When Blood Turns Pale

011

011: e

On the first day of January 2014, the Global Language Monitor estimates that there are 1,025,109 words in the English language.

Why can't we speak a single one now?

Naiintindihan ko naman. Kaya nga tahimik din ako.

The infamous HHS Love Knot turned out to be a scam.

Hindi siya knot. Handcuff.

Apparently, they originally used knots for the Love Knots, hence the name. But there were cases where some escaped. The ropes used for the knots were so easy to untangle, they resorted to another choice. They still kept the name, nevertheless, because it was already a trademark.

Love Cuff doesn't sound bad, makatotohanan pa. Keeping the name is such a huge clickbait.

Nanatili sa lupa ang aking mga mata. Ako'y napabuntong-hininga.

Tell the Kat from an hour ago that today she'll be handcuffed for the first time, she would never believe you. Tell her she'll be handcuffed to Glyxx Fuega, she'll think you're crazy.

I hate this.

Our arms would create friction from time to time. Wala akong magawa kung hindi ang tiisin na lamang ito. Over the course of almost five minutes, it has happened more than twenty times, but I still haven't grown used to it, not when multiple eyes are fixated on us.

I still have fifteen minutes left in this damned handcuff—that's also fifteen minutes of pretending like those gazes don't terrify me.

Kung sino mang nagpa-Love Knot sa amin, I hope your earphones only work at a specific angle. Sana 'di masarap ulam mo habambuhay, leche ka.

"Uhm," Glyxx finally interrupts. "Sa'n mo gustong mag-ikot-ikot?"

I keep quiet. Dalawang buwan na mula noong unang araw ng pasukan, 'di ko pa rin naiikot ang kabuohan ng campus. I don't feel the need to do so.

Una: Sa sandamakmak na gusaling mayroon ang Ruzcia, apat lamang ang aking kailangang alamin. Pangalawa: Ang laki ng campus. Nakakapagod maglakad.

"Sorry. 'Di ko pa gamay ang campus."

He nods. Kung 'di siguro nakaposas ang kanyang kaliwang kamay, minamasahe na nito ang kanyang batok.

I could tell because today, I learned that Glyxx Fuega is also left-handed.

Bago kami pinosas, kinumpirma niya muna kung kaliwang kamay ba ang aking ginagamit sa pagsusulat. When I said yes, he suggested it would be easier for me to use my right hand for the handcuff.

It was true and I didn't know he was left-handed, so I agreed. I only found out thanks to his little mannerisms, and now I feel a bit guilty.

I have my right hand cuffed to his dominant hand, that doesn't affect too much of his life. After all, we're only cuffed for twenty minutes. But still... conscience is this thing I still have.

"Gusto mo bang maglakad-lakad o tambay na lang tayo?"

"Tambay na lang."

My eyes aren't on him but my peripheral vision says he's nodding.

"Hmm... Dalhin kita sa hidden gem ng campus."

Hinayaan ko siyang dalhin ako sa kung saan man ang hidden gem na 'yon. I suppose very few people are there. Kaya nga hidden gem. Kaya kung saan man ito, ayos na 'yon sa 'kin.

Almost two minutes later, he brings me to Elias Gazebo.

Hindi naman 'to hidden.

"'Eto ang Elias Gazebo. Tawag ng kadalasan ay Elias lang," he informs me, "You've been here, right? Nu'ng enlistment sa HHS?"