Fields of Lavenders

36

After that talk Gabriel and I decided to go to their house where Jia's currently at, like what Leone told me, nagretire na si Jia after being in the spotlight for a very very long time. She's now living with Gab sa bahay nila na si Gab mismo ang nagpatayo.

"Bading!" Bati nya saakin sabay yakap.

We really missed eachother, ang huling usap pa namin ay nung gabing iyon. Wala na syang balita saakin aside sa mga sinasabi ni Leone tuwing bumibisita sya saakin.

I decided to stay over for dinner at their house, iba din talaga 'tong si Gab kung gumawa. It's a two story house with a high ceiling, dark tone ang colour palette ng bahay nila with a touch of plants rin.

"So may plano ka bang balikan si Miss?" Bungad ni Jia.

"Oo." I looked at Gab remembering our talk earlier, he smiled upon hearing the answer.

"Mabuti naman, ako nga palaging kasama non. Inaaya nya'ko mag inom, however I always suggest na dito nalang kami uminom. Kaya halos dito na din sya tumira." Pagkwe-kwento ni Jia.

Talagang nagchismisan kami don, Jia and I catched up kase antagal na naming hindi naguusap. This is probably the longest time we haven't talked to eachother, usually kase even when she's on tour nagpaparamdam sya kada buwan. But when I left to go to the states walang may contact saakin except for tita and Leone.

After that she insisted on a tour around their house, they have many rooms, may studio pa nga for Jia, an art room for Gabriel, office for the both of them. And ang lawak din ng backyard nila.

"Mabuti naman babalikan mo na si Miss," Jia began the conversation when we reached their room.

"Gabriel talked to me kanina, he fixed my thinking a little bit, kaya ayun." I chuckled.

"Tama naman sya, your absence affected miss alot. Mabuti nga nakakayanan pa nya balansehin yung nararamdaman nya tsaka yung trabaho nya, pero I can tell na hindi na sya katulad ng dati." Pagkwe-kwento ni Jia.

"Leone told me," I said. "Thank you." I smiled. "Thank you for being there pag may problema sya, thank you for being there for her in my absence."

"That's what friends do." She smiled.

"How is she?" I asked.

"Ayon, sawi padin." She joked. "Nung nabasa nya yung binigay mo na letter, I remembered you in her reaction. Nung nalaman mong nabaril sila Gab at tita. Halos mabaliw na sya non, hinabol ka pa nya sa airport pero nakalipad ka na non."

"Really?" I asked.

"Oo, muntikan na syang kaladkarin papalabas nung guard sa lakas ng iyak nya non. Habang hinahatid namin sya hindi na namin sya makausap, nakatingin lang sya sa kawalan. Just like you when she left you, and after that, things started going down hill." She detailed.

"She started drinking, kung pwede nga sya uminom araw-araw gagawin nya. If hindi sya pwedeng uminom she drowned herself in work naman, minsan hindi na rin sya kumakain, kaya palagi akong pumupunta sa school natin para hatiran sya ng pagkain." Pag tutuloy nya.

"Do you think she still love me?" I asked.

She chuckled with that question, later on that chuckled turned into laughter. My brows scrunch right away, not catching up kung bakit sya natatawa na parang nagbibiro ako.

"Loka ka," she calmed herself down after laughing na parang mamatay na sya.

"What's funny?" I got the courage to ask.

"Yung tanong mo kase," she chuckled once more. "Hindi pa ba malinaw sa'yo sis, base sa kung anong mga pinagagagawa nya nung nawala ka na gusto ka parin nya? It's been three years oo pero ikaw parin ang laman ng utak nya. Malungkot parin sya hanggang ngayon, ang pinagkaiba lang ngayon is nakakayanan na nya. Unti-unti na syang bumabalik sa routine nya, pero alam ko deep down malungkot parin sya sa pagalis mo Sayonara."

"It will not be easy, nasaktan mo yung tao eh. Pero I'm certain na mahal ka parin nya, and I'm sure you'll be back in eachother's arms in no time." Habol nya.

Andami kong natanggap na sermon ngayong araw, pero I guess it's what I need over the past three years. I've been wanting to go back into her arms, kaso the problem is how? Nasaktan ko sya oo, and probably she's already healing well now. I just need an opportunity, but when?

Makalipas ang ilang araw ay wala akong inabala kung hindi ang pagayos ng sleeping sched ko at ang pag take over sa firm ni tita, yun naman talaga ang dahilan kung bakit ako umuwi eh, kaso I can't help but think about her. Kung dati I was able to dismiss my thoughts kase nasa US ako ngayon ang hirap gawin non knowing na nandyan lang sya and I now have the chance to see her.

Will I be ready pag nataon?

Can I really face her after three years?

Today's the day I'll take over tita's firm, papakilala na'ko ni tita bilang bagong tagapagmana ng firm sa mga board members namin and stockholders namin. Though kilala na nila ako, I still want to make a good impression on them.

I just wore a gray dress from Lovito then partnered it with a gray oversized blazer I found from the same shop, hinayaan ko lang nakalugay ang buhok ko as It adds a touch to my overall look.

When I got there I immediately made my way sa pinaka top floor kung saan doon ako ipapakilala, nandun na sila Gabriel, Leone, Tita, pati narin ang mga stockholders namin at board members namin.

I knocked thrice to show respect before entering the room, Gabriel and Leone Immediately acknowledged my presence, as well as the rest of the board members present. But what left me the most shocked is to see a familiar face beside tita.

It's her, the lady I haven't saw in three years. The lady that still has a space in my heart after many years have passed. My home, my peace, My Lavender.

"Architect Lavelle, nice to see you again."

:)