WINSTON AND RINGO (Montana Series 3 | BXB)

12: Larkspur

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I checked-in at Coastal Paradise Hotel at 2PM, and luckily, I was able to get the same suite since no one booked it yet. Hindi na ako nasamahan ni Ringo dahil may iniutos daw sa kanya ang kuya niyang si Maynard. I was quite curious what his brother always asked him to do.

In the evening, I prepared a meal for myself. I cooked tuna pasta and ate alone. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan, marahil ay nasanay ako na palaging may kasama, na kasama si Ringo. I recalled he gave me his number since he already had his phone fixed.

I scanned my contacts, and since I felt bored, I called him. I didn't have a habit of chitchating through my phone, but somehow, I wanted to adapt new things. Hindi sinagot ni Ringo ang tawag ko noong una, at umabot pa sa pangalawa, ngunit nang ikatlong beses na ay sumagot na siya.

"Hello, Winston," sagot niya, ngunit tila pabulong siyang magsalita.

"Ahm... Hi, are you busy?"

"Hindi naman. Bakit mo natanong? May kailangan ka ba?" tanong niya na nagbigay sa'kin ng pagtataka. He had a different tone, far from his talking voice full of energy and enthusiasm.

"Wala naman," sagot ko. "I'm just wondering if you're free tomorrow."

"I'm not sure. Why did you ask?"

I cleared my throat. "I want to invite you to have lunch tomorrow. Pero kung wala kang oras ay ayos lang sa'kin."

"No, it's fine," he said in a dash. "Pwede kitang samahang kumain bukas."

"Really?" I reacted.

"Yeah. Tawagan na lang kita bukas. Okay?"

"Sure. Anong gusto mong kai..." Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil ibinaba na niya ito.

I couldn't help but wonder what's going on with him. He just told me he's not busy, and yet he dropped the call quickly. Pakiramdam ko ay napakarami pang bagay ang hindi nasasabi sa'kin ni Ringo, kaya hindi ko maiwasan ang mapaisip at magalala. There's still plenty of time in the evening, but I decided to sleep after washing the dishes.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong pumunta sa supermarket. I planned to cook chicken scarpariello for Ringo, so I had to buy some ingredients. He cooked for me when we binge watched Heroes, so I wanted to return the favor.

Nang makabalik ako sa suite ay laking pagtataka ko dahil hindi naka-lock ang pintuan. As far as I could remember, I locked it before I left. Slowly, I made my way inside the suite. When I entered, my eyes widened.

"Mom?" I said. "What are you doing here?"

Before she could even respond, someone went out of the room, which made my eyes widened even more.

"Lolo? Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Ngumiti siya sabay sabing, "Hindi na ako makatiis na makita ka, kaya naman kami na ang pumunta dito."

I smiled back, but it faded when I noticed my dad beside him. Bukod kay Dad ay kasama rin nilang bumalik si Austin. I couldn't believe my grandfather would do such decision. Sigurado akong mapagagalitan ako ni Dad.

"Are you not going to hug your grandfather?" my mom asked.

"Baka hindi talaga niya ako na-miss," sambit ni Lolo kasabay ng buntong-hininga.

"Of course I miss you, Lo," I expressed. "Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na bumyahe ka pa dito para lang makita ako." I approached him and gave him a warm hug. As expected, Austin rolled his eyes.

"He even canceled the reunion for you," said Dad with his usual firm voice. Napayuko naman ako dahil sa kanyang sinabi.

"Hayaan mo na, William," sabi ni Lolo kay Dad. "Ayaw ko rin namang matuloy ang reunion na 'yon dahil sigurado akong tungkol sa mana lang ang paguusapan ng mga kapatid mo. Besides, it's good that we're here so we could have a good time." Lumingon siya sa'kin at ngumiti. "Hindi ba, Winston?"