Halfway Down There

Chapter 13

"Kaya ko nga."

I glanced at Cosimo who was wearing a classic Italian outfit. He was staring at me teasingly. It's our second day in Venice and he's already doubting my tourist spirit! The whole situation yesterday motivated him to convince me that it was okay for him if I stayed in a connecting room to which I eventually agreed.

I did not expect I would feel comfortable pero para rin naman kasing magkaiba kaming kwarto except for the fact na kwarto niya ang bubungad sa akin paglabas ko.

There is a small hallway outside my door, which is diagonal from the actual exit door of our room. Hindi naman diretso kong makikita ang personal space niya everytime na lalabas ako kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag!

He looked at me doubtingly. "Walking for long? Really, you're up for that, hmm?"

I nodded. Then I raised a brow at him. "Ikaw siguro... 'yung hindi kaya?"

"I do gym so I can manage, but I can also do something about the gondola, you know—"

I cut him off with a chuckle. Heto talaga si Cosimo! "Sabing okay lang, eh. What can you do anyway? Do you like, own an estate here, too?" I joked and he scoffed a bit.

"Tss. We're the poor-boy-meets-rich-girl story or something, Adriana," he said playfully. Binalingan niya ang mga pumipilang tao. "If you say so, though, then we'll do gondola later."

"It's fine. Walking is therapeutic," I assured him.

He smirked. "Alright, my psychologist."

He had mentioned that it might somehow feel overwhelming to see much water around, especially if you're not the beach-type of person. It's nothing to worry about for me. Gusto ni Cosimo na mag-gondola kami at iyon ang pinipilit niya ngayon. A number of people, though, are lining up for gondola rides, and as much as I'd like to try, I'm not really in a rush to do anything for now. I-extend ko nalang siguro ang stay ko if ever. Bukas na ang uwi namin.

Maraming sidewalk bistros akong nakikita sa paligid. Even with a lot of tourists, the bistros don't seem too crowded. Nasa mga famous spots kasi karamihan sa kanila.

"Ang bango," I moaned as I tried to take in the aroma from the restaurant we just walked past.

I heard Cosimo's dramatic sigh beside me. "Grabe, thank you."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "What?"

"I usually get that compliment," tumango pa siya. "Mabango talaga siguro ako."

Napapikit ako nang matanto ko na ang ibig niyang sabihin. My lips twitched. He grinned knowingly.

"Wow," pabiro kong angal sa kanya. "Why here by the way?"

Medyo natagalan siyang sumagot. "It's a beautiful city. Why?"

"I was just curious why you brought me here," I said, still wondering. "It makes me think if you've been here before. Have you?"

Binulsa niya ang kanyang dalawang kamay. "Oo."

My eyes widened. "Talaga? As a tourist or..."

"My family and other relatives have properties here in Venezia," aniya sa mababang boses na parang ayaw niya namang sabihin iyon.

"That's... grand," I mumbled.

I'm used to my friends mentioning their family properties in our conversations, but that was back in the Philippines. Cosimo stays in Milan, and he can stay here too. If they have properties here, I think they also have in Milan. Namention niya kasi something about their garage, 'di ba? What more in Manila? Ano kaya talagang business niya. Maybe... hotels.