UNTIL YOU : Hezekiah & China (Ongoing)

UNTIL YOU 8: Falling

"Goodmorning gwapo--!"

Hezekiah ended the call he received abruptly and lazily pushed the silent switch on.

Muling nginuya ni Hezekiah ang cereal na pansamantalang pinagantay niya habang nakatitig sa telepono niyang nasa ibabaw ng mesa. Gusto niyang tumawag ulit si China para mapindot niya uli ang end button ng telepono niya na kanina pa tunog ng tunog dahil sa iisang caller.

The screen was on again. Her name registered on it. CHINA

"O bat di mo sagutin?" takang tanong ng kararating lang na si Heath habang nirorolyo nito ang sleeves ng polo nitong puti. Kasunod nito mula sa kung saan ang stylist at manager nito na abala sa mga aktibidades ng ama ng araw na iyon. Madami ang dala nila at muhkang handang-handa sa taping nila na naka-schedule ng araw na iyon.

As if he had all the time in the world Hezekiah just continued to eat his half-finished bowl and non chalantly pushed the answer button and loudspeaker.

"HEZEKIAH! Hello! Hello!? Sang bundok ka ba at di mo ako sinasago---"

He ended it again while looking at his father whose mouth was raised ear to ear and like a giddy puppy waiting for a treat he just stood there with eyes glinting with mirth. Hezekiah sighed deeply and set his spoon down because of the look his father was giving him.

"We're supposed to discuss the details of the wedding later but China had to cancel last minute." Ayaw sabihin ni Hezekiah sa ama na siya ang nagyaya ng date kay kulot. She was the one who kept on bugging him about dates and about the wedding but she stood him up today. Mayroon daw itong gagawing importante sa funeral parlor.

"At nagtampo ka naman agad." Nangaasar na sabi ni Heath na may kasamang paniningkit ng mata. May sinenyas ito sa manager nito na iabot sa kanyang sobre na agad naman niyang kinuha.

"I'm so happy she cancelled. At least makakapagpahinga ako today." Liar. Hezekiah was boiling inside while opening the envelope. It was not easy to request changes in schedule sa roster nila sa hosp. All the effort he made to ask her went to drain. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman ni Hezekiah na nasasayang oras niya, gusto niya tuloy sakalin ang kulot na iyon.

"Deny all you want son. Ganyang-ganyan din ako kay Venice noon. That's my wedding gift."

Hezekiah held two plane tickets to Spain and their itinerary card. Complete vacation package. Habang binabasa niya ang itinerary naisip niya na may honeymoon nga pala. Hezekiah have foregone that part buti na lang pinaalala ng Papa niya.

Heath started to eat heartily. Tahimik naman na pinagmasdan ni Hezekiah ang ama niya na ngayon ay matanda na. Tumandang mag-isa gaya niya. All these years they only had each other and he couldn't ask for more. But like the perfect father that he is in his life he kept on providing all the things he needed.

"Pang honeymoon. Sa bandang huli kayo pa rin pala ng batang yon!" Parang gusto pa nitong pumalakpak sa tuwa. Sa lahat ng taong nakapaligid sa kanya at sa nalalapit na kasal niya kay China eto lang ata ang pinakamasaya. Hezekiah asked him yesterday to cancel all media coverage because he even prepared up to that extent. Akala mo ito ang ikakasal.

"Thank you for this Pa but you didn't have to bother." The moment Hezekiah said it nagsisi siya dahil napantig tenga ng Papa niya.

"Bakit ginawa niyo na ba ha?"Nabitawan ni Heath ang kubyertos bigla sa gulat sa sagot niya. Heath raised his brows and gave his son a playful nudge on the feet, his hearty laugh echoing their big but lonely house. There was an awkward silence after that. Mula kay Hezekiah, sa stylist at sa manager pati sa kasama nila sa bahay na muhkang abang na abang sa sagot niya. And infront of his innocent cereal! Lahat naka-pause habang nakatitig sa kanya.