NOURISHED

PANGALAWA

NOURISHED

#Pangalawa

YURI'S POV

3 days after.

An unknown number just popped out from my cellphone's screen.

Somebody was calling.

I looked at it until it stopped ringing. I do not normally answer at random number's call. It's not just my style.

Then a text message came.

From: 0917*******

Call me snob! COME IN HERE IN BAGUIO, we need you. Call me back- Dayzy.

A gush of adrenaline started to surge on me. Dayzy texted? It couldn't be her. She never texted before, why now?

Hindi pa ako nakakareply when Theo called.

"Hello," I answered.

"Babe is in the hospital, the freaks called me," kinabahan ako bigla. The thoughts of babe in a hospital bed was too much to handle. Bumalik ‘yong mga panahon na ang mga magulang ko ang nasa hospital. Everything then was white. Even the cloth that covered their dead bodies.

"What? What happened?" I asked now walking around in my office.

"Dengue."

"She was ok 3 days ago," hindi ko mapigilang sabi.

"What the f**k Bro? Sa may dengue daw siya! Sunduin na kita diyan! On the way na rin ‘yong dalawa diyan!" my brother said and hung up.

Nasa school pa sina Adam at Caloy because they are still in College. Pero hindi na ako magtataka kung aabsent sila. Si Babe na ang usapan dito, harangan man sila ng sibat di papapigil sumama ang mga iyon.

Almost an hour later ay paakyat na kami ng Baguio.

"How did it happen? Dengue ba kamo? Why didn't she have any fever? Diba may fever dapat?" sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Call Nanay Mameng," he said at saka tinutok ang pansin sa kalsada.

Ganito kasi si Theo pag kinakabahan. Mas Gusto niyang tumahimik.

"She has got the fever! On and off nga lang," said Adam

"Bakit di mo sinabi sa akin?" inis kong baling sa kanya.

"You were killing yourself from work, besides that who would know na dengue na pala yun?" he defended himself.

"Kahit na, you are all my responsibility now. The least thing you can do is to help me by telling me if you are all alright. I was expecting you to help me atleast with that! Kaya naman pala ang putla-putla ni Babe, she has been sick!" mahabang litanya ko.

Then nobody talked.

"Next time, report to me emergencies like this. Hindi ko kaya lahat na i-monitor kayo. Naintindihan niyo ba yun?" inis na sabi ko.

"Sorry, we didn't want to worry you more, ang dami mo ng ginagawa," said Caloy after a while.

"Thanks but no thanks! I am still your brother! Bakit kailangang maglihim kayo sa akin?"

"Sorry," Adam said.

After that ay wala nang umimik. Maaga yata akong tutubuan ng wrinkles nito eh.

Tumingin ako sa tanawin na nalalampasan namin. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi isipin ang mga magulang namin. How could they leave us? Worst, me with 4 siblings to take care of?

"Nakausap ko na si nanay Mameng kanina,'' mamya ay sabi ni Theo.

"Isa pa siya," I said with irritation.

"Takot magsabi sa'yo," he said and it made me more irritated.

"Naospital na ang kapatid ko, di pa rin masabi sa akin?"

"Relax ka nga, they were calling you, ikaw ang hindi sumasagot," he said and I remembered Dayzy's text.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at naisipang mag-reply sa text ni Dayzy.

To: 0917*******

How is she? Tell me she’s ok!

Wala pang isang minuto ay nagreply na ito.

From: 0917*******

Isang bangag at kalahati ka ba? Of course she is not ok!

Then I heard Adam laughed from behind me. Ang ungas nakikibasa ng text?

"What are you laughing at?" utas ko sa kanya.

"Bangag at kalahati? I never knew Dayz had the guts to call you such."

"How did you know I was texting her?" bumaling na ako sa kanya, ni hindi ko pa nga na-sesave ang number ni Dayzy sa phone ko. Wala ngang pangalan diba?

"Of course I know her number, all of the F5 numbers actually! We are textmates you know."

"Textmates?" ulit ko.

"Hahahaha, huwag kang magselos! I know she's your SPECIAL," Adam said and laughed his ass out.

"Tease me like that again and I'm cutting your allowance!"

Nagtawanan sina Theo at Caloy.

"You cannot do that," asar na sabi nito.

"You know I can," I said and smirked at him.

"Whatever, Dayzy has lots of young suitors anyway!" He mumbled under his breath but enough for me to hear it.

"Ano naman ang pakialam ko kung marami siyang manliligaw?" I snapped at him.

"You tell me! She's SPECIAL right?" balik nito sa akin.

"I am cutting your cp's monthly allowance." I said sternly.

"Pikon," he said and laughed heartily.

Di ko na siya sinagot at naisipang i-save na lang ang number ni Dayzy before texting her again. I never knew texting could be this amusing.

To: DAYZY TAN

If you say so baby, see you girls in a while.

Dayzy's POV

'Baby,' did he just call me baby?

Kinakabahan ako. Hindi ako mapakali.

Alam niyo ‘yong feeling na katabi mo ‘yong crush mo at kinausap ka?

Anyway hindi ganon ‘yong feeling ko ngayon. Lagi ko naman siya nakakausap tuwing nasa bahay nila kami. Pero basta kinakabahan ako, di ko ma-explain.

"Homaygulash," I said involuntarily while slapping my cheeks.

"Guolash?" walang guolash dito. Sabi ni Ginny na katabi ko ngayon sa waiting area ng hospital.

"Huh?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Sabi mo guolash, hindi ba pagkain ‘yon? Traditional soup ng Hungary?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo!" I said and stood up, kanina pa kami nakaupo. Itong si Gin naman puro pagkain ang nasa utak. Di naman kasi kami pwede magsiksikan sa loob ng kwarto ni Mandy. Kaya sina Pepper at Kaye lang ang nandoon.

"Saan punta mo?" she asked.

"Toilet," sabi ko na lang sa kanya at tinungo ang banyo. Ang lamig naman kasi kaya ihi ako ng ihi, idagdag mo pang ninenerbyos ako para kay Mandy.

Palabas na ako ng toilet nang may lumabas din sa toilet ng mga lalake.

"Aster?" Gulat na tawag ko sa kanya.

Nagulat naman ito nang makilala ako.

"Dayz?"

"Ano’ng ginagawa mo dito?" sabay naming tanong.

Bumuntong hininga ako. "Dinala namin ang kaibigan ko, na-dengue"

"Dito sa Baguio?"

"Malamang nandito kami," I snapped back.

Ngumiti ito. "Taray talaga ng prinsesa," he said and pinched my nose.

"Coffee?" He asked matapos ko siyang hampasin sa braso.

Tumango ako. "Kanina pa ako giniginaw, bakit ka pala nandito?"

"Dinala ko ang trabahador namin na nahimatay."

Tumango na lang ako. He ordered 2 coffee nang makarating kami sa cafeteria ng hospital. Aster is one of the 3 sons of Aunt Abby. My Father's half-sister. Dito sila nakatira sa Baguio dahil tagadito ang daddy ni Aster na si uncle Antonio.

"Hindi ka ba dadalaw sa farm? Matutuwa si mommy," he asked.

"Ngayon sana kaso na-dengue naman ang kaibigan ko. Hindi pa nga ako nakapunta sa flower farm din," I said referring to our flower farm na nasa kabilang bayan.

Tumingin ito sa relo nito pagkatapos. "Hatid na kita sa mga kaibigan mo, I have to meet someone pa," he said.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Girlfriend?" I pouted.

Tumawa ito at saka ako hinila patayo.

"Selos ka naman," he said saka ako inakbayan.

"Ako lang ang prinsesa ng mga Tan," sabi ko na ikinatawa niya.

"Of course princess, nagiisa ka kayang babaeng anak sa angkan."

I still sighed. Ginulo pa nito ang buhok ko. Kainis talaga ang taong to. Minadali kong inayos ang buhok ko nang makitang dumating na ang mga Gomez.

"Ibinalot ni Aster ang jacket niya sa akin. You take this princess, nagyeyelo ka na," he said.

Thanks sabi ko.

"Alis na ako, text mo ako kung makakapunta kayo sa farm," he whispered and he kissed my forehead.

He simply nodded to the people who were staring at us and left.

"Sino ‘yon bru?" asked Ginny.

"Gwapo ng boyfriend mo Dayz ah," Adam said.

"Si Aster yun," I said at hindi pa ako tapos magsalita ay may tumatawag na sa cellphone ko.

I looked at it and saw Aster.

"Si Aster, sandali lang,” I said at lumayo ako sa kanila para sagutin ang telepono.

"Hello?"

"Sabi ni Mommy before ka bumalik ng Manila magpakita ka sa kanya."

"Pero-,"

"Princess alam mo namang magtatampo yun,"

"Bakit mo kasi sinabi na nandito ako?" inis na sabi ko sa kanya.

"Hehe," tawa nito and I just rolled my eyes.

"Tawagan kita mamya. Tanungin ko lang ang mga kasama ko kung ano'ng balak nilang gawin." 

"Ok," he said and the line went off.

Bumalik na ako sa kanila at si Gin na lang ang nandoon. Sina Pepper at Kaye kasi ay ang bantay sa loob kanina samantalang sina Nanay Mameng at Nanay Linda ay umuwi para maayos ang mga gamit ni Mandy para sa hospital at magluto na rin ng pagkain sa resthouse.

I looked at my watch. It was almost 6 in the evening.

"Ano’ng balak nila? Babalik na ba tayo sa Manila?" tanong ko kay Ginny.

"No Idea," she said.

"Sino pala si Aster? Ikaw naglilihim ka na sa amin. May pajacket-jacket pa kayo," she teased.

Tinaasan ko nga siya ng kilay. "Type mo?" balik tanong ko sa kanya.

"I- seshare mo ba?" Ginny wiggled her brows.

"Lukaret!" I laughed at her, kahit kailan talaga loka-loka.

"Lumabas na ang magkakapatid maliban kay Yuri.

"Ano’ng balak?" I asked them.

"Bukas na babalik sa Manila. Ililipat na lang ng hospital si Babe doon," Caloy answered.

Tumango ako. "I need to meet Aster, aalis na pala tayo bukas," I told them.

"Na-miss mo naman boyfriend mo, kakahiwalay niyo lang kanina ah," Adam teased.

"Di ko boyfriend ‘yon" I said and I looked at Ginny. "Sama ka?"

"Ayaw ko, pagod na ako, gawin mo pa akong thirdwheel."

Siniko ko nga at saka binulungan. "ASTER TAN Sarmiento Ginny! TAN" ulit ko sa kanya. Para ma-realized niyang pareho kaming may Tan sa pangalan.

Tumawa lang ito. Ayaw maniwala.

"Bahala ka nga," I said at saka naupo para tawagan si Aster para magpasundo pero may date nga pala ito kaya si Sage nalang ang tinawagan ko. Ang isa ko pang pinsan.

"Princess D," sagot nito na gulat sa tawag ko.

"Sage, pasundo!"

"Are you crazy?" he asked.

"Nandito ako Baguio", I snorted kahit na hindi pa nito nakikita ang mukha ko.

"Linawin mo kasi," he said laughing. "Malay ko ba kung papasundo ka sa Manila." dagag pa niya.

"Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, 7pm sharp.”

"Ano’ng ginagawa mo dyan?" he asked now panicking.

"Mamaya ko na ikwento," sabi ko and  said my goodbye.

Pagkababa ko ng telepono ay nakatingin na silang lahat sa akin.

"What?" I asked.

"Sino naman si Sage?" asked Ginny

"Another boyfriend?" ngisi ni Caloy.

Sakto naman na palabas si Yuri sa kwarto.

It was almost 7 pm anyway kaya di ko na sila pinansin pa. Bagkus ay kay Yuri ako tumingin. He was serious.

"Gising na si Mandy?" I asked him.

Tumango lang din ito. So I walked pass him. Magpapakita lang ako kay Mandy at aalis na rin ako.

Nang makalabas ako sa kwarto ni Mandy ay pinuntahan ko na sila sa waiting area.

"Anong oras luluwas bukas?" I asked Yuri.

"Why?"

"Aalis kasi ako, hahabol na lang ako bukas sa resthouse," I said straightly.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"May date," singit ni Adam.

"I will be with my cousins," sagot ko na hindi pinansin si Adam.

Yuri's eyes narrowed.

Bakit ba ayaw nilang maniwala na  sa mga kamaganak ako pupunta?

"Tell me kung saan kayo pupunta, susunduin na lang kita mamya," he said with finality.

I sighed. "No, probably I will be sleeping over their house. Di papayag si Auntie," sagot ko.

"No," he said. Nakakainis. Alin ba ang di malinaw sa sinabi ko.

"Mauna na kayo sa Manila," I said finally making another decision.

"And what? Maiiwan ka dito? Your parents knew you are with your friends."

Tinignan ko siya ng masama.  "They also knew I will be visiting our relatives," sagot ko rin.

"Whatever," he said and left.

"Saan na naman pupunta yun?" I asked the people around me with disbelief.

"Bibili na pasensya," was Adam's comment.

"Paki-uwi na lang ang mga gamit ko bukas Gin," I asked after sitting down next to her. Hindi na kasi ako dadaan sa resthouse nila Kaye.

"Sigurado kang maiiwan ka?" she asked.

Tumango ako. "Aster will probably drive me back to Manila," sabi ko at tumango naman ito.

Then after a while my phone dinged. It was Sage.

"Nasa lobby na daw ng hospital si Sage." I said and looked at them all.

"Ingat Dayzy," Caloy said and ruffled my hair.

"Paalam ka na sa mga freaks sa loob! I'll walk you out after," Theo said so I just nodded.

Theo's POV

“If you change your mind, just text me, susunduin kita kahit dis-oras ng gabi," I told Dayzy as I was walking her  to the lobby.

"Ok," she agreed at saka tahimik lang kaming naglakad.

"Sage!"  Dayzy called out to the man who was standing and was busy reading something on the hospital's announcement board.

"Princess D!" he said when he turned to look. Niyakap at inikot-ikot pa si Dayzy.

"Bitaw," utos naman ni Dayz dito.

"Sage Sarmiento! Who would have thought ikaw pala ang Sage na sinasabi nitong si Dayzy," I said. It took me seconds before recalling his surname.

"Theo Gomez?" he said as we shook hands.

"Long time no see," sabay pa naming sabi at saka humalakhak.

"Magkakilala kayo?" Dayzy asked us.

"Classmates before," Sage answered.

"Where are you taking her?" mamaya ay tanong ko.

"Are you the boyfriend Theo?" Sage's furrowed at me.

"No, are you?" I shot back.

Tumawa si Sage ng nakakaloko.

"PINSAN KO NGA SIYA!" inis na sabad ni Dayzy.

“He's really your cousin?" tanong ko.

"Got a problem with that Gomez?" Sage asked.

"I was just making sure." ngumiting nakakaloko kong sabi.

"Not my cousin Theo," sage said.

"Why?" I asked. 

‘Parang naulit lang sinabi ni Yuri noong isang araw ah.’

"Dayz is special," sabi nito and damn, pareho pa ng sagot.

"Diyan ka na," he said leaving me frowning still habang akbay-akbay si Dayzy palabas.

Hindi ko na sila sinundan ng tingin at naisipang bumalik na sa waiting area nang makasalubong ko si Yuri.

"Was that Dayzy?" he asked me with his  stoic face.

"Yes"

"Did you meet the guy?" he asked.

"Yes, I happened to know him actually."

"And?" s pa nito at halatang may hinihintay pang sabihin ko.

"He said thesame words you said three days ago," sabi ko at naglalaro na ang ngiti sa labi ko.

Yuri was uncomfortable. I can see from his face that he was bothered. "What did he say?" mamaya ay tanong nito.

"That Dayzy is special"

I saw how Yuri's fist balled. That made me realized something.

"For real bro?" hindi ko na mapigilang sabi.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What are you saying?"

"You are bloody smitten to Dayz," I accussed him emphasizing the bloody word in british accent.

He looked at me and I saw how realization has consumed him.

"Damn I was right!" I said and he just heaved the longest sigh I have ever heard from him.