OF INLAWS AND SEASHELLS...
Deo's gf, Shiziel, was in town and he wanted me to help his folks entertain her while she's here and before she leaves for the US. Since she'll be here Tuesday and her flight, Thursday, we planned of dinner Tuesday night then gimik somewhere, then lunch at Josephine's in Tagaytay. I was to take off Wednesday from work so I could go with them to Tagaytay.
After work last Tuesday, I hitched a ride with my boss, Tita Agnes. I was supposed meet them at Cecile's between 6-630. Since, we left the office around 430 and there was no traffic, we got to Las Piñas with plenty of time to kill. So, we had coffee muna at Figaro, afterwhich she went home and I headed to Cecile's.
When I got to the resto, they weren't there yet. It's crazy how after all these years, five years in November, I still feel nervous everytime I meet with Dennis' parents. Maybe because it was the first affair of their family that I'm having with them and Dennis isn't around. I have no problems dealing with his sis, Odette, anymore. Maybe because we've been spending quite a lot of time together lately, preparing for her debut party. While Deo and I chat on the net almost everyday, so he, too, I don't mind having to put up a front with anymore. Not that I put on a mask when I'm with them but face it, it's different when your dealing with parents in law.
Dennis' folks is not the modern, "apir tayo, ma-dad" types, at least not yet anyways. They are the traditional types who wouldn't try anything new, like new home decors, until they see how it looks on other people's homes. No, they're not gaya-gaya, they are just - traditional. Traditional people scares me sometimes. You see, I can be tactless. Traditional parents in-law plus modern, convenient, sometimes tactless daughter in-law equals... you keep guessing.
Add the fact that I am 3 1/2 years older than Dennis. If you don't know how traditional people thinks about girl being older than boy....well, duh???
Sometimes, there are attempts at modern ways. Whenever I chat with Tita on the net, she would use words like: naks, wow, bonding sila, kina-career, or even put emoticons on her messages. I say, what the...? Okay, A for effort.
So as I waited for them, my head was aching from all these ponderings. Crazy no? Ewan ko but these are the few times kasi that I am forced to think before I act, and I'm soooo not like that. In laws do make you feel upside down.
When they finaly arrived, Odette came thru the door first which was a bit relieving. At least I got to chicka-chicka with her and relax a bit before facing the parents. Then Deo's gf. I kissed her cheek and we hugged. We chat on then net often so we sort of "know" each other somehow. Then them. I took Tita's and Tito's hand para magmano then we sat down.
The mood wasn't that light. It was as if everyone was on the edge of their seats except for Odette. Shiziel, meeting everyone for the first time and intending to marry Deo was of course, nervous. She told me so while we were chatting earlier that day. Tito was doing the background check and Tita was doing the impressing half. I was torn between thinking: okay I was first in-law (not counting Deo's ex-wife), you're new, butt out; and gawd, they definitely like her better than me. Odette on the other hand was just hungry, she always is. :D
I made the first move. I asked Shiziel what we can call her coz everyone seems to be having a hard time pronouncing her name. Shiziel as spelled should be pronounced: SHEE-ZIYEL, right? Her US friends say it: SHIZL. Tita, since Shiziel's yahoo ID is bacolodgrl calls her Bacolod (huh?). Shiziel says: CHECHE, coz that's what her lola calls her. And so Cheche it was. No more shias;idglhq dhg...:D
Came ordering the food. Tita was in charge of ordering. Traditional that they were, she ordered the tried and tested food. Tito was happy with a beer. Odette and I were nudging elbows because there were some that we'd like to order but couldn't get the message accross her Mom and Cheche was just quiet. When Tita was almost done, she asked us what fish dish we'd like to have. Syempre Odette's fingers flew accross the menu. Then her Mom says: basta wag lang mahal ha... uh, okay.
The food came. There were lots of small talk. I felt, hey, we're all in the same boat and we're all just nervous. Cheche was really nice. I'm glad she was not antipatika or anything. Tito was still happy with his beer and Tita was still the impressing half. Odette was full and sleepy, and me, I just wanted to finish Odette's invites. I was tired. My brain needs rest from the ponderings a while ago.
Before we left the resto, my phone beeped. It was a text message from Dennis. It said: Kumusta, den? ano na ginagawa nyo? Kumusta si Seashell....nyeh.
