Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 7

Who

The silence between us is so loud! The awkward tension is so obvious.

If he doesn't see me as his sister, then what am I to him? The possible answer is somewhat making me nervous.

Tumayo si Hugh at pumunta sa likod ko, he continued pushing the wheelchair. He noticed that I can't answer him yet, he didn't say anything either. Manong Roel, our driver, helped Hugh with the wheelchair as Hugh carries me and settles me inside the car.

I didn't even notice that I was holding my breath. Lumapit siya sa akin habang nakatingin sa aking mga mata. I thought he will whisper something, when he just grab the seat belt and fastens it.

Okay, ang assuming ko pala.

Nang sinarado niya ang pintuan sa banda ko, I then gasped for air. Bumukas ng driver seat at sumakay si Manong Roel.

"Manong, please drive carefully." Hugh said pagkasakay niya. Tinap niya ang gilid ng upuan ni Manong upang ipaalam na maayos na. Tingnan mo 'to, I only sprained my knee. It's not like I'm some preggy woman.

"Yes, Sir." Manong Roel replied and started the engine. Lumabas ang sasakyan sa gate ng paaralan. 

On the way to the house, I felt him stir on his seat. Nilingon ko siya at nakita siyang nakahawak sa kayang telepono, nagbabasa ng text. Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya sa mukha. When he noticed that I'm checking on him, he swiftly hides it. My forehead slightly creased with his action.

What is he hiding? Why is he suddenly being secretive? He's making me curious.

He gently smiles when our eyes met. I recognize an emotion in his eyes. He's eyes are somewhat scared? Weird. Lumingon na lamang ako sa banda ng bintana ko. I heard him sighed.

After minutes of driving, dumating na rin kami sa bahay. Bumukas ang gate lara makapasok ang sasakyan. Pagkatigil, bumaba siy ng sasakyan at pinagbuksan ang aking pintuan. He had Manong Roel  prepare the wheelchair.

Lumapit siya sa akin. His left hand went under my back as his right arm found its spot under my knees. Tamang-tama na nakasakay na ako sa wheelchair, when the front door of the house opened, revealing the worried Mom and Dad. Mom ran, and squatted in front of me.

Nagdadalawang isip siya kung titingnan niya ba ang aking na sprained na paa o ang aking mga pasa. "Dana Oh my god! You look horrible!" Tumawa si Dad sa sinabi ni Mom, he then went to Hugh's side at inakbayan ito.

Even though Mom's a surgeon, it doesn't change the fact that she's still a Mom. Kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit sobrang nag-alala siya sa akin. Mom's chattering, made my day. She then goes on about what she said about being careful and all. There are even small visible tears on the side of her blue-gray eyes.

Maraming nagsasabi na sobrang magkamukha kami, like I'm her mini me. Well, I can always agree, my Mom is so pretty.

I crinkle my nose. "Mom, don't cry. Gagaling din naman 'to." Tumatawang saad ko, habang pinapalis ang kanyang luha. Namumula ang kanyang maliit pero mataas na ilong. No one looks so pretty as my Mom, when she cries.

I signaled Dad to get Mom. "Wife, let's get Dana inside. Come on." Tumayo si Mom. Dad then went to my back to push the wheelchair, while Hugh assisted him. The day goes on and Mom's still talking about how to always take care, I just laughed, Mom is such a worrywart.

I've been excused at school for two weeks. Some of the bruises are gone while others are not that visible. My sprained knee has been okay thanks to the knee braces. But I still need to still take full care because I'm only 'okay', not yet 'Fully Healed'.

Hugh has been writing me notes, to keep me updated with the lessons, especially on Precalculus. Such a great help indeed. Exams will start exactly when I return to school, great timing. Mark my sarcasm.

About what happened two weeks ago, we still haven't talked about it. Hugh and I just felt like it's just not the right time, I mean I'm injured? Ayoko rin kasing pag-usapan. It's obviously cannot be!

But on those two weeks, particularly the second week. I noticed that Hugh's been so busy with his phone. Yung tipong hindi niya ito mabitawan.

There's actually this one time, when Mom kindly asks me to call him out for dinner. I saw him in the living room, holding his head down. He didn't even notice that his phone was ringing. When I looked at who it was, an unregistered number.

Is it a spam call?

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa kanya. "Hugh. Your phone is ringing." I went to his side to sat down, and slightly nudge him.

If he's tired, why can't he just sleep? What's bothering him?

Inangat niya naman ang kanyang ulo at pagod ang mga mata na tumingin sa akin. "W-What?" Wala sa sarili niyang tanong.

"I said your phone's ringing. Sino ba yan? Number lang kasi ang nakalagay, is it a spam call or something?" Mabilis niyang nilingon ang kanyang telepono na nakalagay sa mesa. Nang makita niya ang numero ng tumatawag, his eyes instantly became blank. Kinuha niya lang ito at nilagay sa bulsa ng suot niyang pambahay na shorts.

"W-What is it? Mom's calling me for dinner?" Pagbabalewala niya sa tanong ko, nagtataka man sa inaakto niya ay tumango ako. Inalalayan niya ako sa pagtayo at pumunta kami sa dining hall. I have a feeling that he's definitely hiding something.

Today is Monday, the 1st week of the second month, so it means school day and also the first day of our First Quarter Examination. Hugh got our uniform, first week nung excused ako. Kaya ngayon, I wore my uniform, cream colored upper with no tie, and a green checkered skirt. Hugh also wore his uniform, light gray colored upper with USC logo on the left side pocket, and dark grey slacks. We then went to school.

Unexpectedly, my friends made a warm welcome, and I am so happy about it. The bell then rang and Ma'am Castillo gave us the exam papers after talking to us about 'cheating' and stuff. The exam then commenced.

The exam is finally finished and we're currently in the cafeteria of our school.

Kumakain ako ng burger na binili sa akin ni Hughm "Dan, I've been meaning to asks this. 'Salvernon', kaano-ano niyo yung may-ari ng S.H. chain of hospitals?" Biglang tanong ni Kreia sa akin.

S.H.? Salvernon Hospital?

Napakagat labi ako ng makaramdam ng hiya. "Salvernon Hospital? Uhm... my Dad's the CEO." I shyly informed them. Nang tiningnan ko naman ang kanilang mga mukha, shocks written all over their faces. Makareact naman sila eh parang 'di naman 'to may kaya. They also have their own businesses din kaya which are more successful.

Nagtatawang napakamot ako sa aking leeg. "Hey, stop it. It's not mine, it's Dads'." Biglang lumipat si Kreia sa tabi ko at biglang hinawakan ang aking kaliwang kamay. She then looked at my eyes, cutely.

"Magiging sa'yo rin iyon." She then raise her eyebrows up and down, in a funny way. Napailing ako at malakas na tumawa sa kagagahan niya. I then noticed Hugh on my peripheral vision, kinuha niya ang nagva-vibrate niyang telepono mula sa kanyang pantalon. Nilingon ko siya, kung saan agad na nagkita ang aming mga mata. There's this urgent spark on his eyes and mysterious glimpse of other emotion.

"D-Dan, I will just go and answer this call real quick." Nagtataka man pero tumango ako. He patted the back of my head bago siya tumayo at naglakad paalis. I watched his back, lumiko siya pakaliwa, palabas ng cafeteria.

Nang hindi na siya natatanaw pa, nilingon ko na lamang ang aking mga kaibigan. Gusto ko talagang magtanong pero may sarili din siyang dapat na isekreto kaya 'wag na lang.

"He looks like a f*****g piece of s**t and I don't know what I liked about him." Carter, out of nowhere, suddenly talked vulgarly. I saw him holding a small violet pastel notebook. Nilingon niya kami and he has this nasty smile. What is he reading? Tsaka malakas pa niya itong binasa ha.

"Hey, Carter what do you think you're doing?" Mataray na tanong ni Kreia kay Carter. I looked at her and saw that her eyes are very deadly.

"Oh, this is yours?" Parang nang-iinis na tanong niya. Kreia is very furious for the sudden invasion of her privacy. Sinubukang kunin ni Kreia ang kanyang notebook nang tinaas ni Carter ang kanyang kamay kung saan hawak niya ang notebook. Katalina and Mika just shake their heads, parang sanay na sa kanilang bangayan.

When did they become close?

Kreia and Carter are quarreling, someone stopped on my side and left something on the table. Natatawang nilingon ko ito. My eyes widen when I saw it was a very pretty rectangular red box. It's a gift!

Inangat ko ang aking tingin mula sa box upang makita ang naglagay nito pero wala naman, it's just other students. I hold and checked the box for any clues, I then saw a small black card.

'I BROUGHT YOU A GIFT.' Written in gold font, iyan lang ang nakasaad, wala ring ngalan kung kanino nanggaling. Hugh's smiling face then pops out of my mind.

Wait, what?

"Dan, sino nagbigay niyan?" Tanong ni Mika at tumayo, tumayo rin si Katalina. Inusisa namin ang gift box. I opened the box and saw a bouquet of pink flowers. What type of flower is this? When I was about to get it out from the box, someone pushed the box out from my hold, as I heard someone loudly call my name.

"Danaleigh!"

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sshandi