Chapter 7

I become aware of the sounds first. An annoying beeping, the murmur of voices. then I can smell the room around me, anesthetic, and flowers, and something unfamiliar. 

Namamanhid ang buong katawan ko, I feel sore, all over my body, everything hurts.

If it hurts so much when I'm just laying here, then it's going annoyingly painful kung susubukan kong gumalaw. My eyes slowly slid open, the fluorescent was too, it's blinding, I squint for a second, cringing. 

My eyes adjusted and they roamed around the room. The walls are painted a sterile white, 'That's it. I'm dead', I thought to myself. I look down at my body --- covered in plaster casts, scared and bruised- slowly, and I get it. 

I'm in a hospital. Shit, I'm alive. 

"You're finally awake, Ms. Vielle"  ngayon ko lang napansin na may nurse pala akong kasama.

Ngumiti ako ng tipid sa kanya. Medyo masakit pa rin ang ulo ko. "Medyo marami ang mga sugat at galos"

pakiramdam ko ang pinukpok ng kung ano ang ulo ko, "Don't force yourself, okay? Your brother is here" 

Napakunot ang noo ko, I was about to correct her when a very mad, no, very furious at the same time concerned Anthony came. He look tired. Like he didn't sleep a wink. And I know why. 

"Hi?"

I say. He stared at me for so long and then he sighed. Ayan na. 

"What were you thinking, Skyla? And why were you out so late? And what the fuck are you doing at 69East?"

nilagay niya ang mga kamay niya sa bewang nya, he looked at me again. I was about to say something when he raised his left hand. "I don't want to hear it"

I bit my lower lip. Namumuo na ang mga luha sa mata ko. Lumapit si Anthony sa akin at hinalikan ang noo ko. I closed my eyes. 

"I'll talk to you in the morning"

and he left the room

Ang ayoko sa lahat ay ang nagagalit sa akin si Anthony. Uncle and Anthony are the closest thing I ever had after my family and as much as possible ayokong binibigyan sila ng problema.

Pero anong ginawa ko? Binigyan ko na naman sila ng sakit ng ulo. When the nurse came back I asked her kung anong oras na, she told me that it's already 4 am. I want Anthony back. I want him here when I fall asleep again. But as much as I want him here, alam kong nagpapalamig pa siya ng ulo. 

Sumasakit lang ang ulo ko tuwing iniisip ko ang mga nangyari. So I decided to sleep on it.

                A warm hand is caressing my right palm. I smiled. When I opened my eyes, Anthony is already looking at me. He looks tired. Parang hindi talaga siya natulog. 

"I'm sorry"  my voice trembled. He kissed my right hand.

"I was worried. Really worried. When the parademics called me, nawala ang antok sa katawan ko"

he chuckled "Don't do it again, Skyla"

he said in a serious tone. I nodded. "Sinabi mo ba kay Uncle?" 

"Yes, pauwi na siya."

I groaned. 

"Sermon ang abot ko kay Uncle nito" I looked at Anthony, I bit my lower lip. "You should rest, A. I'm okay already. Mga sugat at galos lang naman 'to" 

He shook his head. "I will only rest pag nakauwi ka na" 

"Anthony.." I paused. I squeezed his hand na hawak ang kamay ko "I'm sorry. Wag ka na magalit sa akin."

He sighed. Nilalaro niya ang mga daliri ng kamay ko. 

"I want to. But I can't. And you're lucky" I grinned at him. 

"You love me too much,"

I say. 

He looked at me. Like he did it for the first time then I saw something in his eyes that I can't put my finger on then it vanished. Like it never happened. I blinked at him. Malakas na talaga ang kalog ng utak ko. 

"I do"

he says, sabay kurot sa pisnge ko "kahit sobrang tigas ng ulo mo" 

"Araayyy!"

Hinawi ko at kamay niya. I looked at him. Yung malalalim niyang mga mata, yung matangos niyang ilong, ang kanyang mapulang labi, ang malalim niyang dimples, at ang kanyang gwapong mukha.  "You should rest. Mukha ka ng zombie, baka wala ng lumapit sayo" 

"Trust me, Skyla. Hindi lang sila lumalapit, naghahabol pa"

he winked at me. Alam kong nagbibiro lang siya pero hindi ko maiwasang seryoshin ang sinabi niya. 

Dumiretso ako sa Mansion ng makalabas ako ng hospital. Gusto ko sanang umuwi sa apartment ko pero tumawag si Uncle kay Anthony at sinabing sa Mansion muna ako tumuloy hanggang sa gumaling ako. Gusto kong mag reklamo, sabihing ayos lang ako at sugat, mga konting galos lang ang natamo ko pero ano bang magagawa ko? 2 vs 1. 

Minsan lang magalit si Uncle. At sa minsan na iyon ay makikita mo talaga kung paano siya magalit. Iniisip ko pa lang kung ano ang mga pwede niyang sabihin ang nanginginig na ang mga tuhod ko. 

I love my Uncle. But I also fear him. 

"Hinihintay na po kayo ng Uncle nyo" 

Siguro ay hindi rin naman masamang dumito muna ako sa Mansion, dahil sa totoo lang ay nakaka-miss rin pala dito. Marami ako naging alaala dito. At miss ko na rin si Uncle. Miss ko na rin ang kwarto ko. 

"Skyla.."

napatingin ako kay Anthony. Alam kong nag-aalala siya. I smiled at him. 

"It's okay" 

"Pwede kitang samahan sa taas." 

"No, kaya ko ang sarili ko" 

My Uncle is a righteous man. Siya na ang umaruga sa akin, at sa totoo lang ay wala na akong mahihiling pa sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ako ngayon kung hindi dahil sa kanya. And I love him. He looks like my father. And just like my father, Uncle is scary man. 

And I know that he loves me and Anthony like his own. 

Kumatok ako bago pumasok, dahan dahan kong sinara ang pinto. I sighed. Unti-unti akong humarap pero hindi ko aasahan na mga kamay ang unang babati sa akin. 

Sampal na pala ang bagong pag bati ngayon? Bakit hindi ako informed? 

Damn. My face stings. 

=================

   C O N T A C T 

   hanaemiwp 

     facebook  ∘  twitter  ∘  instagram 

  @liefdesverdriet 

 wattpad