Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 6

Clinic

"Hugh, you can leave, may klase ka pa. Ako na lang ang bahala sa sarili ko. Kaya ko naman." I urged Hugh habang nakahiga sa isa sa mga higaan ng clinic. It's been an hour since I've arrived here.

The nurse said na na-sprain ko ang kanang tuhod ko and that I've bruised my right arm, gagaling din daw agad ito after two weeks, at best kung di ginagalaw.

Hugh applied cold compress on my knees for 15 to 20 minutes, instructed by the nurse herself, and she elevated it with a pillow. Ginamitan din ng nurse ng knee brace, to stabilize the knee and to avoid further injuries.

So, the nurse in short said, hindi ako pwedeng maglakad ng mag-isa for two weeks. Ghad!

Hugh has been sighing non-stop, problemado na problemado si manong. Hugh also informed Mom and Dad through the phone, a while ago about what happened. They were worried sick, pero Hugh said something to them that made them stop worrying.

Hmm, ano kaya sinabi nito?

Lumingon siya sa akin and sat on the next bed na malapit sa akin.

"Who's gonna take care of you, if I leave?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya habang nakahawak sa kaliwa kong kamay, namula agad ang mukha ko ng maramdaman ko ang mahina niyang haplos dito. Oa naman maka react to. Gagaling naman ako ah, akala mo naman may malalang sakit na.

"Dito lang naman ako, I'm just gonna take my rest. Babalik ka naman after ng klase, and pagbalik mo nandito pa rin ako." I smiled at him to ease his worries, but his worried face still didn't change. Kaya ko kaya ang sarili ko kahit wala ka no.

"Dan!" Napatingin ako sa hinihingal na kararating lang, it's Kreia, Mika, Katalina and Carter. I smiled at the thought that they are worried for me.

"You bish! How are you?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Keira at lumapit sa higaan ko. Hugh make way for them, agad naman akong hinagkan ni Kreia, but I winced nang matamaan niya ang kanang balikat ko.

"Don't hug her too much, she bruised her arm." Saad ni Hugh at agad na lumapit kung nasaan si Kreia and slightly push her back.

He's being rude again! I'm fine!

"C-Chill, okay 'di na mauulit, haha." Umatras Kreia and slightly nudges Mika to say something, I looked at Kreia and mouthed sorry. She crinkle her nose and smiled, telling me it's no biggie.

Tiningnan ko ng masama si Hugh, he just looked at me with no reaction. Kung maka akto 'to parang tama pa ang ginawa niya, wala talaga tong modo minsan.

Sarap turuan ng leksyon!

"Anong sabi ng Nurse sa injury mo?" Mika as she went to my side and sat on my bed napabaling naman ako sa kanya, she softly pushed some hair strands out of my face. Inayos niya rin ang pagkakalagay ng ulo ko sa unan, I smiled at what she did. She's very thoughtful and caring.

"The nurse said that I sprained my knees and bruised my arm, magiging okay na din daw 'to after two weeks, without doing any heavy stuffs." Tumingin naman ako kay Katalina and Carter. They are standing behind Mika and Kreia looking at me worriedly.

"Hey, I'm okay. Katalina we won right?" Tumango naman si Katalina, she playfully leaned her head slightly to the right making her ponytailed hair sway, she then winked at me, napatawa naman ako. I then looked at Carter, na kanina pang nakatingin sa akin.

"Carter, thanks for visiting me. By the way congrats for joining the Basketball Club." Tumawa ito ng mahina and he said his thanks.

The bell rang tanda na magsisimula na ang next subject.

"Next subject na! Balik na kayo, ikaw din Hugh! 'Wag ng mapilit, take some notes for me okay? 'Wag matutulog sa klase, I need the notes!" Kreia, Mika, Katalina, and Carter then bid me goodbye, babalik daw sila pagkatapos ng klase at lumabas na rin sila sa kwarto. While on the other hand, Hugh's still standing beside the bed, looking at me.

"Hugh! Ano ba, bumalik ka na sa classroom. Magiging okay lang ako dito." Hinawakan ko ang kanan niyang kamay gamit ang kaliwa kong kamay at pinisil ito.

Kailangan ko itong paalisin, 'di ako makakapag pahinga pag nandito ito. If he stay here, tititigan lang ako nito! Napaka ankomportable 'nun!

A big no no!

Tiningnan nito ang hawak ko sa kamay niya, he then covered my hand with his left hand, now he's holding my left hand with both of his hands. Tumango ito at tumalikod na sa akin. On his way to the door, he stopped. Nagtataka naman akong napatingin sa malapad niyang likod.

"Did you forget something? Hug-" He cut me off ng humarap siya at naglakad papunta sakin.

I then noticed how everything turned in slow motion. Tila mabagal siyang naglakad papunta sa pwesto ko, those legs seem so uselessly long, he slowly bent down a little, I saw the serious spark on his eyes, his mouth slowly opened in a sexy way. Mabagal niyang hinawi ang aking buhok na nakatabon sa noo ko. He then place a light kiss. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

H-He did what?!

"I'll be back." He whispered huskily against my forehead, 'tas agad din itong tumalikod at lumabas. Nanigas ako sa pwesto ko, nagsimula uminit ang pisngi ko, at bumilis ang pintig ng puso ko. D-Did he just kiss me on my f-forehead? Nanginginig ang kaliwang kamay, hinaplos ko ang aking noo kung saan niya ako hinalikan. W-What the f-f**k happened? Binaba ko ang aking kamay at tiningnan ito.

He kissed me! On my forehead!

Nilagay ko ang aking kamay sa aking dibdib at dinama ang pintig ng puso ko. What is this feeling? Bumibilis ang pintig nito pag may ginagawa siyang kakaiba, my heart clenches and I just can't stop thinking about it.

Buong hapon na nasa clinic ako, di ako nakapagpahinga, I've been rolling on the bed non-stop! My mind keeps on replaying everything! I mean everything!

The way he intensely walks towards me, how his manly body slowly bent a little, how his lips slightly opened, and how serious his eyes were. Napaigting ako nang tumunog ang bell, hudyat na tapos na ang huling klase.

Si Hugh!

Minutes passed and the door of the room opened, revealing the mighty Hugh. His eyes instantly met mine, I saw how his eyes traveled down to my injured arm and leg.

"Hey. Did you rest well?" Bati niya sa akin at lumapit. Rest? Well? What do you think, dumbass? I didn't get to rest because of what you did! Kinuha niya ang bag ko at kumuha ng wheelchair.

"Let's go home, Leigh?" I nod at him, lumapit siya sa akin at aambang bubuhatin ako when I stopped him.

"I-I can do it." I looked at him and when he saw how serious and uncomfortable I am, he then nodded. Dahan-dahan akong umupo sa gilid ng kama, while Hugh's being attentive, looking at my every move.

Humawak ako sa lamesa na nasa gilid ng kama and as I tried to exert force on my injured arm, kumirot ito dahilan ng pagkakadulas sa hawak ko. I can feel myself about to fall, napapikit na lang ako ng maramdaman ko ang init ng kanyang katawan na sumalo sa akin.

"Careful right there, Leigh. Come on, let me help you." Wala akong nagawa ng binuhat niya ako at pinasakay sa wheelchair, I only whispered my thanks, he just nodded. Tinulak niya ang wheelchair palabas ng kwarto, and there I saw Mika, Kreia, Katalina, and Carter. They all smiled at me as soon as they saw me.

"Hey there, bish. Nakapagpahinga ka ba?" Muntik na akong mapa-irap ng marinig ko ang salitang 'pahinga'. Pilit na lamang akong tumango. Sabay kaming lahat lumabas ng school at doon na nagkahiwa-hiwalay. I waved my goodbye at them, Hugh then continued pushing the wheelchair papunta sa kung nasaan ang sasakyan.

"Leigh, are you uncomfortable being with me?" Nanigas ako sa kinauupuan ko sa biglaang tanong niya. Lumingon ako sa kanya at ngumiti.

"A-Anong pinagsasabi mo, Hugh? W-Why would I?" I denied and looked ahead. He stopped pushing the chair and went to squat in front of me. He held the side of the wheelchair and looked straight in my eyes. Nagsisimula na naman dumagundong ang aking puso.

Ano na naman ang gagawin niya? 'Di ba niya alam ang salitang 'distance'?

"Maybe because I'm making my way on you?" Nanlaki ang ang mga mata. W-What does he exactly mean by that? I'm really hoping that this time, mali ang pagkakaintindi ko.

"Did you really think that I see you as my little sister?"

And by that my mind went blank.

________________

sshandi