YOU ARE MY HOME

Chapter 32

I bit the inside of my cheeks and marched off, scrolling my phone. I checked the account and it's definitely Marcus'. Most of the pictures were of him when he was still in the US. Last post was 4 years ago. The picture was a ring.

Was it something he had to give to Katrina? Nabigay ba sa kanya iyon?

Sobrang bilis ng tibok ko. I can't tell if it was because of his comment on my picture or the picture he last posted. I just know that I need to do something or not do anything at all. Truth is that the only thing I can do now is to let the universe decide for me. Ang hirap naman nitong may gusto ka naman talagang gawin pero hindi ka pinagbibigyan. Katulad nito. Sinundan ko siya sa islang ito at naghintay buong araw ngunit hanggang ngayon ni anino niya hindi ko mahagilap. Will this day end just like that with all my efforts gone to waste?

"Uy! Ba't ka nagmamadali?" untag sa'kin ni Brent nang makasalubong ako sa lobby. I decided to just stay in my room and wait for the morning, para matapos na din ang kahibangan ko.

I tore my eyes off my phone and looked at him. "Tapos na ba ang meeting niyo?"

He nodded. "Kanina pa. Nagkita na kayo?"

"Hindi pa," I shook my head. "Did you mention me to him?"

"Wala. Pasensya na. I didn't get the chance," paumanhin niya at bumuntong hininga. "He was busy talking to Ma'am Katrina."

"Nandito si Katrina?" bulalas ko.

Tumango siya. "Oo. Do you know her?"

I gulped and nodded slowly.

"She was in the meeting."

My knees went shaking. My lips went dry suddenly.

"Ganoon ba?" nanghihinang sabi ko.

If she's present in the meeting and Marcus was there too then something is really going on between them. And, I can't find the courage to ask Brent about anything beyond the details of their meeting. Plus, I don't think it's his thing to pry on other people's lives.

Lumapit si Brent sa akin at tinitigan ako. "Kain nalang kaya muna tayo. There's a special menu in the house that I want you to try."

"S-sige," sabi ko at nagpatianod sa kanya.

We entered the in-house restaurant and it looked classy in all its presence. Iyong tipong hindi ka pa kumakain pero busog ka na sa interiors pa lang sa loob. We walked around a bit looking for the best place to spend eating. We settled with the table in an elevated floor, near the glass wall. After the waiter got our orders, we fell in silence.

I looked outside and feasted my eyes on the setting sun. The sunset got to be the perfect thing one must not miss in this place.

"Are we early for dinner?" tanong ni Brent na nasa harap ko. Like me, he was also eyeing the sight from a distance.

I faced him. "No, it's just about time."

Gutom na rin kasi ako. Mabuti na rin ito at makapagpahinga na din ako dahil uuwi na din ako bukas.

"Same thoughts," he said, smiling. "Para makapagpahinga kana rin nang mas maaga. You seem really tired."

I scoffed. "Wala naman akong ginawa. I just stayed there...," turo ko sa seashore sa labas, "...sitting and taking pictures."

"You enjoyed it though," nakangising sabi niya.

I just shrugged. Totoo naman kasi.

"Okay. Since you're adamant to see someone today, why don't you look back and see who's coming?" misteryosong sabi nito na nagpalingon sa akin sa entrance ng restaurant.