Baby Madness

Chapter 45

"Okay ka lang ba, ate?"

Napalingon ako bigla. "H-ha?" I stuttered.

Naabutan kong nakatingin sa akin si Jessa. I didn't notice that she was sitting beside me.

"Kanina ka pa nakatulala," she said.

"Oh. I'm just . . . tired. Yeah, that's it."

She gave me a hesitant look but decided not to ask anymore. Buti naman. Wala rin ako sa mood para makipag-usap lalo na't parang lumilipad pa rin ang isip ko.

Ilang oras na ang nakakalipas nang bumalik kami ni Jazer mula sa batis. I still felt jittery after what happened. The butterflies were still in my stomach. My gaze landed on my hand and remembered his soft touch. The way he held my hand . . . how he put it on his chest . . . his words . . . all of those lingered in my head and I knew it was already too late.

I was clinging onto a small branch, hoping that I could still climb back, but his pull was stronger. The fall was fast, yet it felt like everything had slowed down. Time had been distorted. I knew the impact was going to hurt but there was a tiny hope inside me that maybe he would be there. Waiting for me. Ready to catch me.

Maybe. Just maybe.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako habang pinipilit na kalimutan muna ang mga nangyari. Sakto namang lumabas si Jem sa bahay. She was carrying a basin of ingredients and placed it near me.

"Patulong," sabi niya habang nakaupo na rin sa papag.

"What's this?"

"Marunong ka bang gumawa ng graham cake?"

Napakunot naman ang noo ko at doon ko lang na-realize ang date. December 24 na pala.

"Uhm, I think so? Pwede ko naman i-search," sagot ko pero saka ko lang naalala na mahina nga pala ang signal dito.

She sighed. "Kuya!" bigla niyang tawag kaya nag-panic ako.

"W-wait! Ikaw na lang magturo."

"Tutulungan ko pa si Nanay magluto ng ibang handa."

Before I could retaliate, she hastily stood up and ran into the house. At kung hindi ba naman ako pinaglalaruan ng tadhana ay narinig ko ang pag-utos niya kay Jazer na tulungan akong maghanda.

He stepped out of the house and our eyes met each other. My heart pounded heavily against my chest as I reminisced that moment. Iniwas ko agad ang paningin ko at yumuko dahil ramdam ko ang init ng mukha ko. Damn it!

He nonchalantly approached my direction and I almost flinched when he sat across from me.

"Tulungan mo siya!" sigaw ni Jem habang nakasilip sa bintana. "Wala kang pagkain mamaya kapag 'di n'yo 'yan nagawa!"

Hindi na sumagot si Jazer at sinimulan niya na lang buksan ang lahat ng gagamitin. We still couldn't look at each other and the tension between us skyrocketed when the back of his hand accidentally brushed against mine.

Para naman akong bumalik sa oras na 'yon.

That moment just happened spontaneously. Without any warning. Without any words. Without thinking about the consequences. That was why when I became conscious of our actions, the embarrassment swallowed me up and made me want to drown myself in the stream. I immediately stood up and told him that we need to go home. Tumayo na rin siya at tahimik na sumunod sa akin. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ako nakauwi nang maayos dahil parang nag-overheat na ang utak ko no'n. Pagdating namin sa bahay ay agad siyang pumasok sa loob habang ako ay nag-stay sa papag.