Blindfold (on-going)

CHAPTER 37

Chapter 37

Spike

Agad kong nakita si Winter na nakangiti habang nag-aabang sa pagdating namin. Sa isang hotel sa palawan ako magche-check in kung nasaan din gaganapin ang after party ng kasal. It was around lunch time when I arrived.

"Zouie!" masayang sambit nito at mabilis akong niyakap pagkababa ko. "I miss you so much. Oh gosh. I think I'm gonna cry."

Mabilis akong lumayo at tinitigan siya. May namumuong luha sa kanyang mga mata.

"Hey! I miss you too," I replied at tuluyan ng bumagsak ang kanyang mga luha. "Okay, enough. I don't want Ruan to think na pinapaiyak kita," natatawa kong sambit at niyakap siya ulit.

Matagal pa bago kami pumasok sa hotel dahil sa kadramahan ni Winter. Halos mag-iisang taon na hindi kami nagkikita personal at puro lang video call. Tuluyan na itong namalagi sa Palawan nang maging sila ni Ruan. Tumutulong din siya sa negosyo ng pamilya nila sa Mindanao kaya hindi na siya nakakadalaw ng Manila. Si Demmi at Snow lang lagi kong kasama sa Manila pag lumabas.

"Ruan actually wanted to book the entire hotel so some guests could also stay here. But it just so happened that there were people who had already booked a few days' stay on the same date as my party. At hindi na macancel ng management," kwento ni Winter pagkapasok namin sa hotel room. Agad siyang sumalampak sa kama. 

"Really? Hindi naman siguro ganoon kalayo ang venue from here, right?" I asked as I put Spike on the bed and opened his carrier. Agad naman itong tumalon palabas at lumapit kay Winter.

"No. It's just a 15-20 minute drive," bumangon siya at kinarga si Spike. "Gosh, you're heavy."

Ngumiti ako nang makitang natutuwa si Spike. He was a five-year-old white Siberian cat. He always wanted to be involved in everything I did, so I carried him around all the time. I didn't like cats before, but then Spike came along. He was small when he was delivered to my door. His beautiful eyes and thick white fur changed my perspective on cats. I couldn't resist him. Now he's my favorite thing, and I love him so much.

"Can I bring him with me?" maya-maya paalam ni Winter, hawak-hawak pa si Spike. Babalik siyang venue dahil may kailangan siyang e-echeck. "Or you could come with me."

I sighed in defeat. Kanina pa niya ako kinukulit ngunit tumatanggi ako dahil plano kung bumisita doon mamayang gabi pa, 'pag dumating na ang mga kaibigan namin. Ngunit ang gusto niya ay doon na ako maghintay.

"Okay fine," tumayo  ako sa pagkakahiga at hinanda ang harness ni Spike. "I'll let you bring him, but I'm staying here. I'll rest while waiting for Demmi and Franco, and we'll go there together," dagdag ko. 

Si Snow ay sa susunod na araw pa ang dating. The wedding will be in 5 days, but I wanted to visit a few places here, kaya maaga ang dating ko. Ganoon din si Demmi at Franco na pinilit ko pa.

"Yes! We're going out Spikey," Winter exclaimed excitedly. Hindi naman masyadong halata na gustong-gusto niya ang pusa.

"Please take care of him. If something happens to him, our relationship is at risk," biro ko, ngunit may halong seryosong tono.

Natawa si Winter habang tinutulungan akong isuot kay Spike ang harness niya. "Promise, I'll take good care of him. Now, let's go!"

Sumama ako palabas dahil naisipan kong kumain muna bago magpahinga. I waved goodbye as Winter's car slowly disappeared from view. 

I sighed as I went back inside to look for the hotel's restaurant. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili kanina na sabihin sa kanya na nakita ko si Shane sa airport. Hindi ko alam kung paalis ba iyon o kakarating lang ng Palawan, so I thought it doesn't really matter if I tell her or not. Hindi naman siguro kami magkikita dito. If he's here purely for business, then I doubt na mapapadpad siya sa mga resort lalo na sa resort kung nasaan ako.