"Don't worry, you look good." He cupped my face and kissed my forehead. "Come on. They are waiting inside."

This time, we entered their house. Mas malaki ito kesa sa bahay namin. Nagkalat ang ilaw mula sa chandelier nila. Ang mga glass bookshelves na puno ng mga libro. Ang mini table na may mga magazine pang nakalagay. Ang mga sofa na nakaayos at malinis. Everything here looks luxurious.

"Oh..." Agad kaming napatingin sa likuran nang may tumikhim. Nakita ko ang isang lalaki't babae na magkatabi. Nakapulupot ang kamay ng lalaki sa bewang ng babae habang naka-akbay naman ang babae. Mukhang ito ang mga magulang ni Blake.

"H-Hello po. U-Uh...Xia Quiroz po. Blake's friend." Napatingin ako sa katabi ko na nakatingin lang sa akin.

"Are you sure that she's just a friend?" His father has an American accent. So, his father is an American? I didn't know that. Kaya pala parang may accent din siya.

"Hon, don't pressure them." His mother's smirk didn't go on what she says. Her voice and facial reaction is teasing us.

"Mom, dad, she's my girlfriend." He introduced me again to his parents. Parang proud na proud pa nga eh samantalang ako, maiihi na sa kaba. "She's beautiful, right? And she's smart."

"Blake..." I pinched his arms making him flinch a bit but still chuckled.

"Yeah. You have a good taste in choosing girl. That's my boy." Nagfist-bump pa silang dalawa. "Blake always mention about you and base on his description, I already know that you and him are great together."

"Pahiram ako." Inagaw ako ng Mama niya sa kanya. Blake pouted but he knows that he can't do anything. "Let's go to kitchen, Xia. I'm going to show you the foods. You'll surely love it." I just gave her a shy smile. "Mamaya ka na mag-tour sa bahay. Ipapasyal ka ni Blake. Feel at home."

Ang ganda ng kusina nila. 'Yung mga compartments ay kulay dark brown. Tapos 'yung sink nila ay gawa sa marmol. Meron pa silang Palmera sa loob ng kusina. Isang lamesa na may apat na upuan. The entire house is stunning. The one who did the interior design is a great designer.
Blake came from a wealthy family, I see.

"Siya nga pala, Mama or tita na lang ang itawag mo sa akin. Mama na lang pala. Si Blake kasi, gusto Mommy, ang arte talaga ng batang 'yon." She said while cooking. "Kumakain ka ba ng gulay?"

"Ah, yes po." I said. "Hindi nga lang po okra at pechay." Hindi ko alam kung bakit ayaw ko ng pechay. Parang ang pangit kasi ng pagiging mapait niya eh. Sa okra naman, pakiramdam ko, laway ang kinakain ko.

"Oh, pareho pala tayong hindi kumakain ng okra." Tumawa pa ito. Ngumiti na lang ako saka naupo.

Blake and his dad entered the kitchen. Blake automatically take the seat beside me. Inilapit pa nito ang upuan niya sa akin which made me uncomfortable. His parents are here for pete's sake!

"You look tense." He poke my cheeks with his finger and then chuckled. "Don't worry. They are good." He said confidently. I never said they aren't. I can see it.

Nakatingin lang ako sa mag-asawa na nag-uusap sa bandang lababo. Napapatingin pa ito sa amin kaya napapaiwas ako ng tingin.

Blake's nose resembles his dad, kahit ang panga niya. Samantala, nakuha niya naman ang dark brown na mata niya sa mama niya. His thick eyebrows is obviously from either his dad's family or the latter. His color is also fair and I'm a bit darker than him. I don't know where he get his messy hair because his father's hair is fine. Overall, he still looks good with those.

"Stop staring." Para akong napabalik sa reyalidad dahil sa sinabi niya. Nakaiwas lang ito ng tingin sa akin at nakita ko ang pamumula ng tenga nito. Nakaramdam naman ako ng hiya dahil hindi ko naramdaman na kanina pa ako nakatingin sa kanya.

"Food's ready!" Nakangiting inilapag ng mama niya ang pagkain sa hapag saka umupo. Tumabi naman sa kanya ang asawa niya at makikita sa mukha neto na mukhang natutuwa 'din sa niluto ng asawa. "You're eating that everytime yet your reaction never change. Is that how good my cooking skill?"

"Yeah." Her husband chuckles.

"Here." Napatingin naman ako kay Blake nang kuhaan ako nito ng pagkain. Kukuhanin ko na sana 'yun kaso hindi niya ibinibigay. He insisted so I let him.

"Thanks."

We just started eating. At first, everyone is silent but his mother is so talkative that she can't resist silence. Kinuwento niya lahat ng bagay tungkol kay Blake. His father is laughing all the time so as his mother. I know that Blake feels so much embarrassment. Hindi ko rin maiwasang matawa ng mahina dahil sinasamaan ako ng tingin ni Blake kapag tumatawa ako.

"He's always talking to every dog he will see in the US and when the dog bark at him, he will also bark back."

"Mom!" He covered his ears as if he don't want to hear more. The three of us are just making fun of his stupidity. "Tell me that's not true."

"Oh, darling. Remember one time when you poop at your shorts?" His parents started laughing again. Kinalma ko ang sarili ko dahil papagalitan na ako ni Blake. "Remember that, honey?"

"Mom, I hate you, now." Blake's face turned red. I can almost feel his embarrassment. "Stop."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop. Iiyak ka na, eh." Her mother smiled at me after making fun of her son.

Her bond with Blake, that's the bond me and my mother can't do. I wish, we can also tell jokes on each other. It feels like, I don't have a mother at all. She is there but I can't feel her.

Mukhang malaki ang hinanakit ni Blake dahil hindi na siya nagsalita buong oras namin sa kainan. I see. He's so sensitive. Kapag napahiya siya, talagang hindi na siya makapagsalita. I wonder how he can make it as lawyer. I can't wait to see him in court, now, not minding the humiliation.

His parents told Blake to tour me on their house. They were left in the kitchen.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked him, worried. He looked at me and nod.

"Don't believe them." He said in a low voice. I chuckled. "You're making fun of me." Lumayo pa ito sa akin kaya tuluyan na akong tumawa. "I hate you all, really."

"You don't love me anymore? But you just said it last night." I teased him. He looked at me before shaking his head. "Weh? Maniwala?" Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kasaya kapag nangti-trip. Now I know how Fiona feels when he's tripping Harry. "Hays." I sighed.

"Monthsarry natin ngayon pero pinagtatawanan mo lang ako." He snorted.

"I love you." I know that he's stiffened because of what I've said. His ears turned red. Ngumuso pa ito para itago ang ngiti pero hindi naman ito nagtagumpay.

"Again?" He looks so excited to hear what I said again. "Say it again."

"I don't want to. Mahal ang salitang 'yun. It's phenomenal so you should always pay attention." I crossed my arm, still teasing him.

"Ang daya. Anyways, I love you, too." He said before holding my hand. He lead me upstairs.

Merong apat na kwarto sa taas. Hindi ko alam kung para saan pa ang dalawa. Sure naman ako na nasa iisang kwarto lang ang mag-asawa which is the door that has black door. Ang kanya naman ay oak-brown door. Habang ang mga nasa dulo naman ay kulay white which is I guess, the guest room?

"You wanna see my room? Though, there's nothing special there." He hold the door knob before opening it.

Tama siya. Wala ngang espesyal 'don. Just like mine. His room is occupied by dark-shades color which is gray and black. Of course, there are white.

His bed comforter is color gray while the pillow is white. His walls are painted with ash gray paint so as the ceiling. The mini table is color light gray. His study table is white. Meron 'dung ilaw na malamang ay ginagamit niya sa pag-aaral.

He also had a glass library where a group of books are placed neatly. The curtains are all white. Even though his room is painted with gray shade color, it still looks cool...and manly.

"What are those books?" I asked him.

"Oh, those are some Grollier Books. You know, about marketing. I don't usually read those books. I'm still looking for some books about Taxations or any book that can be useful in studying Management." He sat on the bed. I just nod my head. He told me to sit beside him but something caught my attention. A guitar.

"You play guitar?" Nilapitan ko ang gitara na nakasabit katabi ng painting. Hinawakan ko ito at mukhang hindi naman ito inimbak lang. "Marunong ka?"

"Sort of." Hindi ko naramdaman ang paglapit niya. Kinuha niya ito at bumalik sa higaan. Sumunod naman ako at tumabi din sa kanya. He started strumming it. "Wait. Nawawala 'yung pick ko. Where the hell did I put it again?" He started looking for it again. Sinubukan kong tulungan siya kaso hindi ko pala alam kung anong itsura ng pick.

Ang tanga, Xia.

"Nevermind." He sighed and picked the guitar again. "I'm still practicing on the new song and it's a bit harder than the first one I've mastered."

"Buti ka nga, may na-master na. Ako Happy Birthday na lang, hindi pa masaulo ang chords." I chuckled.

He started strumming again. The song is familiar to me 'cause I heard it once. Like I'm Gonna Lose You by Meghan Trainor.  Mukhang chords lang ang inaral niya kasi nagh-humming lang siya. Like me, he didn't know the lyrics.

But, hell! He's a liar! He said 'kind of'! I never know that 'kind of' means 'great'! Hindi ko alam kung bakit napapa-humm na rin ako katulad niya. Humilig pa ito sa balikat ko habang patuloy pa rin sa pagtapik sa chords.

"You're liar. You didn't say that you have talent with guitars." Isinandal ko din ang ulo ko sa ulo niya matapos niyang tumugtog. His head vibrated when he chuckled.

"It's a pleasure to hear that from someone I love." He held my hand and gently kiss it. "Happy Monthsarry, babe."