Losing Grounds [Davin & Ninaandrea]

Kabanata 12

Hindi ko mapaniwalaan na ginawa iyon ni Aling Concha. But again, that landlady was easily deceived by money, kaya hindi na dapat ako nagtataka pa.

“You are not sleeping here! Ako ang nakatira dito kaya ako ang masusunod!”

“But I cannot drive. May sugat ako,” sagot niya na nagparolyo ng mga mata ko.

“Hindi tiyan ang gagamitin mo sa pagmamaneho kundi kamay!” pakikipagtalo ko pa pero imbes ay tinawanan lang niya ako.

“Pero papaano kung habang nagmamaneho ako ay biglang sumakit itong sugat ko? Papaano kung mabitiwan ko ang manibela at mabangga ako? What if allowing me to drive while I am injured leads to an accident? What if I die?” he added, obviously just guilt tripping me. “I’ll be okay on this couch and I swear I will leave in the morning. When you wake up tomorrow, you would not find me here,” he promised, persisting in his attempt to convince me.

“No!”

“I am staying, Ninaandrea. I was looking forward to seeing you again after three long days. So, you cannot make me go home.”

“No.” iling ko. “You are going home, Davin. End of our conversation.” I determinedly said.

Nakalolokong tiningala niya ako. “Why the nerves, hmm? We are just going to sleep, unless you have something specific in mind. I am up for anything, anyway,” he teased, flashing a playful smile and wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “What is on your mind, hmm? Want to do what we did in my office again?”

Sa sobrang inis ay inabot ko ‘yong throw pillow na nasa tabi niya at saka inihagis sa tiyan niya kung saan naroon mismo ‘yong sugat niya, at sinadyang lakasan ang pagkakabato roon. Davin immediately sat bolt up and groaned in pain. Kinuha ko naman ‘yong pagkakataon na ‘yon para lumayo mula sa kaniya.

“Ugh! You know that I am injured!”

Biglang muling nag-alala ako pero napawi rin noong makita ‘yong nakalolokong ngisi sa labi niya.

“Bahala ka na nga! Manigas ka riyan sa lamig at papakin ka sana ng mga lamok!” inis na inis kong sabi bago siya talikuran.

Pabaling-baling ako sa kama ng gabing iyon. I couldn’t sleep worrying about him. Mukhang bago pa ‘yong sugat niya at kailangan noong linisin. And did he take medicine already? Parang noong nakaraan lang ay nasaksak siya sa braso tapos ngayon naman ay may sugat siya sa tiyan.

Saan ba siya naglulumusot at parati na lang niyang ipinahahamak ang sarili niya?

Ugh! Pakialam mo ba sa kaniya, Ninaandrea?