DS #4: Our Bloody Life

Kabanata 9

“Do you need to talk about each other every time?” I asked, raising my brow. It’s irritating. Humarap siya sa ‘kin habang nakasandal ang likuran sa counter top. Nawala ang ngiting kanina ay sobrang tamis at lawak. Even her eyes become weary. Bigla akong napaayos ng upo. I feel like I didn’t said it good.

I faked my smile, “Actually, I love it when you are talking and talking…” I reasoned out. Umiling siya sa ‘kin kasabay no’n ang pagtunog ng oven. Mahina akong tumawa saka yumuko ng bahagya, “F*ck this,” I whispered, “Ouch! My wound hurts, Doc!” I groaned. I saw her rushing over me. Parang isang segundo lang ay nasa tabi ko na agad siya. Kinuha niya ang kamay kong nakatakip sa balikat ko. Hinipan niya ito.

Napalunok ako. This is not the first time she is close to me but. She seems very unconscious and insensitive about her moves. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang balat ko. Huminga ako ng malalim. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kaniya. Matagal na simula nang may mag alaga sa ‘kin ng ganito. I lost my mom and dad when I was a kid, never have someone who took care of me intently.

“Pagkatapos nating kumain titingnan ko ‘tong mga sugat mo, siguro dahil galaw ka nang galaw,” nag-aalala niyang sambit. Tumayo siya at tumingin sa ‘kin, “Sabi ko sa ‘yo umuwi kang walang sugat, bakit lalo ka pa atang nagkaroon.” Tumalikod siya kaagad.

Seconds after, I keep on smiling.

We ate together. The food is good. Pasulyap-sulyap ako sa gawi niya. She keep on reminding me to take care dahil hindi sa lahat ng oras nandito siya sa condo niya. Minsan daw sa hospital siya natutulog dahil maaga ang shift niya.

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang trabaho niya. The last time I remember she has work at 8 AM.

“Don’t you have work today?” I asked her.

Uminom siya ng tubig bago sumagot, “Meron, umabsent muna ako.”

“What?! Why? If you did that because of me, you should change and go to work, Pri,” I hardly said. I don’t deserve to be treated like this. When the time comes she’ll realize it.

When I looked at her, her face reddened. Nagtaka ako kung bakit, but she is smiling like she won a milyon. Her eyelashes wiggled, “Tinawag mo akong Pri? Hindi na Delos Santos. How did you know my name?” she asked sweetly.

Napainom ako ng madaming tubig. My chest is throbbing hard, what’s wrong with me?

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, “You are my neighbor. I’m full, if you don’t want to go to work then take the responsibility of taking care of me, hmmm?” nilapag ko ang kubyertos sa ibabaw ng walang laman na pinggan saka tumayo.

Her lips parted. I gave her a smile. Iniwan ko siyang may tanong sa kaniyang mukha. Palihim akong tumawa saka umiling.

Napatingin ako sa tabi ko ng maramdamang may umupo dito. I feel at home. I keep on asking myself when I planned on going home? I still don’t have answer. Bumungad sa ‘kin ang matamis niyang ngiti. Lahat ba pinapakitaan niya nito? Napairap ako.

“Titingnan ko ang tahi mo baka na- infect. Sorry, I didn’t bring you to the hospital, you scared me,” deretso niyang sambit. She placed the kit above the center table. Paano ako kukuha ng damit sa bahay? I am still half-naked. She keep on glancing at my tattoos.

“Delos Santos,” I called her. Tumaas ang kilay niya.

“Hmmm?”

“Stop looking of my tattoos.”

She started pouting her lips, “It looks good on you,” she said. She opened my gauze, sinilip niya ito. I stared at her messy hair. I took a deep breathe.