The Past or The Present?

Chapter 39

Nagising nalang ako dahil sa sinag ng araw, I check my bedside table to see what time is it. It's 7 in the morning kaya agad na akong bumangon para gawin ang morning rituals ko.

Bumaba ako sa kusina para makapaghanda ng breakast kumuha ako ng bread and put some margarine and sugar into it then put it to the toaster, I grab the kettle and boil some water. Kumuha ako ng egg and preheat the pan. Dali dali kong ginawa ang breakfast ng biglang may nagdoor bell pagkabukas ko ng pintuan ay si Tavin ang nasa labas.

"Great! You're on time, Let's eat." Agad naman akong dumiretso sa loob at nilapag sa table ang toasted bread, Sunny side up, 2 mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and sliced banana.

"Sit down." I told Tavin when I saw him just watching me, he just nod and sit on the chair across the table.

"Good Morning Fatima." he greeted I just smiled at him.

I was munching my food when he talk, umiinom narin sya sa hot choco nya.

"So... Are we gonna discuss the issue?" He asked, I looked at him and swallow to clear my throat,

"Ahh yes, well.. It's about Vinn.. Ahm we will be going to Ilocos on Saturday... Is it okay?" Then I look at Tavin intently.

"What happened yesterday?"

"It's about Rean, Tavin. She's staying at Ilocos an-" hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko ng magsalita ulit si Tavin.

"Rean told you that she need to be alone right?" I nodded at Tavin.

"Then why are you going there?"

"Look. She's been there when I'm in misery and it is the right time to give back the things she did to me when I was on her situation." I reasoned out

"But Fatima... you have a goal, a plan, right? Are you hiding something from me?" I heave a deep breath before answering his question. I sort things out last night and malinaw na sa akin ang lahat.

"I still love him."

"I know." Tavin told me while looking directly in my eyes.

"I-I saw you yesterday with him, your smile when you bid goodbye to each other. I've never seen it before not until yesterday and I saw his reaction a-and..."

"Wa-wait you saw us? Did you bumped into each other? What did he tell you?"

"Ye-yes... well I pretended that I just came out in the elevator and I saw how shocked he was when he saw me. I just asked him if you're already in your unit then we bid goodbye to each other."

"O-okay."

"Fatima... he's a married man, he has a child did you already forget that?" I move my head from left to right.

"I know that... I know my limitations Tavin and trust me it is all about Rean.. Nothing more and nothing less but I can't hide my true feelings for Vinn..." I hold Tavin's hand and squeeze it.

"Thank you Tavin for everything... You're special to me Tavin but..."

"But Vinn will always be the most special right Fatima?" I nod at him

"Yea. I already knew that from the first time that we bumped into each other... that day in Paris, I saw the longing to the both of you... but Fatima I wish that you will do the right thing. Don't worry I will always be here." I smiled at him then stand up and hugged him tight.

"Thank you Tavin... I'm grateful that you came into my life..."

"Are we going to continue this?"

"What do you think?" I asked him, dahil kung ako lang e kaya naman na namin itigil to dahil wala namang magbabago.

"Yes we should mi amour." I looked at him suspiciously.