Against the Heart (Azucarera Series #1)

Kabanata 40

"Natingnan ka na bang mabuti? Ang mga sugat mo?" mababa ang boses niya.

Tumango ako. "Oo. Natingnan na. Ayos lang daw ako."

He swallowed hard and nodded. "Narinig ko ang ingay ng bumbero at ang mga sasakyan din ng ilang taga bayan."

"Buti at nagising ka. Ang sabi ni Manang, pumasok ka raw agad sa nasusunog na gusali ng walang pag-aalinlangan."

Hindi siya sumagot. Hindi ko napigilan ang ngiti ko. However, his eyes remained serious.

"I thought I'd die without kissing you," sinamahan ko iyon ng masuyong ngiti, akala'y gagaan ang nararamdaman niya pagkatapos pero nanatili ang pagiging seryoso niya.

"It's not funny, Chayo. I was worried."

Ngumuso ako at bahagyang nahiya dahil hindi niya nagustuhan ang biro ko.

"Sorry."

"Nag-away kayo ng Daddy mo kaya ka roon natulog?"

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Maliit na pagtatalo lang pero medyo nainis ako kaya umalis ng bahay."

I can see how he's gritting his teeth.

"It was late and the office is the first place that came in my mind."

Hindi siya agad nagsalita. I actually thought of his place but I know he's asleep.

"Next time, call me."

"Gabing-gabi na. Baka tulog ka na," sabi ko.

Umiling siya. "Even so. I want you to call me. You can call me anytime you want, Chayo."

Unti-unti akong tumango at ngumiti sa kanya. I can feel his intense worry, kahit pa kalmado at seryoso siya ngayon.

Alam kong hindi niya gusto ang mga nangyari. Delikado iyon at puwedeng wala ako rito o mas masama pa ang nangyari. But to me, I feel like nothing bad really happened because I'm okay. It's as if I couldn't grasp the seriousness of the situation even when I experienced it first hand.

"Thank you rin sa pagtulong sa asukarera."

"Naroon ang mga tauhan ko para asikasuhin ang pag-aayos sa ilan pang lumang building n'yo. I checked it and made some changes. Ni-review ko na rin ang para sa mga bago n'yong building. Your sugarmill's machinery needs to be checked, too. Everything."

"Thank you, Leandro."

Naisip kong hindi na papakealaman ni Daddy ang mga gagawin ni Leandro. Maybe what happened made him too obsessed with our safety that this is beyond his anger for anyone.

"Thank you for always understanding our situation," magaan kong sinabi. "And for always respecting my Dad even when he hardly deserved it from you."

Hindi siya kumibo. He only looked at me as if everything makes sense just because he's lost in my eyes.

"Because of you, I realized that it's not always black or white. You should hate and disrespect my Dad and my family for doing that to you, but you chose to set aside your feelings and understand my Dad's feelings, too." Umiling ako. "Kahit pa alam kong nasasaktan ka rin, pinili mong isipin ang sakit na dinanas ni Daddy."

"It's not always that easy, Chayo."

"I know. But still, thank you for trying hard."

"That's because of you..."

Namungay ang kanyang mga mata, bumaba iyon sa aking labi. My heart raced and I realized then how much I'm longing for him that I ache for him even when we're this near.