C9- A Night with Him
1045 Words
I was in deep thinking that I never did notice kuya who got off somewhere while Doc Elton is driving us home. Napamuglat na lang ako nang mahinto kami dahil sa traffic.
Traffic?
Nagtataka kong binalingan ng tingin si Doc Elton na busy sa cellphone niya at may piniindot pindot habang nasa gitna ng traffic. Ang isang kamay nito ay nasa labas. Ang isa ang siyang nakahawak sa telepono niya at nagpipindot.
"Where are we going?" Naalarma kong tanong. "And where's kuya?" takang tanong ko nang mapatingin sa rearview mirror at wala doon ang magaling na kapatid ko.
Gulat itong napatigil sa pag- ano sa cellphone niya at alanganing itinuro ang likuran namin gamit ang thumb niya, saying that kuya got off somewhere we've passed.
I sighed. "So? Where are you taking me?" Hindi ko mapigilang itanong. The traffic. There's no traffic in going to our house since it's so near in the hospital.
"My house?" Patanong na sagot nito. "Uh- did you check your messages or calls, even?" tanong nito sa akin bago minaobra ang sasakyan nang umusad na nag traffic. Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay mabilis kong kinuha ang cellphone ko sa bag at tiningnan ang calls, mom called.
I checked my messages and saw dad's message asking me if I could stay with Doc Blue for time being. Just this night. Really?
Really as in for shocked and surprise. Well, that's the same but really? Are they trusting him?
"I'm staying the night..." alanganing pagkumpleto ko sa salita ko. "Yep, with me. In my house because your kuya had some problems in his life. Fudge this." He cancelled the call immediately.
"Are you uncomfortable? Do you want me to book you a hotel?" Napaawang lang ang labi ko sa sinuggest niya. I don't know how to or what to answer.
If I say yes, baka mamali siya ng isip and if I say no naman...ganoon pa rin. Urg, frustrating!
Mukhang napansin niyang nahihirapan ako kung papanso siya sasagutin kaya mahina itong natawa bilang reaction sa pagkagulo ko. "You can answer it by yes or no. Maybe just silence means yes." He added.
I sighed bago napagdesisyunang tumahimik nalang at hayaan ang sariling matulog sa bahay niya pero my parents request. Hindi naman kasi magmumukhang maganda if I change my place when both of my parents thought I am in his vicinity and care.
And he seems...
Pasimple akong tumingin sa kaniya habang nag- d- drive ito. Pannay ang tingin nito sa side mirror at seryoso sa pag- d- drive talaga.
He seems reliable.
It was not my intention for him to actually caught me staring that made me flinch. "Gosh!" I exclaimed bago nag- iwas ng tingin sa kahihiyan. Tinawanan lang anman ako nito at mabuti ngang iyon lang at hindi pinoint out 'yung-
"You're staring, aren't you?" Mariin akong napapikit sa tanong niyang iyon. Lintek ngang iyan at nahuli pa. Nakakahiya.
Guess my feelings isn't locally be meant to clicked with his mind.
Hindi ko na lang ito inimikan at tinalikuran ko pa. Like, I am really now facing his window. Ang seatbelt na ng saskayan niya ang nag- adjust. Nahihiya na ako paano pa ako bababa mamaya?
Kung pwede ko lang iuntog ang ulo ko sa salamin ng sasakyan niya ay baka ginawa ko na sa kahihiyan nang hindi naman ulit iyon maging kahihiyan.
Nagulat nalang ako at napahawak sa seatbelt ko nang hawakan nito ang balikat ko at marahan pero malakas niya akong ibinalik sa pagkaka- ayos ng upo.
My eyes literally went wide while eyeing the road and his hands on one of my shoulders. Tila nanigas ako sa ginawa niyang iyon. That sudden feeling.
That sudden strange feeling I felt.
Naipilig ko na lang ang ulo mula sa malalim na pagkakaisip sa kung ano bang tawag sa naramdaman kong iyon kanina. It feels right but wrong at the same time. I don't know!
"Don't touch me again like that." Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sariling ilabas iyon. Somehow that strange feeling scares me. It was fascinating and lovely at all that I could feel like that but I don't want to feel it again. That it being strange means harm for me.
"Okay?" Alanganing ani nito. Nalilito sa inakto ko. I looked at him but he seems okay with it. No problems, tila wala din gustong itanong sa akin.
"Don't you wanna ask me why?" Mabilis itong napalingon sa akin bago ibinalik sa kalsada ang paningin. I saw him turn in a subdivision. Now I thought his house is like something penthouse thingy like those kuya's friends who are bachelor.
"Nope and I'm sorry for that. I was just afraid of getting you in an accident." He smiled. Napatigalgal naman ako sa sinagot nito sa kain at sa reaksiyon niya sa naging reaksiyon ko sa paghawak niya.
I was staring at him for too long that it ever sinked me we are actually i the lawn of his house. Akmang lalabas na sana ito pagkatapos tanggalin ang seatbelt nang lumabas nag tanong na ito sa labi ko.
"Why are you so...understanding?" Hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ko na ikinatawa niya ng mahina.
He left his car door's open in his side before leaning into his chair. "I'm not." He chuckled na nagpakunot ng noo ko.
"You clearly are!"
"You mean that?" Natatawang saad niya at napatingin na sa akin. Nakakunot ang noong napatango ako sa kaniya nang mabilis pa sa alas kwatro.
"Ba't mo naman sinasabi 'yan when you clearly looks like a good man. You saved Nana and now you are taking care of me." Mahina itong natawa sa bahaging huling sinabi ko.
"Do you really think I am babysitting you?" Natatawang tanong nito.
"No?" Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot dahil hindi ko naman alam kung saan galing ang tanong niya. Well, in my case of knowledge, babysitting and taking care is a different thing.
"Well, maybe?" kibit balikat na sagot niya sa akin habang nasa bahay deretso ang tingin niya. It seems like he remembers something. I was about to cut it off dahil baka may natamaan akong hindi dapat when his answer cutted me instead.
"Maybe I'm like this just to you? I don't know. I still don't know what's happening Pinky." He smiled.
- Writer
