C68 sixty eight

After the bewildering events of yesterday, we still managed to enjoy the rides with my friends, whom I seldom see. They even told me that Cyrus messaged them just to let them know about the surprise he had planned for me.

Being proposed to in front of my loved ones was the most beautiful idea for me. It really is different when it's done that way.

I adjusted my hair that swayed with the wind. I glanced at Cyrus, who tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, brushing against my face.

He smiled, as if I was the most invaluable person he had ever met.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

I bit my lower lip and nodded.

"Oh, My Baby, don't be, because I promised to build a happy family with you and to stay by your side for my lifetime," he said, approaching and caressing my hair. "They know the woman I'm going to marry will come, so don't worry about them. They won't bite or eat anyone," he joked.

I rolled my eyes as I heard his chuckle before he pulled me closer, as if asserting his ownership over me, that I was his, and he was mine.

"Son!" I heard Tita Alejandra's voice. "OMG, my future daughter-in-law is already here!" She hugged me, and I reciprocated.

"Mom, you hugged Selene before me, seriously?" Cyrus mouthed.

I gave Cyrus a disapproving look for his tone, seemingly jealous of Tita's action.

"Seriously, Cyrus?" I asked.

He grinned. "Just kidding, Baby," he said, pulling me closer again.

"You're so clingy, son! Watch out, Yoreh might get annoyed and leave you," Tita Alejandra teased him.

Cyrus chuckled. "Even if she gets annoyed, I won't let her leave me. Mom, please stop giving Selene that idea," he said, and both Tita Alejandra and I laughed.

"Just kidding, Tita!" I reassured her.

"OMG, Dear, you can call me Mama or Mom," she said.

My eyes widened, I bit my lower lip, and nodded.

Mama or Mom?

"Mom, where's Dad?" Cyrus asked.

"Oh, your dad is busy gossiping with his siblings over there. Most likely, they're exchanging gossip again, and your uncles probably have some juicy news," Tita... Mom laughed.

She shook her head while laughing.

I looked at Cyrus, who was also amused by his mom's words.

"I'll introduce Mom to Selene and some of our relatives," he said.

I felt a sudden rush of nerves upon hearing his words. I knew I should have been ready since yesterday, but I couldn't shake off the nervousness, even though he assured me that his relatives were nice and would like me.

I'm still nervous.

"Alright, actually, your uncles have been waiting for you guys for a while now, let's go," she said to us.

I took a deep breath, smiling nervously as Cyrus looked at me, his eyes seemingly telling me that everything would be okay, that I shouldn't worry.

"Armando, your child and his future wife are here," Mom announced.

His future wife. It sounds so nice to hear!

Uncle got alarmed and stood up, approaching us who were in front of their table.

"Ija!" he exclaimed, embracing me.

I glanced at Cyrus, who was laughing at his father's sudden hug.

"I knew from the moment I first saw you two that you would end up together! I could tell from the way Cyrus looked at you," he teased as he let go of his son.

"Is this the Yoreh you've been talking about, Armando?" the tall man, who I assumed was Uncle Ram, asked, turning to me.

"Yes, Tito Ram, she's Yoreh Selene, my fiancée," Cyrus introduced me.

"Hello, I'm Ram, I'm the brother of your father-in-law, Armando, and this one beside me is your Uncle Raphael, and next to him is your Uncle Alfredo," he said.

"Hello," I replied.

"Your future wife is really beautiful, Cyrus," Uncle Raphael exclaimed in amazement.

I immediately felt my cheeks flush. I wanted to respond with "That's silly, Uncle Raphael," but I didn't say it because I didn't want them to find me weird.

Uncle Alfredo nodded. "And she seems kind and respectful, not like some girls we know who are just passing through, even though we know them," he said.

I looked at Cyrus. Some girls, huh? So he's flirted with many others and introduced them to his family.

"Baby," he called out softly. "That's not what Uncle Alf meant. I mean, I introduced them to my ex-flings or whatever because they do background checks, and so do these uncles because they're gossipmongers. I haven't introduced them to any of my relatives except you. I swear! Cross my heart, hope to die!" He justified seriously.

I heard the older ones chuckle, so I felt a bit embarrassed. I looked at Cyrus because I was already starting to get annoyed by what he was saying. I was irritated, and I didn't know why.

I sighed, realizing that no matter how annoyed I was, as long as he looked at me with those sparkling and gentle eyes, my irritation would disappear. Just with his gaze alone, I knew I was defeated in situations like this.

He's mine anyway!

"Let's sit down first! That's all in the past; we shouldn't talk about it anymore. And you, Alfredo, stop being a gossip," Mom scolded.

Tito Alfredo scratched his head. "Sorry, let's sit down. Our wives are inside the kitchen preparing food," he said.

Cyrus held my elbow and guided me to an empty seat. We sat side by side, and his left hand rested on my right thigh, which made me hit his arm immediately.

"Stop it," I scolded.

But instead of listening to me, he just grinned and lightly squeezed my thigh. Because I was wearing a dress, I could feel the warmth of his palm against my skin.

"Cyrus, how old are you, Ija?" Uncle Raphael asked.

"I'm 24," I answered simply.

They nodded.

"And you, Cyrus?" Uncle Alfredo asked.

"27," Cyrus answered.

I was surprised when he suddenly kissed my hand in front of his relatives. I looked at Tito Armando, who was shaking his head and laughing, as if he couldn't believe how weird their son was acting.

"Excuse me," I whispered.

He smiled. "27," he repeated.

"You're older than Yoreh by a few years," Uncle Ram commented in amazement.

"Yeah, three years," Cyrus answered.

"I knew, Cyrus," Uncle Ram teased.