Golden Hour #1: Her Cries Between Our Walls

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Mom, you're bleeding. Let me clean your wounds, please.."

My mother stormed out of my room after giving me a cold glare. While me? I head towards the bathroom to fix my wounds.
Maliliit na daplis lang naman ng bubog, pero may isang bumaon. Mabilis ko iyong tinanggal dahil mas masakit kung babagalan pa. Nasa gilid iyon ng ilong ko. This isn't the first time my mother slapped me, but it was the first with a debris of a broken glass on her heated palm.

I couldn't fell asleep that night. No matter how hard I try to be asleep, it just won't really work.

All I can do that night was to cry.

I cried because of the anxiety that my mother would barge in again into my room. Or worse, my father.

I cried because I was hurt and having a hard time enduring the pain.

I cried embracing the fact that I shouldn't hurt myself because if I do? Who will save me? Who will mend my aching wounds?

All that I have is myself. I should survive for myself. I should become more stronger. All I can do is to cherish myself. Yet here I am, letting others hurt me and having my self as my own cure.

But today is just so different.

Habang nasa bisig niya ako, pakiramdam ko ay binigyan Niya ako ng karapatang mag-pahinga kahit saglit sa lahat ng sakit. Pwede akong maging mahina sa mga sandaling iyon. Dahil sa katotohanang may isang taong handang gamutin ang sugat ko at ang tanging gagawin ko na lang ay ang mag-pahinga.

And so I did. Unconsciously, I closed my eyes to have my rest for a while. Funny how I don't know any thing about this guy except for his name but here I am, letting my guards down. Ni hindi ko namalayang nakatulog ako habang buhat niya ako.

I woke up from feeling cold. When I opened my eyes, all I can see is white. Then I realized, he must've carried me until the clinic in between the villa and apartment.

Except from the coldness I'm feeling, there's nothing more. I looked around and saw no one. Where is the nurse? Where is he?

God really was hearing my questions because the door open wide and there he is, eyes were already on me.

"You must be really tired and hurt earlier. You fell asleep. How are you feeling now?" He asked. Concern are very evident on his tone.

I had a good quality of rest even in that short period of time. I really am exhausted. Lagi naman, e, pero pakiramdam ko iba yung kanina.

Nag-angat ako ng paningin sa kaniya. Sa likod niya ay all clear glass sliding door kaya nakita kong madilim na pala. I looked back at him and he's still staring at me. No, more like observing me. It was a bit awakward for me.

"I'm just fine, but.."

One word and he already looked tense and attentive.

"But?"

"Nilalamig ako.." dahil sa sobrang lakas na air-conditioned clinic na 'to. Sa mga gantong oras ay balot na ako dahil malamig talaga pag sa dagat, pero ngayon ay naka shorts at sleeveless hanging blouse pa rin ako.

He misunderstood it and was about to put his palm on my forehead but I spoke.

"I mean the aircon. Baka pwede naman na akong lumabas.."

"I was just really waiting for you to wake up but yes, you can go now."

Matapos sabihin iyon ay nag-punta siya sa pwesto ng nurse na hindi ko napansin kanina. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. May sinasabi siya sa nurse at tumitingin naman ito sa akin. The nurse gave him a small plastic with a medicine inside.