Shades of Sky (Sazente Series #1)

2

Nagising ako sa katok na galing sa pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Eli, gising na may pasok ka pa." I heard kuya Elo's voice.

Nanghihina ang katawan ko. My back is sweaty and I feel really cold. I groaned.

'May lagnat ata ako!'

"Eli, papasok si kuya ah.."

Pumasok si kuya Elo sa aking kwarto. Dumiretso siya sa at umupo sa tabi ng aking kama.

"Eli wake up..." he said. Bahagyang niyuyugyog ang balikat ko. He saw that I'm shivering yet sweaty. He touched my forehead and hissed.

"Damn, nilalagnat ka!" he declared worriedly.

"Pa..papasok.. ako sa... school.." nanghihina kong sabi.

May summative test kami ngayon sa dalawang major subjects namin at bawal akong lumiban.

"No, you're staying home!" he said. Narinig ata ni kuya ang Emi ang lakas ng boses ni kuya Elo kaya't pumasok na rin siya sa kwarto ko.

"What's happening here Elo?" the first born son's voice echoed in my room.

"She's sick, maybe because of her burns." 

"I'll tell mom!" kuya Emi said panicking.

"No kuya, I can manage. I have to go to school." I forced myself to talk normally.

"No Eli, you need to rest!"

Pinilit kong tumayo, not minding what my older brother said.

"I'm fine. I'll attend school.." I said and went to my bathroom.

"Fine, ako maghahatid sa inyo ni Evi!"

He shouted. My head is pounding. I can barely stand up at hinang-hina talaga ako. I quickly took a bath and dressed up. Pinalitan ko ng cover ang burns ko and I wore a hoodie. Bumaba ako at dumiretso sa dining area.

Naabutan kong tinatapos ni kuya Zach ang niluluto niyang pancakes.

"Pancakes for our Eli.." he said placing the plate full of pancakes glazed with maple syrup and butter.

Kahit walang panlasa, kinain ko 'yon.

"Where's kuya Evi?" I said pagkatapos
kong inubos ang kalahati ng hinain niya.

"Finish your food Eli, kuya Emi told me you're sick. I'll just prepare your smoothie. Oh, and by the way, Evi's outside na." he just said and mixed some fruits in the blender.

Inubos ko ang tatlong natitirang pancakes na nasa aking plato. I took my vitamins, medicine and my smoothie, grabbed my bag and went outside.

"Huwag ka na lang kaya pumasok Eli." kuya Evi suggested.

"Kaya ko. May summative kami." sabi ko na lang.

Natulog lang ako buong byahe papuntang school. Kinalabit ako ni kuya Emi at pinalabas na ng sasakyan. He carried my bag, aagawin ko sana 'yon sa kanya nang inilayo niya ito sa akin at pinandilatan ako ng mata.

"Lead the way.." he said. Naglakad ako sa direksiyon papuntang building namin. Hindi man lang ako hinintay ni kuya Evi.

Pagdating sa room. Maingay na mga estudyante ang nadatnan ko. Irritation filled in me. Gusto ko ng tahimik na lugar kapag may lagnat ako. I sighed ilang oras lang naman ang hihintayin ko.

Kuya Emi placed my bag on my chair. He talked to my adviser a bit at nagpaalam na.

"I'll go ahead. Call me when you want to go home, okay?" malambing niyang sabi at hinalikan ang noo ko. I just nodded. Hanggang kailan ba ako tatratuhin ng mga nito na parang grade one.