Way of Forever

Kabanata 13

The day of the first parent meet up of Levine.

“Girl, grabe pinaghandaan talaga ng boss mo itong meet up. Bongga, hah?” Getting her pearl earrings on, Maeve put some lipstick on his lips. After that, she touches the necklace that Levine brought to this occasion. It was a nice pair for her dress and look. She was looking classy and of course, a b***h.

Inayos ni Lilac ang buhok ng kaibigan. “Malamang they are going to be a pretend couple. So he needs to make sure that everything is good and presentable.”

“Hmp!” Diego sneered. “Nako, the two of you are playing with fire. At talagang nag-bet pa kayong dalawa kung sino ang mahuhulog sa huli.” Itinapon nito ang pamaypay sa higaan ni Maeve. Naloloka siya sa dalawa. Alam niya naman kung ano pinasok ng kaibigan but what if sa huli magsisisi silang dalawa although there are a thirty percent chance na pwedeng mahulog ang isa sa pagpapanggap na ‘to.

Napapailing si Maeve bago tumayo. She looks at herself for the last time before exiting her room.

She stopped and tilted her head. “I will win this bet, Dyosa. I’m half goddess and half hell.”

Sakto naman na pagkasabi niya ‘non ay narinig niya ang busina galing sa labas. It was Levine. She looked at the wall clock to see it was six-thirty in the evening.

Lumabas siya at binuksan ang gate habang nakasilip sa bintana ang dalawang kaibigan niya. She’s sure na mag-mo-movie marathon ang mga ito sa bahay niya since wala daw silang magawa ngayong weekend. And of course, they will be waiting for a chika from her.

What welcomed her was Levine standing at the side of his car wearing a white long sleeve polo. His hair was shiny and dark just like the eyes that were staring back at her. He screams daddy thingy.

“You ready?” Tumango ang dalaga bilang tugon. Levine opened the passenger seat for her before going inside to the driver seat.

“Don’t be nervous,” ani nito at pinaandar ang sasakyan? Her mom was excited to meet Maeve, but not his father. Seryoso lang ito at tila hinihintay ang gagawin niya.

“I’m not nervous,” sagot ng dalaga at tumingin sa labas ng bintana ng kotse. But inside she’s thinking of what will happen later. She mean, yes napagplanuhan na nila ni Levine ang sasabihin but sabi nga expect the unexpected.

After a thirty minutes drive. They stopped at a tall metal gate where they could see the large house inside. It was painted in a shade of creamy white and the roof was painted in grey. It also has a swimming pool at the side with a fireplace divider put in the wall. It looks welcoming and warm but what about the people living inside?

The clicking sound of the take her back to her reality. Natulala siya sa magandang bahay na nasa harap niya.

Levine offers his hand, “Let’s go?”

Kinuha ito ni Maeve at ngumiti ng tipid. “Let’s go.”

They went inside as Maeve scanned the surrounding. Ang laki nga ng bahay ng boss niya. Pero ba’t iba ang pakiramdam niya? It’s not feel like home. The vibe of the house was not to her liking.

“Oh! They are here!” Lumabas ang isang ginang na sa tingin ni Maeve ay galing sa kitchen.

“Mom,” bati ni Levine at hinalikan sa ulo ang ina. He grabbed the waist of Maeve and introduced her, “This is Maeve, my girlfriend, Mom.”

A wide smile spread on Levine’s mom's face. “Oh my! She’s gorgeous,” puri nito at in-exam-in ang mukha ni Maeve. The girl smiled at her. Oh! She’s alluring when she smiles.

“Come on. Let’s sit for a while. Maya maya din ay bababa na ang daddy mo Levine. Your brother… I think ma-le-late s’yang dumating.

“It’s okay, Mom.”

Nag-kwentuhan sina Maeve at ina ni Levine. The woman was calm and looked comfortable talking to her. Tila ba sanay itong makipag-usap publicly.

Maya maya pa ay bumaba na ang tatay ni Levine. The man was in his mid fifties having a white-grey hair.

“Dad…”

“So, this is this the girl that caught your heart?” Levine’s father c****d his right brow. “Magkano ba ang binayad sa’yo ng magaling kong anak para magpanggap na girlfriend niya sa harap ko?”

“Honey!” asik ng ina ni Levine at tumingin kay Maeve ng nagpapaumanhin.

Maeve stepped forward ang gave a bright smile. “I’m Maeve, sir, and I’m priceless.”

Levine smirks. ‘That’s his girl!’

Levine’s mother looked at Maeve in shock but her eyes held an admiration towards this woman’s attitude.

“You have a smart mouth,” tangong reply ng papa ni Levine. He was also shocked at how this woman counter him back. It seems his son got a woman who can fight.

“That’s not all. My blood type is sassy,” Maeve added, as an innocent smile skips on her lips.

Levine’s mother intervene bago pa suamama ang mukha ng asawa niya. “Uh? Let’s eat? Tapos na magluto ang mga maid. Come on, Maeve. Tell me kung nasarapan ka sa luto namin, okay?”

Maeve was dragged along with Levine’s mother. “Okay, auntie.”

-----

“Saan kayo nagkakilala ni Levine?”

Pinunasan ni Maeve ang labi pagkatapos kumain bago tumingin sa mama ni Levine na si Louisa.

“Actually, nagkita na po kami ni Levine sa isang mall, then we meet again at the company na pinagtatrabahuhan ko which is being his secretary at doon po kami nagsimula. We develop some feelings.”

“You should know what his reputation is right? Babaero ang anak ko baka pagsisihan mo ‘yan,” singit ng ama ni Levine.

Humigpit ang hawak ni Levine sa kutsara na napansin naman ni Maeve. So the son and the father were not on good terms.

“Of course, I’m aware. But I don’t care about that, he’s mine now. Mahirap agawin sa’kin kapag ako ang nag-ma-may-ari. I know he is the same, right, sweetheart?” Muntik nang mabilaukan si Levine nang marinig ang endearment na iyon.

He quickly smile at hinawakan ang kamay ng dalaga na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa.

“Yes, sweetheart. I’m possessive when it comes to mine.”

Nakangiti lamang si Louisa sa dalawa but not his husband who was unfazed by the public display of attention of the two. He’s still not convinced na girlfriend nga ito ng anak.

Maya maya ay isang maid ang lumapit kay Louisa at may ibinulong.

She looked at the two and to her husband.

“Nandito na si Lorenzo.”

Pagkasabi niya ‘non ay siya namang dating ng kanyang panganay sa kanilang kusina.

“Sorry, I’m la—” Lorenzo stopped at what he wanted to say when she saw the woman who was beside his brother with hands intertwined at the table.

Tila bumalik sa kanya ang nakaraan na hindi niya kayang kalimutan.