Match Made in Hell

MMIH [2]

I flinched nang gumalaw na naman ang katawan ko. I think he’s right, this was something serious. Sana pala nagpunta na lang ako ng clinic. I never knew pain was this unbearable.

Pinagmasdan niya ako habang hirap na hirap ako sa pagtayo. Doon ko lang napansin na tumigil sa pagsasalita ang prof sa harap habang silang lahat ay nakatingin sa amin.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad palabas and hindi ko naman siya mapigilan dahil hinang-hina na talaga ako ngayon. My eyesight was becoming blurry and I was beginning to feel numb because of the pain.

“It’s not that serious. You just broke a rib or two. It’ll heal in three to four weeks. For now, magpahinga ka muna,” narinig kong sabi ni Gabriel.

I nodded pero agad akong kumalma nang naramdaman kong nagki-kick in na ‘yung pain killers na ibinigay sa’kin ng nurse.

Humiga ako sa kama at mas nag-relax pa ang buong katawan ko. I can still feel it, the pain. This is my first time na nabugbog ako, and I think my whole body is swollen.

“You have bruises, too. Anong nangyari? Did you get into a fight?” tanong nito tapos narinig kong nanghingi siya ng ice pack sa nurse.

“I’m okay, no need to nurse me. Gagaling rin ako.” I closed my eyes when I felt the cold compress onto my skin.

Hindi naman siya nagsalita. “You didn’t answer my question,” sabi niya after minutes.

I sighed. “It’s nothing. It’s just gangsters,” I spat that word in disgust.

“Who? Sila Matthew? They’d never do that,” kunot-noong sabi ni Gabriel.

Muntikan na akong matawa pero pinipigilan ko lang dahil masakit talagang gumalaw. “Dummy! Alam mo naman palang hindi gagawin ‘yun ng mga kaibigan mo, pero bakit mo sila binanggit? May chance ba na bubugbugin nila ako?”

Napayuko si Gabriel. “Yes.”

Napalunok ako. They’re dangerous as I thought. I can’t believe na kaya nilang mangbugbog ng babae.

“But only if they knew na malakas ang kalaban nila,” dagdag nito.

Agad akong napasimangot. Does that mean I’m weak? Nakakainis talaga.

“You’re ordinary compare to us. But we’re still humans nonetheless, we have our limitations. We get hurt, but it doesn’t mean we’re weak.”

“I don’t get it,” At ayokong ma-gets. Kahit wala akong naintindihan sa sinabi niya, tingin ko ay malaki itong bagay.

“Now, tell me. Sino sila?”

“Wala.”

“Don’t be stubborn.”

“Wala nga, don’t make a fuss about this.”

“You got a broken rib and a few bruises, siguradong magagalit ang mga kaibigan mo when they hear about this.”

Napangisi ako. Yeah, right. I can already imagine the 3Js beating up those girls for the second time.

“Wala akong pake.”

“I need to know.”

“Bakit ba?!” I snapped.

“So I could tell them not to mess with you again.”

***

Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon kay Gabriel. The moment na sinabi niya ‘yon, I just felt like flying. God, I already forgot why we were talking in the first place! Basta ang alam ko, hindi kami magkakilala. But why did we end up talking anyways?