Playful Seduction

Chapter 14.

I’ve been made-up for thirty minutes now. Hinihintay ko na lang si Raius. Just like the usual thing we do, he will park his motorbike at the parking space for my car, and then we will use my car to go to our house. Kanina ko pa kausap si Tita Bee na hindi mapigilan mag padala sa akin ng updare about what’s happening there.

Nagpa cater raw si Mommy and I wasn’t surprised at all. Sabi ni Tita Bee, we will be eating dinner at the backyard. Pinaayos at ipinalinis raw ni Mommy and gazebo para doon kami mamaya. I am glad that my mother makes this seems like a special occasion.

Because for me, it really is!

I am finally bringing a boyfriend in our home!

I have not been home since about three weeks ago that I told them about Raius which is currently our usual routine. We don’t always call each other. Sometimes they would just like my post in my f*******:. Eh medyo active ako sa social media lately more than anything because aside from posting personal things to keep up appearances, I am constantly promoting RaiRen in my accounts, but I am making sure that it’s not sale-sly.

The constant showing up of RaiRen’s logo in their newsfeed and seeing people wearing RaiRen is one of the best marketing strategies that I know. Being consistent and active in social media really helps, and I think that is one thing that most new and old businesses are missing out.

Halos lahat ng tao, nasa social media. And social media is their entertainment everyday. So, making them see your brand on a daily basis is a good way to make them rememeber it. Kaya tuloy tuloy lang rin ang posting sa bawat accounts ng RaiRen. We have two people managing the social media accounts of my brand to ensure na hindi mawawala ang RaiRen sa social media scene.

I sent a message to Raius asking him kung nasaan na sya kahit alam kong hindi naman sya makakapag respond agad kung nasa byahe sya. To be fair, pasado alas kwatro pa lang naman. Naisip ko kasi na mas maaga sya pumunta rito para makapagpahinga muna sya from driving kahit kaunting sandali, tapos makapag usap rin kami for a little while, too. Kahit naman kasi traffic ay at alas singko kami umalis dito ay makaka abot kami sa dinner at seven.

I am very particular with time kasi. Hindi naman ako nagagalit sa mga taong late; well, it really depends on the situation. But I am a little strict when it comes to time kapag business or special occasions na ang usapan.

Ayoko rin naman na ma late kami ni Raius.

Wala akong natanggap na response from him so maybe he’s already on the way. I stayed in front of my vanity mirror inside my room just to make sure na okay pa rin ang make up ko kung sakali. After a few minutes nakarinig na ako ng doorbell.

Raius knows my door’s security code but he told me na pakiramdam nya ay naiinvade nya ang privacy ko kung bigla na lang daw syang papasok. Hinayaan ko na lang even though I assured him na walang problema sa akin kung sakali man na papasok na lang sya lalo na at alam ko naman na darating sya.

I stood up and opened the door for him.

“Hi!” Giddy na bati ko sa kanya. Malapad ang ngiti ko at sinalubong ko sya ng yakap.

He’s wearing a black cap, black denim jacket na ipinatong nya sa putting polo nya. Naka tuck in iyon sa dark blue na slacks and he is also sporting black boots!

He hugged me back using his left hand. Noon ko lang napansin na may hawak syang mga paperbags sa right han nya. I felt him kiss me on my temple and kahit palagi nya naman ginagawa iyon ay para pa rin akong natutunaw.

Pumasok kami. I closed the door nang maka pasok na sya sa loob. Inilapag nya sa coffee table ang mga paper bags na dala nya at naupo sya sa cofa. Tumabi ako sa kanya. Umakbay sya sa akin.

“What are those?” Agad na tanong ko.

“Secret.”

I looked at the logos. May tatak ng Marks and Spencer ang dalawang bag at may tatak naman ng isang kilalang flower store brand ang dalawang malalaking paper bags.

“Ohhh. May pasalubong ka pala sa kanila.” I mean, we actually didn’t talk about this at all. But I am happy that he thought about this. Naeexcite tuloy ako lalo because I want to see the gifts he got for my parents and for Tito Ram and Tita Bee.

I am sure na tig-iisa sila doon dahil apat na paper bags ang nasa harap ko.

“I can’t come empty handed. Medyo kinakabahan lang ako. Sana magustuhan nila.” Binigyan nya ako ng alanganin na ngiti.

Tumawa ako. “I am sure they will! Seemed like you really thought about this, ha?”

“Oo naman. Gusto ko na ako ang makakaisip ng kung ano ang pwedeng ibigay sa kanila. I want it to be all me. Hindi ako magaling sa mga gifts pero sana talaga magustuhan nila.” Halata ang nerbyos sa boses nya.

I hugged him. “Don’t worry. I am sure they will like it. Thanks for the effort, mahal.”

After about twenty minutes, we are already in the car going to our house in Forbes. Naipit kami sa traffic sa EDSA but Raius knows his way kaya he was able to navigate his way para makadaan kami sa pwedeng daanan na mas maluwag ang daan.

Around six forty in the evening ay papasok na kami sa Narra gate. I can feel a bit of the tension inside the car. Pareho lang kaming tahimik pero alam naming dalawa na pareho kami ng mga iniisip. Nasa backseat ang mga paper bag na dala ni Raius for everyone. Ayoko sya lalo I pressure kaya tahimik na lang rin ako. Baka mas relaxed sya pag ganon.

The guard opened the gate nang makita ang sasakyan ko. The guard opened the car door for me. Inayos ko ang suot kong dress when I got out of the car. Raius got out of the car, closed the door and looked around. Kita ko na nagustuhan nya naman ang nakikita nya, he’s half smiling.

He did it for a few seconds before he opened the door at the back para kunin ang mga paper bags. I was just watching him. Para syang bida sa pelikula. Gwapo, matangkad at lalaking lalaki ang boses. I love how he can carry himself.

“Mahal?” Untag ko sa kanya. Lumapit ako at yinakap ang braso nya.

“Hmm?”

“Ready?”

Tumango sya sa akin at ngumiti.

Sabay kaming naglakad papasok. Sinalubong kami ni Manang Shy, the head of our household. Malawak ang ngiti nya habang nakatingin sya sa amin ni Raius. She looked at my hands on his arm and her smile became wider.

Manang Shy is the oldest helper we have. She used to be my yaya until my High School years. But she still wants to stay with us so she became the the head of our household dahil mas kabisado nya na ang lahat dito. She’s been with us since I was five years old! And that automatically means she’s family.

“Hi, Manang!” Bati ko. “Nasaan sila Mommy?” Yinakap ko sya bago ako bumalik sa tabi ni Raius at muling humawak sa braso nya.

“Nasa likod na silang lahat. Kayo na lang hinihintay.” She answered me but her eyes are on Raius. There’s a glint in her eyes while she’s looking at Raius who gave her a shy smile.

“Manang, this is Raius. Boyfriend ko. Mahal, this is Manag Shy. Sya ang pinaka busy sa lahat dito sa bahay. She’s family.”

Lumapit si Raius kay Manang Shy. “Mano po,”

Seeing Raius help Mamang Shy’s hand to put it’s back on his forehead is such a nice scene. Naooverwhelm na ako agad, ni hindi pa kami nakakalabas sa likod.

“Salamat, anak. Hala, sige na, pumunta na kayo doon at nang maka kain na kayo.”

“Thank you, Manang!” I blew her a flying kiss bago kami sabay na maglakad papunta sa dining hall kung saan may pintuan palabas sa pool area at backyard. Agad kong nakita ang set up sa gazebo.

May grilling station at food station kung saan may dalawang chef na busy pa rin sa kung anong pagkain na hinahanda. Mommy and Tita Bee are standing beside the small greenhouse while Daddy and Tito Ram are next to the food station. May hawak na silang tig isang baso probably with their favorite liquor.

All of them looked in our direction while we are walking towards them. I felt Raius stiffened for a second pero nag relax rin naman sya agad. Una kaming lumapit kila Daddy at kay Tito Ram. Seryoso pareho ang mukha nila but I hope hindi maintimidate si Raius.

“Hi, Dad. Tito Ram. This is Raius.” I am hoping na naitago ko ang kaba ko habang sinasabi ko iyon. “Mahal, this is my dad and my Tito Ram.”

“Good evening po sa inyo. Ako po si Raius.” Kita ko na linakasan nya ang loob nya. Ngumiti sya at bahagyang nag bow kay daddy at kay Tito Ram. I was looking at them para makita ang reaction nila pero hindi ko mabasa so I started to get anxious.

“Natraffic ba kayo?” Si Tito Ram ang nagtanong.

“Sa EDSA lang po, pero nakalagpas naman po kami agad.” Agad naman na sagot ni Raius.

“He knows his way around, eh. Mabuti na rin.”

I saw dad looked at his wrist watch. “I think the food will be ready in a few minutes. Go, your mother and Beatriz is already waiting na sa kanila mo naman ipakilala ang boyfriend mo.” Tumingin si daddy sa direction nila mommy at Tita Bee.

I grinned and then I giggled. “But Rai has something to give to you two!” Bahagya kong siniko si Raius at mukhang nakuha nya naman dahil inangat nya ang dalawang paper bag na may tatak na Marks and Spencers.

“M-May regalo po ako sa inyo.” Alam kong kinakabahan pa rin sya but he’s starting to get the confidence.

Nagtinginan sila daddy at tito Ram.

“You didn’t have to, but thank you, hijo.” Dad said as he got the paper bag. Yep, he smiled a bit. Okay, that’s more than enough for me.

“Thank you.” Sabi naman ni Tito Ram at kinuha rin ang isa na nakangiti. Tito Ram is more welcoming than what I expect him to be and it’s just so nice.

“Sana po magustuhan nyo.” He said grinning.

“Okay, kila mommy naman muna kami.” I gently pulled Raius para maglakad naman kami papunta kila mommy at Tita Bee.

Nakatingin lang silang dalawa sa amin ni Raius habang papalapit sa kanila. I saw them staring at Raius. Physically, I am confident of my boyfriend’s overall look. He’s gorgeous and that’s a fact that I know many people will agree with me.

Naka chin up ako nang makalapit na kami sa kanila.

“Mom, Tita Bee, this is Raius. My boyfriend.” Bumaling naman ako kay Raius. “Mahal, this is my mom and this is Tita Bee.”

“Good evening po sa inyo.” Just like a while ago, ngumit sya at bahagyang nag bow.

“Hi! It’s nice to finally meet you!” Masiglang sabi ni Tita Bee.

“Kayo rin po,”

“Naku, ang galang mo naman masyado!” I know Tita Bee’s just clearing up the air.

Raius chuckled. Napahawak sya sa likod ng ulo nya.

“I hope you two are starving because we have a lot of food.” Sabi naman ni mommy.

“We are, mom! Hindi talaga kami kumain ng merienda.”

“Good. Let’s go, to the gazebo.” I know that my mother can be intimidating but the energy she’s giving off right now is different. It’s kind of welcoming, and I am already feeling good about this.

“Uhm, I have a gift po sa inyo.” Mabuti at nakapag segway si Raius. Itinaas nya ang kamay nya na may hawak na paper bags.

He gave each to my mom and Tita Bee.

“Thank you so much, Raius.” Mom is looking at the paper bag in her hand while smiling. Parang hindi sya makapaniwala na binigyan sya ng regalo. Gusto ko tuloy matawa.

“Oh! Thank you so much, Raius.” Nakatingin rin si Tita Bee sa hawak na paper bag.

Sana mag tuloy tuloy. We’ve had a good start.

Tamang tama dahil in about a minute after we sat in front of the dining table, nagsimula na silang mag serve. Nagutom agad ako sa amoy. Totoo naman kasi na hindi kami nag merienda o nag snack ni Raius dahil alam ko na maraming ihahanda si mommy.

“This is the part where you’ll have to tell us how did you two met.” Tita Bee said after a few moments. Lahat naman kami ay kumakain na. We were already served wines and water.

Tumingin ako kay Raius, hindi ko alam kung sya o ako ang magkukwento but in a quick second, I realized na mas okay na hindi nila malaman ang ibang details such as about Ariel kahit na critical sya sa dahilan nang pagkaka kilala naming dalawa.

“We met in a coffee shop.” Mabilis na sagot ko.

“And?” Agad naman kasunod na tanong ni Tita Bee.

Everyone’s looking at us now.

“W-Well, let’s just say there’s an unwanted situation and nagkataon na nandoon si Raius. He saved me from that situation.” Mabagal na sabi ko. Mabilis ang pag galaw ng mga mata ko, sinisigurado ko na hindi naman umiiba ang expression nilang lahat in every word that I am saying.

“What situation?” Nagsalubong ang kilay ni daddy.

I bit my lower lip. Mabilis akong nag-isip sana ng sasabihin pero na blanko ako bigla so I started to panic. Bigla akong napalingon kay Raius nang maramdama ko na ginagap nya ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa.

“She attracted an unwanted person in the coffee shop. Bago pa po mag escalate, I told the person off.” Biglang nagsalita si Raius.

Tumango tango si daddy.

“So, Raius, what’s keeping you busy?” Si mommy naman ang biglang nagtanong.

“I am currently working as a part time waiter and may banda po ako na tumutugtog sa Makati on weekends.” Kita ko ang hesitation sa mga mata nya while he’s saying that pero ako naman ang pumisil sa kamay nya, telling him that there’s nothing wrong with what he said.

My mother nods. “I see. And what did you take in college?”

“BS in Architechture, Ma’am.”

I saw everyone’s reaction. Surprised. Pati ako. How the hell did I not know about this?