Bro's Goofy Classmates

A chat with Kate's dad

"Good --- %$^^(*&*))"

"HOOOOONNNNKKKK. TSUG TSUG... TSUG TSUG...", the train rumbled past the back of the store, shaking the whole house. I greeted Kate’s dad, but because of the passing train, he just nodded at me. Kate’s dad was a big guy with a beer belly, dark skin, a semi-bald head, and a jovial face. His deep, gravelly voice was a bit intimidating. Kate’s mom signaled her to wrap a pile of fish for a customer and handle the p*****t.

"Are you Kate’s boyfriend?" (pronounced "kati" like itchy), that’s how her parents called her as a nickname. Or sometimes just “Te” for short, and “Tete” when they were feeling playful. Now I know where Kate gets her rough way of speaking; she definitely inherited it from her parents.

"Where did you and my daughter come from?"

"From her school, sir. I accompanied her to enroll."

"Didn’t she just enroll last Friday after we got home?"

"Hey, Tete! Come here!”, her dad called out to Kate.

“Yes, Dad?”, Kate responded from outside.

My script was falling apart.

"That’s what she told me, so we met up.", I tried to explain, but her dad didn’t hear me because he suddenly called Kate.

"Why did you tell your boyfriend you were enrolling? Didn’t you already enroll last Friday?"

"No, I didn’t make it then, Dad! I was missing some clearance documents.", Kate said, walking closer.

"Why didn’t you say so? What did you do today?"

"He accompanied me.", Kate looked at me, dragging me into the conversation.

"He’s my brother’s classmate. I’m four years older than Kate. I should be in college, but I took a break. I accompanied them both to enroll."

"Oh, why did you stop? Is there a problem with your family?", Kate’s dad inquired.

"No, sir. I just took a break. I let my sister go first. We couldn’t afford for both of us to be in school at the same time."

"It’s okay to take a break from school. That's a smart decision. Better than attending classes when you don’t like your course.", and just like that, we steered the conversation away. Kate joined us inside the store.

"Fatty! What’s for lunch?", Kate’s dad called her mom.

"There’s rice there, get some viand from Nelson’s place!"

"Have you two eaten? Kate, take care of your boyfriend."

Kate’s parents took turns teasing her for bringing a guy home and introducing me as her boyfriend. They kept teasing her, making her set the table for lunch. Kate served us all, which she didn’t usually do.

"That’s how it should be. When you get married, take care of him."

"Dad... he’s just my boyfriend."

"How did you two meet?", Kate’s dad asked.

"They visited my brother and his classmates in Bulacan."

"Bulacan? You go there, Kate?"

"It’s close by, Dad! And we were with a group!"

"So, did you turn his house into a field trip? What’s your name again?"

"Tom, sir... but my real name is Christopher."

"Christopher? My dad’s name is also Christopher. You’re namesakes.", Kate said.

"Namesake, huh? Well, here’s the thing, kid," her dad said to me. "...I got no problem with you dating my daughter. You’re in good standing with me because you’re courting her here at home. Better than acting like dogs sniffing each other’s butts in the street. I don’t know how far you’ve gone with her... but be responsible, you’re older than her... Kate is still very young. Her mom and I... she was 13 when I got her pregnant. So your situation isn’t new to me. Just make sure to let us know where you’re taking her before you leave. If you want to get cozy... do it upstairs. Rather than trying to stop Kate... I won’t. I already lost one child... Kate’s our only one left. Wherever she’s happy, go ahead. We can’t give her that kind of happiness. Just one request, don’t get her pregnant yet. Please, use a condom, okay?"

I listened quietly, sometimes smirking, while Kate was getting annoyed and her face was souring.