That Time In July

Kabanata 10

Chapter 10

"Hey."

Dali dali kong pinunasan ang basa kong pisngi at agad tumingala.

"Papunta kaming East Coast, gusto mong sumama?"

Hindi ko alam kong mugto ba ang aking mga mata dahil sa pag-iyak. I shook my head, indicating I won't join them.

Kumunot ang noo ni Gray bago nagtanong. "Are you, okay?" Tumango lang ako bilang sagot sa tanong niya.

"You coming?" Nakakunot pa rin ang kanyang noo habang nagtatanong sakin.

I shook my head again. Alam kong tratraydorin ako ng aking boses kapag nagsalita kaya nanatili akong tahimik.

"Alright, I'll be back before dinner para may kasama ka." Tumango ako sa sinabi niya.

"You sure you're okay?" He asked, concern now evident on his voice. Ngumiti ako bago tumango. "Alright. We'll go ahead."

Nanatili muna siya saglit bago tuluyang umalis. I sigh before going back inside. Clenching my phone tight, I put it inside my pocket. Thinking to deactivate my accounts, I dismiss it immediately. Instead of doing so, I muted the GC, and everything else whose irrelevant.

Umuwi nga si Gray kasama si Lolo Carl ng mag hapunan na. I could still see concern on Gray's face, kaya pinilit ko'ng maging okay. Lolo Carlo talked about the things I need to know about San Pedro. I put my whole attention there, para na rin makalimot saglit.

Later that night while waiting for Mom to come home, George called. Nasa sala ako ng tumawag siya, I immediately turn down the call to send a message.

Me:

Can't talk. What's up?

Hindi rin naman nag tagal ang kanyang reply.

George:

Where are you? Are you okay?

George:

Have you seen the pics? Just don't mind them. We really hope you're okay. Answer the phone Alex. We're worried.

Nag isip muna ako ng isasagot. Sometimes, even if we knew things are bad, we tend to actually do it, not for our selves but for the people around us. Maybe a bit of it is for our selves, but not entirely.

Me:

I'm fine George. Yes, I've seen it, but really I'm fine. I'm with the family, I really can't talk right now. I'll call you guys some other time okay?

Matapos kong ma ipadala ang mensahe, I turn it to silent mode and put it at the table. Bukas ang telebisyon, nag sisilbing ingay sa tahimik na gabi. Lolo Carlo went to bed early, Gray hasn't went downstairs after dinner. I was alone, with a clouded mind. Hindi ko alam ilang minuto akong tulala duon bago ko napansin ang pag baba ni Gray.

"You sure you'll wait for them? You look like you need some sleep." Tanong niya habang tinatangal ang tubig sa buhok gamit ang kaliwang kamay.

"I'm fine. I just need to talk to mom. Baka nag-aalala yun."

"We are all worried Gwen, but if you need to take your rest, I can talk to them."

I immediately shook my head. "No need Gray. Maaga pa naman."

Tumango siya at pumunta sa kusina. Back to being alone, I took my phone from the table and looked at my reflection on it. Hindi na mugto ang mga mata, ngunit bakas ang kalungkutan. I stretch my eyes to somehow disturb its emotion on it. I focused on watching the documentary on the screen. Still finding the sense of the film, Gray came blocking my view from the television.

"Here, it's alcohol free."

Tinanggap ko ito at tiningnan. Its Poppi soda.

"You dont have Cali?" I asked opening the soda.

"There's still alcohol in it Gwen." Mataman niyang sinabi.

"I know, but just point 5. Can be considered non-alcoholic. Besides, my doctor encourages me to drink some of it. Baka sakaling mawala raw itong allergy."

"And how's Cali? Walang side effect?" Taas kilay niyang tanong.

Uminom muna ako sa Poppi bago ko siya sinagot. "So far so good. Last year ko lang siya na diskubre after mag suggest ni Dr Alba."

"Nice. Any plans on upgrading it to point 7?"

"Nope, let's stick to point 5 as of the moment."

We were talking about my condition when the door opened.

"Gwen, you're still up?" Asked Mom nang namataan kami sa sala. "How are you feeling?" Lumapit siya ng tuluyan.

"I'm fine Mom. Paos nga lang po."

Tiningnan niya ang nasa lamesang Poppi bago tumango. "It's good to hear that, we were worried! Gigisingin sana kita kanina kaso Gray insisted on letting you rest. Wala bang masakit sayo?"

"I'm okay Mom, wala pong masakit, makati nga lang po."

Naunos ang oras namin na ganoon ang eksina. She, asking about the side effects of the alcohol. Me, pointing out Im perfectly fine. One of the reason I waited for her is to ask permission about starting to work tomorrow.

"Mom, I'm perfectly fine. Nasa loob lang naman po ako ng opisina, I can certainly handle it."

"No Gweneth. You'll start when you've fully recovered."

I'm still pushing it but Mom's so persistent with her decision. I ended up doing to what she said. If given a chance, baka makapag-umpia na ako sa lunes.

That's why the remaining days of the week, I spent it inside the house. Sometimes, nasa garden. Kapag na bobored, nasa library. I also tried to learn some dishes from manang Lory.

It was a sunny Sunday. We've decided to went to church, para mag simba. That was the first time I've been outside the house since the incident happened. My voice is still hoarse but I am perfectly fine.

"You sure you're ready for work Gweneth? We can still move your effectively till next week." Mom said sa kalagitnaan ng lunch.

Namilog ang aking mga mata at agad na nag salita. "Mom, I thought okay na tayo rito? I am recovering po. Besides, I am definitely ready to work."

Bumuntong hininga siya. Tito was beside her, heating her sigh, napataas ang kanyang ulo at tiningnan si Mommy. Hinawakan niya ang likod nito in an assuring way.

"She'll be fine. Relax. Hindi naman siguro si Gweneth mag pupush kung hindi niya pa kaya. Beside, naroon naman tayo, we can check her anytime."

"Exactly!" Singit ko naman.

"Alright." Mom gave up. Napangiti ako.

The first day at work isn't really that hectic for me. Reading and familiarizing the ECL. Rigid rin silan nag mononitor sa aking kalagayan. I have my own small office. Supposedly, kasama ako sa mga cubicle sa kabilang kwarto, but because of the incident, Mom decided to separate me from them. I was in the middle of reading a file when someone knocked on the door.

"Bukas po yan." I shouted not wanting to stand up.

Pumasok ang isang bellboy ng hotel.

"Magandang umaga po Ms. Gweneth. May bisita po kayo. Papapasukin ko po ba?"

Tumaas ang kilay ko ruon. I'm not expecting any visitors on my first day.

"Ow? Alright sige salamat."

Tumango ang bellboy bago lumabas. Ilang sandali lang ng pumasok ang panibagong panauhin sa aking maliit na opisina. Napataas ang aking kilay. I'm not really expecting her after Felix said she wanted to apologize. Wala kasi sa kanyang mukha ang manghingi ng tawad. Tho we shouldn't looked at what's on the outside of a person, she really leave some bad impression on me.

"Dorothy."

(Song recommendation: Chaotic by Tate McRae)