Up Where We Belong

Chapter 32

Hopeless

Abala ang lahat sa bahay nina Tita Julia at Tito Ariel. Mayroong appointment si Tita sa umaga sa isang jeweller at sa hapon naman ay nakabook din ito sa isang spa. She didn't know that Tito Ariel will come today. Buong akala ni Tita Julia ay nasa Japan pa ito at hindi na makakapag-celebrate ng kanilang 30th wedding anniversary na magkasama.

Tito Ariel personally messaged me asking for help on how to pull off a surprise for Tita Julia. It was quite difficult for him to do things on his own since he couldn't make his trip short. Kailangan niyang tapusin ang summit na iyon dahil magbubukas iyon ng maraming opportunity sa business. Makakarating rin naman siya on the same day of their anniversary pero wala na siyang oras para maghanda para sa sorpresa kaya nanghingi na ito ng tulong sa akin. Of course, I couldn't have done it on my own. Without the help of Joriel, Ralph, Gab, Mommy, Kuya Terron and everyone in the house, it would never have been possible.

Maaga kaming nag-set up sa bahay at sinunod ang pearl theme na napagkasunduan although hindi pa kumpleto. Tulong-tulong din kami lahat sa paghahanda ng pagkain. Lahat paboritong pagkain ni Tita Julia. I made sure everything on my list was ticked out before I sprawled out in the mattress to rest.

Nakakapagod din pala magpaikot-ikot sa loob ng bahay para maglagay nito, magkabit ng ganyan. Tapos ang dami pang kulang na gamit. Pabalik-balik si Ralph sa labas para bilhin 'yong ibang kakailanganin namin. Mabuti nalang at mabait ang lalaki. Tango lang nang tango kapag inuutusan. I mean, I didn't mean to make him an errand boy but he signed up for the job voluntarily.

Pakiramdam ko nainis 'yong ibang kasama ko dahil sa sobra kong demanding. I just wanted everything to be perfect for the big event.

Hinawi ni Gab ang parte ng buhok ko na tumatabing sa mata ko. I didn't realize that he was already sitting beside me.

"There. I can see your eyes now."

Bumungisngis ako. "I feel like sleeping, really."

"The coordinator shouldn't be sleeping until the event concludes."

"Kaya nga iidlip lang ko."

"It's almost the same as sleeping."

"Nap lang ito, okay?" I said, my eyes half-closed.

Umusog siya ng konti sa uluhan ko at maingat na binuhat ang ulo ko sa kanyang hita. I shifted a bit so I could lie comfortably. Bahagyang umangat ang ulo ko nang sinakop ng mga kamay niya ang buhok ko pataas at hinayaang nakalugay sa kanyang binti. Naramdaman ko ang banayad na pagsuklay ng mga daliri niya sa buhok ko.

My eyes remained closed. I felt the exhaustion from today's work. I'm not sure if I could really sleep it off. But, hearing Gab's humming lightened whatever burden I had on my back. I knew it wasn't entirely because of today. I had so much on my plate already. Ang daming ginagawa sa opisina sa mga nakalipas na linggo. Mommy told me there are seasons like that so I somehow expected that but honestly, things get so overwhelming at times. I had my lowest points, too. Mabuti na lamang at nariyan ang mga pinagkakatiwalaan ni Mommy sa opisina para tulungan ako.

It's been a long while since Gab and I had our time together. Yes, we were together at home and I still sleep in his room. I just chose to stay with him. I couldn't bring myself to move my things back to the guest room and go back to the way we were before. I may sound cocky but I could feel that really he didn't want me to leave.

When he's driving me to work, I take the chance to sleep for even just a few minutes. Ganoon din sa pag-uwi. Madalas na kaming kumain sa labas. Like me, he was extremely busy, too. He was always on the phone talking to his colleagues or clients.