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Chapter 15: Meeting The Family

So I went to Palawan with Noah for his niece's birthday and also my first time meeting his family. Ang parents lang ni Noah, his sister and Chloe's husband, and then their daughter who just turned three years old. They celebrated the girl's birthday na sila-sila lang. And I also felt happy that I could be a part of it.

"Noah's here, Mom." Chloe immediately announced when she saw me and Noah arrived.

Nauna na sila rito sa Palawan sa amin. We arrived the next day. At mamaya pa rin ang birthday ni Alaia. We aren't late.

Agad kong nakita na bumaling lahat sa amin ni Noah ang pamilya niya. Until Chloe chuckled at her twin brother's reaction. At nang balingan ko naman si Noah ay nakita kong halos nakasimangot na siya sa pamilya niya o sa kapatid niya na tumawa lang naman. Napangiti na lang din ako sa kanila.

"Noah..." His Mom went to us first. Nakasunod naman sa Mommy nila sina Chloe.

"Mom," Noah greeted his mom with a kiss on her cheek. Pagkatapos ay sunod na rin niya akong pinakilala sa pamilya niya. "Mom, this is Zephaniah... Zeph, this is my Mom, Patricia Irizari..." At pinakilala rin ako ni Noah sa Dad niya at sa husband na rin ni Chloe. Pati na sa pamangkin niya.

Alaia was such a sweet girl. Humalik pa ito sa pisngi ko. I also politely greeted Noah's family. And to be honest, I felt nervous, too. Naisip ko na paano kung hindi ako magustuhan ng pamilya ni Noah? Pero pinili ko pa rin na dalhin nang maayos ang sarili ko ngayon lalo na at nasa harapan ako ng buong pamilya ni Noah. Ayaw ko siyang mapahiya nang dahil sa akin at ayaw ko rin ipahiya ang sarili ko in front of his whole family. So I just tried to behave well and set aside my worries for now.

Pero maayos din naman ako na tinanggap ng family ni Noah. Nakilala ko na si Chloe noong pumunta pa siya ng Dumaguete, at ngayon ay okay lang din naman ang husband niya. Okay lang din ang parents ni Noah pareho.

And I know that Noah's mom was a fashion model. She really had the nice body and pretty face even up to this day. But when I saw Noah's Dad, I realized that he's just as gorgeous as his father.

"Happy third birthday, Alaia!" Binati ko ang pamangkin ni Noah at binigay na rin sa kaniya ang gift ko. I just bought it from Dumaguete. Namili lang ako roon sa mall. I hope she likes it.

Ngumiti naman sa akin ang magandang batang si Alaia. "Thank you, tita!" She said and even hugged me.

She's such a sweet little angel. I couldn't help it but to imagine my future as a mom, too. Napatingin ako kay Noah na nanatili rin naman sa tabi ko.

We had dinner with Noah's family. Also in celebration for Alaia's birthday. Pagkatapos ay nagpahinga na rin muna kami sa kani-kaniya naming kinuhang private villas dito sa isang resort sa Palawan. Kakarating lang din kasi namin ni Noah kanina, so his family advise us to rest now.

"I know you're tired. You should go first and use the bathroom. So that you can also rest early." sabi sa akin ni Noah pagkapasok namin sa villa namin.

Tumango naman ako sa kaniya at sumunod na. Medyo napagod na nga rin ako at galing pa sa biyahe namin papunta rito sa Palawan.

Kaya naman pumunta na muna ako at nauna na sa kaniyang gumamit ng bathroom. Habang naiwan naman siya sa labas. Pero hindi na rin ako nagtagal pa sa banyo dahil parang medyo inaantok na rin ako at gusto ko na lang magpahinga na agad ngayon hanggang sa makatulog.

When I went out of the bathroom, hinanap ko si Noah at narinig ko ang mga boses nila ng mukhang Mommy niya nga sa labas lang ng villa namin. And I heard them talking.

"Are you really serious about this, son?" I heard Noah's mom asking him.

"Yes, Mom." Narinig ko naman ang sagot ni Noah.

Hindi ko naman sinasadyang makinig sa usapan ng mag-ina. Narinig ko na lang sila na nag-uusap pagkatapos kong manggaling sa bathroom at hinanap ko si Noah. And he didn't lock the door behind him kaya naman narinig ko lang din sila agad.

I heard Tita Patricia sighing. "I'm sorry, son. It's just that, wala ka pang siniseryoso na relasyon mo noon. Except for..." She let out another sigh before she continued. "That's why I worry about you, Noah Miguel." sabi ni Tita Patricia kay Noah.

"I'm all right now, Mom. It's fine." I heard Noah trying to reassure his mother.

At napaatras na rin ako matapos kong marinig na mukhang babalik na rito sa loob ng room namin si Noah after ng pag-uusap nila ng Mommy niya. I didn't want him to catch me eavesdropping on them. Although I didn't really mean to.

And that night when I was trying to sleep on the bed I've been thinking about what I heard from Noah's mom. That he wasn't serious with his past relationships back then, but except for one person... And I thought that who it might be?

Halos hindi pa mawala sa isipan ko ang pag-iisip ko nito kahit pa sa sumunod na araw namin sa Palawan. I just got distracted by my spending time with Noah's family and also doing the activities Palawan offers to its guests.

We did visit the Puerto Princesa underground river. I haven't been here before as well. Dad was busy with the business. At si Mommy rin sa kay Kiah. My parents were always busy with my sickly twin sister na pabalikbalik din noon pa man sa ospital. So we couldn't really enjoy family vacations like this.

At kung magpapaalam naman ako noon na sasama sa mga kaibigan, my parents wouldn't also allow me for many reasons. Pero naisip ko rin noon na baka excuse lang nila iyon dahil ang totoo ay ayaw lang din nila na nakakagala ako at nag-eenjoy, while my sister just stays at home...

Was it my fault that Kiah was just always sick? Why did I have to suffer and cannot enjoy myself as well because she couldn't... I thought that it was unfair.

Pero winala ko na lang din agad sa isipan ko ang mga problema ko na naiwan sa Manila.

I did island hopping with Noah's family in Palawan. We did exploration on the place and the reefs—nag-scuba diving and snorkeling kami. Iyong mga ibang ginawa nga namin ay halos hindi ko pa nagagawa noon, but Noah who was more experienced was always there to guide me every step of the way. And then I just relaxed in the place with Noah and his family.

"So, Zeph, how did you and my brother really met? In Dumaguete, right?" Chloe excitedly asked me when I was left alone with her and Tita Patricia. Nakikinig din sa amin si tita.

Tumango naman ako sa tanong sa akin. "Yes, we met in Dumaguete City..." I said and then just proceeded to telling them just the basics like that we just met on the same place, at kung paano na lang din namin ni Noah nagustuhan ang Dumaguete City.

"So you study in Dumaguete, hija?"

Bumaling ako kay Tita Patricia at tumango. "Opo. I'm taking Bachelor of Fine Arts in Silliman University." I answered.

"Wow! You're an arts major!"

Ngumiti ako kay Chloe at dinagdagan pa ang sinabi. "Graduating na rin po ako next sem." I said.

Ngumiti lang naman sa akin si Tita Patricia at wala nang sinabi. Hanggang sa kalaunan ay tuluyan na ring gumaan ang loob ko sa mag-ina.

"He was actually grumpy as a kid, hija. Ni hindi marunong ngumiti ang batang ito noon! Let me show you some of Noah's picture when he was younger." Then tita showed me in her phone. "You see..." Ngumiti siya habang pinapakita sa akin ang mga pictures ni Noah noong bata pa siya.

Napangiti na rin ako habang nakikita ang mga iyon.

"He even used to have this bed hair before even if we brush his hair it would still pop up and get messy." Tita added.

Nangingiti naman akong tumango. Noah was a fair-skinned child. And had this a bit messy spikey dark hair. Mukha pa siya tuloy character sa anime noon. I can't help it but to chuckle at his cute old photos.

"Mom, stop..." Noah begged his mom not to show me more of his past pictures.

Pero hindi siya pinansin ni tita at nagpatuloy lang sa ginagawa. Ngumiti lang naman ako sa nakasimangot naman na si Noah. Hanggang sa nang matapos na at nagpaalam muna si tita ay lumipat ako sa sunlounger kung saan naman nakaupo roon si Noah. I sat beside him there. At nagsimula ko siyang inalo.

"Don't be upset about it anymore. I enjoyed seeing your old pictures." I said and I smiled to him.

"Really?"

Nakangiti naman akong tumango sa kaniya. "Yes. Mukha ka palang iritado at suplado noong bata ka." And I can't help but to chuckle.

Sinimangutan naman ako ni Noah. Tumigil ako sa tawa ko and I cupped his face with my hands. And I quickly gave him a peck on lips. Pagkatapos ay pinanggigilan ko na lang din ang pisngi niya na kinurot ko. "You're so cute, babe..." And then I kissed his cheek.

Nilambing ko siya hanggang sa um-okay na rin ang mood niya ulit. He's such an adorable big baby.

"I saw Tristeen back in Manila before we went here in Palawan. Nagbigay din kasi sila ng gift for Alaia's birthday. Hinahanap ka raw ng inaanak mo, ni Arabella. When was the last time that you visited the kid?" Chloe spoke of someone I didn't know. Maybe their family friend...

Nakita ko na mukhang natigilan naman sina Tita Patricia na tumingin sa kay Chloe. And when I turned to Noah and saw na hindi siya agad nakasagot sa kapatid niya.

"And also, they're inviting us to their wedding. Finally, magpapakasal na rin sina Aaron at Tristeen." Chloe said.

"Chloe."

Bumaling ako kay Tita Patricia nang tawagin niya ang anak. Tumingin din si Chloe sa Mommy niya. "What, Mom? I'm just saying that Noah's childhood friend is getting married. What's wrong with that?" Chloe turned her eyes from their mom to her twin brother. "He can also bring Zeph with us to attend the wedding, too!" Chloe sounded excited.

And Tita Patricia just sighed. Habang tahimik lang din naman si Noah. I watched him beside me.

I even heard Tita Patricia and Chloe na mukhang medyo may pinagtalunan nang silang dalawa lang ang nandoon after we all had dinner.

"Why would we avoid talking about Tristeen, Mom? Matagal na iyong nangyari, and I'm sure Noah has moved on. He has Zeph now." I heard Chloe saying this to Tita Patricia.

"Bago pa lang ang kapatid mo at ang girlfriend niya, Chloe..."

"So what, Mom? I just want my brother to completely move on. And you don't know how happy I was to learn that he's already met someone now!"

I heard Tita Patricia sighing.

"Mom, I just want my brother to stop suffering from the past... Noah deserves to be truly happy with someone now. Alam ko na may kasalanan din naman siya. He was an idiot. But he's still my brother. At may kasalanan din naman si Tristeen sa mga nangyari. It wasn't Noah's fault alone. So he shouldn't be too guilty about it until now. He deserves to move on as well." Chloe said.

Wala na rin akong narinig na may sinabi pa si Tita Patricia pagkatapos.

"Sino si Tristeen?" tanong ko kay Noah nang kaming dalawa na lang sa villa namin pagkatapos.

Bumaling naman siya sa akin at nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. "Uh... She's a friend of mine and Chloe..." And then he looked away to turn to the closet in our room and started changing his clothes.

"Ganoon ba..." Hindi ko naman inalis ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

Muli siyang bumaling sa akin at tumango. "Yes." He just said.

And then our conversation ended there that night. Although I was already feeling bothered about someone I only knew first by her name...