Loving Him Even In Sadness

Loving: Twenty

Career

I came back to my reverie when someone shrugged my shoulder.

“Love…” it was a whisper.

I blinked twice just so I can make sure na totoo itong nasa harapan ko, and it's real. It's really him.

“W-Wait? How come?” I asked confusingly.

But then he only gestured his index finger and pointed someone behind me. Sinundan ko ang direksyon ng kanyang daliri at nakita kong si Mommy ang tinuro niya.

“Oh, sabotage?”

“It’s not, tinawagan ko lang si Ma’am Zenny na puwede ba rito ako mag New Year kasama ka, at okay lang din sa kanya. Sinabi ko rin kung puwede ba huwag sabihi –”

“Sabotahe nga.” I uttered.

“If that’s what you want to believe, love.” Inirapan ko siya at ngumiti.

“There, you’re smiling,” he whispered as his mouth is near my ear.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na nakayakap pala siya sa akin. How fast could this man be?
Seconds later, I found myself savoring his sweet kiss on my forehead.

“Happy New Year, love.” I said looking straight unto his eyes.

He froze for a bit before he moved and make his way with me into the table together with my family.

“You don’t know how happy I am just because you called me, love," he said from behind as he pulled a chair for me. Napangiti ako ron. Hindi niya naman first time marinig iyon mula sa akin.

We sat down on the table while my siblings and Mom are having a chat. Habang ako at si Zack ay nakikinig lamang sa kanila.

“Zack, hijo.”

Tawag sa kanya ni Mommy at sabay kaming napatingin.
Nang tiningnan ko ang pamilya ko, I can say that they all looked happy while wearing their biggest smile.

“We’re talking about our career here, might as well share yours.” Sabi ni Mommy sa kanya, alam ko naman na career pinag-uusapan kanina, kasi nga nakikinig kami. But asking about his career directly, bakit hindi ko iyon natanong sa kanya?

“Actually Ma’am –”

“Tita.” Ani ni Mommy na ikinagulat ko.

“Po?” Zack asked confusingly, didn’t get the point.

“Call me, Tita.” Mom clarified at agad akong napangiti.

I thought she will just let Zack call her Ma’am pero it proved me wrong.

“Okay, actually T-Tita,” sabi niya at natawa ako. Pero agad kong tinakpan ang bibig ko kasi naabala ko yata pagsasalita niya.

I smiled. “Sorry for the interruption, continue speaking.” I said, and he obliged.

“Narinig ko po nag-uusap kayo sa career, Tita. And it makes me land on a decision for my future career. May gusto po akong tahakin pero hindi muna sa ngayon. I can’t leave Zen right here.”

Sa huling sinabi niya agad akong nag-angat ng tingin. Bakit naman ako nasali?

“What do you mean, you can’t leave Zen?” Seryosong tanong ni Mommy.

Minsan pala, hindi lahat ng seryosong usapan ay nakakakaba. Kagaya ngayon, may nagsasalita, may nagtatanong at mayroong sumasagot. Simpleng usapan at bonding ng isang pamilya.