Kabanata 7
Blazing
"Ate, do you like Kuya Lorenzo?" pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Kael. Bakit ba lahat sila ganoon ang tanong sa'kin, am I that abvious? "Pakinig ko kayo ni Papa kagabi."
"I don't," pagtanggi ko sa kanya. Kahit pa alam ko na sa sarili ko ang sagot.
"Bakit, Ate? Pogi naman si Kuya Lorenzo ah," he innocently muttered.
"We're so different Kael. Si Kuya Lorenzo mo nasa taas," I even motioned my hand and pointed upwards. It's hard trying to explain it to a seven-year old.
"Kasama s'ya ni Mama?" he gave me a shocked look. Napatawa naman ako sa kanya. He can be so annoying and naive at the same time.
"Si Ate kasi, nandito pa sa lupa," I even stomped my foot. "Si Kuya Lorenzo, doon s'ya kasama ng mga stars."
"Tutulungan kita, Ate!" nag-isip pa s'ya bago masiglang umimik.
"Huh? Paano?" I curiously asked.
"Gagawan kita ng rocket tapos dadalhin kita sa stars!" he's even jumping and making engine sounds.
"Talaga?" bumuntong hininga ako, hopeful for Kael's words. "I can't wait, Kael. I can't wait."
We're on our way to the Agustins. The picture of Melissa crossed my mind. I wonder if she got mad at Lorenzo for joining us home instead of cuddling with her in the rainy weather.
There are still hints of the rain from last night making the morning a little bit gloomy. I dressed Kael up with a jacket and a cap too keep him warm.
"Kuya Sid!" malakas na sigaw ni Kael pagyapak sa mansyon. Manang mana talaga sa'kin ang kapatid ko. Parehas kaming walang hiya. Feeling amin yung bahay.
"Bro!" nagtatakbo si Sid dala ang dalawang sisiw. He's very fond of my little brother. Sinabi pa n'ya sa akin na mas gusto nyang kasama si Kael kaysa sa akin. As if naman na gusto ko s'yang kasama!
"Priya, bakit ang tagal mo?" baling sa akin ni Isidro.
"Dapat ba lagi akong maaga?" he ignored my question and started pulling me and I wasn't able to protest due to surprise.
"Sabihin mo kay Kuya 'wag na muna s'yang magtrabaho," tumigil kami sa labas ng isang pinto. "May sakit kasi, sobrang arte pa naman ng taong yan!" he looked disgusted when he said that.
"Bakit ako?" just because he presented himself to help us last it doesn't mean that they can boss me around.
"Bakit hindi ikaw?" nag-ngising aso naman ang loko. I rolled my eyes. Melissa is nowhere to be found kaya siguro ako ang nahanap nilang substitute.
Ang galing.
Pumasok ako sa kwarto n'ya. His bedroom is neat and minimal with black, gray and white as the pallette. He has his own table, sofa set, a huge bed and closet. On the right side, a wooden board is attached on his wall. There are sketches of different buildings pinned to it.
"I said I'm not hungry," he said in his low voice. Saka lamang ako napatigil sa pagmamasid sa kwarto n'ya. He must've mistaken me as Manang.
"Ang attitude," I can't help but to comment. He's sitting on his working table, facing his back on me.
"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" he looked at me with sleepy featuring dumbfounded eyes. His hair's disheveled and his lips are parted. Isn't it a sin to look this good?
I cleared my throat. "Nakarinig ako ng boses ng hayop na nangangailangan ng tulong."
Wonder Pets!
Pumasok si Manang na may dalang pagkain, gamot at kung ano ano pa. "Manang ako na po ang bahala dito. Babarilin ko nalang po kapag hindi nakinig," I assured her.
Inilapag ko sa gilid ng lamesa n'ya ang mga gamit n'ya. I told Manang to leave the basin of water and the towel there.
He watched me as I did all those things. Lumapit ako sa kanya at inilagay ang likod ng palad sa noo.
"What are you doing?" he held my wrist, trying to stop me. Akala naman n'ya kung aanuhin ko s'ya. Hindi kita kayang saktan, Lorenzo.
"Baka sinusukat ko ang noo mo. May ruler ka ba d'yan para mas madali?" I said with a heavy sarcasm. Parang napaso naman ako sa sobrang init n'ya. I feel indebted and guilty knowing that he's sick because of helping us.
Binuksan ko ang thermometer at akmang ilalagay sa kilikili n'ya ng bigla s'yang umatras.
"This is called a thermometer. Ilalagay ko sa kilikili mo para makita ko kung gaano kataas ang temperature mo," I said obviously.
"Taas ang kamay," he shooked his head. Mas ikinipit n'ya ang braso n'ya. "Taas ang kamay," pag-uulit ko nang may mas madiing tono.
He looked at the side before raising his arm. Isinuot ko ang thermometer sa loob ng damit n'ya. He even looked embarrassed. I arranged the food that Manang brought.
Tinitigan lang iyon ni Lorenzo. "Kakain o kakain?" tanong ko.
Agad naman n'yang kinuha ang kutsara at tinidor at sinimulang kumain. Pinatay ko rin ang aircon n'ya para pawisan.
Pinainom ko na rin ng gamot at tubig. Kanina pa raw kasi s'ya pinapakain nina Manang pero todo trabaho pa rin.
Ang laking alagain naman nito. The things I do for Lorenzo. I shook my head. Pinatay ko na rin ang laptop n'ya na kanina pa n'yang kaharap. He's about to complain but did not resumed it. Tumunog na ang thermometer. It says 39.2.
"Ang taas ng lagnat mo," akmang lalabas ako nang bigla n'yang hulihin ang kamay ko.
"Aalis ka na?" he gulped as he studied me.
"No, kukuha lang akong tubig," he nodded and let my hand go.
Bumaba ako sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig. Doon lamang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. It scares me that I couldn't even recognize myself when I'm around him.
"Kumain ba, iha?" tanong ni Manang pagka-abot ng baso ng tubig.
"Opo, Manang," I smiled at her telling her not to worry about Lorenzo.
Pagbalik ko sa kwarto, nakaupo na s'ya sa may gilid ng kama at mukhang nag-aabang. I stood in front of him holding the wet towel from the basin. I started wiping his forehead, his face then his neck. He was watching me thoroughly as I did that.
The thing about him is that he's so unpredictable. One day he's silent then the next day he would give too much motives which confuses me. Big time.
"Alam mo pikong pikon na'ko sa'yo. Konti nalang sasapakin na talaga kita," I brutally told him.
"H-Huh?" he stuttered.
"Para patulan mo na'ko," his lips parted a bit. I gave myself a mental tap on my shoulder for doing a good job.
I heard nothing from him after that. I only motioned him to sleep at dahil na rin siguro sa pagod kaya nakatulog s'ya agad. He looks so peaceful and literally so warm.
Napagpasyahan ko na munang umuwi dahil alam kong ako ang lalagnatin sa lagay kong ito. Iniwan ko muna si Kael kay Sid kasi ayaw pa naman n'yang umuwi.
Nadatnan ko naman ang ilang mga gamit at kahon sa labas ng apartment namin. Bukas ang kabilang pinto. Mukhang may bagong lipat kaya doon ako dumiretso para sana bumati. There are a total of three apartments situated in that place including ours. Amin ang nasa pinakadulo, ang gitna naman ang mukhang uupahan ngayon at ang huli ay sarado dahil walang nakatira. It's good to have neighbors.
I saw an old woman carrying boxes around. Wala s'yang ibang kasama kundi ang batang lalaki na mukhang kaedad ni Kael na nakaupo lamang sa sahig at naglalaro.
"Magandang araw po!" bati ko. Napatingin naman sa gawi ko ang mag-lola.
"Magandang araw din apo," masiglang bati nito. I introduced myself to them and told them that we're neighbors. They're so kind! She even told me to call her Lola Grasya since that's what everybody calls her.
Tinulungan ko sila sa pag-aayos ng ibang gamit. Kalilipat lang pala nila dito.
"Nagbabakasyon ang magulang ni Yñigo kaya iniwan muna sa akin. Panandalian lang naman kami dito, apo," she explained, pertaining to the kid she's with.
"Ahh ganoon po ba. Magkakasundo po ang kapatid ko at si Yñigo for sure!" nakangiting sabi ko naman sa kanya.
Nagluto si Lola Grasya at inaya n'ya akong doon na mananghalian. Paniguradong hindi na naman kakain si Lorenzo. The sudden thought of him made me want to punch myself.
Ikaw na naman ang laman ng isip ko, Lorenzo.
"Apo, may tao sa labas. Hinahanap ka yata," kumunot ang noo ko pero pumunta rin ako sa labas.
My mouth parted in shock when I saw Lorenzo standing outside Lola's apartment. Nagulat talaga ako dahil iniisip ko lang s'ya kanina tapos biglang kaharap ko na. Mapula ang mukha n'ya at may suot na jacket.
"Are you nuts?" hinila ko s'ya papuntang loob. Agad kong inilapat ang likod ng palad ko sa noo n'ya. Ang init pa rin.
"Ang tigas ng ulo mo!" pangangaral ko sa kanya.
"Sabi mo hindi ka aalis," natigilan naman ako. How many times does he intend to shock me with his words and actions today.
I get that I used to complain a lot when he was so quiet but now that he's talking that way, I think I won't be able to carry on.
"Boyfriend mo, apo?" tanong ni Lola na may halong kilig ang pagtingin.
"Hindi po. Kaibigan ko lang po," I smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to label him.
"Tamang-tama pasabayin mo na ang kaibigan mo sa pagkain," she emphasized the word 'kaibigan'. Tahimik lamang kaming kumain. I would turn my gaze to Lorenzo from time to time, still disturbed of his appearance.
Pagkatapos kumain ay nagpasalamat ako kay Lola at ganoon din s'ya. Nagpaalam ako na uuwi muna saglit. Kasunod ko naman si Lorenzo sa likuran.
"Ano bang ginagawa mo dito?" I still can't believe him.
Hindi s'ya sumagot. "Humiga ka muna d'yan. Mamaya na kita ihahatid sa inyo," sabi ko.
Inayos ko muna ang kwarto dahil nakakahiya naman sa magaling na bisita.
"Higa," utos ko sa kanya. Ngumuso s'ya bago humiga sa kama.
"You're leaving? Again?" I sensed disappointment in his voice or was I just overthinking?
"Tutulungan ko si Lola. Wala silang kasama," I tried to explain but he still pouted.
Damn, Lorenzo!
"Pwedeng tabihan mo nalang ako?" his voice was so low that it was almost a whisper.