He Was My Umbrella

67

"Oh, my gosh." Sabi ko nang lumabas si Renzo sa banyo. "You look so cute!"

Pinagsuot ko siya ng pink satin pajamas na kaparehas ng akin! Ang cute!

"Not cute, I look dumb." He rolled his eyes at me.

Ito naman, minsan lang mapagtripan, napaka uncooperative pa. Ang cute-cute! Medyo bitin pa nga sa kaniya iyon dahil matangkad siya. I think Renz is about 6'2. He was this tall already when I first met him back then.

"Come here, babe. Skincare time." I clapped my hands. Humiga siya sa unan na nakapatong sa lap ko.

I started applying various creams on his face and then he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at me. He just did that while I spread the cream on his face.

"You look so pretty." Bigla niyang sabi.

"Thanks, I guess?" I shrugged.

Nang matapos ay humiga siya sa tabi ko pagkatapos niyang i-off ang ilaw. Binuksan ko ang lampshade ko at pagkabalik ko sa pagkakahiga, nakatingin sa akin si Renzo.

"What do you think of taking an undertime tomorrow to visit Nanay and Tita Li?" Tanong ko.

"That's nice. Yes, I would want to. But, you need to meet me at the site," sabi niya. "On second thought, no, I'll pick you up."

"Oh, nasa site ka bukas? Saan?" Tanong ko at kumunot ang noo ko.

Ngayon lang ako makakapunta sa site niya. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang current project niya. We aren't that open about our profession, though.

"Malapit lang kayna Tita Li. Sa Bacoor lang. Doon sa may coastal area, may nakabili ng lupa tapos patatayuan ng bahay." He sighed. "Ikaw, wala ka bang masyadong gagawin bukas?"

"No, not really. I just review a few cases and I'm probably finished by lunch time. Sakto, we can eat lunch doon sa bahay," I smiled. "I haven't visited them ever since I left for law school..... God, has it really been that long?"

I've been back for almost 5 months now and hindi ko man lang sila nabisita? I disappeared for 7 years? 4 years in law school, and then 1 year for BAR, and another 1 year for working at another firm, and then 1 year for building my own? Gosh. Other lawyers take 4-5 years when building a firm, but I did in 2 years after graduating?

I really needed to segregate my priorities back then. Because if I didn't, I wouldn't have survived. I let go of things temporarily. Those who stayed, regained my attention. Those who left, I let them be. I'm thankful for those who stayed. I'm glad he did.

"At least you came back with something everyone would be proud of," biglang sabi ni Ren. "You made everyone proud. You might not be the number one sa BAR, at least you were one of the top ten, kayo ni Cheska."

"Yes, everyone is proud of me. Pero kung alam mo lang lahat ng nawala sa akin para lang makamit 'yon," I looked at him with tearful eyes. "Kahit ikaw. Kahit ikaw isinantabi ko." Tumulo na ang luha ko.

Totoo naman, e. Hindi ko naman nakamit ang pangarap ko nang hindi rin ako naghirap. Hindi dahil may kaya kami sa buhay at nasa akin na ang lahat, ay kaya ko naabot lahat ng ito.

"Well, lahat ng isinantabi mo, nandito na ulit, hindi ba? It was all worth it, Claide," he gave me an assuring smile. "Establishing myself was also part of the climb. I couldn't face you again without me being successful and established."

Hay, buhay! Wala naman akong ibang hinangad kundi sa tagumpay naming dalawa. Iyon nga lang, hindi nga lang talaga kami magkasama nang makamit iyon.

"Well," huminga ako ng malalim. "Let's not dwell in the past. We're here now, aren't we, love?" I held his cheeks.