Heat Wave (Disaster Series #2)

Kabanata 35

Mindlessly

They say that when things are going well, life will hit you hard again just to remind you of reality. Unfortunate events will suddenly  happen out of nowhere.

Because we can never appreciate the good things and look at it at in a new light without without the bad things.

There needs to be a balance between the two.

Alam ko 'yan. But with all the recent good things that is happening in my life right now, I don't want the bad things. 'Saka na muna dahil nanamnamin ko pa ang masasayang araw.

I don't even want to leave El Valencia anymore. I'm thinking about extending my vacation here. Ang tanging lugar lang kasi na napuntahan ko sa nagdaang mga araw ay ang bahay, ang Arena Fina, isang restaurant malapit sa dulo ng El Valencia, at ang mansyon nila Gon.

In fact, we are here at the Cavalleros' mansion again as Don Primero invited us for breakfast. He heard that tomorrow is the last day of our vacation here so he wants to make the most out of it.

Manghang-mangha pa nga ako sa ipinahanda niyang bilugang mesa malapit sa pool. Nakahanda roon ang masasarap tingnan na Italian breakfast.

The thick Italian hot chocolate's heat is steaming out of the mug and it looks so inviting.

Ipinaghihila na ako ngayon ng upuan ni Gon pagkatapos ay ang Lolo niya.

I smiled at his gesture. I know he joked about his Lolo being so persistent about the engagement before, but I can see that he respects him too much. And maybe this is also the reason why he didn't outrightly declined him about that favor for the past seven years.

We were already talking over the breakfast. Nagtatanong sa amin si Don Primero tungkol sa takbo ng bakasyon namin dito sa El Valencia.

He was in the middle of offering us a yacht experience when a househelp came to give him his phone that has been ringing for a call. He excused himself so Gon and I were left on the table.

Nagpalinga-linga ako sa mga katulong. I don't notice any familiar faces anymore. O siguro may mga nakasama ako rito na magtrabaho noon pero hindi ko lang masyadong close kagaya nina Ate Julie, Ate Ofelia, at Ate Dina.

"Gon, where are your old househelps? 'Yong mga nakasama ko noon?"

He brought down the mug of his hot chocolate before answering me.

"They were assigned in Manila, where my parents and two of my siblings are currently staying right now. We'll visit there next time," he says so casually as if he didn't just invite me to meet his parents.

Kaya napamaang na lang talaga ako at hindi na nakasagot agad sa kanya. This is overwhelming. Nasa process pa rin ako ng pag-digest sa pagtanggap ni Don Primero sa amin.

"But we won't go there until you're ready, of course," he says when he notices my slight panic.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at maliit na napangiti sa kanya. I leaned to his arms and let out a sigh.

"Let's take everything slow, Gon. I want to savor all of this,"  I said in a sweet whisper.

"Of course, love. I'll hold your hand as we take each and every slow step. We'll take it in any pace you want." He reaches down to entwine my fingers with his.

And as he held my hand up, his eyes lingered on my ring finger before he brought it to his lips and gave it a kiss.

Hindi na tuloy kami matuloy-tuloy sa breakfast namin dahil sa paglalambingan. Nakabalik na lang si Don Primero ay hindi pa rin nagagalaw ang pagkain namin.