Chapter 8
Family
It was a fine morning, maaga akong nagising at naghanda, wala akong plano buong araw kung hindi ang magrelax, Sunday ngayon kaya walang trabaho, last week ko na rin sa trabaho para maghanda  sa susunod na pasukang darating.
Usually Ivan would spend his Sunday's with his family, of course he have to join that, I am forcing him to do that,  minsan lang sila magkasama sama ng pamilya niya dahil sa trabaho nila kaya kailangan nilang bumawi, I always call him at 7 AM every Sunday, minsan ay siya pa ang tumatawag para manggising, we would spend our night texting or in the call.
I call him and it is just ringing for a split of seconds before he answered, his voice in the morning is really soothing my system.
"Good morning, wake up na." narinig ko lamang ang pag angal niya. 
"Hmmm, good  morning." His husky voice in bed always sent me shivers down my spine.
"I will eat first, sisimba kayo, 'di ba?" I asked watching every steps I make down the stairs.
Before I make it to the last few steps he mentioned that I her mother wants me to join me for this day.
"Tinatanong ni mama if gusto mo raw sumama?" he asked that makes me smile, the heartbeat of mine doubled, I can feel the light nervous in my system.
Ngayon ko pa lang makakasama ng lubos ang mama at papa niya, laging ang kapatid lamang ang nakakausap at kilala ko sa kanila, sa maliit na pag uusap naming ng kapatid niya, kumportable ako sa kaniya dahil buwan lamang ang pagitan naming dalawa though he is in junior high school and I am in college. He also have a light vibe fit his soft features unlike the hard features of Ivan.
"Sure, is a white dress, okay?" I look at my dress before stepping down to the last step of the stairs. I am just wearing a simple white dress that has crystals on the waist line partnered with my  white sandals, I am planning to go to the beach the reason why I braided my hair. I just want to sketch there at humiga sa buhangin, months ago pa ng huli kong punta sa dagat.
"Just make sure it will not show too much of your skin. Susunduin kita sa inyo, ipapagpaalam kita." That is what he said before we said our good byes. I walk to the kitchen and saw my mom and dad talking of something, they are still limiting me but I am still happy with the things I am experiencing right now, I am just waiting for them to break my happiness like what they have mastered to.
"Good morning, hija" tumatango lamang ako sa tuwing kinakausap nila ako. I do not have anything to say to them, I just really cant.
"Sasama ako kay Ivan sa pagsimba kasama ang pamilya niya." They look at me and smile. I just finish my food and stand up, I heard Ivan's truck coming. 
Hindi ko na hinintay si Ivan sa hapag kainan, pumunta na ako sa pinto para salubungin siya. Like what he always do he would kiss may forehead and hug,  he would whisper that "I miss you" everytime we saw each other after days of not seing each other.
"Where's  your parents?" he asked, I look at the dining hall and he look at it too, kinuha niya ang kamay ko at giniya ako papunta roon.
"Tita, sasama po si Selene  sa amin ng pamilya ko sa pagsimba, ayos lang po ba?" my mother just smile, he just look at my father at tinanguan siya nito sign of their approval.
"Anong oras uwi niyo?" kumunot ang noo ko, bakit 'niyo'?
I look at Ivan, he is wearing a white polo sleeve na nakatupi hanggang siko  niya, it was loosely tucked inside his dark pants, he look like a model with that kind of outfit, my eyes land on his shoes, he is wearing white shoes, I once again look at my outfit, we are like couple well actually we are.
"Sa amin na rin po sana siya mag dinner" his voice have respect on each word that would come out of his mouth, maybe the reason why my parents are so fund of him.
"Yes, iuwi mo lang pagkatapos kumain." Ngumiti lamang ako at hinila na si Ivan  before we turn our back my mom said some words that make my day in light mood.
"You look good together, don't waste each other." My parents already knew about my relationship with Ivan, I told them about it one night and they asked about Ivan to come but it is too late already. So he just come the next morning to finally tell it my parents.
"What is your plan next?" my father asked him, nagugulat lagi ako sa mga tanong ni papa, he was the one who  trusted Ivan the most yet he does not trust him that much for  me.
"She told me na gusto niya rin pong pumasok sa school, I will be the one to get and send her home, Sir." Magiliw niyang sagot, my mother look at him with disapproval in her face, agad nag unahan ang kaba sa akin, bakit ka pa kasi sumagot
"And?" I am confused what my father wants to hear
"I am not in the position to tell what will happen to our relationship, Sir, I will let Selene choose what we should do, as of now, I just want her to explore the world, if you will allow us."
His voice are full of respect but his answer caught me. He will really do that for me?  Does it mean I can finally leave this house?
"You should  call us tito and tita from now on."
Nakarating kami sa kanila at naghihintay na roon ang pamilya niya. They have a small gate, their house is a two storey and  I admire the theme of it, just white and some carved woods making a classic design. Their house is a bit old but pretty common, humahabol sa panahon ngayon, hindi ganoon kalakihan ang bahay pero tama lang sa kanila. Hindi na kami pumasok pa.
"Ayos lang sayo mag jeep?" he asked, I smiled excitedly. That is my first time to ride one, I can finally experience that.
Inalalayan niya ako sumakay sa jeep, tumabi siya akin, sa dulo sana ako para makita lalo ang tanawin sa labas pero hindi niya ako pinayagan, siya ang umupo sa gilid at sa kabila ko si Ian, kapatid niya. Nasa harap namin ang mga magulang niya. His mom is wearing a floral white dress, perfectly suits her.
Nang umihip ang hangin dala ng pag andar ng jeep na sinasakyan ay muntik nang umangat ang palda ng dress ko, agad itong hinawakan ni Ivan, his palm is now at my lap, hindi niya na ito inalis doon, nagtahip ang damdamin ko sa munting galaw niya na iyon, his skin is touching mine that is sending shivers to my body down my spine.
Tumingin lamang ako sa kaniyang mga magulang dala ng kakahiyan na dahil nakatingin sila sa aming dalawa kaya tumingin na lamang ako sa labas. Ivan is looking at that too, the sun light coming from the sun is highlighting the leaves of the trees, tumatakas ang liwanag mula sa mga butas ng dahon, nakakaginhawa sa pakiramdam ang makita ang tanawing ganoon.
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at nasa harap na kami ng simbahan, pinauna akong bumaba ni Ivan, pumunta ako sa gilid hanggang sa makababa  ang buong pamilya niya, kahit ang pagsimba ay unang experience para sa akin though I still have the communication with Him through my prayers.
I look at him and smile, kinuha niya ang akin kamay at pinagsalikop, nauna ng maglakad ang pamilya niya papunta sa loob ng malaking simbahan.
"Pwede bang sumama sa inyo sumimba tuwing Linggo?" I asked shyly
He smiled before he answered, "Just don't wear short dresses again, okay?"
"Okay." I smiled sweetly at pumasok na rin kami. Wala akong alam sa mga dasal na binibigkas nila kaya sinabi niyang tuturuan niya ko, his mom give me a small book, naroon daw ang mga dasal, nagpasalamat ako dahil doon.
"Peace be with you" that word is what people are saying one time at the church, kumunot ang noo kong tumingin kay Ivan, he kissed his mother, tumango lamang siya sa ama at kapatid na katabi ko.  Humarap sa akin at hinalikan ang noo ko, it feels so good to be kissed in the front of Him. It is like he is allowing to witness the love we are sharing.
"I choose you." He whispered to my ears, ngumiti lamang ako, I was as always nervous with that words coming from him. Her mother come to me and kiss  my cheeks, she also did that to Ian and tito.
So this is how serving him with a family feels like.
This is what the family I have been dreaming on, I think I already found it on Ivan's. Pagkatapos ng simba ay tumungo kami sa isang restaurant sa bayan,  is this what they are doing to spend time? Naaaliw ako sa panonood sa pamilya niya I even suggested to Ivan na ako na ang magbabayad dahil masaya naman ako, he only smiled and said that his dad is responsible for that and his family might get offended, I did not think about that.
His dad cameback with food, a waiter is in his back to help him, nilapag niya sa harap ko ang pagkain, I said my thank you and he only smiled. His family is kind to me, they are making me laugh that I feel I am already part of their family.
"Si Kuya Ivan dati ate umiiyak pa sa gilid kapag natatalo ko sa laro."kwento ni Ian, I look at Ivan, I can not believe his a crying baby back then, wala sa itsura niya ang umiyak sa ganoong dahilan. I look at him with disbelief he just glared at me and start eating too. Nagpatuloy ang pagku kwento ng pamilya niya sa akin habang kumakain kami. They are fun to be with.
"CR lang ako" he said before we finished our food, tumayo na siya, sinundan ko ng mga mata ang imahe niya  habang naglalakad papunta sa direksyon patungo roon, naputol lamang ng nagsalita ang kaniyang ina, I look at her with happy eyes.
I feel the awkwardness surrounding our table when he is gone beside me. "Alam ba ng pamilya mo ang tungkol sa inyo ni Ivan?"
Ngumiti ako at tumango. "They support us and happy with my decision, you raised a good man, Ma'am, you should not worry about that." I said proudly at her.
Her family is the family I dreamed to  have but as time goes by I know I can not have that with the parents I have, I will never have that. 
"Bakit hindi ka marunong magsimba?Hindi ka ba Catholic?"
My parents are both Catholic pero dahil sa trabaho ay hindi na sila nagsisimba, I just smile out of embarrassment.
"My parents wouldn't allow me to go out." I said out of nowhere, nagulat na lang ako sa sarili ko, nakatingin lamang ako sa kawalan  habang sinasagot siya. I suddenly remembered how much they don't want me to experience new things, they all want me to do is to study business and other things that would make their business partners admire me.
She reached out for my hand, I look at her with a smile. "You are already part of our family. so do not let sadness eat the whole you, okay?"
I look at the 2 men sitting in front of me. They smiled at me at tumango, I give them my brightest smile and thanked them, nang bumalik si Ivan ay nagpasya na kaming mag grocery muna. While we are on the way to the supermarket near the restaurant I slowed down the reason why Ivan look at me.
"You are lucky to have your family." I said with a hint of ghost smile in my face.
"You are part of my family too, I am really lucky." He said and kissed my forehead before  pulling me to his family.
I am so lucky to have this man in my life.  I think I just want to enjoy each day being with him. He is unique in his own way, making may heart start a race inside the cage, he is the only one who can do that.
I just enjoy the rest of the day spending with his family. Claiming in my mind that I am really part of his family, that I am one of the Bardon.