Wildest Dreams

II.

Nananaginip

"And what are you doing with your life, Sandro?"

Boses ni Donna ang sumalubong sa kagigising na diwa ni Sandro nang umagang iyon. He was in his room – that was for sure. He looked at his bedside table but he became dizzy as soon as he moved his head.

"Anong nangyari?"

Nakita niyang nakatayo si Donna sa may dulo ng kanyang kama. Nakahalukipkip ang huli sa kanya. She was wearing her corporate dress. Naisip niyang dapat nasa opisina ito ngunit heto si Donna, nakatayo sa gitna ng kanyang silid na para bang ito ang kanyang Mama at pinagagalitan siya nito.

"Anong nangyari? Sandro, do I have to repeat my question? Ilang beses para naman makasagot ka na?"

"Ano nga bang nangyari?" He asked back. Nagpakawala si Donna ng isang mahabang buntong – hininga. She shook her head and looked at him again.

"I asked the maids to make you breakfast, inayos ko na rin iyong mga damit mo. You can take a bath now, Sir. You have meetings, you have more important things to do than get wasted. My god! Forty – eight ka na, Sandro pero kung umakto ka para kang teenager."

"Donna..." Aniya rito. Hindi siya pinansin ni Donna. Tinalikuran siya nito at tinungo ang pinto. He sighed. "Donna... Donna..."

"What, Sandro?" Binalingan siya nito. Ngumiti siya at huminga nang napakalalim.

"She was there."

"I figured that out, Sandro. Hindi ka naman kasi magkakaganyan kung wala siya roon. Masakit pa ba?"

"Ang ulo ko, oo."

"Ang puso mo." Anito sa kanya. Hindi kaagad siya nakasagot. But he had a strong feeling that Donna already knew the answer. She's not Donna for nothing.

"It's been twenty – six years, Donna but the stinging pain is still here. Sabi ko noon, hinding – hindi ako magsisisi, but last night, I realized how much I regret what I did before. Naalala ko rin iyong bata sa office, iyong huling tanong niya, alam ko na rin ang sagot. I wanna go back and change things, Donna."

Ngumiti si Donna sa kanya.

"Too bad, time machines aren't real, Sandro." Wika nito sa kanya.

"Yes, Donna 'cause if it's real then I will use all my money to buy one."

Donna laughed. "Magbihis ka na, Sandro. Pinapunta ko na lang dito sa bahay mo iyong ten am mo. Alam mo naman, Mr. Zulueta doesn't like to wait."

Tinanguan ni Sandro si Donna. Donna knew all the ins and outs of his house and his life. Matagal na itong nagtratrabaho sa kanya. Donna became his EA eighteen years ago. Pareho silang bata-bata pa at walang gaanong alam sa reyalidad ng mundo.

He treated Donna as his family, as his best friend. Ito lang naman ang palaging nagtatyaga sa kanya at kay Donna lang niya nasabi ang lahat ng agam – agam niya sa buhay. She knew about Sheryl and his love for her, she knew about the decisions he made, she knew about the people he had to leave just to make it here.

Donna, right now, is his everything.

Tulad niya ay wala rin itong asawa, pero may anak ito. Tanda niya nang mapansin niyang unti-unting lumalaki ang tyan ni Donna. Kaswal lang sinabi nito sa kanya na buntis ito at iyong kababata nito ang ama ngunit wala daw itong balak ipaalam sa lalaking iyon ang sitwasyon. Wala naman siyang masabi. Matapos iyon ay hindi na nila pinag-usapan ang tungkol sa ama ng anak nito. Donna raised her kid very well – she named her Amber. Kitang – kita niya kung paano pinalaki ni Donna ang anak nito nang maayos. She did everything for her daughter and because of that, her admired her more.