Keep Me Closer

28th: Truth in Vulnerability

A cold breeze blew my hair and rendered a shiver from my body as Eustace drove the car back to Livonia. He was careful not to go beyond the speed limit. Pero ramdam pa rin ang bilis nang pagmamaneho.

Yumakap ako sa cardigan na suot nang maramadam pa rin ang lamig. Understandable naman dahil halos maghahatinggabi na ngayon at bumabyahe kaming dalawa. His dad was rushed to a hospital in Detroit an hour ago.

Eustace has to be there dahil walang maiiwang nagbabantay sa Dad niya.

He was silent the whole ride home. We agreed that he could drive up to Livonia and I will drive when we have to go to Detroit for him to see his father. He was still under observation by the police department, walang mawawala kung magiging maingat.

No one said anything about the kiss we had or the mundane moments at the cabin. Yet my mind wandered to the thoughts of how serious was the situation of Eustace's dad that I saw fear clouded his eyes when he told me about it.

"Your Dad will be fine, for as long as he was rushed at the hospital at the right time. Maagapan kung ano mang aksidente ang nangyari."

Eustace gave me a nod as he glanced at me quickly.

"I hope so, Lienna. Salamat."

I was atleast relieved that he responded. He looked really bothered. We were still hours away from Livonia and 30 minutes away from the hospital his father was rushed in Detroit.

Pero I believe we will get there with complete limbs. Dahil halatang balisa man si Eustace ay nakapukos pa rin siya sa daan. Halos hindi na nga ako halos kausapin sa byahe.

Hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako at napakurap-kurap nang maramdaman ang malambot na tela na nakapalibot sa diddib ko. It was Eustace's coat, at ngayon ay nasa drive thru kami ng isang fast food chain at naghihintay sa order na kape.

Kailan kaya ibinalot sa kawatan ko ang coat niya? Hindi ko man lang napansin.

He glanced at me and noticed that I was already fluttering my eyes open.

"Have a drink, it will wake you up."

Umayos ako ng upo sa passenger's seat at tinanggap ang kape na nasa paper cup.

Humigop ako ng kape at naramdaman ang pagdaloy ng init na likido sa bibig ko hanggang lalamunan. That somehow eased the cold that I felt which almost made me shiver.

Eustace leaned in towards me as he fixed his coat to cover me better with it. I held onto the helm of the coat and our hands suddenly touched. Dahil walang bubong ang sasakyan na gamit namin ay sumasalubong talaga sa mukha at balikat ang lamig ng hangin. I wore thick clothes before leaving but it seemed that wasn't enough.

Eustace held my hands as if checking if I was feeling that cold, worried enough if my hands were now freezing while I gaze at his eyes.

For seconds we remained gazing at each other until, I said, "Thank you for driving safely. I will drive you now to Detroit."

He slowly let go of my hand. Ako naman ay uminom pa ng dalawang lagok ng kape at inalis na ang coat niyang nakabalot sa harapan ko at lumabas ng sasakyan. Lumabas na rin siya sa driver's seat at umikot kaming dalawa para magpalit ng puwesto.

Sinimulan ko agad ang makina at nagdrive na.

We arrived at the hospital and Eustace immediately rushed towards the elevator. Alam niya na kung saang floor at kwarto ang Dad niya at sobrang nagmamadali siyang makarating doon na kulang na lang tumakbo siya sa bilis at laki nang paghakbang.

The hospital's white wall caused the bright fluorescent light to illuminate the entire building with vibrance. Ilang beses akong pumipikit dahil masakit sa mata sa sobrang liwanag na paligid.