How Much I Love Her

Chapter Thirty- Eight

Leanne's POV

People busy packing things, making calls, checking lists and making head count surround me. Being in this kind of situation and scenario is still surreal as it is, for me. Ang buong akala ko ay hindi ko na talaga mapapa-payag si Phil na gawin ang project na ito.

I can't blame anyone if they had second thoughts about this. At the end of the day, it has a big part from what happened to me two years ago, but then again, it is something that I need to face. Something that needs to be done for my wounds to heal.

"Ate Leanne, okay na. May idadagdag ka pa ba sa mga dadalhin?" Carl, one of group members and friend asks.

"Yeah, thanks Carl, I guess okay na yan. We can just add and pick up more things kung kailangan." I answered. "Where's Art and Bettina?"pag tanong na pag tanong ko ng tanong na iyan ay ang pag painlalang ng boses ni Art na papalapit sa amin kasunod ni Bettina at Phil.

"Kuya Phil, patingin din ako ng iba mong kuha?" pangungulit ni Art sa nangingiting si Phil.

"Sure. Next time." Simpleng sagot naman nito.

"Kuya, lahat ba ng photographers na katrabaho mo, gwapo din tulad mo?" curious na tanong naman na tanong ni Bettina na mukhang hindi inasahan ng nabiglang si Philip.

"Gosh. Tame your toungue, woman." Narinig kong bulong naman ng kaatabi kong si Carl na ikinatawa ko. Minsan talaga ang simpleng kalokohan ng mga batang to ang nakakapag pagan ng pagod kong isip.

"Is everything ready?" tanong ni Phil ng makalapit sa akin at pagsasa walang bahala nito sa tanong ni Bettina.

"Yes. Thanks, Love." Sagot ko na inabot ang kanyang kamay at marahan na pinisil. Ang warm ng kamay ni Phil. Thw warm feeling of his hand runs through me, straight in my heart and gives warmth in it.

"Kaloka talaga Ate ah, kaasar!" maarteng sambit naman ni Art sa nagging gesture ko.

"Let's go." Anyaya naman ni Carl sa dalawa. "We'll leave you two here, Ate. Let's just talk about the final details after a while." Dagdag pa nitong sabi na sa akin lang nskstingin at binigyan ako ng isang malaking ngiti at hinila ang dalawa palayo sa amin ni Phil.

"Okay. So what are these things for?" tanong ni Phil sa mga gamit na isinasakay ng mga groupmates ko sa dalawang van na dadalhin naming sa site.

"Some will stay there for three days to get the actual programs taking place there." Sagot ko sakanya ng sa mga maata lang nya nakatingin, pilit naghahanap at binabasa ang kung ano mang emosyon ang makikita duon.

"You'll be okay, right?" seryosong tanong nito.

"Yes. Are you still mad?" nag aalalang tanong ko.

"Nope. I was never mad. I was just concerned and didn't understand your action." Straight forward na sagot niya. It's the exact same thing he said two nights ago, on our anniversary. But it feels just the same to me.

"But seeing this now..." sabi niya at mabilis na pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga di magkanda ugaga kong groupmates sap ag aayos ng mga gamit naming.. "made me remember something I forgot in the long run." Atsaka tumingin si Phil sa akin at pinag masdan ako ng buong pagmamahal.

"I was busy protecting you that I forgot that this whole thing is you. It's part of the woman I love the most. It is the thing you love doing and what happened to you didn't affect the love you have for documentary films. Sorry for not seeing that right away, Love. Please know that I am proud of you." Mabilis pinunasan ni Phil ang isang luhang kumawala sa mata ko.