Grieving Soul [#Wattys2019 Winner]

Chapter 48

#GrievingSoulWP

Chapter 48
Dreaming

I was lying on the sofa while watching Gio scribble words on a notepad. He looked so serious, and I couldn't even steal his attention away from it. Hero, on the other hand, was sleeping beside his father. I just made myself busy by flipping different channels on the TV and stopped when a familiar cartoon channel flashed on the screen.

I didn't know how I managed to enjoy watching a cartoon show while Gio's still busy doing his thing. Natigil lamang ako sa panonood nang mapansin ko siyang sumusulyap sa akin. Nagtaas ako ng kilay at saka pinatay na lang ang TV bago umupo ng maayos sa sofa.

"Ano ba kasi 'yang ginagawa mo?" tanong ko sa kanya nang hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili na istorbohin na siya.

He turned to me with a meaningful smile on his face. Mula sa pagkakaupo sa carpet ay umangat siya sa sofa upang tumabi sa akin upang maipakita ang kanyang pinagkakaabalahan sa notepad. His left hand rested casually on my thigh while his other hand was holding the notepad.

Gio's penmanship was very neat. Kahit noon pa man ay mas maganda na siyang magsulat kaysa sa akin kahit na ako ang madalas na nagsusulat ng notes at siya'y nakikinig lamang ng tahimik sa mga lektura.

"I made a plan for our date tomorrow," he proudly said.

My lips parted in disbelief as I briefly scanned his written plan. He only managed to fill one page of the notepad he was using, but it took him so long to finish it.

"I'll be with you at home until lunch," he started voicing out his plans. "We will eat lunch together and after that, I'll be leaving to prepare for our date. Hihintayin kita sa restaurant na 'to exactly 6PM. Secret ko na ang magiging surpresa ko sa'yo."

Napakunot naman ang aking noo at saka siya binalingan dahil naguguluhan ako sa kanyang mga plano para sa aming dalawa bukas. Ibang-iba ito sa napagdesisyunan namin no'ng una.

"I thought we're just gonna stroll the mall?" I asked him to clarify. "Bakit parang kakain lang tayo ng dinner sa labas na nagagawa naman na natin?"

"This is going to be a different dinner, Iarra. I'll prepare something special for you pero huwag mo na akong tanungin o pilitin kung ano 'yon dahil baka masabi ko pa sa'yo," sabi niya at nakuha pang bahagyang magsungit sa akin. "And besides, we can stroll the mall on Sunday instead. I'm completely free this weekend."

"Okay..." sabi ko na lang.

Ayaw ko nang kontrahin pa ang kanyang nagawang plano. Mukhang pinag-isipan niya ito ng mabuti kanina pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pang mauna siya sa pag-alis.

"Bakit hindi na lang tayo magsabay papuntang restaurant?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Magkasama lang naman tayo sa isang unit, Gio."

He just calmly shook his head. "We'll stick to the plan," he said. "I told you already... I need to prepare."

Sasagot pa sana ako nang bigla niya akong ninakawan ng halik sa pisngi. I froze while staring at him because I was caught off guard. He just winked at me and chuckled before moving away with his notepad.

Napailing ako at napangiti na lang din.

Gio left the unit after we ate lunch for a meeting, while I started preparing for a rendezvous with the owner of the lot whom I called yesterday. I hoped I could already settle the location of my restaurant. I would also need to contact a construction firm to deisgn and build the restaurant after it.

Habang iniisip ko noon ang aking mga hakbang nang sabihin sa akin ni Kuya Diego, ang akala ko'y madali lang ang bawat hakbang na iyon pero hindi pala. Pakiramdam ko nga'y masuwerte na ako dahil agad akong nakahanap at nakapagesisyon sa lugar kung saan ko nais itayo ang aking sinisimulang negosyo. I also have enough funds and budget for the business. My father left me an ample amount of inheritance, and I earn a lot while working at our plantation. Wala akong pinagkakagastusan ng aking mga pera noon kaya naipon itong lahat sa aking bank account. Mabuti na rin at hindi ako pala-gastos noon dahil ngayon ko iyon kailangan.