🏷️ PAHIMAKAS— 794
@BELLENID0NNY
Gio's POV
I took my glasses off and placed it on the table. We were assisted to the spot near the window just like what i requested. Mula dito, kita ko na agad ang napakagandang tower sa labas. I already visited the Eiffel tower kaninang umaga pero totoo pala talaga ang sabi nila, makikita mo lang ang tunay na ganda nito sa gabi.
"Bonsoir, welcome to The Jules Verne, may i ask for your orders?" The woman asked with her very thick French accent. I scanned the menu and gulped when i realized that i'm really in their land with its too much diacritical marks.
Tumingin ako kay Sua na ngayon ay nakataas na ang isang kilay habang nakatingin sa'kin. G-galit ba siya sa pagputol ko sa kiss namin kanina?
Diba hindi dapat? Unless, gusto niya akong makulong sa France pag nabugbog ako nung Avo.
Umiling ito. "Tell me, ako na bahala." she said while peeking on my menu. Nakakahiya pero mas nakakahiyang magkamali ng pronounciation 'no. Pastries lang naman ang napag-aralan ko.
I pointed at something pero mukhang hindi niya makita. Kaya bahagya itong tumayo to check on it closer. "The second one?" she asked pointing at the Crab.
Tatango na sana ako when something caught my attention. It's the ring she's wearing..it's familiar.
Very familiar.
Para itong batang nahuling may ginagawang mali dahil agad siyang umupo ng maayos at tinago ang kamay sa ilalim ng lamesa. "A-ahm. Pour loui c'est Zéphyr de Pomme Granny, Au parfum de Curry." i watcher her tell my order before proceeding to hers. "Por moi, en ravioli. Truffe, Crème de Parmesan. Souhaitiez-vois ajouted du fromage suppémentaire?"
"Oui."
"Alright. Et une bouteille de ton vin maison."
"Est-ce tout?"
"Oui. Merci."
Para akong nanonood ng movie ah. It's my first time hearing her talk straight in French with a French native. Grabe.
After she bid our orders, agad itong tumingin sa'kin. Hindi ko pa rin maalis sa isip ko yung singsing sa kamay niya. Kung totoong may bago siya, bakit suot niya pa rin 'yon?
And to think it wasn't just a normal ring. IT WAS OUR ENGAGEMENT RING.
[Sua] So ano ang pag-uusapan?
Tanong niya, pilit binabasag ang katahimikan.
[Gio] Kamusta ka?
[Sua] Okay lang..ikaw? Kamusta ang pagiging mayor mo?
Nagkibit balikat ako at ngumiti.
[Gio] Mahirap. Stressful. Magulo. But i'm glad that it helped a lot of people. Ikaw..kamusta ka?
[Sua] I'm better.
She's better..
[Sua] Actually napapanood nga kita eh, you were so good leading all the people. Yung compassion mo and the way you fought for the poor—i must say you've really become the person you wanted to be...and i'm proud.
Kung hindi kaya kami nalayo sa isa't-isa..magagawa ko pa rin kaya lahat ng 'yon?
[Gio] Salamat. Ikaw rin, nabalitaan ko you've built your own pastry shop.
She looked so happy while nodding. "Here's your house wine.." the woman poured each of our glasses. "Enjoy.."
"Cheers?"
"Cheers."
[Sua] Actually yun agad ang una kong naisip nung araw na naging mag-isa ako. It wasn't easy. Kasi that was the first time i've decided on my own. At hindi lang basta-basta, it was my dream i'm deciding on to. Una naging mahirap, but later on, i was slowly becoming satisfied of its growth.
Ang saya niyang pakinggan habang sinasabi ang mga nangyari sakanya. Kahit may konting sakit..dahil 'yon yung pangarap naming gawin ng magkasama.
In the end, parehas naman namin natupad..magkahiwalay nga lang.
We just talked hanggang isa-isang dumating ang mga pagkain namin. Saglit na naman naghari ang katahimikan. She was slicing her ravioli, kaya hindi ko ulit mapigilang mapansin ang kinang ng suot niya.
[Gio] You're still wearing it.
Hindi ko na napigilang sabihin. Natigilan muna ito bago mula sa pagkain ay nag-angat ng tingin sa'kin.
[Sua] Hindi ba pwede?
Tinaas niya ang kamay to give me a better access. I frowned when i saw its arrangement. It's not worn in her ring finger like how it used to be, it's now on her middle finger.
She turned our engagement ring into a promise ring..
Naguguluhan ako.
[Gio] Bakit?
[Sua] You're asking a very obvious question, Saavedra.
[Gio] You're confusing me Fournier. Alam mong alam ko ang tungkol-
[Sua] Wala akong iba. Kahit kailan hindi ako naghanap ng iba.
Napasinghap ako. Eh kung ganon, sino si Avo?
"Kung ganon, sino si Avo?" tanong ko.
Natigilan ito at diretsong tumingin sa'kin. Ang tapang sa mata niya unti-unting natunaw, sa isang iglap lumambot ito at naging emosyonal.
*ting!*
Her phone vibrated.