Dagger Series #8: Uncovered

Chapter 12: Rain

Kuya Trace sent a couple of angry emoji that sent me snickering.

Lucienne: It's okay, Trace. It's time.

Lucienne: It's time to find your forever home. Huwag kang mag-aalala. Marami ng animal lover ngayon kaya makakahanap tayo ng aampon sa'yo.

Napailing na lang ako. Basag na naman si Kuya Trace kay Lucienne. Bihira naman kasi talaga siyang manalo pagdating sa babae.

Before Lucienne came, bibihira ang taong nakakabawas sa kakulitan ng panlima kong kapatid. My other older brothers just learned how to ignore his antics. Parte na kasi ng personality ni Kuya Trace ang pagiging alien niya. Pero nang maging parte ng pamilya si Lucienne ay nagkaroon na kami ng tagabasag sa matayog na kahanginan ng kapatid kong nag-uumapaw ang confidence.

Iyon nga lang minsan dalawa na silang sakit ng ulo ng mga kapatid ko. Lalo na ni Kuya Thorn.

Ibinalik ko sa bag ko ang cellphone at nag-angat ako ng tingin. Mukhang may apat o lima pang mauuna sa akin bago ako matawag.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Kung maaga sana akong pumunta baka nauna na akong matapos. Day off ko naman today. But I was procrastinating all morning since I really hate hospitals.

Isinukbit ko sa balikat ko ang bag ko at tumayo ako. I need coffee if I want to keep my sanity with all this waiting.

I found my way to the cafeteria, and before falling in line, I decided to look for their selections first. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita ko na hindi lang instant coffee ang meron sila.

I have nothing against instant coffees since there are some that are really good, but I have tried hospital coffee before when I was the only one that could stay with Arctic, my brother Pierce's son, while he was out of the country and my nephew got sick, and I didn't particularly enjoy the drink.

Nang makapili ako ng kape at nakita ko rin na meron silang Filipino pastry cookie na minsan kong nakita sa opisina ni Kuya Axel ay dumiretso na ako sa pila.

"Hi!" I greeted the male employee at the counter, who's probably in his early twenties. "Can I have an iced flat white but add two pumps of caramel syrup?" Itinuro ko ang salamin nila na estante. "And also one ulap."

Sandaling nakatulalang nakatingin lang sa akin ang lalaki. "Po?"

"Isang iced flat white with two pumps of caramel syrup at saka isang ulap. Saka may credit card kayo? Wala akong cash eh."

"Umm..."

I felt a presence behind me step closer. Too close. Kunot ang noo na lumingon ako para sana umalma pero nawala lahat ng inis ko na naipon mula kaninang umaga dahil sapilitan ang pagpunta ko rito nang makita ko kung sino ang nakatayo sa tabi ko.

This day just got better.

"She'll have the iced flat white. Bigyan mo na lang siya ng sugar packets. At saka isang otap." Magnus fishes out his wallet from his back packet. Naglabas siya ng pera mula roon at inabot iyon sa empleyado bago siya humarap sa akin. "Wala ka sa coffee shop. This is a hospital and this one in particular has smaller selections." Itinuro niya ang sign na nakatayo sa isang panig ng counter na hindi ko napansin. "They don't accept credit cards right now. At wala din silang tinitindang ulap. You're not in heaven and I doubt the angel sells clouds for fun."

Kumurba ang malapad na ngiti sa mga labi ko. "Uy! Nag-jo-joke ka na sa akin ngayon. Ibig bang sabihin nito mas close na tayo kesa noon? Effective pala ang panliligaw ko."

Magnus glanced at the two nurses, who seem to have heard what I said since they're giving us weird looks. "Can you not broadcast it to the world?" he asked gruffly.