Grieving Soul [#Wattys2019 Winner]

Chapter 37

#GrievingSoulWP

Chapter 37
Robe

I was already half-awake when I turned to the other side of my bed. My forehead creased when I felt it occupied. I slowly opened my eyes and seeing Gio sleeping comfortably beside me alarmed all my senses. Nagising ang buong diwa ko at nagawa ko pang marahan na sampalin ang sarili dahil baka sakaling namamalik mata lamang ako pero hindi siya nawawala sa kanyang puwesto.

Napabalikwas ako sa pagbangon at bahagyang lumayo sa aking kama. He quietly groaned before he changed his sleeping position in a freefall. The comforter slid down from his upper body, and I saw him wearing a white tank top.

Namataan ko naman ang kanyang black metal luggage sa gilid ng couch dito sa loob ng kuwarto. His Piguet, wallet, car keys and cellphone were on the top of the lamp desk.

He's really here! He's really home!

I thought he'd be gone for a week? It has been only two days since he left with Geneveive, but he's back now!

Unti-unti akong naglakad paatras at saka nagmamadaling lumabas ng aking kuwarto kahit na hindi ko pa naaayos ang sarili. Patakbo akong bumaba ng aming hagdanan at nakitang nasa hapag kainan sina Kuya Diego, Ate Rain at Dhan.

"You're awake now..."

Nilingon ko si Mommy na kakapasok lamang at agad na dumiretso sa kanyang puwesto. She gracefully sat on the chair, and our maid immediately placed her morning coffee beside the empty plate.

Napalingon naman sila Kuya Diego sa akin. Si Ate Rain ay binigyan ako nang makahulugang ngiti bago sumimsim sa kanyang gatas.

"Tita Ra!" Dhan screamed on the top of his lungs cheerfully, saying my name.

Even though my nephew was super cute, I couldn't find it in me to smile when I was still lost in the moment. Pakiramdam ko'y naiwan ko ata ang kaluluwa ko sa kuwarto kung nasaan ngayon si Gio at mapayapang natutulog.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost." Kuya Diego chuckled before he fed Dhan with his favorite hotdog with cheese.

"Gio's sleeping on my room... in my bed..." I told them with slight hesitation.

Napatigil si Mommy sa pagkuha ng pagkain at nagtaas ng kilay. Si Ate Rain naman ay mahinang napahagikgik ngunit pinigilan din ang sarili at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Si Kuya Diego lamang ang muling tumingin sa akin.

"He arrived at dawn when I just woke up because Rain's vomiting," he told me. "He told me he went straight to the airport from the hotel after packing his things."

Pinigilan kong ipakita sa kanila ang aking pagkabigla. It was a good thing that I managed to relax my body and remain my composure. Ibig sabihin ay pagkatapos naming mag-usap sa tawag ay agad na siyang nag-ayos ng gamit para makauwi.

I recalled the words I told him that made it hard for me to sleep last night. I slightly felt embarrassed and I could feel my cheeks heating up. I somehow sounded like a clingy and jealous wife!

"What about the survey that they're doing with his client?" tanong ko nang makabawi.

Kuya Diego shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know... What don't you ask him yourself?" He raised his eyebrows at me. "You should wake him up to eat breakfast. Pagkatapos kumain ay saka mo na siya patulugin ulit. He needs to eat."

Wala na akong nagawa nang ipagtabuyan ako ni Kuya Diego palabas ng hapag upang umakyat pabalik sa aking kuwarto. I was standing in front of my room's door for a few minutes already. Pilit kong kinakalimutan sa aking isipan ang mga salitang binitawan ko kagabi sa kanya pero mas lalo lang itong bumabaon sa isipan ko.