A Deal Of Love

Chapter 2: Gabriel

GABRIEL

Going back to Manila again pero parang kailan lang nandito na naman ako. I went to Chicago para mag-move on pero nararamdaman ko pa rin ang sakit ng pagkawala ng mama at idagdag mo pa ang break-up namin ni Amelia.

Wala naman akong nagawang malaking kasalanan para mangyari ito sa akin, hindi ko alam kung makakaya ko pang mabuhay nang wala ang dalawang pinaka-importanteng babae sa buhay ko pero kailangan pa ako ng kumpanya. Ito na lamang ang natitirang ala-ala ng Mama at Papa sa akin.

Kamamatay lamang ng Papa noong nakaraang taon dahil sa cardiac arrest at dahil sa pagkawala niya ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ni Mama last month. She succumbed to loneliness because of my father's death.

Ulila na ako sa magulang pero alam ko nariyan lang sila sa tabi para antabayanan. May awa ang Diyos. I know He has.

"Riel, nakahanda na ang pagkain. Alam kong nagutom ka sa biyahe. Nagluto ako ng paborito mong adobong manok, take note maraming wings yun."

Basag ng pinsan kong si Lizette. Anak siya ng Tito Enrique na kasalukuyang nagmamanage ng kumpanya habang nasa Chicago ako.

"Bumangon ka na riyan. Mamaya ka na matulog. Magba-bonding pa tayo." Pangungulit niya at hinila-hila pa ako mula sa kama para tumayo.

Tumayo na ako baka mas lalo pang sumakit ang katawan ko dahil sa pagpupumilit niya at bumaba na kami sa kusina.

Pagkababa namin sa kusina ay naamoy ko kaagad ang bagong lutong adobo.

"Hmmm. Namiss ko ang lutong bahay ahh. Lalo na 'tong adobo mo Liz."

Then I pinched a little to taste it. It is very delicious.

"Iba talaga ang lutong bahay lalo na't ikaw ang nagluto pinsan."

We burst into laughter.

xx

"Riel, mamili ka Johnny Walker or Jack Daniels?" tanong ni Liz.

Kakatapos lang mag-ayos ng pinagkainan.

Dito ako sa condo niya tumuloy sa Pasay para mas malapit. Heto na naman ang nakaugalian tuwing nagkakasama kami.

"Jack Daniels will do, Liz." I smiled at her.

"By the way where's Nick? " I asked her.

Nick is her boyfriend and my long time friend.

We were classmates when we were in college.

And she's a cousin of Amelia.

My ex-girlfriend.

"He's in Baguio now for a convention meeting. Bukas pa ang uwi niya kaya you should stay here atleast 3 days." She answered me in a sweet tone.

"I can't promise. But maybe I will." I chuckled.

"There's a lot of things that I need to fix in the company. Alam ko nangangamote na si Tito Enrique sa kumpanya and besides para mas masanay na rin ako kung gagawin ko ito nang mas maaga." I continued.

"Sabagay, pero sana magkita din kayo ni Nick. Sobrang miss na miss ka nun. He feels very sorry for what happened to you and Amelia." she said.

May bigla na namang kumirot sa dibdib ko.

Everytime I hear her name, the bad memories I left in Chicago ay bumabalik at tumutusok pa rin sa puso ko.

"Yeah." I murmured.

My mood changed immediately because of that topic.

I can't help but reminisce my beautiful moments together with Amelia.

We really love each other. She was the only one who comforted me when Papa died.

She was my source of energy that time.

She was the only one I have to lean during that agony.

We often go for a date and making wonderful memories together.

Until she called me over the phone just to say she's leaving and that's how our official breakup happened.

One call, and we were over.

"I understand you Riel, and I feel so sorry for you. Anyway, I don't want to ruin our bonding so let's cheers! Alam ko namang namiss mo 'to ng sobra o baka naman ginagabi-gabi mo 'to?"

She's trying to act casually but I noticed the growing awkwardness between her words. I know she didn't mean to ask about it pero concern pa rin siya lalo pa't pinsan niya ako at pinsan ng boyfriend niya si Amelia.

We lifted our drinks for a toast.

Kinagawian na namin 'to simula nang magbinata at magdalaga na kami kaya I'm so happy that we had a chance to be together again. To do such things that we used to do when we were younger and when life doesn't give you so much weight on your shoulders. Everything was light and easy before but when you get older, things got complicated and stressful especially when you are going through something.

It's already 2:45AM.

Kakatapos lang naming iligpit ang kalat sa living room at pumasok na rin ako sa kwarto.

I changed my shirt na basang-basa ng pawis and my trousers.

When I opened my travelling bag to get another white shirt and boxer short, I remembered my pants. I put my locket inside of it that my mom gave me as a present on my 11th birthday. I opened the closet where I put my worn pants and suit.

Kinapa ko sa mga bulsa ng pants ko at pati na rin ang suit ko pero wala ito. Hinalungkat ko ang bag at maleta ko to check baka na misplace ko lang iyon, pero wala pa rin. I went to the bathroom, living room, hallway and kitchen pero wala pa rin.

I doubled check everything pero wala pa rin.

I tried to remember kung saan ako nagpunta.

"Sa lavatory, yes I went to the comfort room kanina sa eroplano. And what the, how can I get back there to find it?"

This is crazy.

Sa lahat pa man din ng mawawala sa akin, the most precious and important thing that my mom gave me pa ang nawala.

The last piece of her.

Her last memory that I have.

I can't replace or even duplicate it anymore.

I got tired thinking of it.

My eyes got tired and want to rest but my brain still thinking on how can I find the locket.

Sana napunta siya sa mabuting tao and I'm hoping na may anghel na makapagbabalik sa akin nito.

Oh God please. I prayed.

xx

Sa kakaisip ko para sa locket ay hindi ko na namalayang nakatulog na ako.

Nagising na lamang ako sa ringtone ng phone ko.

I reached for it under my pillow and I saw Tito Enrique's name on the screen.

"Oh yes Tito Enrique, mukhang napakaaga namang tawag 'to aah"

I said after pressing the dial button.

"Good Morning my pamangkin, oh yes. There will be an urgent meeting at 9am with our new shareholders and you need to be there."

He answered me in a business tone that really wakes me up. Bigla na lamang ako napabalikwas.

"Okay Tito. I'll be there, by the way I'm with Liz. I spent the night at her condo." I answered.

"Good to hear that and I can't wait to see you again Riel." and he ended the call.

It will be a long day and my heart is beating so fast now.

This will be my first time to meet the shareholders of our company.

I badly need a good luck.

This will be the start of  a new beginning, a new journey.