P.S. I'm Dying

GABE

GABE

If there was a right moment to declare my love for him, it is the right moment. With only me and him in this four corners room.
But if there is a right time, it isn't, because he already has his love of life. . . and it is not me.

"Shall we start?" he asked professionally.

I slightly nodded bago inistart ang recorder. Nasa labas ang photographer ko, kumukuha ng mga magandang litrato ng restaurant.

I cleared my throat before I started asking the first question, "How did you manage a popular restaurant with eaters going bigger day by day?"

"Simple. You just need to love what you are doing." tipid na sagot niya.

"When did it start, Mr. Belen?"

"I was 25 when I started this business, and that was 2011. I got my co-owner, Mariz, two years after."

"And it was already successful the time your co-owner joined you?"

"Pardon me? Are you trying to say that she's an opportunist?"

"No, Mister I do not intended to make you think that way," pahiyang sambit ko.

Kuminang ang mga mata niya.
"Ah, when Mariz joined me, it was still a small business." sagot niya at saka umiling at sumandal sa swivel chair niya na parang boss.

That is a stunning picture of him.
I want to capture it, kaso iba na ang mundong ginagalawan namin. Hindi na katulad ng dati.

Everything has changed.

Tumingin agad ako sa hawak kong papel para malaman ang next question na itinake note ko, "Is it your dream to become a successful restaurant owner? How did you do it? Because many fails, only few achieves it."

Tinitigan lang niya ako na para bang may mali sa sinabi ko. Umiwas ako ng tingin. Ayaw ko sa tingin niya, nanginginig ang tuhod ko.

"I believe that you already knew the answer, Gabe." sagot niya habang nakatitig pa rin sa akin.

Binasa ko ang mga labi ko dahil parang nanunuyo na at saka ko siya tinignan, "Excuse me?" sagot ko agad.

"I mean, diba lagi mong tanong yan when we were just kids. I told you I am going to be a surgeon or scientist, pero sabi mo magrestaurant ako, then partner tayo. And so I did, I waited for you, you know? You never showed up. Mariz did." inilapag ko ang tingin ko at saka tumikhim, "That isn't my question Mr. Belen."

"But that is my answer, I achieved it because I believed in you."

Tinignan ko agad ang notes ko habang nanginginig ang kamay at saka siya tinanong nang di tumitingin sa kaniya, "What dish made you very popular?"

"Ah, the flying saucers with italian spaghetti sauce. That is our best."

I didn't know but that made me look at him. And I saw him smiled at me.

Flying saucers, spaghetti, I remembered it all. . .

That was my favorite foods and I told him that on their house on his 17th birthday, kasi naghanda ang mommy niya at kalahati ng mga kaklase niya including me ay nagpunta sa bahay niya. . .

I gulped in the bump in my throat but nothing happens.
It is still there.

I tried to clear my throat.

"Oh, I should try that next time." nakangiting sambit ko.
Nag-angat siya ng kilay.

"You've been here last time, bakit di mo pa tinry?"