Thunder's Affliction (Updating)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

It was a dream. I know. It's too much of a coincidence if he was here. The world is too wide for us to meet in Spain. We're not in the Philippines to see each other by any chance, so maybe it was just a dream. It was just what I wanted to happen, wasn't it?

Kaya panaginip lamang din na buhat-buhat niya ako ngayon at wala siyang pakialam kung basang-basa na rin siya tulad ko. Based on the name of the building I previously saw, I believe the one we are entering is a condominium. I opted to stare at Thunder even though I was already nodding off from great exhaustion, terrible physical pain, and wounds. I wanted to pore over and memorize his face, which I hadn't seen in almost three years, even in a dream.

We entered a unit, and he placed me down on a couch. He wasn't talking, and neither was I. He took off his coat and entered a room, and I settled myself on that couch, hugging myself. I hadn't been there long before he came out of the room he entered holding a gray towel. I watched him walk towards me and cover that towel on my shoulder.

"You have to take a warm bath to clean your body, especially your wounds. Let's go?" kahit panaginip ito ay masaya akong may pakialam pa rin siya sa akin after years of not seeing each other. Hindi na ako tumanggi at sumama sa kaniya ng alalayan niya ako papasok sa kwartong pinasukan niya kanina.

"That's the bathroom, there's a clean and unused robe there, you can use them. May spare toothbrush and other things you'll need there, use them. I'll get you clothes to wear, 'yang damit na huhubarin mo isampay mo na lang sa loob after." hindi ako makapagsalita sa bilis niyang sabihin iyon, mukhang hindi niya hinihintay ang sagot ko kaya tumango na lang ako at pumasok na sa itinuro niya.

I spent a short time taking a warm bath before wearing the clean robe Thunder told me about. Ipinulupot ko naman sa ulo ko ang malinis na towel bago lumabas ng bathroom, only to see a pair of pajamas na sa tingin ko ay pag-aari ni Thunder na nakapatong sa kama. Wala siya kaya lumapit na ako roon at kaagad na sinuot ang mga iyon without thinking that I wasn't wearing under those pajamas. Why does it seem so real, anyway?

At bago pa man, ako makakilos matapos magbihis ay bumukas na ang pinto ng kwarto. Pumasok doon si Thunder, and he's carrying a white box. Sa tingin ko ay medicine kit iyon.

"Sit on the bed," itinuro niya ang kama using his head as he pulled his stool in front of me. Umupo na rin ako tulad ng utos niya, and watch him move and do what he wants. Pinagmasdan ko siya, and he was wearing specs. Magulo ang itim niyang buhok, letting them down to reach the base of his neck, ang ilan pa'y humaharang sa mga mata niya.

"Fold your pajama, let me see your wounds." mabilis ko siyang sinunod while he prepared cotton, put povidone-iodine on it, and held one of my legs. Napangiwi ako ng igalaw niya iyon at ipinatong sa hita niya. He started pressing the cotton on my wounds, and I couldn't help but bite my bottom lip as I watched him, staring at his face and at how his brow shot up because he was focused on treating my wounds.

His warm hand holding my leg sent shivers down my spine. I miss this.

"Is this real?" Hindi ko mapigilang hindi iyon maitanong, but instead of looking at me, ipinagpatuloy niya ang ginagawa.

"Yes, what do you think? That you're dreaming?" namilog ang mga mata ko at nag-parte ang mga labi ko sa sinabi niya.

"Wait! Hindi ito panaginip? Y-you're here?! Sa Spain?" This time nag-angat na siya ng tingin sa akin. His sleepy eyes bore into me as he nodded his head.

"I have had business meetings here for five days, and this is my third day here. Is that enough to wake you up?" masungit na tanong niya at naiiling na binalik ang attention sa sugat ko. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti at muli siyang pinagmasdan.