A woman's dream

Chapter Thirteen

"What do you usually do when you're not in the restaurant?

Tanong sa akin ni Zac.

Nandito kami sa isang overlooking na lugar kung saan makikita ang city lights. And I am glad that we're here because I don't feel like going to an expensive restaurant and I am not dressed for that too.

"Nasa bahay lang. I read books if I am not checking financial reports."

I answered him while I am munching on my food.

"How about you? What does a CEO do when not working?"

"Before, I would just sleep off or go to a club to drink with the guys."

"But now, I prefer to hangout with an amazing woman."

Ngising sabi niya sa akin. I furrowed my eyebrows. Iyong kiliti at kilig ay tinago sa pagkunot ng noo.

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya.

After we eat, we decided to walk around the area. Ngayon palang ako nakapunta dito at ang ganda.

We found a good spot kaya doon kami umupo ng magkatabi.

"I like this place."

Sabi ko sabay baling sa kanya. Hindi siya tumingin sa akin kaya napagmasdan ko ulit ang side profile niyang natatamaan ng liwanag galing sa city lights.

He bit his lower lip before he talked.

"When my parents got annulled, my mom was very devastated...."

Pinanood ko siya habang nakikinig sa kanya. Kahitsa harap lang siya tumitingin ay ramdam ko parin ang emosyon sa boses niya.

"She tried to kill herself for three times...pero palaging hindi natutuloy. One time...I just got home from work when I heard her cry so hard. She said she's already tired."

Huminga ulit siya ng malalim bago nagsalita at ngumiti ng mapait. Ramdam ko ang lungkot ng ngiti na iyon.

"From then on...hindi na ako umuuwi sa condo. That went on for how many months. The pressure of being the eldest.. while taking care of mom and the company dawned upon me. So I drived around just to think. Until I saw this place."

Inilibot niya ang mga mata sa lugar..

"This has been my safe place. Pakiramdam ko nakakapag isip ako ng tama sa tuwing pumupunta ako dito.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at pinisil ito.

"Thank you for bringing me to your safe place. This place is amazing."

Sabi ko sa maliit na ngiti. Pinisil niya pabalik ang kamay ko pero hindi niya binitawan. Instead, he entertwined them well.

My heart was beating so fast that I hoped he won't notice it.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa harapan namin. I took a deep breath and realized what he just shared to me.

"I was in her place before... And it's very hard. Just be with her and let her feel that she can lean on you..and hopefully, she'll be okay."

I said in a small voice. I felt him as he looked at me while still holding my hand.

"When you were in that place before...who's with you? Were you able to lean on someone?"

Tanong niya. I feel like he already knew what I am talking about but he doesn't want to ask question about it and just waited for me to share...and I appreciate that.

Binigyan ko siya ng mapait na ngiti bago sumagot.

His eyes are full of emotions. But I can see hurt and pain in there. Like he's hurting for me and my heart clenched at that thought.

"No...I was alone because I have to be away. Away from people who kept on judging me and my family."

I looked at him and saw that he's already looking at me too.

Walang nagsalita sa amin pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon.

"You know when I first saw you.. I was already amazed by you."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

I scoffed before I answered him.

"Are you serious? The whole time in that restaurant when you're with Katya, I can say you only looked at me twice. Kaya itago mo iyang banat mo ha."

Inirapan ko siya at ngumisi sa kanya dahil sa banat niya.

But he only looked at me with a smile.

"No...I was amazed not because you were beautiful but because of the expressions you made everytime you looked at the painting in that exhibit."

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. But when I realized what he said, namilog ang mata ko at dahan dahan siyang tiningnan. My heart is beating louder than earlier.

"Yeah...I saw you on that night. I saw you first. I was entertained by how bored you were and the face you made because you don't understand the painting."

My lips quivered on what he said. I was not able to say something so he continued.

"I did not approach you yet because I am still entertained...but that was the dumbest decision that I regret in my whole life."

"He approached you and talked to you that night...so I waited until he leaves. But turned out...he doesn't have plans on leaving you that night too. So I just shrugged it off and left..especially when I saw how you smiled when you talked to him."

Dagdag pang sabi niya. A tear fell from my eye because of what he said. He saw me first...kung siya kaya ang kumausap at lumapit sa akin...madadaanan ko kaya iyong nadaraanan ko noon? Will I suffer?

Naramdaman ko na pinahid niya ang luhang bumagsak sa aking mga mata. Pero imbis na tumahan ay mas lalo pang nagbagsakan ang mga ito. Iniharap niya ako sa kanya bago bitawan ang kamay kong hawak niya kanina upang mapahiran ng maayo ang aking mukha.

"Naisip ko dati na sana nilapitan kita kaagad. Na kinausap kita kaagad...para hindi mo na naranasan kung ano mang sakit ang naranasan mo noon.

Humikbi ako at tumungo. Ang mga kamay niya ay patuloy parin sa pagpahid ng aking mga luha.

"Pero naisip ko rin na kung nangyari man iyon...wala kang Persephone ngayon. Kaya kahit gustohin ko mang iligtas ka sa sakit, hindi ko na gagawin iyon kung ang kapalit ay ang taong nagbigay sa iyo ng pag asa na sumaya ulit."