Losing Grounds [Davin & Ninaandrea]

Kabanata 9

The moment I told Davin I was staying, he pulled me down his big, black couch and cocooned me in a tight, warm hug—no, hot and burning embrace.

Sigurado ba talaga siyang ayaw niyang magpa-ospital? Sobrang init niya! And what if his wound got infection? E, ‘di lalo ngang tataas ang lagnat niya!

“Davin, ‘yong sugat mo! Baka matanggal ‘yong bandage,” nag-aalalang sabi ko dahil halos nahihigaan ko na ‘yon.

He hugged me tighter instead. And because he was topless, I could feel his skin scorching hot against mine.

“Magsuot ka nga ng damit! Bakit ba hubad ka? May sakit ka, ‘di ba?” sermon ko pa habang itinutulak siya palayo sa akin. “At uminom ka muna ng gamot!”

“But I don’t like meds,” tanggi niya.

“Ano ka? Batang paslit?” sabi ko.

“They taste bitter and horrible,” he pouted.

I frowned at what he said, shaking my head in disbelief.

Mahiya naman siya kay Vini, ano! Ni walang kahirap-hirap na painumin ng gamot ang batang ‘yon kahit gaano pa kapait at kapangit ‘yong lasa, tapos siya ay ganito ang inaasta?

“Kumain ka na ba?” muling tanong ko at sumakit na lang ang ulo nang maalalang kape lang ang laman ng tiyan niya. “Kailangan mong kumain at uminom ng gamot!”

“Really, I am fine. All I wanted is a cuddle,” sagot niya.

I surrendered in the end. Fine! Iisipin ko na lang na bayad ko ito roon sa ginawa niya sa akin noong ako ‘yong may sakit.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at hinayaan na lang siyang yakapin ako. I would be a hypocrite if I would say I was not liking this because I did. Very much. Parang malaking Vini ‘yong nakayakap sa akin, and I really, really missed that little ball of sunshine.

How really fascinating were the intricacies of genetics, right? How someone could mirror someone’s appearance. Having a closer look at Davin right now, Vini, our son, unquestionably became his blueprint.

I shifted carefully and moved closer to him because I was already at the edge of the couch, at kaunti na lang ay mahuhulog na kami.

“Davin!” biglang tawag ko noong buhatin niya ako patungo sa ibabaw niya.

“There! Much better,” he chuckled.

“You are taking advantage!”

“Huh? What are you talking about? I was just worried that you might fall down the floor,” maangan niya sabay pulupot ulit ng mga braso payakap sa baywang ko.

“‘Yong sugat mo!” paalala ko.

Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ko at imbes ay pumikit. Inis na napanguso na lamang ako at napatungo kung saan doon ko naman napansin ‘yong tattoo sa kaliwang dibdib niya.