"Mabuti naman at bumaba na ang lagnat mo. I was so worried last night, Erin. Tumaas masyado ang temperature mo and you were crying so hard on your sleep. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin," he was about to feed me when I suddenly snatched the spoon and fork from him.
"Kaya ko na," I muttered as I started to wolfishly consumed my food.
"How are you feeling?"
Naiilang ako.
Ngayon na lang ulit may nagpakita ng sobra sobrang concern sa akin ang isang lalaki. Though Gwen has always been there, after Ross, ngayon na lang ulit ito nangyari.
At hindi na rin ako magtataka kung bakit.
"Better than last night." I curtly replied owing a disheartened look from him. "What?"
"Balik ka na naman sa pagiging suplada at seryoso mo," he smiled feebly before he got up from sitting and paced to the door. "Tawagin mo na lang ako kung may kailangan ka. I'll be in the common room."
"Bakit kailangan mo pang pumunta ro'n, e nandito ka naman na?"
Nilingon niya ako at napayuko.
"I think you need space as of now. Don't worry, beautiful. Isang tawag mo lang, kakaripas agad ako papunta sa 'yo."
He held the knob and pushed it down. Hindi pa siya nakakalabas pero,
"Yuwan,"
Mabilis siya lumingon at bumalik sa gilid ng kama ko.
"Anong gusto? May masakit ba? Anong kailangan?"
I shook my head and motioned for him tip over. Inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin at itinukod ang dalawang kamay niya sa kama ko.
I scooped a spoonful of fried rice with bacon and put it inside his mouth. He immediately complied and chewed.
"Thank you,"
"For what?"
"Hindi ko sinabing pumunta ka rito at alagaan ako pero ginawa mo. I'm not that insolent to not manifest a simple appreciation."
He swallowed and gave me the most genuine smile I've ever seen from a guy with a gorgeous face.
"I'm happy to accept your simplest manifestation of appreciation."
* * *
"Anong. . .nangyari?" Mahina kong tanong as I emerged into the common room. Napasilip din ako sa kitchen na malapit lang din at inikot na nang tuluyan ang paningin sa paligid.
Humarap ako kay Yuwan at nakitang nakangiti siya habang nakahalukipkip.
"Yuwan?"
"Nagpapunta ako ng taga-linis at pinalinis ko buong unit mo. She even did your laundry,"
"What?"
"You heard me,"
"Hindi mo na dapat ginawa 'yon."
He playfully shrugged his shoulders and strode closer to me, "Naisip ko lang na mas maganda kung maaliwalas at malinis ang paligid mo."
Hindi ko madalas maintindihan ang mga gustong mangyari ni Yuwan. Hindi ko rin alam kung hanggang kailan siya ganyan. Pero hindi ko nagugustuhan kung saan papunta 'to.
I let my eyes linger to him—his composure, his clothes, his stance, his facial features, down to his shoes. If perchance you met Yuwan in this state, hindi mo maiisip ang dati niyang hitsura kahit minsan. Hindi mo aakalaing once siyang nagsuot ng medyas na dilaw at kurbatang kulay luntian.
Right.
I didn't notice this at first dahil masyado akong nalilibang sa atensyon na binibigay niya.
"Bakit ganyan ka kung makatingin?" He asked while grinning.
"I think we should stop with whatever we're doing," he let his hands fall to his sides and suddenly, his grin vanished.
"W-Why so sudden?" I noticed his lips trembled. His cool composure a while ago somehow faded. Para siyang nanghina.
"Okay na, e. Okay ka na."
"Ha? Hindi. Ano, marami pa akong hindi alam."
This time, ako naman ang humalukipkip. Marami pa nga siyang hindi alam but what we did is a start. Kumbaga, stepping stones niya na 'yung iilang mga natutunan niya sa akin.
Pero bakit nanlumo ako sa sarili kong ideya? What the hell do I really want?
"Kaya mo naman nang matutunan sa sarili mo 'yung iba pa. Explore, Yuwan."
My God, Erin, shut up.
"No. Don't you think it's better if I'm exclusive? Ayoko ng kung sinu-sino ang kasama at kinakama. Erin, I'm loyal and you know it. Kung ganun ako dati kay Rai, ganun pa rin ako hanggang ngayon."
Napabuntong-hininga ako. Railee na naman. Bwisit, parang gusto kong manuntok. Nagtiim-bagang ako at bahagyang napayuko.
Yuwan got a good point. Kung sabagay, ayokong malaman na papalit-palit siya ng babae. Iniisip ko palang, gusto ko na siyang sumpain at sagasaan.
"Alright."
He gave out a sigh of relief and opened his arms wide.
"Kung anu-anong iniisip mo. Come here, I'll console you."
I stepped closer and he embraced me, sniffing through my damp hair due to bathing quickly. I wrapped my hands around his middle and closed my eyes.
I should cringe. I should grimace. I should refuse to this kind of behavior.
But surprisingly, when it comes to him, I couldn't.
He slightly pulled back from our embrace and tilted his head, leaning closer to capture my mouth.
Yet my phone rang.
Napatingin ako sa center table at sinilip kung sino ang tumatawag. Hindi ko sana sasagutin pero hinudyat ni Yuwan na kunin ko ito.
I grabbed my phone and listened to my best friend's stoic voice.
"El, pupunta ako sa unit mo mamaya. I've got something to tell you."
Since Gwen's my best friend, I can already guess na hindi ganun kaganda ang kung ano mang sasabihin niya. She rarely put her serious tone.
"What happened?" Yuwan asked as he held my hand, squeezing it. Napansin niya sigurong tumahimik ako at biglang nagbago ang demeanor ko.
"Gwen and I. . .we'll talk later."
"Ah. Something serious came up? Work, perhaps?" He combed my hair with his fingers and grazed his fingertips against my cheek.
Pero iniwas ko lang ang tingin ko.
Whatever's coming, my hunch's telling me I'm not going to like it.
Chapter 11: Forebodings
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