Up Where We Belong

Chapter 14

Visit

Pagkalabas ng restaurant, may lumapit na dalawang bata sa'min. Inabot agad ni Gab sa kanila ang pagkaing pinapack namin kanina. Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya at ginantihan niya ako ng ngiti.

Now I understand why he's storing food inside the car. Para pala iyon sa mga streetchildren.

After Gab and I talked to wedding planners, we immediately left and stopped at the café for a late afternoon snack. I felt assured that everything would be taken care of. We only have a month left until the big day. Wedding planners are used to rushing so I just put my trust in them.

I fell asleep as Gab drove our way to Tita Julia's house in an exclusive village in Quezon City. Nagising lamang ako dahil sa marahang tapik sa balikat ko nang huminto ang kotse nito sa bukana ng gate ng malaking bahay.

Gab's hooded eyes bore on me. He was looking tired.

Cupping my hand over my mouth, I yawned dramatically. Basta hindi naka-8 hours ang tulog ko, masisira ang sleeping pattern ko, sigurado.

Gab unbuckled my seatbelt for me. Perhaps, he thought I was too lazy to do it, looking at how weak I was to open my eyes wide. Halos malaglag na ang talukap ng mata ko dahil sa sobrang antok.

Tiffany, come to your senses!

"I'm sorry," sabi ko at kumurap-kurap.

"It's okay. You're looking tired," puna nito at napasulyap sa akin. He crouched his back low and glanced outside.

I called Tita Julia to inform her I'm already outside. I stepped out and leaned against the car while waiting for the gate to open. Sumunod din si Gab at tinabihan ako habang nakapamulsa. The light from the lamppost illuminated his face.

"I didn't know preparing for the wedding could be this tiring," I weakly chuckled.

Pangalawang beses na paghahanda na ang ginagawa kong ito. But this one felt different. I have seen myself wearing my wedding dress this morning and it was enough to wake the excitement buried inside me. Talking to wedding planners along with my soon-to-be husband warmed my heart. He would listen to me speaking about the details I wanted for the wedding and most often than not he'd go with what I think is best for it. He thought I knew it better than he did. Hindi ko naman galamay pero may ideya lang. And he thought he's nada over this matter. Of course, what do I expect? He's only after his inheritance. And he's just tolerating my whims because I'm the key for him to get that.

Before, Aldrin and I used to do phone calls and video chat to do transactions to people and wired them money as agreed dahil nga nasa labas kami ng bansa at gusto naming sa Pilipinas gaganapin ang kasal namin. I expected Aldrin to follow them up when he went home but he did not.

What a waste of money.

And this is not a time for a throwback.

"Now, you know," he said, smiling. "All this trouble just for the wedding. You haven't got enough sleep."

"I'm fine, Gab," sambit ko. He crossed his arms while looking straight at me. His tired eyes gave me a blank expression. If I were to analyze it, he would doze off anytime. Tiyak na napagod din ito sa buong araw. I wonder if he'd go straight home after dropping me off.

I turned to him and tilted my head. "Can you stay for a while?"

"Hm?"

"I told Tita Julia you'll drive me home and she's expecting you to come by for dinner," I offered.

"You want me to stay?" he probed, his brows in full arch. Parang may ibang pinapahiwatig ang tanong niya.

"Si Tita Julia ang may gusto. Sinabi ko lang sayo," depensa ko. "Nasa loob si Joriel. Perhaps you have matters with him to talk about. Might as well do it while you're here."