Time in Between (Completed)

Chapter 2 - Sleep

Afternoon came at umuwi nga ito ng maaga. Inabangan ko siya sa main door para asikasuhin na muna. I prepared early dinner too para makakain rin siya, though we had an argument kanina lang ay kinalimutan ko muna iyon dahil ayaw kong nagkakagalitan kami. He already has hatred for me.

Kinuha ko ang kanyang suitcase while he’s loosing off his tie. As I look at him, husband material talaga ngunit sa paningin ko lamang dahil ibang trato naman ang pinararamdam niya sa akin.

I dreamed of this back then, that someday I’ll wait for him galing opisina. I’ll get his things at bibigyan siya ng masahe. Asikasuhin siya from going to work till he get home. Nagagawa ko na nga pero may kulang. 

“Pinahanda ko na din ang gamit mo.”

“Manang can you pack this for me,” tila walang reaksyon nito sa sinabi ko.

“Dadalhin mo ba ang camera mo?” muli kong pagkausap sa kanya.

He loves it. He loves taking aesthetic images. Gustong gusto ko iyon na ginagawa niya back when we we’re in highschool, at naging passion niya rin during college.

“For what? Hindi naman tayo magpi-pictorial doon,” sagot nito.

Oh yeah! Right! I smiled bitterly sa kahihiyan ko. Why am I even asking him? This is nothing anyway. This trip is nothing.

Dahil doon muling sumagi sa isip ko ang panahong magkasama sila ng long time girlfriend niya noon. I always saw him taking pictures of her and there’s this time he sent it as an entry sa photo festival ng school. I have all I want pero doon ako inggit na inggit noon and a broken one when they officially announced they are dating. At nanalo ang photo na iyon.

I look at him for a second na winaglit ang kung anong iniisip. “At sa resort niyo lang naman tayo,” he continued.

Ngunit hindi ako naging handa, hindi ko pala dapat ibinaling ang tingin sa kanya dahil hindi ko inasahan ang sunod niyang sinabi.

Kung ganoon ay wala talaga palang espesyal sa bakasyon na ‘to. He didn’t even plan for this, ano pa bang inaasahan ko! Narinig mo na kanina na napipilitan siyang gawin ito.

“The next day ay uuwi na rin tayo. I’ll be on business trip after this,” his last words.

Tahimik ko na lamang na ipinagpatuloy ang aking ginagawa at pinagmasdan si Manang na inaayos ang mga gamit nito sa trabaho.

Now we’re on our way to the place. It’s my Mom’s resort and is in the hand of Amber right now. Minsan ay pinupuntahan nila ito because this is the place where she met Dad. And Amber’s my cousin.

I almost run this resort after college but I gave it to Amber. Years after ay naging part ako ng kompanya ni Dad but I stepped down in my position as CFO dahil gusto kong maging full-time na maybahay ni Greg. Pero minsan ay lagi pa ring pinaaalala ni Dad na I will be responsible for the company someday kung siya ay hindi na makayanan ang magtrabaho.

But that is not what I desire to do. That’s not what I want to become and to pursue. Though he already knows this, and he understands that.

“Did you call Mom?” I asked looking at him.

“Yes,” tanging sagot lang nito.

Later on nagring ang phone niya, he answered it at inilagay sa tainga ang earpiece. I just turn my gaze sa labas na binabaybay ng aming sasakyan habang napakikinggan ang bawat sabihin nito sa kausap.

“Mom—  yes we talked about it. We’re on our way—   don’t do that, okay na kami doon—  we’re fine, huwag niyo na po ipilit ang Hawaii. I have a lot of things to do, may work pa ‘ko the day after tomorrow. Alright—  yeah, bye.”