"Jane ano bang klaseng regalo to?" Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Lunes ng hapon at kauuwi ko lang.
"For your information, mareng Mariz, masarap ang alak sa Europe, ano. H'wag mong maliitin ang pasalubong ko." Umirap pa siya bago pumunta sa kusina kaya sinundan ko.
"Alam mong hindi ako mahilig sa alak." Inirapan ko rin siya kahit pa nakatalikod siya sakin.
"I know, right? Si Althea naman ang iinom niyan pero syempre sayo ko iaabot para mag mukhang may pasalubong ako na para sayo." Humarap siya sa akin at ininom ang malamig na tubig sa baso.
"Why does your water taste different?" She asked.
"Water tastes the same, Jane. Kaiinom mo ng alak yan kaya pakiramdam mo siguro chaser yan."
"Hindi pare-parehas ang lasa ng tubig. Palibhasa panay ka milk tea at juice." Umirap siya ulit.
"Anyways, dumaan lang ako dito para sabihin sayong pupunta ako sa Makati to check how the resto is going there. Ang laki ng idinagdag ng branch na yon sa profit natin last month."
"Nabasa ko rin sa email. I'll go there next week since pupuntahan mo naman na ngayon. Isasama ko na lang siguro si Althea sa site sa BGC para tignan ang lagay ng pinapatayo natin."
"Okay," she hugged me and gave me a kiss on my right cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Hindi ko na siya hinatid palabas. I just shouted "Ingat.".
Inilabas ko ang steak sa ref para palambutin. Alas quatro pa lang kaya paniguradong mamayang alas seis, malambot na yon at pwede nang lutuin.
May shoot ngayon si Althea sa Bulacan na 5PM pa ang tapos. Paniguradong by 7, nandito na siya.
I texted her with my reminder about not eating dinner kasi sabay kami dito sa bahay. I'll just prepare our dinner and let her drink what Jane bought for us.
Inilabas ko na rin ang broccoli at ang ilang bawang. Ang butter, hinayaan ko muna ref at inihanda ko ang paminta.
Nang masiguro kong wala na akong kailangang intindihin, lumabas na ako ng kusina.
I've been thinking about surprising Althea since then. Ngayon ko lang matutupad.
Nag suot ako ng brassiere sa loob ng aking shirt at lumabas para bumili ng mahabang kandila. Para sa table mamaya.
Ang planong kandila lang, nauwi sa ilang rose petals, balloons, bath bombs and pizza.
Inilagay ko ang dalawang magkaibang kulay na bath bombs sa bathtub at hinayaan itong mag sayaw sa tubig habang paliit nang paliit.
Four scented candles ang inilagay ko na magkakahelera sa kabilang side ng bathtub. Sisindihan ko mamaya sabay kaming liligo bago matulog.
I set the table carefully, placing two long candles in the center. Scattered rose petals filled the empty spaces between the plates, spread neatly across the bare parts of the table where nothing else was set.
I took the bottle of wine from the refrigerator and placed it in the freezer for a quick chill.
Althea had texted me earlier, saying her shoot was almost done and that things were moving faster than expected. That gave me just enough time to prepare everything the way I had imagined.
I started with the steak, letting it sear while I boiled water on the side for blanching the broccoli. I planned to cook the broccoli later in the same sauce left in the pan, hoping it would soak in all the flavor.
Once I was satisfied with how the table looked, I went upstairs to shower. The scent of the candles filled the air even though I hadn't lit them yet.
It was strong and sweet, and it followed me as I climbed the stairs. I took a quick shower, just enough to freshen up, since I had already bathed earlier in the day.
BINABASA MO ANG
I fell in love
Ficción GeneralHow can a few stolen moments ever be enough to last a lifetime? And if they are, would the ache they leave behind be worth it? This is a story of quiet love, heavy choices, and the kind of longing that never really lets go.
