Demon's Obsession

Seventeen

He checked my foot that is slowly turning red. I think I sprained an ankle.

"A-aray," daing ko nang mahawakan niya ang apektadong bahagi ng aking paa.

Nagulat ako nang magmura siya. Tiningala ko siya na nakatayo sa gilid ng kama. He mumbled something but I was only able to grasp the words ‘damn’ and ‘fire’.

"Wait here," sabi niya at saka lumabas ng kuwarto. Pagbalik niya ay mayroon na siyang dalang cold pack. He immediately put it around my ankle and I instantly felt relief. He then went to the bathroom. Dala niya ang first aid kit pagbalik niya. Mula roon ay kinuha niya ang compression bandage. He sat on my side and expertly wrapped the bandage around my ankle. He lie me down on bed and stack pillows for my foot to elevate it above my heart level.

I was watching him the whole time. At the moment, he looked so cool in my eyes. He just executed R.I.C.E. properly. Though it is a must to know proper first aid, I can't help but be in awe.

Muli siyang lumabas ng kuwarto pagkatapos ligpitin ang mga ginamit niya. Sa kaniyang pagbalik, hawak hawak niya na ang kaniyang telepono, tila katatapos niya lamang makipag-usap. He sat beside me and gently tucked behind my ear strands of stray hair.

"Do you feel better now?" he asked.

I nodded and smiled timidly. "S-salamat."

He just nodded in return and stared at me. Awkward. I cleared my throat and looked away, scooting little by little away from him. But he was fast to grab me and pulled me closer to him, his arm around my waist restraining me from moving any farther.

Napayuko na lamang ako at pinaglaruan ang aking mga daliri. Ilang minuto pa ang nagdaan, naroong matitigilan ako kapag nararamdaman ang pagguhit niya ng bilog sa akin braso gamit ang kaniyang mga daliri.

I let out a sigh of relief when I heard the doorbell rang. Agad siyang tumayo at lumabas, na siyang kinahinga ko nang maluwag. Sa kaniyang pagbalik, dala-dala niya ang dalawang paper bag na agad niyang nilagay sa mesa sa di-kalayuan.

He walked to me. I almost shrieked when he scooped me up. My hands immediately circled around his neck in shock. "K-kaya ko naman m-maglakad," I said awkwardly.

He said nothing and carried me across the room, towards the table. He gently sat me down on a chair. From here, I was able to see the print on the paper bags.

Lutong-bahay

Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nahuli siyang nakatitig sa akin. Tumikhim siya at sinabing, "I wasn't able to cook, so..."

Unconsciously, a smile formed on my lips. That dinner, I ate heartily.

-♦-

After the satisfying meal, unknowingly, I was faced with my biggest problem today.

Sinubukan kong tumayo at maglakad palapit sa closet nang dahan-dahan ngunit ibayong sakit ang aking nararamdaman sa bawat hakbang. Maliligo na muna ako habang nasa kusina siya. I was in the middle of limping through the room when strong arms picked me up and carried me to the bathroom. Hindi na ako nakapagprotesta sa gulat.

Marahan niya akong nilapag sa bathtub. "A-ano, k-kaya ko na," mahina kong sabi. But it seemed like his ears were closed. Instead of leaving, he grabbed the hem of my shirt and was about to pull it up when I stopped him. "A-ako na. Kaya ko na 'to," ulit ko.