Day 4, Heavily Modified

So, today is that day I’ve planned. My parents are going to meet Marisa.

 

I really wish to just breezily go through it and be done with it but I can’t. I am not feeling too well because, as usual, I am nervous about the whole thing. Ironic as it might seem, since I’ve planned this meeting, but I really don’t know why I’m nervous about it. As such, I’ve called Marisa and said that we meet at the local mall, which became our usual spot of sorts.

 

When I arrived there, she flashed me her playful smile again and greeted me, “Yo! Today’s the day, right?”

 

“Yeah.” I said, with a straight face. I really wanted just collapse there since my knees were feeling weak, but I tended not to show it.

 

But as much as I’ve tried to hide it, she noticed it immediately as she examined my expression closely and then asked, “…Are you okay?”

 

Well, I guess I can’t really lie to her now, could I? After a pause, I said to her, “…Let’s go get some snacks. I don’t feel ready yet.”

 

And so we to pick a store and get some cake and tea, to relax myself from what was about to happen. The two of us shared this preference for meaty and savory food, but I simply needed tea to relax me and some sort of chocolate cake to cheer me up. And she does want something sweet from time to time, so we both decided on it.

 

While eating our snacks, she then asked me, “So, how about now? Are you ready?”

 

“Let’s stay here for a while, please.” I said. It was apparent that I still wasn’t feeling ready to face my parents with her.

 

“Damn it, man.” She exclaimed to me in a hushed tone. “Why did you plan this anyway if you’re just going to be nervous about it when it comes? What’s wrong with you?”

 

“I dunno.” I said to her. “I’m nervous. I feel really nervous. And don’t know why.”

 

“What do you mean you don’t know why?” Marisa then chastised me. “Nobody gets nervous without any reason at all, man. You should have a close reason why you are nervous right now.”

 

I then immediately answered, “It’s because I don’t know how my family will react to you.” It was a blunt answer, followed by a short pause. I then spoke up again. “…That’s the nearest answer I have right now.”

 

“Really?” She asked. “So why do think they won’t like me anyway? And why would it matter?”

 

“It’s not that it will matter, it’s just that I don’t want any dislike between them and you.” I said. “I simply don’t want any trouble.”

 

“Okay. So tell me how they act like. Your family, you know…” She then tore a piece from her cake using a fork and ate it.

 

“Alright.” I said. I drank some tea before I began to explain. “First of all, my parents. If I can sum them up for you, they’re well-meaning Catholic conservatives who are still sort of stuck in the seventies or eighties.”

 

“That doesn’t seem too bad.”She said.

 

“Well, my mom can become overbearing sometimes, and sometimes she can be superficial about how she will look to other people.” I continued giving details. “While my dad used to be a strict disciplinarian when we were kids, he became calmer now. Perhaps it was due to age.”

 

“I’m telling you now, perhaps your dad will like me.” She said to me. “And we’re just in the dating stage right now.”

 

“Perhaps.” I told her. “Besides, he’ll pretty much take any chance to get himself grandchildren. Or, you know, prove that I’m a normal person.”

 

“So what’s with the concern now, then?” she inquired.

 

“Religious differences.” I directly told her. “As much as I, my brother and my sister have different beliefs now, they might disapprove on how you don’t care about religion.”

 

“Well, if their own children have different beliefs from them right now, what do they care about me?” she asked some more.

“I dunno. I’m just too worried, I guess.” I said to her.

 

She then drank a bit of tea and then made a request. “Tell me more about your brother and sister, then, since we’ve talked about them.”

 

“There’s nothing much to say, since they won’t complain or care for sure, aside from the fact that they’re fraternal twins.”

 

“I see.” She said. “So, do you anymore problems about your family?”

 

“I have none.” I replied.

 

“Are you then ready now?” She directly asked me.

 

“Yeah.” I said, without hesitation.

 

“See? Isn’t that simple? You don’t have to worry about it.” She remarked. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

 

“I guess talking about them helped, you know?” I said to her.

 

There was then a short pause between us, as we took a bite from our cakes. Perhaps, I overestimated the matter of introducing her to my family. See, sometimes I tend to make things bigger than they seem. I have that tendency, and I don’t know why. Maybe, it’s just me being me.

 

“…Are you ready to leave now?” she asked.

 

“No.” I said. “Let’s finish the cakes first. It’s not a habit of mine to leave leftovers of cake.”