A Summer to Remember

Day 7 - my battered watch

  Eto na naman ako, catering my favorite guest. I looked at my watch - my battered watch. 7:31. Kakatok na sana ako pero bumukas na ang pinto.

 "Good morning SIR!" I gave him my sweetest smile. Dala ko ang white rose na pamalit sa roses niya from day 1' and additional toiletries.

 "You are… 2 minutes late. TARDY!" sabi ni Daniel, his voice, hard. But he smiled at me. Kinuha niya ang flowers and the toiletries. I was startled.

 "Hey, ako na. That's my job." binawi ko ang flowers sa kamay niya, and headed to the terrace where he usually puts the vase. Pagdating ko dun, I saw the table where he always eats. It was nicely arranged. May dalawang tasa ng chokolate, may basket ng tinapay sa gitna, omelet, and butter, May kaunting kanin din with bistek tagalog, and a pitcher of fresh orange juice. May dalawang chairs lang din, magkatapat. Sa isang upuan nakalagay ang guitar ni Daniel, sa harapan naman scattered paper and a pen. Siguro he's been composing.

 Kinuha ko ang lumang roses, and pinalitan yun ng bago. Hindi ko napansing nakatayo lang pala si Daniel sa likod ko. When I turned around, I almost fell kasi napakalapit lang namin. He catched me. He grabbed me by my waist.

 "Ang lampa naman Janine!" binitawan niya na agad ako, he smiled. Pumunta siya agad sa table, he dragged the chair with the guitar and sat.

 "Lampa! Hindi ah! Nakaharang ka kasi! Sige Daniel, I'm done here. Just ring the front desk if you need me okay?" aalis na ako, baka may ineexpect siyang kasama dito at madisturb ko pa sila. Tatalikod na sana ako when he called me again.

 "Janine!" sabi niya, with a tone of hesitation. I secretly smiled.

 "YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS??" I wasn't expecting anything huh - na yayain niya akong mag breakfast with him. Ang kapal ko naman. BUT WHY NOT?? Diba? Humarap ako sa kanya.

"ERMM… Wala… Hibdi ko to mauubos!" sabi niya without even looking at me.

 "So you're asking me to be with you for breakfast??" I said with my sweetest and most appreciative voice.

 "Yeah, something like that!"sabi niya.

 "Oh, OKAY!" agad naman akong umupo sa tapat niya. Gutom naman ako, and kahapon nasabi niya sa akin na minsan lang siyang nag aalmusal, why not take this chance to have breakfast with him. AT least man lang diba he'll have a decent breakfast this day. I'll make sure of that.

 Nung nandun kami sa beach the other day, nalaman ko ang reason ng sadness niya - and that is because of wanting Kathryn to want him. I don't want him sad, magiging masungit na naman siya sa lahat. Kahapon nga OK na OK ang mood niya eh, eh pano, while I was in his room fixing his bed, tumawag ang manager nila ni Kath saying that ang lungkot lungkot ni Kath sa biglang pag-alis niya. Buti nalang hindi siya agad nagpauto, and told the manager that he'll still be staying here for another week. Kaya yun, sinabihan nalang siyang baka makapagcompose siya ng new song to become a theme song for an upcoming movie project with Kath.

 Well, kaya nga nakapagdecide ako na gawing mission ang pasayahin niya while he's still here. While he's still with me and not with Kathryn. I hate thinking na isang week nalang kaming magsasama.

 Kinuha ko ang fried eggs, nilagyan ko yun ng konting asin at catsup tapos dinurog durog ko. After, ipinalaman ko na yun sa tinapay ko, absent-mindedly I took a huge bite. Sensya na, gutom lang naman eh.

 "Grabe ka kumain." puna niya. Na-conscious naman agad ako. Umulit akong kumha ng itlog, minix ko ng catsup, dinurog durog at pinalamanan ang tinapay, tapos binigay ko yun sa kanya. Nilagay ko sa plato niya.

"Try it. Nang malaman mo kung ano ang masarap!" I winked at him. Kumuha siya ng bread knife and was about to slice it.

 "OOPS!" Napatigil siya.

 "Mas masarap yan if you'll instantly take  a huge bite. Kinuha ko ang bread knife mula sa kanya. One moment, nakatingin siya sa wrist watch ko. Kaya naman binawi ko agad ang kamay ko. And took another bite. Kumagat din siya, pero maliit na kagat lang, after he chewed, he took another huge bite yun bang tipong ngunguyain niya ang buong tinapay.

 "WOW!! ANG sarap! Parang sa Paris lang!" sabi niya.

 "Hoy, may dumi ka sa bibig mo!" sabi ko. Aba. At nagpacute pa ang butiki.

 "Talaga? Linisin mo!"

 "HUWAAAAAAT??? Suwerte ka!" sabi ko naman, though I really really wanted to wipe it off from his face.

 HE smirked. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko and brought it to his face. Kaya wala akong choice kundi alisin ang dumi sa mukha niya. SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! Kinilig ako.

"You're blushing! OK lang yan Janine!" pang-iinis niya sa akin.

Matapos naming kumain. We moved to his sofa. Dala niya ang gitara niya. Dala ko naman ang notes niya.

 "Gagawin ko muna ang lyrics bago ang melody!" sabi niya sa akin. Kailangan niya raw talagang makapagcompose ng song for their upcoming movie.

 Kaya yun sabi ko sa kanya hihiramin ko muna ang guitar.

 Hindi niyo natanong, magaling kaya akong mag guitar, at mag piano, at mag drums! Hehehe. Why not? My mama owns a music school! And so I began deaf singing. Tugtog tugtog lang. Then, singing what I feel.

"Ulitin mo nga yun!" sabi niya.

"Alin?"

"Yung kinanta mo bago lang!"

"Yoko nga!"

"Sige na please!!! Once lang!" pangungulit niya.

"Nananaginip ng gising,

Hawak niya ang yong kamay

Napakahigpit ng iyong hawak

Tila di na bibitawan.

 Para ring tayo

Para ring tayo noon…" kanta ko with my softest voice, and the slow strum of my guitar.

"Hui. Ano ba? What's with that look!" Ngumisi siya ng nakakaloko.

 "Aba! Are you making fun of me?" tanong ko sa kanya. I hate this, ayaw na ayaw kong pinagmumukha akong tanga. He went to me and hugged me.

 "That's exactly how I feel. Yan ang gusto kong sabihin kay Kath." he blurted out. Binitiwan niya ako. I wanted him hugging me, but not because of Kathryn.

 Napaka-awkward ng moment. Ginulo niya ang buhok ko, and held my arm. He looked at my watch. Binawi ko naman agad yun.

 "Hey I was just looking kung anong oras na ba. Anong oras na ba?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Oras na para mahalin mo ako!" I said, my smile intended to tease him.

 "Ayeeeeeeeeee!! Cornibelle ka pala eh!" tatawa tawa si Daniel. Tumigil siya sa pagkakatawa, his face turned serious and pointed at my watch.

 "Why do you still wear that? Kulang nalang bulate ang pumirma diyan eh at ililibing na yan. Who gave that to you?" tanong niya sa akin. Hinimas-himas ko naman ang watch.

 "Ahh. Wala lang. Ganito talaga ako. Pag importante sa akin, I find it hard to let go." sagot ko sa kanya without looking at him.

 "You need to let go. Kahit masakit Janine!" payo niya, his sad eyes looking at me.

 "Speak for yourself! I-let go mo nga si Kath!" yun lang. That ended our conversation. Tumayo agad ako and immediately went out of his room, leaving him speechless.