Finding Avie's body

Chapter 32

We were both laughing when we heard Drake’s voice behind me.

“Oh I guess you met my mom?” he said while kissing his mom’s cheeks.

I can see his resemblance to his mom, they have the same beautiful and captivating eyes. He also got her smile.

“Yeah, I met your schoolmate,” Tita Darlene said while smirking.

Hahaha yeah yeah I really am his schoolmate.

I laughed a little and saw Drake’s eyes narrow with my little laughs.

“You said I was your schoolmate?” he asked me.

I nodded my head in resnponse to what he said.

“I am your friend.” He said while holding his chest acting like he was hurt or so.

“You’re not.” I said as I sip on my tea.

I can see why Drake is very bubbly, he got it on his mom. I wonder if his Dad also have the same attitude.

“You know what Iho, I like your schoolmate. I wanna be her friend! And you know what? She invited me to her casting this afternoon!!!” Tita Darlene excitedly told Drake.

I couldn’t help but smile, I never had someone to be this happy and excited to be with me except my Nana Gina.

Haaay, I wonder if my mom was also this bubbly or maybe she was a serious type?

I have always yearn for a motherly love, but the love that my Nana Gina gave me I guess was more than enough I really couldn’t ask for more. I was just so happy that Tita Darlene likes me as a person. No one really liked me.

Laging sinasabi ng mga tao sa paligid ko na masyado akong self-entitled na sobrang bilib ako sa sarili ko kahit pa alam ko naman kung ano lang talaga ako.

I used to have friends before pero nung kinausap sila ni Tita Yelena and tell them na sampid lang ako sa pamilya nila, and that I am nothing but an ingrate, insolent and illegitimate child iniwasan na nila ako, I don’t know kung tinakot ba sila ni Tita or pinagbantaan or what but I don’t care, they didn’t even tell me a single word or explain to me why they suddenly avoids me.

“Is that for real? Baka nabibigla ka lang? My mom would be sad if you wont do as you say,” Drake said trying to ask me if I was sure that I will take his mom with me in my casting this afternoon.

“ Ofcourse.” I said to him and then smiled at his mom who is now happily walking towards us.

Umalis saglit si Tita Darlene kanina because she wants to welcome Drake’s dad. She’s really sweet. I couldn’t help but adore her.

“ Avrielle Iha, come I’d like you to meet my husband,” she said while holding the hand of Mr. Lacson.

She looked like a highschool girl who’s holding his boyfriend and is very excited to introduce him to a friend. I have never met someone as kind and as genuine as Tita Yelena, Drake is very lucky to have his mom.

“Good morning Sir, I am Avrielle Akiesha Gomez, Drake’s schoolmate po,” I said as I extend my hand to Mr. Lacson.

He smiled a bit and then took my hand.

“It is nice to finally meet you, I am Yexel Lacson, Drake’s father. I hope my wife made you feel comfortable in our humble home?” He said and then looked at Tita Darlene.

He even kissed her forehead. Aww! Such a cuties!

I smiled at him and nodded. The Lacson’s decided to eat outside the garden.

I was walking behind them when Drake suddenly slow down and whispered something to me.

“How’s my mom and my dad? Are youo happy to meet your future mother and father in law?” he said while winking.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes with what he said.

“Asa ka,” sagot ko sa kanya at saka ko binilisan na maglakad.

Kahit kelan talaga tong lalaking to panira ng moment.

I was busy walking away from Drake when we arrived at the garden. I saw an old man and an old lady sitting in the dinning table that was set in the garden. They were both laughing to each other when we arrived.

Drake immediately got a chair for me, and then he kissed the old man and the old lady.

“You look so happy Apo! I think this is the mysterious girl you’ve been telling me about?” the old woman asked him while looking at me.

I didn’t know if I had to bless them or make beso. But just like what my Nana Gina said to me ‘Lagi kang mag-mamano sa mga nakakatanda’

I stood up and motioned to bless on the elderlies.

“Pwede po ba akong mag-mano?” alanganin kong tanong sa lolo at lola ni Drake.

His grandma suddenly looked at me, I was about to pull back my hand again, but she said something that made me really happy.

“Ay magalang ang batang ito! Drake iho ito na ba talaga ang nobya mo? Iha kanino ka bang anak? Mukhang napalaki ka ng maayos ng mga magulang mo!” naka ngiting puri sa akin ng Lola ni Drake habang hinayaan akong magmano.

Paglapit ko naman sa lolo nya ay tinanggap din nito ang kamay ko.

“Umi-iscore ka pa sa lola at lolo ko nako, sabi ko mag-aaral lang tayo bat parang lumalakad kana sa pamilya ko?” naka ngiting bulong sa akin ni Drake habang kumuha sya ng bangko para upuan ko.

“Shut up.” Irita kong sagot sa kanya.

He just laughed a little and then sit at the chair beside me.

“So Iha what is your name?” magiliw na tanong sa akin ng Lola ni Drake. Kahit pa may katandaan na sya kitang kita pa din sa kanya ang ganda na taglay nya, talaga sigurong nananalaytay sa dugo nila ang pagiging maganda at guwapo, well dahil na din siguro may lahi nga silang espanyol.

“I am Avrielle Akiesha Gomez po Ma’am” I answered to her.

“Oh so you’re a Gomez? How are you related to Achilles and Yelena Gomez?” she asked.

I knew it.

“Uhm I am Senator Gomez’s daughter po,” I said to her.

“Oh! Do you know I am quite close with your mom! Ang dalas naming na magkita sa mga events like charity balls and foundations!” she happily told me.

I was lost for words for a little while, I was about to say that Tita Yelena was not my Mom when Drake suddenly speak.

“Actually Abuela, Tita Yelena is not Kiesha’s mom, she is the daughter of Senator Gomez in another woman.” Drake straight forwardly said to his Abuela.

The shock was very evident in the face of the old lady.

“Oh I am very sorry Iha! I am so sorry! I didn’t know about it, Oh God my apologies Iha, I am really sorry,” nahihiyang sabi nito at saka hinawakan ang kamay ko.

I couldn’t help but give a sly smile. I know it wasn’t her fault, Tita Yelena and Dad always make sure that people will not know a think about me. That was also the reason why they don’t want me to live in the Casa De Gomez.

“It was nothing po, it wasn’t your fault there is absolutely nothing to apologize about. No worries po Ma’am,” nakangiti ko namang sabi sa Abuela ni Drake, I don’t want her to feel guilty or sorry about me because it was really not her fault at all.

“No iha, I am really sorry. I really didn’t know I hope you wont take this against me?” the old lady asked again.

She really looked so sorry about it, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“Nako Ma, wag mo isipin na nasaktan si Avrielle, maybe its just awkward for her but that’s nothing to her, hindi ba Avie sweetie?” nakangiting sabi sa akin ni Tita Darlene.

I couldn’t help but smile at her she is really such and angel!

I mouthed my thank you to her.

“Yes naman po, that was really nothing. I actually get that a lot po. So I don’t really mind it na po, Please don’t feel sorry po Mrs. Lacson that was really nothing po, I am honestly fine po,” nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya.

She smiled genuinely at me and Tita Darlene gave me a thumbs up to say that I did well.

“You don’t call me Mrs. Lacson Iha! You should call me Abuela!” nakangiti na sabi nito sa akin.

“If you are our Drakey’s friend you are practically a family iha, you can call me Abuela and this is your Lola Sebastian you can call him abuelo, right honey?” naka-ngiti na tanong niya sa Lolo ni Drake na ngayon ay naka  ngiti na tumatango sa kanya.

“Ofcourse iha you can also call me abuelo,” sabi naman nito sa akin.

“Okay po, Ma- Abuelo and Abuela but I am not Drake’s friend po,” sabi ko naman na nagpatawa sa kanilang lahat.

“I am just a schoolmate to her, while I consider her as my friend,” Drake said that made everyone laugh.

“Mabagal ka pala apo!” Biro ni Abuelo sa kanya.

“Lo, panong mabagal ako? Eh hindi pa nga kami mag-kaibigan pero nasa family meet and greet na tayo?” tumatawang biro naman ni Drake sa Abuelo nya.

I had no energy to contradict his joke because I was laughing so hard. Inaasar sya ng Lolo at Daddy nya, While Drake is still trying to look and stay cool in front of me.

I couldn’t help but smile.

So this is how it feels to eat with a family?