Sitio Series 3: Scheming List

Chapter 55

End

“This is like a date?” I asked again for the ninth time.

Gremory nodded, holding my hand tightly. “Yes,”

“But we didn't even dated before.”

“That’s why we're doing it today..”

“Look, a plant won't you purchase one?”

“What will I do with the plant?”

“You told me when we're highschooler that you're a plantito!”

“I’m not, besides I'm going to be dad and I'll harvest soon the thing I planted on your womb.”

“Heh!”

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad as usual hindi mawawala ang pangmalakasang night market ng bawat sitio tuwing may okasyon. Mamayang alas nueve ng gabi pa magsisimula ang lantern festival na kung nasa bundok ka ng sitio Nga-Nga ay talaga namang makapaglalag panga dahil kitang-kita roon ang ganda ng tanawin at maging ang mga papaliparing lantern.

Masinsinang ininspeksyon ni Gremory ang bawat pagkaing ituro ko anito’y mahalagang pagtuunin nang pansin ang mga pagkain dahil baka may mga bawal sa akin. “Are you tired?” Tanong niya, nakatingala ako’t pinagmamasdan ang mga nakadisplay na maliliit na lantern sa bawat puno. “Dorothy,” he called my name.

I glanced at him. “Hmm?” I hummed.

His forehead creased, “pagod ka na?” Masuyo niyang tanong. “It really hard for me to act like this because I'm ashamed.. Dapat noon pa kita pinakisamahan ng mabuti hindi ngayon.. Back then I was blinded, I was caught up with numerous schemes I planned while running away and when you step up on my life I began to expect you to stay no matter harsh I may be to you...”

A colored fireworks sparks on the sky..

“Noon na iyon Gremory.. Napag-usapan na natin ‘to..”

He smiled bitterly, “still.. It still on my mind engraved dearly.. I regret all of it,” a dizzying array of emotions shot through me in a second. The first was surprise; as far as I know we talked everything out. “It wasn't okay.”

“That’s why after all this shits we're going to take the first baby step to heal...”

He shooked his head and chuckled. I leaned his chest and rested my head on it, sitting beside each other while watching the fireworks, silently. We can hear someone's laughter, the sound of the fireworks, the cry of someone and lastly our beating hearts.

Wala na kaming kasiguraduhan.. Ngayong desidido na naming putulin ang nakakahilong ikot ng relasyong ‘to. Who knows what will happen, what if Gremory will fall someone else? What if we both don't want to come back on each others arms because we found someone else? Maybe it's a good thing for us.. All I have to think is my well being and my child right now.

Even in the point of death, his names tore against ny unhealed wounds like a serrated edge. Another blow of wind and sparkling colors on the sky, another smile through my chest. Oddly, it is really peaceful.