Heartfilia's Premises

Chapter 23

Tahimik lang naming tinahak ang daan papunta sa kwarto ni Ross habang inaalalayan niya ako sa paglalakad.

He insisted a wheelchair but I refused. Hindi naman kalayuan ang kwarto ni Ross sa akin. I could still feel the pain but it was already bearable and I thought it was better to walk.

"How about his friends?" tanong ko kay Nazaire.

"They are occupying the other rooms. Unfortunately one of them got a bome fracture," sagot niya at kaagad naman akong napatigil.

"W-wait. What?" ani ko sa gulat.

It cannot be. They have a game in the coming months.

"Yes. Surname's Romuez. He's from Western Amville University," sagot niyang muli ngunit kahit na nalaman kong hindi ito galing sa Heartfilia Academy ay hindi pa rin naibsan ang pag-aalala ko.

They were Ross' former teammates and probably, they were also into baseball.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad at huminto kami sa tapat ng isang silid. Mayroong nakapaskil na "R. Avelino" sa pinto nito.

Nazaire gently knocked before opening the room.

Naramdaman ko ang kanyang kamay sa aking bewan nang muli niya akong inalalayan upang makapasok sa silid ni Ross.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla n lang nagkagulo ang buong sistema ko dahil sa ginawa niya. May kung ano sa akin na gustong kumawala.

Nabaling ang atensyon ko nang bumungad sa akin si Ross na nakabenda ang kaliwang kamay habang nanonood sa telebisyon. Kaagad siyang umupo ng maayos nang makita kami at bakas sa kanyang mukha ang parehong pag-aalala at pasasalamat.

Nazaire stood behind me after he led mo to Ross' bedside.

"Leigh," ani Ross.

Hindi ako agad nakapagsalita. Pinagmasdan ko ang kalagayan niya. I felt something thumped my heart. May sugat siya sa kanyang labi at mayroon pang ilan sa kanyang mukha. Bahagya ring nangitim ang baba ng kanang mata niya dahil marahil sa suntok.

"Ross," I said and held his free hand while staring at him, worriedly.

"Kamusta ka na Leigh? Sorry. Hindi na dapat kita isinama roon. I'm sorry, Aleighna," bakas sa boses at mga mata ni Ross ang labis na pagsisisi at pag-aalala.

Kasabay ng paghigpit ng kanyang hawak ay ang pamamalisbis ng aking luha. Umiling-iling ako. I even sniffed.

"No Ross. Ako dapat ang humingi ng pasensya sa'yo. I am sorry for causing you that. You could have avoided it and ran if it was not because of me. You could have saved yourselves of I were not caught. I'm sorry Ross," mu voice cracked and I could no longer stop my tears from falling.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Nazaire sa aking balikat at tumabi ito sa akin. Saglit akong napatingin sa kanya. He seemed to be not giving a damn about Ross' situation by his eyes could not just hide it. He was concerned. He was worried.

Muli akong bumaling kay Ross at umiling ito bago nagsalitang muli, "Stop blaming yourself, Leigh. I insisted you to come with me. And that is my regret. Hind ka na dapat nadamay pa sa gulo namin."

"Let's go, Aleighna. You need to rest," ani Nazaire at tumango naman si Ross nang marinig ito.

Nagpaalam na ako sa kanya and I promised him that I would come back.

Bago kami tuluyang makalabas ni Nazaire ay muling nagsalita si Ross.

"Pres," tawag niya na nagpalingon sa amin, "I had no idea who they were. But I saw them following your car when you both left," aniya at tilaay umusbong na tanong sa aking isipan.