Journey With You (Completed)

Chapter 17: Hope

Journey With You
Chapter 17: Hope

It was as if time stopped with the gentle way he pressed his lips onto mine. I was just beginning to savor the experience when he pulled away, as if he has woken up from a bad dream.

"Sorry," he said, panting. Kinagat niya ang kaniyang labi. "I should take you home now."

Ngayon na mismo? Hindi ba pwedeng tapusin muna natin to? Putek, Hani, parang ang manyak mong pakinggan.

But heck. Pagkakamali ba ang nangyari para umasta siya ng ganiyan? I wanted to ask, but didn't have the courage.

"Okay. Bring me my clothes." I replied with a stoic expression in my face, trying not to avoid eye contact. Don't act fazed, Hani! Don't let it show that you feel like crap right now!

Tumayo siya para kuhanin ang mga damit ko. Habang wala siya ay napahawak ako sa labi ko. It was my first freaking kiss! How could he apologize about it as if it was a mistake?!

"Eto na. Pwede kang magbihis sa kwarto ko. Hintayin kita sa sasakyan." Aniya at saka lumabas ng bahay.

Yeah! Whatever!

I took my time just to make him wait. As I changed back into my casual clothes, my eyes wandered around his room and I noticed something. May portait na nakasabit sa dingding. It was of a man that looked a lot like Sven, except older. His father... I presume.

"Hello po. Wag po kayong sasagot ha. Matatakutin ako. Pero Mr. Acosta, kung ikaw nga 'yan, should you be hanging there totally visible for Sven to see everyday? Hindi ba parang torture yun para sa anak nyo? He blames himself for your death yet he looks at your portrait on a daily basis?" I sighed and then realized I was being crazy. Why the heck am I talking to a portrait on the wall?

Lumabas nalang ako sa silid at iniwan ko ang evening dress ko sa sofa bago ko pinatay ang TV. Paglabas ko ay nasa loob na siya ng sasakyan.

"Iniwan ko pala ang dress sa sofa. Di ko pwedeng iuwi yun sa bahay. Padala nalang bukas. Ibabalik ko kay Suzy pag wala akong ginagawa." Saad ko pagkapasok sa front seat.

"Ako na ang magbabalik." Sagot niya. Wag na! Kakahiya naman sayo! Protesta ng utak ko.

"Saka hindi mo na kailangang pumasok, Hani. Just tell me when you're ready to meet the Chairman. Sasamahan kita sa kaniya."

Ayan, Hani! Ngayon naman ay halos itaboy ka na! One Time pa more!

"The Chairman, yeah..." Sabi ko nalang na parang lutang.

"Are you really okay?" Tanong niya. "I was honestly surprised that you didn't react negatively. Akala ko ay magagalit ka at sasaksakin mo ako." He tried to jest but he couldn't make the atmosphere lighter again.

"I adapt well, apparently." Stoic na sagot ko, tapos humikab. "Inaantok na ako..."

Ayaw na kitang kausap.

"Idlip ka muna. Gisingin kita pag nasa inyo na tayo." Sabi pa niya.

"Okay. Thank you." I replied civilly but inside my head, I was hitting his face with a baseball bat.

Tama na, Hani! I reprimanded myself and closed my eyes.

In a way, parang may bigat na naalis sa dibdib ko. Perhaps I've been carrying that weight since I was young. Yung pananabik na makilala ang tatay ko, at yung anxiety na baka... ayaw niya talaga sa akin. Now I know that he thinks of me too, and that he wants me to be part of his present life.