"Ano.. uh. Naaksidente raw yung lola niya. Wala na siyang nasabing iba--"
Andreau slightly pulled away, his eyes searching mine. "Zades, anong nangyari kay Nana Tinang? Zades?"
I couldn't look at him straight to the eye. "Andreau kailangan ko munang umuwi kina-- kina Nana. Sin-sinugod daw siya sa.. yung tricycle kasi bumangga. I-I have to go I--" I dropped her forehead down against his chest, hiding my face. He hugged me tighter, and I felt my entire body go warm. "A-alis na a--"
"You're not going anywhere, Zades," he said, his tone much softer. "I can't let you go alone. Will you wait for me inside the car? Magpapack up lang ka--"
"What!? Kaya kong pumunta don mag-isa!" I protested, lifting my head from his chest and squinted slightly at him. "Isang jeep lang naman eh. Ituloy niyo na lang ang shoo--"
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm going with you," he countered. "Tila can wait, Zades. Family first."
Sinubukan ko ulit na pilitin siya kaso he already made up his mind. Sa sobrang sabaw ko hindi ko namalayan na isinakay na niya ako sa Jeep. Iniwan niya ako doon saglit para bigyan ng last minute instructions ang Tila crew bago magpack up. Nang mahimasmasan ako nang kaunti, tinawagan ko ulit si Ate Gaile for an update. Ino-operahan na raw si Nana pero wala pang update ulit ang surgeon kung in stable condition na siya or hindi pa. After calling her, sinubukan kong tawagan si Mima kaso laging dumidiretso sa voicemail.
Andreau got in the car minutes later, handing me a bottle of cold water. "Here, drink this," he said as he started the car's engine. Outside the car I saw Eddie and some of the cameramen dismantling the tent. Way to go, Pascual. Your theatrics just blew the last day of shooting. Great.
"Kahit sa pila ng jeep mo na lang ako ihatid," I said softly, hoping to change his mind. Nakakahiya kasi kay Andreau na ihatid pa niya ako sa ospital. Strikto siya sa schedule at pupunta na siya sa China in three days, ayoko nang magdagdag ng sakit sa ulo. "One hour away lang nam--"
"Zades," he cut in, giving me a look that made me shut up in an instant. "I'm gonna drive you there. No buts. I will stay with you the whole day if I have to."
"The whole day? Paano ang damit mo? Saan ka bibili? Walang mall don!"
He broke into a small smile. "I always have extra clothes in my car."
In fairness, kumalma ako kahit paano ngayong kasama ko na siya. Kaso.. ugh. Hindi ko mapigilang mahiya kay Andreau. Doon lang nagsink in sa 'kin ang sinabi niya. Family first. Was he for real? Talagang ipagpapaliban niya ang napakaimportanteng shooting for.. this. I should be thankful for him being here yet.. it kinda frustrates me. Baka nagugulat lang siya sa mga pangyayari.. just.. ugh.
"Zades?" Andreau said after a long stretch of silence. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Huh?"
"Please recite every weird word you know. Recite them out loud with their country of origin and definition."
"Huh?"
He sighed. "Just.. humor me, please? Para kumalma ka kahit paano. Please?"
It was a weird request, but I did it anyway. Mas okay na gawin ko 'yon kesa palalain ko ang paranoia ko sa condition ni Nana. "Uhh... lalochezia, a noun, meaning.. the emotional relief gained from abusive or profane language."
"What else?"
"Ineffable, adjective, meaning incapable of being expressed in words."
"That's it, Zades. Recite every word you know."
[45] My Favorite Book
Magsimula sa umpisa
