Chapter 17 - White Lies

Gail

The 7 AM Saturday morning woke me up, when the sun shone on my bed again hitting me in the eyes. As I turned on my bed I wanted to sleep longer. Even for just an hour or so. The bed is so relaxing... the aircon blowing cool air in the room... the sheets comfy and warm... Then my phone beeped with a message.

<message received>

Gud morning, Ms Mataray.

Sender: Unknown Number

"Ha? A wrong send this early in the morning? Ang aga ha" I said before I almost threw my phone on the bed when I remembered.

"... Miss Ma-taray?.."

That's when it dawned on me...

"Nicolo!" sabi ko ng may obvious hint ng excitement at eagerness that started crawling in my stomach.

I sat upright and stared at the screen of my phone for about three seconds before I started replying to the message. With a smile on my lips, I sent the message.

Toot, toot, toot!

Nicolo

"Uy, may nag text... si... si Ms. Mataray!" excited kong tingin sa phone ko.habang nakahiga sa kama ko ng brief lang ang suot.

<message received>

Hey, Mr. Victory!

Thanks for last night.

Hope to see you again soon.

Sender: Gail

Napangiti ako habang nagbabasa ng message. Ewan ko kung anong meron pero parang nagkakagusto na ako ata kay Gail. Pero di ito pwede... di ba? Paano na yung pangako ko kay Ela?

Toot, toot, toot!

<message received>

I really do love you.

Sender: Gail

Gail

I had to keep myself from giggling as I just sent that last message when I was surprised by a knock on my bedroom door.

"Good morning, babe!" nakangiting banggit ni Brent as he peeked his head into the room.

"Brent! G-Good morning... didn't know you were here, babe..." sabi ko as I pressed onto my phone to return to the homescreen.

"Why are you giggling a while back?" he asked with one of his eyebrows up as he stepped into the room and stood there, nakasandal sa door frame.

"N-Nothing babe... just read something... a... a message... that's it... a message from... from Jeannie... yeah... cousin niya... will tell you later... ang aga mo..." I lied as I hid my phone under my pillow and quickly ran to him for a hug.

That hug from Brent was a bit stiff from what he usually gives me. But maybe its too early and he hasn't warmed up yet. As he stroked my hair, I felt his warm arms envelope me to that familiar mix of clean detergent and faint perfume he usually wears on him. At nagbuntong hininga siya muna bago sumagot.

"I told you... I was going to prepare breakfast for us today. You needed to rest for the early weekend. Kilala kita... you have been working so hard lately after your promotion" Brent said as I let go of him and I looked into those beautiful brown eyes.

"So... anong breakfast?" I asked as I pulled him out of the bedroom.

As we reached the dining table across the room, he had already prepared breakfast. All laid out on the table. All looking SOOO delicious and well prepared.

"Di ko alam gusto mo ngayon... so I... cooked all I could think of." Brent smiled sheepishly as he helped me with my chair.

"All the best for my girlfriend" sabi niya as he hugged me from behind and kissed me on the cheek.

There was a plate of homemade french toast with waffle with butter and jam. A bowl of mixed berry muesli. Honey cured bacon. Sliced spiced ham. Three-egg omelette with mushroom, tomatoes and cheese. Deep-fried hash brown. Garlic and onion sauteed corned beef with green peas and potatoes. Inihaw na tuyo. Fried danggit. There was even some spicy suka with bawang,paminta and sili in one of the smaller bowls. There was a super yummy looking garlic fried rice. Hot coffee in the mugs we had and fresh juice in the pitcher.

"Babe... ummm... don't you think this is... you know... alot?" sabi ko ng nakatingin sa fiesta sa harapan ko.

Brent just smiled and helped me by putting some fried rice on my plate. I kept asking him but he would never say what time he started cooking or what time he arrived here. And as we ate, he kept glancing at me. At nakangiti.

"Yummy!" I exclaimed.

Brent

"Yummy!"

This girl has been everything to me since we became a couple. To make it simple, mahal ko siya and have made making her happy my... my life. Her happiness is my joy. I have loved her for her being a workaholic, even if that meant losing time with her. That's why I try to squeeze myself into any small time gap in her work load each week day.

"My favorite!" she said in between mouthfuls.

But on weekends, I make it a habit to spend all my time with her. So this "small" breakfast is just a tip of my love for her. No matter I arrived as early as 4 AM to cook quietly not to wake her up. And I am proud of my cooking as I watched her stuff her face with almost everything she wanted this breakfast.

"Brent... you are... ruining... my diet..." ngiti niya in between bites of waffle, smearing some jam on her cheeks.

Natawa ako habang pinupunasan ang pisngi niya, I remembered the reason I fell for her in the first place. That fateful day na muntik ko na siya masagasaan. As I bent down where she lay on the pedestrian lane, I felt that she was going to be someone important in my life. And I never got that feeling wrong.

"Di... Di... Ako... Makahinga... Help..." she said in the most unlady-like manner, sitting on her chair.

And that's what I fell for her. Her just being herself. No pretentions. No illusions. Walang pag papanggap. What you see is what you get.

Burrrrrrpppppp!

All... about her.

I love her... no matter what... has been heard... or... seen.

"Thanks babe" she said as she stood up, kissed and hugged me.

No matter what.