Kabanata 32 : FEVER
Nagising ako na masakit ang aking katawan. I groaned and shifted my position but while doing that a cold towel fell from my forehead down to the side of my neck.
Unti-unti kong minulat ang aking mga mata at napatingin sa towel na nahulog. Kahit walang masyadong lakas ay kinuha ko ito at tinignan. From my peripheral vision I caught a black frame from the side of the room. Binaba ko ang towel at napatingin roon.
It was a picture frame with a family in front of a blue race. Ang nasa edad na 20 na si Claudius ay napangiti ng marahan habang hawak ang trophy niya. Inakbayan siya ng Papa niya, at ang ina niya'y napangiti naman sa gilid. Katabi ni Callian.
Bigla akong napasinghap at kaagad na napaupo. My eyes drifted to the soft and comfortable blanket that was around my body. My eyes are still widening while I'm checking myself. At ilang sandali sa pag-check ng sarili ko ay napagtanto ko na kalat na kalat ang init sa katawan ko.
I have a fever.
Nasaan ako?
From where I was sitting I could see a flat screen TV in front of a modern sofa. It was a gray rug. The floor was dark brown wood. Pinilit ko ang sarili ko na gumalaw at binaba ang paa sa malamig na sahig. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa suot ko at napaawang ulit ang labi ko at nanlaki ang mga mata ng napagtanto kung ano ‘’yun.
What the heck.
I am wearing a maxi sleep dress, hindi ito ang sinuot ko kahapon. I am wearing a bra, a new one, and a white underwear. I looked at the huge white curtains, and I decided to get out of bed to check it out.
I could feel my head dizzy as I felt the cold brown ground under my feet. When I'm in front of the window, I instantly opened the huge brown curtain and it revealed a view of a garden and a few big angel fountains. It looks like I'm on the second floor. The view is breathtaking in aesthetic.
I stilled when I heard the door's lock moved. Napatingin ako sa pinto at nakita ang door knob na gumalaw. I clenched the huge curtain with my hand and when the moment the door flew open I instantly hid behind it.
I couldn't see his face but he seems familliar, silhoutte niya lang ang nakita ko.
He's holding a tray but place it on the bedside table before, he then walked towards the bed at inangat ang isang malaking unan. I gasped and lightly hugged myself when I feel the cold aircon's air. Dito kasi ako sa gilid ng aircon na pumwesto na kung pwede naman magtago sa banyo!
I guess luck is not fond of me right now, because I had the strong urge to sneeze. I tried to stop it pero naramdaman ko ang mainit na sipon na unti-unting lumalabas sa aking bibig. I covered my nose with my palm and instantly squeeze the curtain moves harshly and I gulped.
Naramdaman ko ang paglalakad ng taong iyon and before I get to think na tumakas ay bumukas ang kurtina, revealing a topless Claudius, his eyes filled with worry.
“What are you doing here?” he asked gently but I could still hear a pang of worry and fear.
Umiling ako habang tinatabunan pa din ang aking ilong. Umalis ako sa kanyang harapan at naglakad pabalik sa kama.
“Why are you covering your nose?” kumunot ang noo niya. My eyes drifted to his well-gymed body at napalunok ako.
“Penelope?” he stepped forward. Napaatras ako.
“Nuarr..” umiling-iling ako. I lifted my pointing finger while the other one was hiding my nose before I lightly mimicked brushing my nose.
Tumaas ang kilay niya.”Do you want to wash?”
I nodded abruptly. He nodded and naglakad sa isang pinto. He opened it widely before gesturing me inside, naglakad naman kaagad ako. Halos namangha ako sa loob noon. Halos magkapareho sila ng size ng maliit na bahay namin. Ang lapad ng space. Pero wala akong oras para idescribe pa ang mga ito dahil kailangan ko na talagang punasan ang aking ilong. I went to the nearest faucet at binuksan iyon, the cold water instantly fell on my hands and it made me flinched a bit.
“Do you need help?” hindi ko alam na nandiyan pa pala siya, he's standing beside me.
Umiling kaagad ako. Ilang minuto pa ang ginawa ko sa kanyang lababo bago hininingal na umalis roon. I suddenly want to lay down dahil sumasakit at nawawalan ng lakas ang mga buto-buto ko.
Inalalayan naman kaagad ako ni Claudius when he saw me struggling to walk. Nang nahiga ay napatanong ako habang nakapikit.
“Nasaan ako?”
“You're in our house,” he answered.
I innstantly opened my eyes at napabangon. He hastily went to my side to guide me, halos mawalan siya ng hininga sa biglaang galaw ko.
“Careful, Penelope. You're sick," he said lightly
“Anong nasa bahay mo Claudius. Don't tell me, nasa mansyon niya ako?!” Napataas ang boses ko. He caressed my back.
“Calm down..”
“Anong calm down? Bakit mo ako dinala rito?” I glared at him.
He sighs calmly before he looked at me softly. “Let's eat first, okay?”
“Anong let's eat fir—”
“The food are delicious.”
“I don't care!'' Singhal ko sa kanya.
He sighs heavily before he reaches for my hand while softly watching me. “What do you want, then?” The softest voice I could ever hear from him. Tila nalalambing ang mga ito at malumanay.
My fire got decrease a bit.“Tell me, bakit ako nandito?”
“You're sick, I was about to take you to the mall. Pero napansin kitang nakatulog. I got worried, I checked your forehead and it's hot.” Napapikit pa siya ng malalim bago nagsalita. “Dadalhin kita sana sa hospital but it's too far at nilalamig ka, so i went here..and I called a doctor to check on you..”
So, that's why?
“How about my dress?”
“You don't like it?”
“No, sino ang nagpalit sa akin?”
“Our maid..Manang Alyssa.” Napahinga ako ng maluwag doon. At least babae ang nagbihis sa akin.
I looked at him in relief for his initiative.
“Thanks..”
Unknown emotion passed his eyes. “You're welcome..”
A sudden memory flashed through my mind about yesterday. Naalala ko pala na tinawagan ako ng isang pulis tungkol sa kaso ni Papa. I was meant to go to the police station yesterday! Bibili sana ako ng damit sa mall but unfortunately para sa pagpunta ko ng police station but I fell asleep!
Tumikhim ako. “Can I leave now?”
“You're sick, Penelope.”
“I know, but I can handle myself. I needed to go somewhere..” and then I realized that Papa's officially gone now. Wala ng nagpapasaya sa akin, wala nang bubuhay sa bahay lalo na sa buhay ko.
“Are you going to the police station?”
Napabuga ako ng hangin.“I was supposed to go there yesterday, sana ginising mo na lang ako kahapon.”
“I called the station and the police who were handling your father's case. Sinabi ko na ngayon ka pupunta because you have a slight fever.”
Umiling ako. “Kailangan ko na talagang umalis…”
“You’re not fully healed, please rest for a bit?” he smiled tightly at me, trying his best to show his gentle smile even though I can sense that he's hoping for me to say yes.
My forehead creased a bit.
“Am I a dog to you?”
Napakurap-kurap siya tsaka umiling kaagad. “N-No, anong problema?”
“You're looking at me gently, like I'm some kind of a puppy you got from adaptation.”
“I didn't mean it that way..”
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at inirapan before my eyes went to the food placed above the bedside table. I pointed it.
“Sinong kakain niyan?”
“You..do you want to eat?” malambing niyang sinabi.
Tumango ako. He instantly let go of my hand before he took the tray with plates and food. Nilagay niya ito sa gitna ko. Napaupo ako ng maayos at tinignan ang nasa menu.
May soap, tea, may fruits such as orange, grapes, avocado etc., may mga spinach at lettuce pa sa isang bowl. I even saw a milk on the bedside table pero hind niya iyon nilagay sa lamesang nasa harapan ko, dahil puno na ang mga ito.
“What do you think? Do you wanna add some drinks or food?” he slowly asked.
I shakes my head slowly. “No..” Nagulat ako sa daming pagkain, ako kapag nilalagnat ay solve na ako sa isang chicken soup at biogesic pero ganun na lang ang bahagyang pagkagulat ko nang makita ang mga pagkain sa harapan ko.
“Tell me, if the food isn't your liking.” tila nag-aalala pa niyang sinabi.
I instantly shakes my head. “Hindi, ayos na ako rito.”
I didn't glance at him when I took a sip from the hot soup. I started drinking and eating food while he watch me doing it, hindi naman ako kinakabahan kapag nakatingin siya. I'm enjoying having my stomach filled with some healthy foods, and when I finished eating almost all of it, he asked me if I wanted to eat more.
Umiling naman ako.
Busog na busog ako at gusto ko na ulit matulog pero masarap siguro magpainit muna.
Nasa labas siya ngayon, dinadala siguro ang pinagkainan ko sa kusina nila. I walked towards the large curtain at hinawi ang mga ito. The warmth of the sunlight instantly touches my skin. I rolled the curtain and tied it para hindi maging sagabal. I then pushed a single sofa chair in front of the window at naupo roon bago pumikit at dinama ang init.
“Penelope!” I heard Claudius worried voice from the door napabaling ako ng tingin roon, he immediately stroll towards me.
“Ano?”
“Nilalagnat ka, why are you sitting and exposing yourself infront of the sunlight?”
Inirapan ko siya,“It helps me, hindi naman na ako nahihilo.” I stated.
“Are you sure about that?”
Kinonutan ko siya ng noo. “Oo, naman.”
“Okay..” he said lightly at umalis sa likod ko.
I followed him with my gaze and saw him taking the small sofa chair na kapareho lang sa akin at dinala iyon sa gilid ko. Napaupo kaagad siya roon, he touches my forehead at hinayaan ko na lang siya.
He sighed. “You're still hot.”
“I know..” A deafening but comfortable silence covered us, hindi ako tumitingin sa kanya pero ramdam ko ang tingin niya sa akin. I am looking at the aesthetic view in front of us wondering who styled this. I sat there comfortably when I felt like it's already enough to expose myself in the sunlight, pinapawisan na din naman ako.
Napatayo kaagad ako, tumingala si Claudius sa akin.
“Where are you going?”
“Do you have spare clothes?” I suddenly asked him at pumunta sa isang brown na pintuan, it revealed a medium size walk in closet. I could hear his footstep echoed around the room while following me habang ginagala ko ang aking paningin sa loob nito.
Marami siyang casual attire, he also have multiple suits, different kind and different colors, the shoes are neatly arranged so as the clothes, jewelry, ties on the drawer. I did not intend to open one of his drawer filled with his boxer, namula ako at kaagad na sinirado iyon.
“I have clothes for you,” I heard him said from behind, napalingon ako sa kanya. I saw him pushing a unknown button on the side of his closet at bumukas iyon na parang pinto ng elevator. He gestures me to come forward and I am stunned to see so many girls clothes around.
“Anong..” unti-unti akong pumasok roon at nakangangang tinignan ang paligid. May mga suits and heels for girls, jewelry etc.
“Why do you have so many girl's clothes here?” A thought of mine entered without my permission, I then looked at him coldly.
“Kanino ‘to?”
Panic suddenly flickered in his eyes, “I bought it for you,” he instantly said.
“Are you sure?” sabi ko habang binubuksan ang isa pang drawer. I almost gasped when I saw it, it was filled with bras of different sizes, colors, and kinds.
“B-Bakit may malalaking bra rito? I have no big boobs!” I said hysterical. I heard him chuckled a bit by that.
“I don't know your sizes yet, so I decided to buy it all just to make sure..”
Yet? So may plano siyang malaman ang size ng babies ko?
I lifted a big bra and slowly drifted my eyes down to my chest. I grimaced and put down the bra before I closed the drawer.
“Do you have a problem with it?”
“Nandito na ba ang walk in closet mo noon pa? Before you runaway?”
He shakes his head, “No, pinagawa ko lang ito recently, while....I'm away.”
Tumango ako, so he didn't totally forget about me huh?
“At bakit mo ito pinagawa, may I ask?” I raised my brows at him suspiciously, he smiled a bit but I can sense that he's a bit uncomfortable and shy.
He cleared his throat. “For emergency purposes,” he said in a business like voice.
“Are you expecting me to visit your mansion and sleep in your room?”
He didn't answer and avoided my eyes innocently. The side of my lips lifted a bit because of his acts but instantly erase it in my face.
Why am I even smirking?
“Lumabas ka muna, magbibihis ako,” saad ko, he oblige instantly and went out of the room.
I let out a sighed. Don't smile, penelope remember? Pero masama ba maging masaya kahit sa kaunting oras?
Isa siya sa sumakit sayo bakit ka nasisiyahan sa kanya? The voice of my thought fought back and I groaned hopelessly.