We Are Not a Parallel Lines to Begin With

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I groaned as I felt pain in my neck muscles. Hinay-hinay akong bumagon at umupo.

"You're awake," nagulat ako sa nagsalita.

"You've been sleeping for almost 4 hours. It's already past 5," Seiji said as stretched his legs.

"You are quite heavy," hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita sa gulat. 

Oh! I fucking fell asleep pala, and on Seiji's lap pa. I looked at the surrounding at medyo nagdidilim na. My eyes glued on the plates of Seiji on the table. It's not yet done. God, I'm very guilty for this.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" paulit-ulit kong paghingi nang sorry.

"Don't worry. It's fine," he said while putting aside his things.

Isn't he sick?

Nilapat ko ang kamay ko sa noo niya just to confirm that he is sick. Nagulat ito sa ginawa ko.

He's hot.

"Did you take the medicine I said earlier," tuon ko rito na ikinakamot niya na lang nang ulo.

Agad kong kinuha ang gamot sa bag ko at ang water bottle ko. Ibinigay ko ito sa kanya at wala siyang nagawa kundi ang inumin ito. 

"Bakit ka kasi sumulong sa ulan kahapon. Iyan tuloy, nagkasakit ka pa," I nag at him.

Hindi ito nagsalita. I'm actually worried. He's not usually like this.

"Where do you live?" I asked.

"I'll not go home tonight. I've planned to stay in my friend's condo, malapit lang naman dito," he said.

"Ihahatid na kita. You can't drive with that condition," I said to him. Inayos ko na ang gamit ko at tinulingan ko na siya sa mga dala niya.

"I can handle this. I swear," he said in an assuring tone.

"Please, be honest with me. What happened and what do you feel?" he let out a sigh when he noticed that I won't even budge with his upcoming excuses.

"I got a fever last night and mas lumalala pa yata because I stayed up all night, then, the weather earlier is not just good for me. It's scorching hot, kaya mas lalong sumakit ang ulo ko, and the noises of my block mates made are not doing good to me either," I nodded to his complaint.

"Let's go so that you can have a good rest," I said while cleaning up his things and helped him walk.

When we reached my car, I immediately lead him to the shotgun seat.

He told me the address of his friend's condo. But before heading to the condo, I stopped at the nearest pharmacy to buy him meds and a cooling gel patch.

Pagbalik ko sa sasakyan ay agad kong inilabas ang fever patch at nilagay ito sa noo niya.

"Nababaliw na ako sa 'yo, Isla," malalim na saad niya sa akin after I placed the patch on his forehead.

Napalunok ako at tila nag-init bigla ang likod ko.

"Iba ang crush mo, Isaiah. It's not me, okay? Lagnat lang 'yan," I retorted. Natawa lamang ito.

He murmured something and I can't hear it.

Our whole ride was quiet. When we were about to reach the condo, he contacted his friend.

"I owe you this one, Isla," he said when he got out of the car.

"Patas lang. I slept on you earlier which might be one of the reason why you got worse," I said, aangal pa sana siya ngunit nagsalita muli ako.

"Don't eat oily foods. If you have fruits there, eat that and eat some porridge, make sure it's hot ha. Drink your meds on time, and rest ka muna and don't mind your plates if malayo pa naman ang deadline. Magpunas ka when you get to your room. Take care of yourself," paalala ko rito.

"Just contact me if you need something or if you feel something weird," I said.

"Alright, miss ma'am. Thank you so much!" he said.

"I'll go ahead," I said and went back to my car. I lowered my window to wave a bye to him.

"Drive safely, Isla! Text me when you get home," he said and I just nodded.

I'm actually feeling good right now after that sleep I had earlier. Everything feels so light. So, what kind of witchcraft did Seiji cast on me? Or pabagsak na talaga ako kanina, either way, at least I slept.

Nakauwi rin naman ako agad dahil hindi naman kalayuan ang condo ko. 

I did all of my usual routines and prep all of the things that I need for studying. I need to get an insight for our future lessons. Later on, we will going to prepare for another case presentations so I need to study more and make myself get used about the nursing usual cycle. I need to get ahead of everything because I know I will be very busy when I get home. I won't even have a chance to get a single glimpse on my books. 

My phone suddenly rang. It's Sei.

"Hello?" I said upon answering the call.

"Are you home na ba?" he asked in his hoarse voice.

"I am. You don't sound well, Sei." worry lingered through my voice. 

"I actually feel better right now. I just had a nap and thought of calling you. Hindi ka pa kasi nakapag-text," he said. 

Shoot. It slipped on my mind.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I forgot," I said.

"It's okay. I heard your voice now so it's really fine," he said.

"Stop flirting," I said. Taglandi season ba ngayon ni Seiji? I definitely clarified to him that I don't want to be involved with someone right now.

"If that's how it sounded to you, can't help it," he stifled a laugh.

"I can flirt with you all night, babe," God, he's not stopping.

"Hindi tayo talo, pre," naiangal ko na lamang.

"You'll probably eat what you kept on saying to me. Trust me, Isla," natawa na lamang ako sa confidence niya. I don't take it seriously. I know myself, I know that there will be a big possibility that I might fall for him but not now, not this time.

"What if, BFF na lang kita? Binawi ko na yung ayaw ko new friends," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya.

"Ayaw kitang friend. Ayaw," parang bata nitong sabi kahit mababa ang boses nito.

"You won't know what will happen, Isla," he continued.

"Then, magdilang anghel ka, Isaiah," I jokingly said.

"Anyways, I'll hang up na. I have to study pa, Midterms is coming," I said.

"I want to study with you." sabi niya.

"Mama mo study. I told you to rest, right?" matigas din bungo nito, e.

"When I get better. Okay?" he said in a hopeful tone.

"Alright, Sy."

"Now, rest. Sleep tight," utos ko dito.

"I will, miss ma'am. Thank you, my nurse," hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti sa tawag niya muli sa akin.

Pinatay ko na nag tawag. Being called a nurse can make butterflies in my stomach. It just felt so great at someone is acknowledging you for something you have decided yourself despite of the circumstances you've been through.

Before proceeding on reviewing. I checked my socmed for the last time and his tweet caught my attention.

sei @isaiahseisy

i have a lips of an angel, so you better be prepared.

Let's see, Isaiah. Let's see.