Through Days and Nights

23

“How’s your day?”

I asked Uno when he sit beside me on his couch. Nasa condo niya kami. Dahil weekends, dito ako matutulog. Nasanay na’rin kami na ginagawa ‘to. We really are comfortable with each other.

“It’s okay. It’s fine.” He replied. “We’re composing a song.”

“What?!” nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. “Another song? Di ba kaka-release pa lang ng album niyo?!”

He chuckled at my reaction. He pulled me closer to him then buried his face to my neck, slightly sniffing it.

“It’s for a movie.” He explained. “Kami ang kakanta ‘nun kaya ganun.” Sabi niya.

“Movie…for?” I asked him.

“Diana Romero.” He replied. “It was her movie.”

“What?!” napabalikwas ako sa sinabi niya. “As in Diana Romero! The beauty queen? Oh my God!” sabay takip ko sa bibig ko. “I’m such a fan! Oh my God!”

I’m hyperventilating at this moment. Diana Romero is a beauty queen. Being gay was the way kaya kilala ko siya. Oh my God! Hindi ko alam na papasok ‘rin pala siya sa showbiz.

“What’s with that?” he asked.

“I’m such a fan!” I hysterically said. “Pa-autograph ako sa kanya. Pakilala mo ko, plsss.” I plead to him with my puppy eyes.

“Okay okay.” he sighed, sign of being defeated. “By the way babe, how’s Tita?”

My face become serious at that question. I can still remember when she told us about her….having cancer. Sobrang tagal na pala, pero hindi niya man lang sinabi. I know that she was thinking of us, pero kahit na.  Hindi ordinaryong sakit ‘yun. She has an ovarian cancer for God’s sake!

“She’s fine.” I answered him. “Pinatigil ko na ng trabaho para hindi na siya mahirapan.” Sagot ko habang pinipigilan ang sariling maluha. “It’s j-just…”

“Shush…” he whispered. “Everything is going to be fine. I’m here okay? Hmm?” then he hugged me.

Sa araw na nalaman ko ‘yun na may sakit si Mama, I cried all night on Uno’s shoulder. I’m thankful that I have him. Kailangan ko ng makakapitan sa oras na ‘yun. My beloved Mother was my idol. She was a strong women in my eyes. But…that happen. Bakit naman siya pa? She kept it a secret because of us, but that was wrong. For God’s sake hindi ‘yun basta basta!

The next week, I became busy for some photoshoots. Kailangan kong mag-ipon para sa kailangan namin sa bahay. Pinatigil ko na si Mama sa pagta-trabaho dahil sa sakit niya. I can’t afford seeing her in pain. I can’t afford losing her…I just can’t. Kaya naman pinagbubutihan ko ang pagta-trabaho. Kung pwede kong nga lang kunin lahat ng offer ginawa ko na, pero Tita Daisy said that it can destroy my other schedule.

“Ayos ka lang?” Dani asked me.

Nandito kami sa van papunta ng isang photoshoot. Nasa unahan si Tita Daisy habang katabi ko naman si Dani.

I smiled at her.

“I’m okay.” I replied to her. “Kailangan eh.”

“Gabbie, I’m here okay?” she said. “Kaya natin ‘to, kaya mo ‘to.”

I just nodded at here. Sa sobrang dami kong iniisip minsan natutulala na lang ako. Dinagdagan pa ng kaliwaang trabaho, pero alam ko naman na may patutunguhan ‘to. I just needed to be strong. There are people who support me and always there for me.