The Meeting
"Dad?"
Jongin looked up from the fashion magazine he's currently reading to look at his son.
"Anak, do you need anything?"
For some reason, biglang namula ang mukha ng anak niyang si Jaechan.
"Um... I want you to meet someone tomorrow. Is that okay?"
Jongin folded the magazine closed and stared at his son. "Is this someone your lover?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jaechan. "Dad! Hindi po."
"Based from your reaction, it's more like hindi pa. But you're heading there, hm?"
At nang hindi sumagot si Jaechan, Jongin stood up from his seat.
"Tomorrow, you said? I'll cancel all my schedule tomorrow, Jae. I'd like to meet this person."
Jaechan couldn't help but gulped. Hindi naman siya ganito kakabado kanina when he was talking to his Papa Soo about the same thing.
Sakto namang pumasok ang tatay niyang si Kyungsoo galing sa kusina.
"Ni, did Jae tell you already?" tanong ni Kyungsoo sa asawa.
"Yes, I'll clear all my sched tomorrow. Gucci can wait. Kailangan ko munang kilatisin kung sino man ang ipapakilala sa atin ni Jae."
Lumapit si Kyungsoo sa asawa. Kyungsoo rubbed his husband's arm. "Jongin, relax. Save the hostility for later, if it turns out that the guy is not fit for our son. But I trust Jae. He makes good decisions." Nilingon ni Kyungsoo ang anak. "Right, son?"
"Yes, Papa. Seoham is a nice guy."
"See? If our son says he's a nice guy, then he must be one."
Jongin hummed. "Basta ako ang makakalaban niya pag sinaktan niya si Jae. This Seoham guy better be at his best tomorrow."
*****
Jongin was expecting a lot when he said Seoham should be at his best. So far, the guy seems to be a nice kid. But one thing irks Jongin about the guy.
Apparently, Seoham is a walking fashion disaster. Nakalimutan ata ng anak niya na bigyan ng memo ang manliligaw na malaking issue para kay Jongin ang fashion sense. Hindi naman para sabihing mababaw na tao si Jongin, pero Jongin has worked in the fashion industry long enough to say na fashion is not just what's the trend, but speaks volumes about someone's personality.
"So tell me about yourself, Seoham..." panimula ni Jongin. Nasa isang first class restaurant sila that Kyungsoo booked for them.
"Good afternoon po, um..."
"Call me Sir," saad ni Jongin. Which made Kyungsoo nudged him on the side. Kyungsoo looked at him with brows raised in an unspoken question.
"He has not earned the right to call me Tito yet," paliwanag ni Jongin na na-gets agad ang tingin ng asawa.
"Dad!" ingit ni Jaechan.
"Do you always dress like this?" tanong ni Jongin kay Seoham imbes na makinig sa anak.
"Opo, Sir. May hindi po ba kayo gusto sa suot ko?"
"Everything," sagot ni Jongin.
"Jongin!" "Dad!" sabay na sigaw nina Kyungsoo at Jaechan. At sa tono ng dalawa, natahimik so Jongin. Alam niya ang kakahinatnan niya pag nagsalita pa siya. No babe time from Kyungsoo at cold shoulder from Jaechan.
"Anyway, Seoham, tell us about yourself," sabi ni Kyungsoo nang may ngiti sa mga labi.
Halata naman ang pagkawala ng kaba ni Seoham nang mag take over si Kyungsoo sa usapan.
"I do visual arts design po at the same university as Jaechan. Working student din po ako at a restaurant. Hindi po mayaman ang pamilya ko at may isa akong kapatid. Pero masaya naman po kami."
"Ang sipag mo siguro," sabi ni Kyungsoo.
"Opo, Papa." sabat ni Jaechan. "Siya po nagpapa-aral sa sarili niya."
"Wow! Talaga ba? I commend you for that."
"Salamat po, Sir."
"Ano ka ba, call me Tito. Hindi ako ang asawa ko."
Kyungsoo side-eyed Jongin and the latter sighed in defeat.
"Call me Tito na lang din," bigla namang sabi ni Jongin.
"Talaga po?"
Jongin gave a curt nod. Hindi pa rin niya totally gusto ang lalaki pero natuwa siya sa narinig na kasipagan nito.
"Thanks, Dad," sabi ni Jaechan.
"Just let me set this straight, I can put up with the severely-uncoordinated articles of clothing, but once you hurt my Jaechan, I won't let you off easily."
"Naiintindihan ko po, Tito. Makakaasa po kayong hindi ko sasaktan si Jae."
"But I have to clear one thing," sabi ni Kyungsoo, "hindi naiiwasan ang masaktan sa isang relasyon. Minsan, hindi sinasadya na makasakit tayo. Ang hinihingi lang namin, Seoham, ay dapat marunong kang humingi ng tawad kapag nakasakit ka."
Ngumiti si Seoham. "Opo, Tito. Makakaasa po kayo."
"But I would rather you don't hurt my son in any way," singit ni Jongin, arms crossed over his chest.
Kyungsoo and Jaechan sighed simultaneously. Alam nila pareho na Jongin can be hard to sway at times.
*****
"Ni, let's talk," tawag ni Kyungsoo sa asawa pagdating nila sa bahay. Agad namang pumasok ang mag-asawa ng bahay at umupo sa may sofa. Naiwan si Jaechan sa may swing sa garden.
"Why were you being rude towards Seoham?" sumbat ni Kyungsoo sa asawa.
"I wasn't being rude, I was just being critical."
"Kahit na, you should have cut him slack. You heard his story."
"I wasn't acting the way I was because I doubt him, I just want to protect Jaechan."
"Dad, you were rude," biglang sabi ni Jaechan na nakikinig pala sa usapan nila. "And I don't appreciate that. But I know you mean well."
"Anak, all I ever want is your happiness."
"Which means you'll have to put up with Seoham and his fashion sense. Papa and I noticed how you scrutinized him on that."
"I'm sorry, anak. But you know fashion speaks loudly about a person."
Jaechan couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Not everyone is a fashion model, Dad."
"Does that mean if I dressed up in rags, you'd love me any less?" Kyungsoo asked Jongin, pouting.
"I'd love you in anything!" sagot naman ni Jongin.
"So does Jaechan with Seoham. So please stop with the fashion argument."
Jongin sighed. "Okay."
Jaechan let out a breath of relief. "Thanks, Dad." Naglakad na siya papunta sa kwarto niya nang marinig niyang magsalita ulit ang dad niya.
"Soo, I'd love you in anything. But you know what's my favorite?"
"What?"
"When you wear nothing."
Jaechan couldn't help but cringe as he scurries towards his room to his parents giggling at each other.