Across The Hallway

CHAPTER 24

AT THE TABLE

It was late Saturday afternoon when Jeffrey pulled his car up in front of Christine's condo. Through the glass walls of the lobby, he spotted her waiting for him. The moment she saw his car, a gentle smile spread across her face as she walked outside.

Jeffrey parked, got out, and met her halfway. He greeted her with a quick, soft kiss before opening the passenger door for her.

He walked around to the driver's seat and started the engine. They drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Jeffrey cleared his throat, his eyes staying on the road.

"I'm actually pretty nervous today."

Christine turned to him, the smile on her face softening. "Why?"

Jeffrey tightened his grip on the steering wheel and let out a quiet breath. "Because I'm meeting your parents."

A small laugh escaped Christine as she shook her head. "Don't worry." She smiled at him reassuringly. "They don't bite."

"I know." Jeffrey smiled to himself. "I'm just hoping they like me."

"They will." She said

"You sound pretty sure." He answered

Christine glanced at him before looking back at the road ahead. "Because I know them."

Jeffrey nodded, the nervous smile still on his face. Somehow, hearing her say that made him feel a little better.

An hour later, they entered a quiet, gated village in Alabang. Jeffrey slowed the car as they drove past tree-lined streets before pulling into the driveway of a large, elegant house. Despite its size, there was something warm and welcoming about it.

He stepped out, walked around the car, and opened the passenger door for Christine. They stood side by side for a moment, taking in the house before them.

Jeffrey looked at it quietly, a small smile forming on his face. "This feels like home."

Christine looked at the house, then back at him, her eyes bright with quiet affection. "It is." She smiled. "This is my home."

As they stepped inside, Jeffrey's eyes wandered around the entrance. Framed photographs lined one wall. There was a picture of Christine in a school uniform, another of her receiving what looked like a graduation medal, and a Christmas portrait with everyone smiling in matching red shirts. One frame caught his attention a little longer—a much younger Christine laughing beside Auntie Fe, both of them looking at someone just outside the camera.

A small smile found its way onto Jeffrey's face.

The house was beautiful, but it wasn't the high ceilings or the polished floors that stood out to him.

It was the memories on the walls.

Without realizing it, he already understood why Christine always spoke about home the way she did.

Together, they walked farther inside, where an older woman was already waiting for them. Her face lit up the moment she saw Christine. "Oh, hi, Christine! I've missed you!"

Christine's smile widened as she walked over to greet her. "Hi, Auntie Fe. How are you?"

"I'm great. I'm great." The older woman smiled warmly before her curious eyes shifted toward Jeffrey.

Christine glanced at him before looking back at the older woman. "Auntie Fe, this is Jeffrey... my boyfriend."

For a brief second, Auntie Fe simply stared at them. Then her face broke into an even bigger smile.

"Oh, my!" she said, bringing a hand to her chest. "Your first boyfriend! Christine, I'm so happy for you."

Jeffrey stepped forward and offered his hand with a polite smile. "It's nice to meet you, Auntie Fe."

She shook his hand warmly before letting out a soft laugh. "Oh, I'm not really her auntie," she said with an amused smile. "I've been her nanny since she was little."

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Jeffrey smiled politely before glancing at Christine. "So..." he said with a grin. "I've already met someone who knows all your childhood secrets."

Christine gave him a playful look, though she couldn't hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Let's not get into that right now."

Auntie Fe chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "All right, all right. We'll save those stories for another time."

She stepped aside and gestured toward the hallway with a welcoming smile.

"Come in," she said warmly. "Everyone's been waiting for you."

Christine led Jeffrey into the dining room, where her parents were already waiting.

The moment her mother saw them, she stood up and walked over with a warm smile. "I've missed you, my Christine."

Christine smiled as she wrapped her mother in a hug. "I've missed you too, Mom."

When they pulled away, her mother's attention shifted to Jeffrey, who stood quietly beside Christine. "So, this must be Jeffrey... your boyfriend."

Jeffrey stepped forward with a polite smile and offered his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Ma'am. I'm Jeffrey Reyes."

Before her mother could say another word, Christine's father walked over and gave his daughter a quick kiss on the cheek."It's been a while since you've visited us."

Christine gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Dad. I've been a little busy lately."

He raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile spreading across his face. "Busy with work... or busy with your love life?"

Christine laughed, already knowing where the conversation was going.

Jeffrey smiled and reached out to shake her father's hand. "It's nice to meet you too, sir. I'm Jeffrey Reyes."

Her father took his hand, but instead of letting go right away, he looked at Jeffrey for a moment.

"Jeffrey Reyes..." he repeated. "You're from the Reyes family?"

"Yes, sir."

A look of recognition crossed the older man's face. "Your father is Jaime Reyes, isn't he?"

Jeffrey nodded. "Yes, sir."

A smile slowly appeared on Christine's father's face. "Well, I'll be." He let out a quiet laugh before releasing Jeffrey's hand. "Jaime and I have known each other since Christine was still a little girl." He looked at Jeffrey with genuine curiosity. "How's your father doing these days?"

"He's doing well, sir," Jeffrey answered. "Still as busy as ever."

Another laugh escaped the older man. "That sounds like Jaime."

He waved a hand with an easy smile. "And enough with the 'sir.' Just call me Tito."

He glanced at his wife, who smiled in agreement. "And call her Tita."

Jeffrey smiled, feeling some of the nervousness leave his shoulders. "Thank you... Tito."

"That's better." Tito Samuel gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's eat before the food gets cold."

Everyone settled into their seats around the dining table as Auntie Fe carried in the last few dishes. Soon the table was filled with caldereta, adobo, sisig, tinola, and steaming white rice. It wasn't a fancy dinner, but everything smelled like it had been cooked with care.

Auntie Fe lingered near the doorway, ready to head back to the kitchen, but Christine noticed and smiled. "Auntie Fe, come eat with us."

"Oh, no." She waved her hands. "You all go ahead."

Christine shook her head. "You've always eaten with us. That hasn't changed."

Auntie Fe looked toward Christine's parents.

Christine's mother smiled warmly. "Sit down, Fe."

Her father nodded in agreement. "You don't need an invitation."

A smile slowly spread across Auntie Fe's face as she pulled out a chair. "Thank you."

As everyone filled their plates, the conversation stayed light. They talked about Christine's work, how busy everyone had been over the past few weeks, and the small things they had missed since the last time they were all together.

Little by little, the nervousness Jeffrey had carried with him on the drive over began to disappear. He found himself smiling more, joining the conversation naturally instead of worrying about saying the right thing.

Dinner had only just begun, but it already felt less like meeting Christine's family...

As everyone settled into their meal, the conversation drifted from one topic to another. They talked about work, recent family gatherings, and the little things everyone had missed over the past few weeks. The laughter came easily, and before long, the last bit of nervousness Jeffrey had carried with him disappeared.

After a while, Tito Samuel set his fork down and looked across the table at Jeffrey.

"So, Jeffrey," he said, "how's work been?"

Jeffrey swallowed the bite he had been eating before answering. "Busy," he admitted with a small laugh. "But I like being busy."

"What are you working on these days?"

"A few commercial projects." Jeffrey shrugged. "Nothing too exciting to talk about, but they keep me on my toes."

Tito Samuel smiled knowingly. "That's usually how it goes."

Jeffrey nodded. "People only notice our work when something goes wrong."

That earned a quiet laugh around the table.

"I suppose that's true," Tito Samuel said. "Engineering isn't exactly the kind of job people think about every day."

"They shouldn't have to," Jeffrey replied. "If we're doing our job right, everything just works."

Tito Samuel gave him an approving nod. "I like that answer."

Christine looked between the two of them without saying anything. She could tell her father wasn't simply making conversation anymore. He was quietly trying to understand the man sitting across from him.

Tito Samuel rested his arms on the table.

"I've known your father for a long time," he said. "Running a company isn't easy. There's always another problem waiting when you solve the first one."

Jeffrey smiled in agreement. "My father says the same thing."

"And what about you?" Tito Samuel asked. "Do you see yourself leading the company one day?"

Jeffrey didn't answer right away. He took a sip of water before setting the glass down. "I do." He smiled modestly. "But I know I still have a lot to learn."

That answer seemed to please the older man. "I'd be more worried if you said you already knew everything."

A small laugh spread around the table.

Jeffrey laughed too. "I definitely don't."

Christine smiled quietly to herself. She had seen this side of Jeffrey before. He was confident when it mattered, but he never pretended to know more than he did.

Tito Samuel nodded slowly. "That's a good mindset to have."

The conversation continued naturally after that. They spoke about work, employees, and the responsibility that came with leading other people. It wasn't about proving who knew more. It was simply two people sharing experiences from different stages of life.

Before taking another bite of his dinner, Tito Samuel looked at Jeffrey once more. "You have a good head on your shoulders."

Jeffrey smiled, a little embarrassed by the compliment. "Thank you, Tito."

Across the table, Christine caught her father's expression and smiled to herself. She had seen that look before. It was the same look he gave to people he respected.

For the first time that evening, she stopped wondering whether her father would like Jeffrey.

She already knew the answer.