Strong affection
Kyra's POV
I yawned and glanced beside me but I am alone in the bed. Naalala kong katabi ko pala si Hunter na natulog kagabi.
I closed my eyes firmly when the memory of my dream came crashing to me. Malabo ang lahat. Pati ang mukha ng lalaking humablot sa mukha ko ay hindi ko makita. Pero ang sakit na naramdaman ko nang kagatin niya ako sa leeg ay parang totoo. Hindi kaya isa ito sa mga ala-alang nakalimutan ko?
Laking pasasalamat ko kay Hunter at nasa tabi ko siya kagabi upang pagaanin ang loob ko. He was so sweet and I don't know what I did in my past life to deserve a guy like him.
Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Hunter na may dala-dalang tray ng pagkain.
"Good morning." He flashed me a smile. Ibinaba niya ang tray sa coffee table na malapit sa bintana.
"Good morning." Bati ko sa kanya.
Lumapit siya sa akin upang tulungan ako sa pagtayo.
"It's okay. I think I can manage walking on my own." Sambit ko na pinigilan siya sa pagbuhat sa akin.
"I insist. C'mon let me carry you." Pamimilit ni Hunter kaya wala na akong nagawa at hinayaan siyang buhatin ako at ipa-upo sa tabi ng coffee table.
My stomach grumbled when I caught the smell of bacon, pancakes and eggs in the coffee table. Hunter chuckled who also heard the embarrassing sound from my stomach.
"Eat. Niluto ko yan para sayo." Sambit ni Hunter na nakangisi.
"You did?" I asked with amusement.
"Yes. Come on, take a bite." Utos niya.
Tinitigan ko ang mga pancakes na gawa niya. Wala ngang duda na siya nga ang may gawa nito dahil halos durog-durog na ang mga ito. Pinilit kong hindi matawa dahil ayoko namang mainsulto siya.
I took the fork and didn't bother cutting the pancake because it was already into pieces. Napangiwi ako nang may makagat akong matigas na bagay. It's kinda crunchy and I realized it was an egg shell.
"Sorry about that. I'm not really a fan of cooking." He said looking guilty and handed me a tissue.
"I guess I should have left cooking to mother." Dagdag pa niya.
"No it's fine. It tastes good actually." I assured him.
"Hunter."
He glance at my direction and I hesitated to speak for a second.
"Gusto ko lang magpasalamat for cooking me breakfast and for not leaving me last night."
"Anything for you princess."
I blushed at the nickname he gave me. He grinned and I wad a little shock at how good looking he is. We stared at each other for a moment before I looked away. There was something in the way he looks at me. Like I would disappear any moment or run away.
Tahimik ko nalang na kinain ang hinanda niya. Nararamdaman ko ang malagkit na pagtitig niya sa akin pero pinilit ko ang sariling umiwas sa mga mata niya. Because I'm afraid to see more from his eyes. I don't want to see more emotions, the longing and affection.
Nakuha naman ang atensiyon ko sa tunong ng mga batang nagtatawanan. Dumungaw ako sa bintana at nakita ang tatlong batang lalaki na masayang naghahabulan sa labas. They look so carefree and innocent. Oblivious to the problems around them. Napa-isip naman ako. Ano kayang kabataan ang meron ako? Kasing saya din ba nila ako nung bata pa ako?
Ang isa sa mga bata ay masiglang kumaway sa akin at tumakbo palayo. Napakunot noo ako dahil hindi ko alam kung saan siya pumunta. Ilang saglit pa ay bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ko ng pagkalakas-lakas at pumasok ang isang batang malaki ang ngiti sa mukha.
"Ate Kyra!!" Sigaw ng bata at tumakbo palapit sa akin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. The child landed with an ooomf and I hesitantly hugged him back.
"Easy boy. Nagpapagaling pa ang ate Kyra mo." Sambit ni Hunter na inalis ang bata sa pagkakayakap sa akin.
"No, its okay." Bumaling ako sa bata ang nginitian siya. He looks so excited to see me. "Hey, what's your name?"
"You forgot my name?" The little boy frowned for a second then realized something. "Right, mom told me you doesn't remember anything."
"Russell!" Sita ni Hunter sa kanya.
"Oh. So hi Russell. I can see you are such a smart kid." I patted his head. Binuhat ko siya at kinanlong much to Hunter's disapproval.
"Of course. I am super smart. Smarter than Kuya." Russell smirked with confidence.
"Who's your kuya?" Natatawang tanong ko.
"Let me introduce to you my conceited little brother." Si Hunter na ang sumagot at nagpabaling-baling ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. Magkamukha nga sila, pareho ang kulay ng kanilang mata kaya walang kaduda-dudang magkapatid nga sila.
"I miss you ate. So so so much!!" Russell nuzzled his head to my side and hugged me again.
"Aww... you're so cute. I think I'm gonna keep you." I joked and pinched his chubby cheeks.
"Really? You think I'm cute?" Russell looked up at me with those puppy eyes.
"Ayan, nadagdagan nanaman ang confidence niya sa sinabi mo." Natatawang sambit ni Hunter sa tabi ko. Russell scowled at his brother and back at me with those puppy eyes trying to act cuter.
"I have something for you ate." May kinuha si Russell sa bulsa niya.
"So, what do you have for me?" Nakangiting tanong ko.
"Here." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang bracelet na gawa sa totoong bulaklak. Lumuwang ang pagkakangiti ko nang tanggapin ko ito.
"This is beautiful! Did you made this?" Tuwang-tuwang tanong ko at isinuot ang bigay niya.
"Yes." Russell answered shyly blushing a little.
"Thank you!" I kissed his cheek and he surprisingly blushed.
Nagulat naman kami pareho ni Russell nang pumalakpak si Hunter upang makuha ang antesnyon namin.
"Okay! Okay! Russell, go back to your room and take a bath. You smell from playing." Sambit ni Hunter at binuhat paalis ni Russell.
"Such a mood killer!!" Sigaw ni Russell na pumapalag sa pagkakabuhat niya sa kanyang kuya.
"Finish your breakfast Kyra. Kailangan lang maligo nitong mabahong unggoy nato." Sambit niya at binuhat ang kapatid sa balikat. Pumalag naman si Russell habang nakikipag-away sa kuya niya.
"You're the monkey!" Sigaw ni Russell bago sila tuluyang makalabas ng kwarto ko.
I was silently laughing at them. Its so much fun watching them both casually bickering at each other. Is this the family I have? Then I can consider myself lucky.
Kahit na wala akong ala-ala, hindi nila pinaparamdan na iba ako sa kanila na may mali sa akin. Para bang normal lang ang lahat. Bumuntong hininga nalang ako at tahimik na tinapos ang agahang inihanda ni Hunter.
Nahulog naman ang tinidor na hawak ko nang biglang bumukas ulit ang pinto. Pumasok ang isang babaeng halos ka-edad ko lang na may maluwang na ngiti sa mukha.
"Besty!!" She literally screamed. Walang kamalay-malay na nabitiwan nito ang hawak na isang basket ng prutas at tumakbo patungo sakin.
"I miss you!!" She exclaimed and hugged me.
"Uhh." I murmured awkwardly as she kiss my cheek ang hugged me again like she couldn't believe what she's seeing.
"Oopps. Sorry." Bigla naman niya akong binitiwan at pilit na ngumiti. "I got carried away. I just really miss you. Ako nga pala si Anika. Your best friend for..." She trailed as she counted on her fingers. "Right! We've been best friends for seven years!"
"Hi." I said smiling awkwardly.
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay patuloy parin siya sa pagsasalita at pagku-kwento. Naging komportable naman ako agad kay Anika. Dahil siguro matagal na rin kaming magka-ibigan.
We both ended up in bed while she keeps on talking. I was staring at the white ceiling as I listen to her abouy how we became friends.
"Grade six tayo noon nung una akong dinatnan. I was so nervous! Nakatagos pa ako, tapos ikaw lang ang tumulong sa akin. Hinatid mo ako sa bahay habang tinatakpan ang likod ko. If it weren't for you, I could have been the laughing stock of our class. You saved me from embarrassment you know. At dahil doon naging magka-ibigan tayo." She said while laughing at the memory.
"Grade six? That was too early to get your period." Komento ko habang tumatawa.
"Its because Im three years older than you pero magka-batch lang tayo kasi naman late na ako nag-aral. Dalawang beses kaya ako nag-ulit ng grade one dahil ayoko talagang pumasok noon. Lagi kasi akong absent." Pagku-kwento niya.
"Look at this." Nilabas niya ang phone niya at napansin ko naman ang wallpaper niya.
It was a picture of him with my doctor.
"Wait. That's my doctor, right?" Turo ko sa screen ng phone niya.
"Yes and... he's my boyfriend! Aren't we cute together?" Tanong niya.
"But he's a lot older than you."
"Believe me, sinabi mo na rin yan dati sa akin at sasabihin ko ulit sayo besty. Age doesn't matter in love my friend."
"I guess you're right." I shrugged.
"Now look at this." She said showing her phone. It was a picture of a dozen shirtless guys. They look familiar, though.
"Sino sila?"
"They live here in the pack house at ikaw ang kumuha ng litratong to. Pinilit lang kitang ibigay sakin to add in my fetish collection."
"Sigurado kang ako ang kumuha niyan? Why would I do that?"
"Uh, because they're hot and they got that six pack abs in their stomachs, not to mention those stoned muscles and biceps? They deserve to be appreciated."
"Unbelievable!!" I said laughing with her.
"I know. Now look at this."
I gasped upon seeing me and a guy. He was kissing my cheek while I have the surprised look in his face.
"Gosh, who is that?!" Gulat na tanong ko.
"This guy, ladies and gentlemen, is Dave. Your ultimate crush from high school. You were obsessed with him until you met Hunter of course. Ito iyong unang beses na niyaya ka niya mag date. You were so proud to send me this."
"Does he go with the same school?" Tanong ko dahil hindi ko yata kayang makita ang Dave na iyon sa personal.
"Yes. You used to stalk him on your free time." Anika answered chuckling.
"Please don't let me see him when we go back to school." I begged.
"Bakit naman?" Tanong niya.
She shouldn't be asking. She could have guessed why I don't want to see that guy. Maybe because, seeing that picture gets me uncomfortable. Like it just happened yesterday.
"Because I don't think I can look at him in the eyes without thinking of that picture." I answered honestly.
"I guess, I shouldn't have shown you that picture." Then Anika was silent for a while. "Im sorry." She mumbled.
"It's okay. Don't apologize." I looked at her and she really looks guilty.
Nice Kyra. What a way to kill the mood. I scolded myself. We were laughing a moment ago and now she was devastated with herself. All because of this stupid amnesia. Wala na dapat problema kung hindi lang nawala ang ala-ala ko. If I have my memory, then it shouldn't have felt like it happened yesterday, I should have moved on with my life and act normal.
Sana hindi malayo ang loob ko kay Hunter at sa mga magulang ko. Everything should be normal if it wasn't for me. I shouldn't be worrying about going back to school, kung ano ang magiging reaksyon nila kapag nalaman nilang may amnesia ako.
I shouldn't be having this nightmares and constantly waking Hunter in the middle of the night. They've wasted a lot of their time to adjust to me. All this burdens are coming to me like a ton of bricks and I screamed when my head started to hurt.
"Aahh!!" I clutched my head and burried my face in the pillow to muffle the screams coming from me. Stupid brain. Stupid memory.
"Besty? Okay ka lang? God, what's happening?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Anika.
"Im sorry. Im sorry. It's all my fault." She muttered and I heard her tapping on her phone nervously. "Hello? Zeno! Please come here! It's Kyra!"
Hindi ko na narinig ang iba niyang sinabi dahil bigla nanamang sumakit ang ulo koat bumukas ang pinto. Nag-aalalang lumapit sakin si Hunter at hinagod ang likod ko.
"Anong nangyari?" Tanong ni Hunter.
"Bigla nalang sumakit ang ulo niya." Sagot ni Anika na kagat-kagat ang kuko.
"Kyra look at me. Tell me what's wrong." Hunter cupped my head and made me stare at him.
"M-my head..." I sobbed. "It... please make it stop."
"Shhh... It's okay baby. Zeno will be here soon." He assured kissing my forehead tenderly.
Ilang minuto pa ay dumating na si Zeno at agad na lumapit sakin.
"I need you all to calm down. She's just having a panick attack. Something must have happened that shocked her." Paliwanag ni Zeno.
"I'm really sorry. I think it's my fault." Anika apologized again.
"I need you both to leave. She needs to rest." Utos ni Zeno habang may tinutusok sa akin.
Ilang saglit pa ay naramdaman ko na ang pagka-antok.
"No. I'm staying with her. And don't tell me to leave again because she is my mate and she needs me by her side." Hunter said firmly and Zeno only manages to nod in defeat. Zeno and Anika left the room but not before giving me an apologetic look.
"Sleep Kyra. Andito lang ako. I won't leave you." Hunter wad running his hands up and down my back and not long after, sleep consumed me.