Since Sunday, I’ve been looking forward to the lunch date I had set with the ‘rents yesterday. Okay, I know its not like they don’t bring and fetch me from school everyday or its not like I spend all my weekends partying that I hardly see them, but really with my younger brother tagging along everywhere, I barely get the time to really sit down and have a decent conversation with them- not that there is a lot going on in my life, but still, there are simply times that I love to spend quality “alone time” with them. It was quite funny actually because my dad who’s been really busy for the past weeks finally got the low-down on my “circle” and let me tell you, my stories freaked him out.

HIS REACTION TO A STORY THAT I CAN’T DIVULGE HERE BECAUSE I’VE SWORN TO SECRECY. (Don’t worry I didn’t include names or anything, I do know how to keep a secret, I was just merely asking for advice, you know from a parent’s point of view, I so don’t tattle on my friends. Okay, that made me sound like a first grader, but I don’t tattle, okay?!)

DAD (HIS EYES HUGE, HIS LIPS TIGHT- ITS HIS “SHOCKED” LOOK):
“What?! How old is she?”
ME (WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REFILL MY COFFEE WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING TO DO SO):
“17. My age”
(My dad’s eyes are now wider, you can see the creases in between his eyebrows, uh-oh not a good sign)
DAD: “WHAT?! WHERE ARE HER PARENTS?!”
ME (HAPPY BECAUSE FINALLY I FOUND A TECHNIQUE TO FILL MY CUP WITHOUT ASKING FOR A REFILL): *shrugs* “With her. Don’t freak out about it, its normal”
DAD (STILL CAN’T MOVE ON FROM THE TOPIC WHEN BOTH MY MOM AND I OBVIOUSLY HAVE):
“How is it normal?”
MOM (WHO LETS OUT A BIG SIGH):
“Duh” (I am not making up these things, they actually talk like that)
(My dad finally lets the topic go but still obviously shocked. The conversation suddenly turns into lighter subjects until…)

MOM: “We saw *toot* smoking when we came to pick you up”
(I give my mom “the look” before indulging myself in the much-awaited ham and cheese sandwich..Hmm… it was really good by the way)
ME: “Uh…yeah, I think I saw him too.”
(I was about to take another bite when my dad reacted. Uh-oh. Remind me to never tell Carl who I find cute again. This kind of information always finds a way back to my dad)
DAD (Creases between the eyebrows forming again): “You know I allow to have crushes…”
( I cut him off… politely)
ME: “Uh…duh, I’m about to be 18, besides, I don’t like that guy anymore. Haay, you can be so KJ sometimes.(giggle)”
Dad (with a little sneer. I can see that he enjoys torturing me when it comes to these things. My dad the joker): “Even when you’re forty, I’ll continue being one if I know that the guy isn’t right”

(At this point, my mom and I look at each other and smile- we’ve heard this speech before)

Dad(continuing, obviously oblivious of the exchanged “looks”): “I tell you, if a guy has many vices then he isn’t a good one. He’d be a drunkard too and would be out every night. Choose one who knows what he wants in life, one who has priorities. Wag yung kung sino sino lang na walang direksyon! And don’t believe everything they say… Alam mo na!”

(I give him a smile. Its crazy because I know what I want and my dad knew too. He seriously has nothing to worry about.)

ME: “Uh… I know dad and I’m not just saying this. I know what I want, I won’t be swayed easily. I am just being nice, I actually what’s sincere and what’s not”

(Creases between the eyebrows finally soften and this makes me happy, you know why- I actually meant what I said. I continue on with my ham and cheese and my mom opens up another topic and I give my dad a smile saying this, “Trust me dad, I know what I want when that time comes”. Mom agrees on me with this one.).

My dad is probably the coolest dad ever. He’s not rigid or strict at all, impossible as it may sound, my lifestyle is actually my choice. I am at home all the time not because I am not allowed to go to places (well, uh, technically, maybe…but I know you get my point) but because I chose this kind of lifestyle. Different people, different choices. My life may not be that exciting… yet, but I’m happy and blessed with and its kindda amazing that every once in awhile, through conversations like these, I am made to realize that I am actually making the right choices in life. I know some people may find my life boring, but heck… what do they really know anyway? *wink*