Gravity

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng aking condo unit dahil may nag-doorbell dito. I was surprised to see him in front of my door, holding a bouquet of the flowers I loved.

"Hey." He timidly said.

His eyes were hopeful at the sight of me. Ngumiti ako kahit na nagtataka kung bakit siya nandito ngayon.

"Hey." Salita kong pabalik.

He handed me the flowers. Inabot ko iyon at agad na inamoy. They actually smelled really good. It reminded me of something good. Like the rising of the sun, reminding us that there's a new day ahead.

I opened the door wider for him to get in. "Pasok ka." Sambit ko dito. I wasn't sure if he understood but he still walked inside my house.

Dinala ko siya hanggang sa aking sala. I wondered how the hell he found out where my house was. Nevertheless, I was glad to have some company.

"I went here just to greet you a happy new year." Sabi niya nang huminto kami sa tapat ng aking puting sofa.

Hindi ko alam kung nakagawian niya na ba ang pumunta sa bahay ng iba para lang magsabi ng happy new year o may pinapatunayan talaga siya. Nalito ako sa naisip.
Ano namang patutunayang siya para sayo, Olivia?

Nang makabalik kami nung isang linggo galing Palawan ay agad akong umuwi sa bahay namin sa Manila. I decided to spend my rest with my family. Doon na rin ako nagpasyang mag-celebrate ng Pasko.

Dad, Duff and I had a simple dinner in an exclusive restaurant the night before Christmas. We enjoyed talking to each other, catching up for the past days we didn't get to see each other.

I gave them both their gifts. A new necktie for my dad and a simple necklace for my sister. They both loved it. I was glad they did.

My dad gave me a locket with my mom's picture in it. Halos maiyak ako nang makita iyon ngunit pinigil ko ang sarili.

That was the third time we spent Christmas without mom. Hindi pa rin kami sanay dahil madalas ay si mommy ang nagluluto para sa noche buena.

Duff got me a reminder notebook. Nandoon ang sulat niya kung ano ang dapat kong gawin tuwing hectic ang sched. She wrote lists and lists of healthy foods, how to cook or pack them to bring with me everytime I had a shoot. Some reminders of my vitamins and other energy boosting drugs were also written there.

Sa araw ng Pasko ay nagsimba lang kaming tatlo sa Manila Cathedral. There were lots of people pero masaya ako dahil walang masyadong pumansin sa presensya ko.

Anthony went to our house that day just to give me his gift. It was a neck pillow.

"Naaawa na ako sayo dahil hindi ka makatulog ng maayos kapag nasa byahe." He told me why he chose to give me his gift.

After that, I met up with my friends. Una kong kinita si Sofia dahil aalis siya papuntang ibang bansa. I spent hours with Anabelle dahil sa tagal naming hindi nagkita.

I had one gift left under my little Christmas tree at home. It was an expensive wrist watch. Exclusively for Arkin.

"Good evening, Olivia! You look stunning tonight!" An old man told me.

Ang kumpanya nila Ran Dane ay nagkaroon ng Christmas party on the 28th.

I wore a simple cocktail dress just for the sake of formality. Iba't ibang klaseng mga putahe ang inihain. They were made deliciously kaya naman todo kain ako.

I gave Ran Dane a gift too. Isang baby pink na button down shirt para sa kanyang trabaho. I guessed it would be so much of use for him. Lalo na't isa siyang CEO.