"Sir Waki, si Ma'am Harika ho kanina pa umiiyak," anang helper na nagmamadaling sumalubong dito nang makabalik ito sa mansiyon mula sa afternoon jog nito.

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Why? Where is she?"

He marched straight to her room to see how she was doing. Nang buksan nito ang pinto ay nakatagilid ng higa si Harika na nakatalikod mula sa pintuan. She was sniffing while trying to hold back a sob as he approaches.

"Everything's okay?" He sat carefully on the bed next to her and then held her shoulder tenderly. "You know you can tell me what's on your mind," he said.

"I missed him so much, Waki..." she sniffled.

"I know..." he replied.

He already knew to whom she was referring. She would have those days where all she could think about was her Lolo Dad. Pero matagal na noong huli, why she felt so sudden?

"Even after Lolo Dad had been dead for a while, I still found it hard to believe. Ang hirap magpanggap na okay, lalo na kapag siya na ang naiisip ko tuwing mag-isa ako. Kasalanan ko rin na sinanay kong maigi ang sarili ko sa kanya... na palagi lang siyang nariyan para sa akin."

Nakikinig lang si Waki. It's time for him to offer her the opportunity to share it and speak whatever more she wanted to express.

"I had a call earlier," she said. "Lolo Dad called me. His voice... the way he calls my name. Alam kong siya 'yon."

An awful feeling erupted in Waki's stomach. Nagtataka ito sa binabanggit ni Harika. There's no way.

He sat up and made some noise while searching the entire room for her cell phone.

"It's inside the drawer," she assured him. "Tell me it wasn't just some dream sequence. Tell me it was real..."

He opened the drawer and grabbed her phone. He tapped the screen, inspecting everything within. Bukod sa pangalan nito at mga tawag ng driver niyang si Liro, wala na itong ibang pangalang nakita. Simula nang mawala ang paningin ni Harika, lumiit na ang mundo niya, pati na ang mga taong madalas niyang katawagan noon ay nawala na. Maging ang aunt Lymareva niya ay walang ni isang tawag na makikita sa recent calls niya. Walang paramdam.

"No one called you, Harika," malungkot na balita ni Waki sa kanya. "Si Manong Liro ang huling naririto sa recent calls mo, which was dated last week."

Her eyes started to fill with hot tears again. She regretfully had to hear it from him. She's so hopeful. Iyon na lang ang pinanghahawakan niya ngayon, hindi pa pala totoo.

"Sa tingin ko, masyado ka lang maraming iniisip lately. Lose the thought, do not dwell on it too much... it was just a random dream in your sleep—"

"If it was just a dream, why it felt so real?"

Harika began sobbing while burying her hands in her face. Waki took a quick breath and continued to worryly look at her. Ayaw na ayaw nitong nakikita siyang umiiyak. He felt the effects of her weeping as well. Hindi nito sinanay ang sariling makakita ng babaeng umiiyak sa harap nito, lalo pa't mahalaga siya para dito.

Harika curled up like a ball on the bed and hugged a pillow. She was sad and felt betrayed by her own dream. Ganoon niya lang siguro kamahal at nami-miss ang kanyang Lolo Dad kung kaya't pakiramdam niya ay tinawagan nga siya nito kanina. Minsan naiinis siya sa pagkakataong tulad niyon, pinaglalaruan ba siya?

Kinabukasan ay maagang nagising si Harika. She ate her breakfast at the pool side. Nagpaiwan siya sa mga helper na nag-aasikaso sa kanya. Maging si Melanie ay hinayaan na muna siya nang malaman ang tungkol sa naging panaginip niya. They gave her space to think and have some alone time

Nilasap ni Harika ang lamig noong umagang iyon. Sumisilip na ang ilang sinag ng araw. But she didn't realize how misty the morning was until someone mentioned it and broke her silence.

"I'm sorry for not telling you I was coming today and this early. Gusto lang kitang kumustahin, Harika." Isang pamilyar na boses ang bumasag sa tahimik niyang umaga.

"Harika, Genesis Montecillo is here, behind you," said Melanie, pulling the wheels to get to her. "It's been a while since he visited me. We'd talk. Ikaw ang sinadya niyang puntahan. So, paano, maiwan ko na muna kayong dalawa..."

Melanie received a smile from Genesis. He was in his tux and went straight to Ishida's for her instead of his office. Nang maiwan na sila ni Melanie, saka ito lumapit kay Harika at umupo sa katabing upuan nito. Inilibot nito ang mga mata sa paligid at maging sa maaliwalas na langit.

"Ang ganda ng panahon ngayon, ano?" he started out.

Harika smiled tightly at him. Her gaze was not drawn directly to him. "A busy man trying to make time for me?" she wondered. "Kumusta ka, Genesis?" panimula niya.

Luminga ito kanya. "Good. Well, tiring at the same time. Tama ka, ang hirap lagariin ang oras kapag busy kang tao. But I cancelled my morning meeting to see you," he responded, making a smile. "You. How have you been?"

"Wonderful. Sometimes sad and lonely, but I have to pretend I'm not," she said after a brief pause. "Minsan nakakahiyang magdrama at maging malungkot lalo na kung nasa ibang pamamahay ka." Napangisi siya sa kanyang sinabi. She's joking around to relieve any strain she might feel from speaking with him.

Genesis laughed under his breath. "Totoo naman," he agreed. "How about your eyes? May pagbabago ba?"

Harika sighed. "Ganoon pa rin, pero unti-unti nang nasasanay," tugon niya. "Ang hirap maging bulag. Minsan ang hirap suriin kung nananaginip ba ako o hindi."

Nababanggit niya iyon dahil panay wala na lang ang nakikita niya. She's sometimes unsure whether she was dreaming or not. Dahil kung minsan ay hindi pa rin siya makapaniwalang nawalan siya nang paningin, at para sa kanya, isang masamang panaginip lang ang nangyaring iyon.

"Natututukan ka naman ba ng doktor na sumusuri sa 'yo? Are you following his prescriptions? Are you taking your medications as directed? Baka naman napababayaan mo na ang sarili mo dahil sa frustrations mo, hindi kaya?" He observed her blankly staring in one direction.

"I'm taking everything properly and seriously. Sino ba naman ang hindi gustong gumaling?" katuwiran niya. "Wala akong check up appointments na niliban kahit pa minsan ay ayoko na. Sa bawat consultation ko kay Dr. Yetter, hinihiling ko na sana ay iyon na ang huling beses na check up namin dahil pagkatapos niyon ay makakakita na ako. Unfortunately, my eyes don't want to participate, kaya heto, gano'n pa rin."

Harika's words came easily. It was so simple for her to go around with it. Kung hindi niya iyon ganoon ituturing, tiyak ay malulungkot na naman siya. One way or another, if she didn't get it real soon, then... She ought to not care about getting it anyway.

In order to extend their talk, Genesis invited her to go out to lunch with him. Without any hesitation, Harika replied a 'yes'. May ipinagpaliban itong importanteng bagay para sa kanya, she doesn't want to waste his precious time. Isa pa, wala rin naman siyang gagawin buong maghapon. Why not spend it leisurely somewhere else?

Nagbihis lang siya saglit. Nagpatulong sa helper na mag-ayos at isinuot ang designer clothes na matagal nang nasa maleta niya. While Genesis was booking their seats at a nearby steakhouse, she made sure to wear her favorite accessories to make her look stylish and sophisticated.

He complimented her on her elegant appearance and drove her to a steakhouse by a lake a few kilometers from the Ishida mansion.

✦❘༻༺❘✦

One thing Harika liked about Waki was his soothing voice and his beautiful description about everything, while Genesis was somehow make her comfortable, but the enough details she could get from him was just barely.

When they arrived at the Lakeside Steakhouse, they took their assigned seats, and Genesis assisted her by pulling out a chair. He held her hand and watched over her till she was seated.

"What do you like to eat?" Genesis inquired, scanning the menu card and guessing, "Western?"

Kung si Waki ang kasama niya noong mga oras na iyon, babasahin nito ang lahat ng mga available sa menu card, ipaliliwanag nito ang mga putahe at klase ng luto na naroroon. He also takes into account any ingredients that Harika may be allergic to. Ang kaso, hindi ito ang kasama niya at kailangan niyang mag-adjust.

She just smiled and agreed to him. Upang hindi na niya komplikahin pa ang mga bagay, she dittoed what Genesis ordered.

Harika simply picturing in her mind what a straightforward steakhouse beside a lake might look like. Bukod sa mga upuan, mesa, pagkain at staff na naroroon, interior at amoy ng usok, wala na siyang maisip na idadagdag. She doesn't want to push her mind to think anything other than what it naturally thinks. Sasakit lang ang ulo niya.

Maganda ang kinalulugaran nilang dal'wa kung alam lang niya dahil nasa tapat sila ng malaking bintana. Isang napakagandang panoramic view ng lakeside ang matatanaw mula roon, subalit si Genesis lang ang nakakakita nang kapansin-pansing tanawing iyon. Harika wasn't upset about not seeing it, but it doesn't match the way she's experiencing the entire ambience of the place.

Genesis took her plate and chopped her steak into pieces so she could simply eat it without a bother. When Harika heard him do that, she informed him, "Genesis, you don't have to do that."

"It's alright. Wala namang kaso sa akin ang ipaghiwa ka ng steak. You're in a situation where you need my help, kahit man lang dito ay matulungan kita."

Nanahimik na lang si Harika. When he turned her plate back, he poured the sauce as well. Saka sila nagsimulang kumain.

"Ngayong wala na ang congressman, paano mo na tututukan at iha-handle ang mga bagay na iniwan niya para sa 'yo? Are you aware that there's a lot of it, aren't you? Nilapitan ka na ba ng mga abogado o mga kakilalang consultant ng lolo mo? Dapat ngayon ay may plano ka na para sa mga iyon."

She was surprised by how complicated all of these things were when he casually told her about them. The legal concerns surrounding inheritance and estate... all of it triggering her a headache.

Iyon na rin ang naging dahilan kaya siya biglang nagtaka at napaisip. "Was it necessary?"

Genesis jumped his eyes on her. "Of course, yes. It is necessary, Harika. Ikaw lang ang nag-iisang Levantine na natira, for sure sa 'yo lahat mapupunta ang yaman at ari-arian ng congressman. All were rightfully yours."

Pumasok sa isipan ni Harika ang mag-inang Sullivan, natitiyak niyang may mga parte rin ito bukod sa kanya. At kung ano man ang mga iniwan para sa kanila, labas na siya roon, ngunit kung ano naman ang iniwan para sa kanya... karapatan niyang makuha iyon nang walang kahit na anong balakid.

"Hindi mo pa ba naiisip ang tungkol sa mga bagay na iyon?" Genesis resume asking. "I don't want to interfere with your inheritance. I only mention this so that you are completely aware of it. Hindi mo naman siguro gustong mapunta na lang sa wala ang mga pinaghirapan ng lolo mo, 'di ba? Kaya dapat mapunta na sa 'yo ang lahat ng para sa 'yo."

Things raced through her head about Constancio constantly reminding her of the fortune he had grown and gambled for her. It wasn't only about the money, success, and riches; it was all about Constancio's blood, sweat, and tears. Ang yaman na iniwan nito para sa kanya ang magsisilbing alaala niya sa pagkawala nito. She was more concerned with the sentimental value that will help her and Constancio keep their memories alive than with any potential financial gain.

Habang lumilipas ang mga sandali, nagpatuloy ang pag-uusap nilang dalawa tungkol sa maaaring manahin ni Harika. Minsan lang ay nalulungkot siya dahil hindi pa rin maalis sa kanya ang katotohanang hindi na niya muling makakapiling ang kanyang Lolo Dad dahil sa usaping iyon. Kung hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala, kailan ba ang tamang panahon na kailangan na niyang tanggaping wala na ito at hindi na babalik pang muli?

And then their conversation went beyond it. Matapos nilang pag-usapan ang mana, tumalon sila sa usapang pag-ibig, kasal, pag-aasawa at pagbuo ng pamilya. Malayung-malayo na iyon sa kasalukuyang planong mayroon si Harika. Hindi niya kailangang magmadali, dahil hindi naman biro o isang laro lang ang pagbuo ng larawan ng isang magandang pamilya... darating din siya roon.

And when Genesis shared her about him getting married soon, he just said that things were just as complicated as his business. Hindi pa nito nakikinita ang larawang iyon.

Mas humaba pa ang usapan nila nang lumipat si Genesis ng usapin na tungkol naman sa negosyo. Business is business and Harika was not an exemption to this. Dahil bukod sa yaman na napag-usapan nila kanina, hindi malayong mamanahin niya rin ang negosyo at kompanyang maiiwan sa kanya ni Constancio. Habang lumalalim ang pag-uusap nila, mas nagiging komplikado na ang lahat para sa kanya. Her head became preoccupied, if Genesis would fill another thing to talk about... her mind would overflow.

"By the way, before I forgot." Genesis took out a gift beneath the table. "I have something for you."

Nang matanggap ni Harika ang kahon ay walang ideya niyang binuksan iyon at nasurpresa sa laman nang kumalansing agad ito.

It's a wind chime.

"Bakit ka pa nag-abalang bigyan ako nito?"

"Because you deserve more than the material itself, but the beautiful tinkling sound it produce in the breeze. Ang sabi nila carrier daw ng positive energy ang wind chime sa mga bintana. And others say it was also ang luck magnet. So, either way, it's still a win-win for you," he giggled taking her hand. "Halika na, ihahatid na kita."

Bago sila makasakay ng kotse ay alam ni Harika na nag-enjoy siya kasama si Genesis. He's a good talker. She could tell the maturity in all of his perspective and preferences.

And when she had his other hand and slid right through his lengthy fingers, she felt a ring attached on where it supposed to be placed. Was he married? Engaged? He just denied about getting married soon a while ago. What was it supposed to mean?

An odd butterfly feeling suddenly hurdles in Harika's stomach when she knows there's something wrong.