"GOOD Morning!" she greeted smilingly at Sage who had just woken up. "You're just right in time, katatapos ko lang magluto ng almusal." Inilapag niya sa la mesa ang hawak niyang dalawang plato.
Hinila ni Sage ang upuan at naupo. "Anong nakain mo at naisipan mong maghanda ng almusal?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing. Do I need a reason to?" she asked back. Naupo siya sa tapat ni Sage. Suddenly, she felt conscious seeing him staring at her. "Y-yes? Is there something wrong?" She cursed herself for stammering.
Umiling ito. "I'm glad to see you're back to your usual self. Last night you looked so down. It's probably because you're not feeling well. Ngayon ba ay okay na ang pakiramdam mo?"
She nodded. If only he knew the real reason, would he still be looking worriedly at her like that?
"Nag-away ba kayo ni Hunter?"
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "It can't be helped. You know that person doesn't like me ever since we were kids."
"You two are like cats and dogs. I'm afraid if I leave the two of you alone, a World War III will spark."
She laughed. The heavy feeling inside her chest finally disappeared. "Yeah, I think so," she agreed. "Anyway, how did it go last night? I saw you talking to your parents."
"What do you think?" tanong pabalik ni Sage. Bagsak ang mga balikat niya.
"I guess that didn't go well. Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's okay. Marahil ay galit pa rin sila hanggang ngayon sa ginawa ko. I can't blame them but if I didn't do that, then I'd be stuck doing something I don't like. I really can't imagine myself as a doctor. It's far from my personality."
"Their reaction is normal. They are your parents so they would only want what they think is best for you."
"I know."
She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "You know, I envy you Sage. It's because you have the courage that you are now able to do what you really want." Unlike her. If only she got the courage to pursue her dream then she would probably be living a different kind of life right now...
"I want to quit mom," mahina niyang sabi. "I want to pursue my dream."
Galit na napatingin ang mama niya sa kanya. "What?! Are you insane, Gia?! Ano bang pumasok dyan sa isipan mo at biglang gusto mong mag-quit? That is ridiculous."
"I've already said this before on you, I'm not happy anymore. Things were not like before."
"Bullshit, Gia!" Her voice raised an octave. "Don't give me that lame excuse again."
Napadako ang tingin nito sa painting na nasa sulok ng kwarto niya. Dali-dali nitong kinuha ito. "Ito ba ang dahilan, Gianna?" Nang hindi siya sumagot ay nagpatuloy ito. Much to her horror, she destroyed her painting. "This is trash!"
"No!" she cried out. She ran towards her to take her painting that had already been split into half. "Mom! What did you do?" naiiyak niyang tanong.
"Don't you ever think of quitting again, Gianna. Not when you're at the peak of your career. I've gone through and endure a lot of hardships para lang maiangat kita. And then you would just throw away everything you have right now?"
"This is too much!" she shouted. Tears streamed down her face. "I never ask for anything of this! Why do you have to go as far as destroying my painting? You're cruel."
"You won't quit, Gianna. Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo." And then her mom stormed out of her room.
People she knew would always say how lucky she was because of everything she had. But that's not actually the case. They didn't know that behind the glimmer, she felt empty. She felt unhappy.
Painting was more than a hobby for her. It's like her life. She could already imagine doing it for the rest of her life. Her heart would always tell her to follow her dreams but she didn't. She was a coward after all. As much as she wanted to pursue it, she didn't want to disappoint her mom. She didn't want to be her biggest disappointment. And so she decided to turn her back on her dreams and instead followed what her mom wanted. She had been living on someone else's dreams.
"Gianna?"
Naputol ang pag-iisip niya nang marinig ang boses ni Sage. "I'm sorry. Were you saying something?"
"Something wrong?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. Everything's alright," she answered. She shouldn't be thinking of those things. She's not in New York. Nandito siya para magpakasaya. "Anyway, gusto kong bisitahin si tita ngayon. Alam mo ba ang schedule niya ngayon?"
"Well, I'm not sure though. But why don't you call the hospital where she's working at?"
"Do you have the number?"
"Yeah, I think I have it here. Just a sec." Kinuha nito ang phone at pagkatapos mahanap ang number ay inabot nito sa kanya ang phone. "Call that number."
"Thanks." Kinuha niya ang phone nito. "Hindi mo ba ako sasamahan?"
"I don't think I can, Gianna. Maybe next time. And besides, may taping ako mamaya ng 11. Hindi ko alam kung anong matatapos ang taping namin."
"Really? Wow, that's great! May bago ka na ulit ngayong serye."
"It's actually a film. And by next week ay sa Puerto Galera na ang next shooting location namin. Tatapusin muna namin i-shoot ang ilang scenes dito. Mawawala ako ng ilang linggo. Okay ka lang ba kung maiiwan kang mag-isa dito?"
No, of course she wouldn't be. She might die from boredom if she would be left alone. Ano na lang ang gagawin niya dito? And besides, hindi niya yata kakayanin ang hindi makita ng ilang linggo si Sage.
"If not then I can ask Rainee to accom—"
"No!" mabilis niyang tanggi pagkarinig ng pangalan ng kasintahan nito. "There's no need for you to bother her."
"So you'll be alright?"
She didn't answer his question. But rather an idea popped inside her head. "You know what, I have not been to Puerto Galera yet. I'd like to see the beautiful beach there. What do you think about me going with you?"
"Eh?"
GIANNA threw a quick glance on her wristwatch. It's already past 6 in the evening at hanggang ngayon ay wala pa din si Tita Yvette. Ang sabi sa ospital ay hanggang alas-kwatro lang ng hapon ang schedule nito. Marahil ay natrapik ito sa pag-uwi. Was it really alright for her to come there without giving a word? She just wanted to surprise Tita Yvette? Sana lang ay hindi pa ito ganun kapagod para makipagkwentuhan sa kanya.
She heard the doorbell rang. Sino naman kaya ang bisita nila sa ganitong oras? She heaved a sigh. She was getting hungry. Parang gusto na niyang kainin ang cake na dala niya.
"Is Tita Yvette already here?"
Napatingin kaagad siya sa bisita na kapapasok lang sa loob. Her jaw almost dropped when she saw the visitor. It was Hunter! What the hell is he doing there?
"Wala pa po Sir. Baka natrapik po yun pag-uwi. Baka mamaya ay nandito na din po yun."
He didn't answer. Napadako ang tingin nito sa kinauupuan niya. She quickly averted her eyes. Bigla ay may parang kung anong nagrambulan sa puso niya. Should she better leave? Marahil ay sa susunod na araw na lang niya bibisitahin si Tita Yvette. She couldn't possibly think that she could stay long there, even just for a second.
"I see you're also here."
Naramdaman niya ang paggalaw ng sofa. Hunter sat beside her. "I guess luck is not on my side today," ang sabi niya ng hindi man lang nililingon ito.
Malalim ang buntong-hininga na pinakawalan ni Hunter. Sa kanilang dalawa ay siya dapat ang magsabi nun. Tila ba ay para silang pinaglalaruan ng tadhana. Why did he have to meet this woman again? "I could say the same too. Sa lahat pa ng pwede kong makita ay bakit ikaw pa?"
Nagpanting naman ang tenga ni Gianna sa narinig na sagot mula kay Hunter. "If you don't want to see my face then I'm leavi—"
"Stay," malamig ang tono na pagkakasabi nito.
Natigilan siya bigla at nagtatakang tiningnan si Hunter. Did he just say stay? Tama ba ang pagkakarinig niya sa sinabi nito?
"I don't have the energy to argue with you right now. I'm only here to return something." He wasn't feeling well since early. Para bang binibiyak ang ulo niya sa sobrang sakit nito. And seeing this woman again just made it worse even more.
"That's so nice of you," she replied with an unladylike snort that made him grimace.
She was expecting Hunter to retort but he remained silent. She looked at him with a frown on her face. He was just there sitting quietly. Nakatulala. Did something happen to him today? It's not like she's worried but somehow she found it weird. She was not used to it.
"You should better find your own place and leave Sage's condo unit."
Or so she thought. She was a fool for believing his words. It would be really impossible for this guy to stop. She knew he was the kind of person who loved to tick her off. "I don't think I need to find one. It's such a hassle. After all, I'll go back in New York once I'm done with my business here."
"If you need a place to stay then you can stay at my place. Dalawa ang kwarto sa bahay ko. You could use the other one."
Pagak siyang tumawa. "I thought I'm the person you hated the most. So why do you want me to stay there? Can you stand living under the same roof with the person you hate?"
He rubbed his temples. He just said he didn't want to argue but this woman looked like she's looking for one. To think he would offer her that, he probably had gone crazy. It was like he was asking for some kind of torture. "Do I have a choice? It's because you're too stubborn that you're already hurting someone."
She knew, even if he didn't mention a name, he was talking about Rainee. "Ipinanganak ka ba para maging kontrabida ng buhay ko?"
A small frown creases his forehead. "What did you just say?"
"Why do you always have to oppose me? What does Rainee have that you care so much about her? She's hurting? Bakit ako ba hindi? Don't talk as if I don't get hurt too. This is my life, Hunter. And you don't get to decide on what I should and I shouldn't do."
Napanganga si Hunter pero saglit lang yun at kaagad din itong nakabawi. "I never thought you would be this difficult," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Hindi siya sumagot. Sakto naman ang pagdating bigla ng taong hinihintay nilang dalawa. Si Tita Yvette. She heaved a sigh of relief pagkakita rito. Bakas naman sa mukha nito ang pagkagulat nang makita silang dalawa ni Hunter.
"I didn't know I have visitors. Kanina pa ba kayo naghihintay?"
"No, tita." magkasabay nilang sagot ni Hunter much to their surprise. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa at kaagad din nilang iniwas ang tingin sa isa't isa.
"You two still haven't changed," natatawang sabi nito. Tinawag nito ang katulong at inutusan na maghanda na ng hapunan. "I'm already starving. How about we eat first?"