All Over Again

Chapter 12: You Are My Sunshine

Jerwin's POV

Naalimpungatan ako after what seems to be the longest sleep I've ever, ever had. It's dark outside, and the only source of light in my room is the one lampshade at the other side of my bed. I gazed at the digital alarm clock on my nightstand: 11:36 PM..

So, from the time Venice woke me up for a soup dinner up to now, I've been sleeping for about almost five hours..

I turned to my other side, and almost jumped (if only I wasn't feeling so weak) nung nakita ko si Venice.. She pulled up the office chair from the corner of the room, and positioned it beside the bed.. I can't imagine how she managed to sleep on such tight space.. O_O

I wonder how long she's been there...

Tumingin-tingin pa ko sa paligid ko.. There's a small basin of water on a small stool right beside the night table.. It was then that I felt the warm, moist towel sliding off of my forehead..

She's been taking care of me all this time...

Silly girl..

Dapat sa kama na lang din sya natulog..

I carefully sat myself up -- very much aware of the spots appearing rightbefore my eyes.. -__- Pero at least, I don't feel as hellish as I was feeling earlier.. I just managed to get my legs out of the bed when Venice suddenly stirred and then glanced at me under droopy eyelids..

Ako: Hey..

Na-realize nya yata bigla na gumagalaw-galaw na ko, coz she suddenly perked up and before I knew it, she was on her feet trying to make me lie down again.

Venice: Jerwin! What do you think are you doing?!?

Ako: Well, ililipat sana kita sa kama.. That chair doesn't look very comfortable.

Venice: Abno ka ba? As if naman kaya mo 'kong buhatin nang ganyan ang condition mo.. (tried to push me gently back to bed) Pwede ba mahiga ka na ulit?

Ako: Will you lie down with me, then?

Venice: O__O Sabi ng nanay ko, she trusts me raw.

*blink*

*blink*

Ako: Ha?

Venice abruptly stopped with her pushing, and her face suddenly turned a color of pale pink.. If I wasn't kinda dizzy, and if I only knew what was going on, it would have seemed cute..

Venice: N-Nothing! Ano ba! Matulog ka na nga!

Ako: I'm not going back to sleep until you leave that chair and just accept my proposal of sleeping in this same bed. It's not like we didn't do it before..

Venice: H-H-Hoy! It's not like I had a choice noh!

O__O

Ako: Oh, don't tell me na ngayon ka pa nahiya.. It's almost midnight and you're still in my room, you know?

Napatingin bigla sya dun sa orasan, and she groaned.. I guess she didn't mean to stay this late.. I creeped to one side of the bed, and then pulled the covers off the other side to invite her in..

Ako: Now, c'mon, Miss Pure.. I'm not gonna do anything to you. Venice looked at me first, and then at the empty side of the bed again..

She pouts her lips as if debating in her mind and continued to stare at the warm~ inviting~ soft~ comfortable~ bed. Then she let out a huge sigh, and finally climbed up..

Venice: Oh well.. It's not like you have the energy to do anything weird..

Yeaaah.. okay... As if I'll really do anything weird to her..

I shifted myself, and watched as Venice take the towel that slid off my forehead from the pillow.. Binabad nya uhlet ung towel dun sa basin, squeezed out most of the water, then turned to put it back on my forehead.

Ako: Ehhhh...

Venice: What?

Ako: Do I still need that?

Venice: Well, you have a fever, right?

Ako: But I don't feel so warm anymore. And it feels weird having something wet on my forehead while I'm sleeping..

Venice: You weren't having any problem with it earlier..

Pinatong ni Venice ung kamay nya sa noo ko to feel my temperature. She looked at me, tapos parang nag-pause to think sandali. She lowered her hand and frowned at me.

Venice: Are you sure?

Ako: Yeah.. I think the fever went down.. I just need a good night's sleep, and I'll be back on my feet.

Venice just looked at me again, hesitating, but then she eventually turned and hang the towel on the side of the basin.. Of course, patients have rights too.

Venice: Okay.. Lie down, and go to sleep then..

She carefully slid under the covers, and tried to make herself comfortable.. After she stopped squirming, I laid down and closed my eyes too..

Venice: Jerwin?

Ako: Hm?

Venice: Uhmm.. Di ko na pinatay ung ilaw ha..

Ako: I don't mind.

....

Venice: Jerwin?

Ako: Yea?

I heard her take a deep breath, kaya napabukas tuloy ung mata ko, curious to what's bothering her.. She was playing with a loose thread nung kumot..

Venice: Ano.. You said we're partners now, right?

Ako: Uh-huh?

Venice: And partners don't really keep secrets from each other, right?

Ako: Uh, sure..?

She glanced at me quickly, and when she saw I was staring at her, she went back to staring at the thread.. Mas gusto nya pang tignan yung sinulid kesa sa'kin..

Ako: You can ask me anything, Venice.

Venice: (took a deep breath) Okay.. Georgina Schmitz. What is she to you?

I blinked in surprise, not just because of her question, but mostly because of the mention of the other girl's name.. Georgina..

Ako: Why are you asking me this?

Venice: Well..Kasi ano...

She started to twirl the thread around her fingers faster..

Venice: Kenny mentioned before about constant rumors about you and Georgina Schmitz, ung model, I heard she's really successful.. Anyway, sabi ni Kenny wala naman daw na-confirm kahit isa dun sa mga rumors tungkol sa inyo.. just a few sightings na madalas kayong magkasama.. (took a deep breath) and then.. kanina, I was just looking around in your room.. and.. anoh.. There's a picture on your desk of you and her.. and, well, you two look.... close..

I see.. So it's because of that picture..

Venice: I didn't mean to pry! Promise! I'm just curious.. and, ano, if people asks or if I see her.. I just want to know kung anong sasabihin

ko. *sigh* I'm sorry.. This is probably a bad time to ask such a question..

Tell me about it...

It's the middle of the night, my fever just went down.. and you're asking me a very stressful question. -_-

I shifted my gaze up the ceiling, thinking to myself.. I guess, she kinda needs to know.. I don't really know how to answer though..

Geena and I.. I never really knew what we really were..

Ako: Geena was my very first friend here.

Venice: First friend?

Ako: Yea.. I spent almost all my whole life in the States, so I didn't really know any people when I arrived. I met her in a party my mom threw for me. She was the same as me back then.

Venice: Same as you?

Ako: Yea.. She was thrust in the fashion industry out of nowhere, and She was all alone.

Venice: Oh..

I caught myself to telling the whole story -- and I don't think I want that.

I turned to face Venice who has her face up to me, listening intently..

How can she be so curious about something that doesn't really concern her?

I turned to my side to face her, and then smiled..

Ako: She's special to me. But we're just friends. Okay, my fiancée?

She jumped from the sound of my little endearment, and her face turned pink again..

Now that's cute.

Venice: "M-My fiancée" ka dyan! Geez, and ako 'tong all serious sa pakikinig.. Hay nako..

Ako: (natawa) Has anyone ever told you how fun it is to tease you?

She suddenly froze and seems to blink in surprise.. Then she slowly lowered her gaze and moved a little bit away from me..

What kind of reaction is that?

Venice: Yes, actually.. Someone has told me that before.What's up with the solemn atmosphere?

Ako: Well, then, that means may nag-second the motion na.. How about you sing me to sleep now? You don't want me to still be sick tomorrow, right?

Venice: (turned to me again) Sing you to sleep?? Ano ka, baby??!

Ako: I can be your babe.

Venice: Kilabutan ka nga dyan sa pinagsasabi mo.. -__-

I laughed again, and then for some effect, started to massage the side of my head.

Truth is, I just really like hearing her voice and maybe, the singing will wipe off the solemn look off her face..

Ako: Don't you know that lullabies can bring relaxing sleep to someone? And since I'm sick, I need a relaxing sleep right?

Venice: Suz naman.. Parang naman ang taas pa rin ng lagnat mo, noh?

Ako: A fever is still a fever. Sige naaa... And next time that you are not feeling well, I'll be the one to sing you a lullabye, okay?

Venice: Hay nako, asa ka pa.. Hinde ako katulad mo na naulanan lang, inatake na ng lagnat noh..

Kokontra pa 'toh, pero she propped herself up naman.. Bibigay rin pala.. I turned towards her again and closed my eyes, just as she turned to face me as well..

Then, she started singing....

Venice: (sings) Di kita malilimutan..

Di kita pababayaan...

O___O

Napabukas ung mata ko, and I stared at her..

Venice: What?

Ako: May sakit lang ako, hindi pa ko patay.

She laughed and then she pulled herself up. She propped the pillow behind her and then gently put a hand on top of my head..

Venice: Okay, okay.. Just kidding.. Close your eyes, and go to sleep now.. I'll sing you something na matino..

I smiled inspite of myself and, just like she said, closed my eyes..

I was actually kinda feeling tired...

Ako: Hey, Venice..

Venice: Yea?

Ako: Are you still gonna be here when I wake up?

Venice: Hm? Uh, siguro..?

Ako: *yawwnnn* I hope you are...

I felt her fingers gently twirling my hair and then the real lullabye started..

[Song: You Are My Sunshine]

Venice: (sings) You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine

You make me happy,

when skies are gray

You never know, dear,

How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away...

I never realized how pretty that song is, until now.. In less than five minutes, I felt myself drift off to sleep.