Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 37

Have you ever stare at someone and all you feel is love and adoration?

Iyon ang naramdaman ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Habang abala siya sa pagmamando sa mga tauhan, ako naman ay abala sa paninitig sa kaniya. Ewan ko,  nagising na lang ako na parang gusto ko siyang gawing keychain at titigan maghapon.

Sa isang linggo na kasi ang bisita ng mga Lacson dito, kaya lahat kami ay may ginagawa. May mga tubo na inaayos, may mga ilaw na ikinakabit at kung anu-ano pa. Katatapos ko lang i-check lahat ng mga bisagra ng mga pintuan, kaya nakadungaw na lang ako kay Ricci habang kunot-noong nakikinig sa isang electric engineer.

Nakahalukipkip lang ako sa gilid habang pinagmamasdan ang pagbuka ng kaniyang mga labi. I can't get enough of him. Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa mukha niya. Para talagang model ang isang ito, eh. Too bad for his admirers, ako ang mahal niya.

"Hey, matunaw 'yan," untag ni Mitch.

I was a bit starled, but I just made a face at her. Nang lumingon akong muli sa direksyon ni Ricci, nakangiti na siyang nakatingin sa akin. Suddenly, I feel embarrassed. Narinig niya ba iyong sinabi ni Mitch?

"Ilang months na siyang nanliligaw?" usisa niya.

"Hmm, six?"

"Ang tagal na! Bakit hindi mo pa sagutin?"

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniya. "Bakit nakikialam ka?"

Palibhasa kasi sobrang rupok niya. Mas marupok pa sa kahoy. Isang halik lang, bibigay agad.

"Choosy ka pa? Ang gwapo ng—"

"May Andrew ka na!" putol ko. "Huwag mo na pagnasahan 'yan. Hindi ka niyan gusto."

She giggled a bit. "Bawal b—"

"Bawal!"

"Okay." She walked away, wearing the playful smile on her lips.

I crossed my arms and watched the path till she was gone. I pouted.

"Hey!" he approached, smiling from ear-to-ear. "What's with the face?"

I ignored his inquiry. "Long weekend, right?" I asked and he nodded. "Let's go out of town?"

He frowned but he said yes. It was a long tiring months. We deserved something refreshing. After all, we'd accomplished lots of things. Especially him, he did everything to save the company's name. There were times that he couldn't go home anymore, even in his condo. He stayed at his office just to clean all the mess.

I already scheduled the trip weeks ago. I was planning it for the whole month and finally, I had the courage to invite him.

We packed our clothes for three days and two nights. I made him sleep in the house, so he wouldn't come early. It's a waste of time and energy consuming.

"Malayo ba 'yon?" tanong niya, nagtataka dahil pinatutulog ko siya.

"Oo, let's sleep."

I closed my eyes, so he could see that I am serious. Normally, he would watch me to sleep while listening to the music. That's how we enjoyed the trip.

I purposely didn't tell him our destination, because I wanted to surprise him. Pero kung makikita niya ang daan, baka alam niya na kung saan kami pupunta. Buti na lang, nakipag-cooperate siya.

I was wide awake when we got there. The familiar place is still so enchanted, surrounded with green trees and plants. Halos walang pinagbago sa dati. Ganoon pa rin ang itsura ng paligid, mapuno at mahiwaga. Pero kahit hindi ito ang unang beses na nakapunta ako rito, hindi pa rin nagbabago ang nararamdaman ko. Namamangha pa rin ako sa ganda ng istruktura.