The Hidden Gem

Chapter 44

Agad akong tumakbo palapit sa kanya. I could smell that metallic scent coming from Lumiere's body. My body was in the brink of shutting down 'cause of exhaustion, but when I saw him face down, lying on the floor and with blood surrounding him, my body felt like taking a high dose of adrenaline drug.

Wala akong ibang nakita kung hindi ang katawan niyang sa tinign ko ay patay na. Ni hindi ko nga napansin na nabangga ko at natumba ung coat hanger stand dahil sa pagmamadali ko. I didn't even reacted when I almost slipped 'cause what I only wanted to do that time was go near him.

Bigla kong naramdaman kung gaano kalakas ang tibok ng puso ko nang lumuhod ako sa tabi niya. His eyes were closed and his skin was pale. He looked exactly like corpse.

"Lu—Lumiere?" I whispered. My vision started to blur not because of I'm sleepy. It's because of the tears I didn't notice I shed until my glasses stated to fog my vision. Agad kong tinanggal ang salamin at sombrero ko at inihagis sa kung saan. Hindi ko na napansin kung san pumunta si Doggie dahil natigil ito sa pagtahol.

Parang biglang bumalik ung mga nangyari dati. Yung takot na naramdaman ko sa sitwasyon ni Icko, lahat yon bumalik. Agad kong nilapat ang mga daliri ko sa leeg niya para pulsuhan siya. Wala. I couldn't feel his pulse. May nararamdaman ko kasi kung ga'no kalakas ang tibok ng puso ko na parang gusto niyang lumabas sa dibdib.

"Calm d—down, Gem." Huminga ako ng malalim at pinakalma ang sarilli ko. kinuha ko ang kamay niya at pinulsuhan. Medyo mainit pa ang katawan niya at mukang kararating niya lang bago ako. Ilang beses ko pang kinapa bago ko ito maramdaman.

There it is. Small rhythmical throbbing. It was faint and almost gone but it gives me assurance that he's alive.

I was shivering when I fished my phone in my pocket. Dali dali akong tumawag ng ambulansya pero napahinto ako nang makita at maramdaman ko ang palad ni Lumiere sa hita ko. Nalipat ang paningin ko mula sa kamay niya papunta sa mga mata niya.

They were slightly open like he was trying to stay awake. Well that's good.

"Lu—Lumiere?" he smile faintly that made me frown. "I'm g—gonna call an am—ambulance." I tried calling again pero pilit siyang nagsasalita.

"d—don't." hirap niyang sabi. "T—The ki—kit."

"What?" Lumapit ako sa kanya para marinig siya ng maayos. Pilit niyang inaangat ang kanang kamay niya at may tinuturo. Agad kong nakuha ang gusto niya. Tumayo ako at tumakbo para kunin ung medicine kit sa cabinet.

Lumuhod muli ako sa harap niya at binuksan ang kit. I was assessing his wounds habang naririnig kong ginagalaw niya ung kit. May dalawa siyang saksak sa kanang likod, bandang tagiliran. One was deeper than the other but both wouldn't stop bleeding. I looked at him trying to hand me something.

"Y—you want me to s—sew your wounds?" Tanong ko matapos abutin ung surgical suture sa kanya. It was a bit bigger and the thread was already attached to the needle when I opened the pack.

I swallowed hard and wiped the beads of sweat on my forehead. Ngayon lang ako magtatahi ng sugat kaya kinakabahan ako. At hindi lang kung kaninong sugat ang tatahiin ko. Si Lumiere 'to. Hindi na ko pwedeng tumanggi lalo nang nakikita ko siyang namimilipit sa sakit. Hinila ko palapit ung medicine kit at kinuha ang bote ng antiseptic.

Nakita ko ung panyo niyang nakausli kaya kinuha ko ito at nirolyo saka ipinakagat sa kanya. "This will hurt a bit." He smiled weakly knowing that it'll hurt a lot. Ginunting ko muna ung T-shirt niya na namumula na dahil sa sugo para ma-expose ang mga sugat niya. I opened the antiseptic and pour it directly on his wounds. His hanky prevents his screams and shouts. He looked really, really hurt.