Today was a Fairytale

Chapter 23

I screeched as I tried to get up off my bed. My body f*****g hurts! Napahawak ako sa ulo ko nang biglang sumakit ito.

Tangina, pahirapan pa akong pumasok ng bahay kagabi dahil basang-basa ako. Mom and Dad's home last night kaya I sneaked into my window. Kasi for sure, papagalitan ako dahil sa sitwasyon ko.

I did my best to get up at nagbihis ng uniform. I won't go to school, I have to stay at others house bago mahuli nila Mom na may sakit. Baka makita pa nila ang sugat ko, paktay ako nito.

I combed my hair and thinked kung saan ako pwede mag-stay para magpagaling. I decided to call the three girls but none of them answered so my last chance is Kale.

Luckily, he answered the call.

"Hhmm..." He moaned. Nagising ko pa ata.

"I need your help." I said.

"Aqua?! Wha—what happened?! What is it?!" He panicked.

"Can I stay at your place for the meantime?" I asked.

"Oo naman, bakit? Ano ba nangyari? You're making me worry."

"Pupunta ako diyan ngayon, I'll explain na lang pagkadating ko. Wait for me outside." I said and hung up.

Dali-dali akong bumaba at naabutan ko pa si manang. I need to hurry up bago magising ang parents ko o ang ipis kong kapatid.

"Manang, alis na ko. I have a volleyball session." Paalam ko nang hindi lumilingon.

Nanlalabo ang paningin kong nag-drive papunta sa bahay nila Kale.

Ilang minuto lang at narating ko na ang bahay. Mabilis lang kasi same village lang ang tinitirhan namin. I did my best para lang hindi matumba sa daan.

I saw Kale standing in front of their gate. Pahirapan akong bumaba ng motor. I removed my helmet and kept my phase. Ang bigat ng ulo ko at nanlalabo ang paningin ko.

Kale noticed I was struggling kaya dali-dali itong lumapit sa akin.

"Kale..." I said, calling his name. Hindi ko na kinaya at bumagsak na ang katawan ko. I heard him cursed before I passed out.

***

I woke up in an unfamiliar room. I roamed my sight around and recognized it. Oh yeah, I was at Kale's house.

"Ah!" I screeched when my shoulder stung. f**k!

The door opened and I saw Kale coming in with a tray on his hands.

"Jesus! Are you okay?! Anong masakit?" He asked me, panicking. I breathed in and out to calm the pain.

"I'm okay, mediyo sumakit lang ang ulo ko." I answered.

"Ang init-init mo kanina! Buti na lang at may alam ako sa ganito kung hindi baka nangisay ka na." He said habang hinahaplos ang ulo ko.

"Kaya mo bang umupo? You should eat lunch at uminom ng gamot." He added.

"Yeah, you didn't call at home, right?" I asked.

"I didn't, 'yan ang sabi mo kanina." He answered. I don't remember saying that pero buti na lang at hindi niya naisipang tumawag. Baka pagkagaling ko ay nasa states na ko, tangina.

"Thanks God." I said and sighed.

He helped me sit up at naglagay ng pillow sa likod ko. I groaned, enduring the pain.

"Anong nangyari at nagkasugat ka? Nagpanic ako kanina nang makitang namamaga ang braso mo. Pagkabukas ko may hiwa. I know this is not just a simple cut, Aqua" He asked habang kinuha ang tray sa gilid.

"I encountered thieves, not just simple thieves. They're skilled, especially the one who leads them. Don't even ask if malakas ba, knowing the fact na nasugatan niya ako. Don't worry, malayo sa bituka" Pagku-kuwento ko. He was listening habang hinihipan ang soup.

"Akin na, kaya ko namang kumain." I said trying to reach the spoon pero nilalayo niya. I can't move too much kasi sumasaki ang sugat ko. Grabe ang pagmamaga, tangina.

"Stay still and let me take care of you." He said. Napakaseryoso ng gago, parang tanga amp.

Napatingin ako sa orasan at nagulat. It's already twelve noon!

"Hindi ka pumasok?!" I asked.

"Ano? Hahayaan na lang kita ditong mamatay sa init?" Asik niya. I opened my mouth nang suboan niya ako ng soup na hinipan niya kanina.

"Is it good?" He asked. Tumango lang ako.

"I need to call my friends. Baka nag-aalala ang mga yun at puntahan ako sa bahay." I said at hinahanap ang phone ko.

"Yeah, you should do that." Saad ni Kale na nasa tabi ko.

I opened my phone and saw a hundred missed calls from them. Oh, God! Ang pinakamarami talaga ang kay Triton. 456?! Tangina, may nangyari kayang masama sa plano?!

I dialed Krisha's number at nilayo agad sa tenga dahil sa lakas ng boses niya

"Oh My God, Aqua! Ano na nangyari, bakit absent ka?!" Krish answered panicking.

"Chill, may lagnat lang ako." Sagot ko habang kinakain ang bawat pagkaing sinusubo ni Kale. He was just listening to me, talking. Parang tanga ang gago, anong nginingisi-ngisi nito?

"Where are you? Are you okay? Is it that bad?" She asked.

"Hindi naman, ang sakit lang ng katawan ko."

"Gaga ka kasi, bat ka nagpaulan?! Hinanap ka ni Triton kanina ehe. Bakit daw absent ka at 'di sumasagot sa tawag?"

"Shut down ang phone ko eh."

"Edi wow, tapos kami halos mamatay na kakatawag sayo. Jusko ka, pumunta pa kami ng rooftop para ma-sure na wala ka dun."

"Loka-loka."

"Oo beh, baka daw nahimatay ka dun sabi ng boylet mo. Yieee! Concern sayo."

"Anong boylet? Shunga."

"Puntahan ka namin diyan after dismissal."

"Don't! Wala ako sa bahay. Patay ako kapag nalaman nilang may sakit ako. Lalo na't may sugat, baka matanong pa kung anong nangyari."

"Omg! At bakit nasugatan ka naman? So, nasaan ka ngayon?!"

"At Kale's place, nagpapagaling."

"Ay shala, kaya pala 'di ko siya nakita dito."

"Wag niyong ipaalam 'to sa bahay ah. Tatawag ako mamaya kay Mom, sasabihin kong mago-overnight ako sa bahay mo."

"Yeah, sure! Punta kami diyan after dismissal. Pagaling ka ha, love you!"

"Okay, bye." I said ang hung up.

Hindi ko namalayang ubos na pala ang pagkain ko.

"Ang daldal talaga niyang mga kaibigan mo." He chuckled.

"Yeah." I answered shortly.

He assisted me to take my meds at pinahiga na ako.

"We'll change the bandage again mamayang gabi before you sleep."

He said. I nodded.

"Thank you." I said.

"You should rest, if you need anything. Nandito lang ako sa tabi mo."

"You're babying me, kaya ko naman ang sarili ko." I insisted. Masiyado siyang seryoso, haha!

"Shush... Hindi ka nga makaupo nang mag-isa. Just listen to me and take a rest." He said while gently caressing my head that made me fall asleep. He's like my oldest brother, he knows every inch about me.