Cloud Angel

#16 I like it, I want to hold your hand.

Sinundo ni Maimin at Kranz si Juna, dumiretso sila sa isan kainan para kumain at saka umuwi na. Tuwang-tuwa si Juna dahil bihira lang siyang ilabas ng kuya Kranz niya.

Madalas ay busy ito sa school at tumutulong sa comapany nila. Ito ang isa sa mga iilang beses na dinala siya nito para kumain sa labas kaya naman kahit pagod na si Juna nang makauwi ay abot tenga naman ang ngiti nito sa mukha.

Natutuwa rin si Kranz.

Kanina naasar siya nang makitang may kausap na ibang lalaki si Maimin. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya nainis at ginawa ang ginawa niya kanina. Pero hindi niya pinagsisisihan 'yon. Because now he knows that hugging Maimin gives him lots of comfort. Hindi niya alam kung saan nagmumula iyon pero kanina noong nagdikit ang mga katawan nila ay biglang gumaan ang pakiramdam niya.

Kaya naman ngayon ay may gusto siyang subukan.

"Maimin come here." Tawag niya sa dalaga na kasalukuyang seryosong nanonood ng tv. Pinapanood nito ang continuation ng lord of the rings na pinanood nila noong nakaraang araw.

Nilingon siya ni Maimin. "Bakit?"

"Just come here." Tinapik niya ang bakanteng lugar sa tabi niya.

Nagtataka man ay lumapit pa rin si Maimin at naupo sa tabi ni Kranz.

Kranz raised the corner of his lips. 'What a simple woman. She doesn't even know how dangerous humans are.'

Hindi alam ni Kranz kung anong klaseng nilalang si Maimin. She's new to the world and ignorant of how humans really are. She easily trust people and there's no sense of danger.

"Pahiram ng kamay mo." He reach out his hand to her. She looks really puzzled right now but still put her hand onto his. Kranz clasped it and felt the same sensation when he placed his arms on her shoulders.

It's so calming that he can imagine himself sitting on a top of a mountain, overlooking the clouds and watching the sunset.

"I like holding your hands." Ikiniling ni Maimin ang ulo, halatang hindi naiintindihan ang sinasabi niya. At wala siyang balak ipaliwanag rito ang sinabi niya. "Manood ka lang, hahawakan ko lang ang kamay mo."

Nag-alangan sandali si Maimin. Bakit kailangan nitong hawakan ang kamay niya? Ah! Ang alam niya kapag natatakot ang mga tao kumukuha sila ng lakas sa kapwa nila sa pamamagitan ng paghawak ng kamay o kaya ay pagyakap.

"May kinatatakutan ka ba?"

"Huh?"

"Hindi ba kapag may kinatatakutan ang isang tao gusto nilang may kahawak kamay?"

Kranz chuckled. "Siguro. Kaya payag ka ba na hawakan ko ang kamay mo?"

Tumango si Maimin. "Sige."

She's so easy to deceive. He shouldn't let her out there. As long as she wants she can stay here and he'll protect her. Letting this fool out is like letting a new born chick running on a road full of cars. She'll be hit before she knows it.

Anyway, it's fun having Maimin here.

✴✴✴

Hospital

Makalipas ang ilang araw ay maayos na ang pakiramdam ni Danis. Medyo naigagalaw na rin niya ang ibang parte ng katawan niya pero kailangan pa rin niya ng tulong pagdating sa maraming bagay.

Gaya ng palgligo, pag gamit ng banyo at pati na pagpapalit ng damit. Buti na lang at lalaki ang caretaker niya kaya hindi siya gaanong nahihiya.

Nakangiting pumasok si doctor Loki—tama Loki talaga ang pangalan nito—at lumapit sa kama niya. "How's my patient today?"

"Better, but not feeling great. Still can't move."

"You need patience. We can't hasten your rehabilitation otherwise it'll affect your body."

"I know," sang-ayon niya. "Are you here to tell me what I want to know?"

"Yeah." Hinila nito ang nag-iisang upuan sa gilid ng kama niya umupo roon at pinagpatong ang mga binti. "So... Where do you wanna start?"

"What happened to me?" seryoso pero kinakabahang tanong ni Danis.

"Car accident." Loki paused for while then went on. "You were sent here three years ago."

"T-Three years!?" He exclaimed. "I've been in coma for three years?!"

"Three years and three months to be exact. At that time you were in a really bad shape, barely breathing. It took full ten hours for us to rescue you back. But we failed to remove the blood cloth on your head hence you fell in coma for a long time."

"T-Then..." He slowly inhale some air before asking his next question. "Do I still have family members? Why didn't I see them dropping by to visit?"

"You do," Loki answered. "But they are not in the country right now. And mister York, you are not from this country either."

"What do you mean not from this country?"

"Apparently you are here on a business trip that should only last for three weeks. But the accident happen."

Kumuyom ang dalawang kamay niya. "Bakit hindi nila ako iniuwi?"

"It's not like they don't want to take you home, they couldn't. You were in a very critical condition and traveling your body to a far place will put your life in a serious danger, so the hospital didn't allow it. We reassured your parents that we will do our best to treat you in our hospital and they agreed."

"Are they so busy now? For the past three years did they visit?"

Tumango si Loki. "They did, multiple times. Kaya lang..."

"Kaya lang ano?"

"The matter about the accident. Before your car crashes, you were on the phone with your mother talking about what happened to your... ...little sister."

Kinabahan si Danis. According to his messed up memories he was indeed in a hurry because someone dear to him was involved in an accident.

Nanginginig ang tinig na nagtanong siya. "What... happened?"

"Your sister was attacked by someone while she was painting near the lake. She fought but the assailant stabbed her three times and throw her in the lake."

"Is she—"

"No." Putol nito sa kanya. "She didn't sustain any fatal injuries but she was rescued a little too late, she almost died of blood lost. The operation was successful but... until now there's no sign of waking up."

Nanlamig ang buong katawan ni Danis at pakiramdam niya ay may isang libong langgam ang tumutusok sa balat niya, kasunod no'n ay unti-unting paninikip ng dibdib at bahagyang pagbilis ng hinga.

Napansin naman agad ito ni Loki. "Hey hey hey, relax, calm down. Though the doctor still couldn't find the problem why she won't wake up, maayos ang buong katawan niya. We've already called your parents and they're already on their way to see you."

Danis don't know what to think. At first he couldn't help but have resentment toward his parents for leaving him here but when he learned the truth, his whole mind is covered in guilt. He should have been there for them.

Isipin mo na lang iyong feeling na nararamdaman ng mga ito noong panahong nalaman ng mga ito na parehong napahamak ang kanilang mga anak.

"They're bringing your sister here."

Gulat na nag-angat siya ng tingin. "What?"

"The assailant," He motioned for him to lean on the bed. "He's one of your sister's suitors and he came from an influential family. Your parents sued him and now his family is attacking your businesses. Listen, magulo ngayon doon at natatakot silang pagbalingan ng mga ito ang kapatid mo kaya naman patago nila siyang dadalhin dito para rito magpaggaling."

"When?"

"Sa susunod na linggo. They've arranged the best ward of the hospital and both of you will stay and recuperate there."

"Yeah...I'm glad my sister is okay. I hope she wakes up soon."

✴✴✴

The days flash by and then came Saturday.

Isinukbit ni Maimin ang isang pink back pack na may tenga ng pusa sa magkabilang gilid. Puno ito ng mga bagay na kailangan nila ni Juna, bukod doon meron din siyang dalang malaking tote bag na puno ng snacks at inumin.

Hindi halatang takot magutom ang dalawa. Kahit na provided ng school ang kakainin ng mga estudyante pwede pa rin naman silang magdala ng sarili nilang pagkain. At si Charles, bilang isang worrywart na tao ay hindi napigilang pabaunan nang maraming pagkain ang dalawa. Tuloy ay parang picnic ang lakad ng mga ito at hindi field trip.

Ubod din ng haba ang mga paalala nito na animo'y mawawala sila ng isang taon. Nkikinig lang si Maimin samantalang tuwid na ang mga mata ni Kranz sa dami ng mga sinasabi nito.

"Stop it Charles," saway niya rito. "Their just going on a one day trip not a month long vacation."

"I know master Kranz, but I couldn't stop myself from worrying. This is master Juna's first field trip."

"H'wag kang mag-alala Charles, po-protektahan kong mabuti si master Juna! Nangangako akong hindi masasaktan kahit isang hibla ng buhok niya!"

Habang naglalakad palabas ay wala pa ring tigil ang mga paalala nito hanggang sa makasakay si Maimin at Juna sa sasakyan. Sumunod dito ang isa pang itim na sasakyan kung saan nakasakay ang mga bodyguards ni Juna.

Umiling na lang si Kranz at bago pumasok ay tinapik niya muna sa balikat si Charles. Sinulyapan niya ito bago patagong kinuha ang susi ng sasakyan niya and secretly went to the garage.

He's also a little worried so he decided to follow. Anyway, hindi naman ito malalaman ni Charles. He stopped the car near the school and saw his brother and Maimin getting on the school bus. Kasama nila ang iba pang mga bata. He sent a request to the school allowing Maimin to accompany Juna in this trip.

And given Juna's circumstances, they agreed kaya naman sa lahat ng batang kasama sa trip na ito si Juna lang ang may kasamang yaya.

The bus departed at exactly eight o clock. The destination is the famous water park three hours of drive away from their city.

Kranz drove beside the bus and raised a brow when he saw Maimin.

"What is she doing?"

Sa loob ng bus.

Masaya at maingay ang mga bata. May kanya-kanyang kwento at usapan ang mga ito. Ang iba naman ay nagsimula nang kumain kahit simula pa lang ang biyahe.

Samantala.... Halos idikit na ni Maimin ang mukha niya sa bintana. Ang dami niyang bagong nakikita sa nadadaanan nila. May mga tindahan, mga taong naglalakad at mga iba't-ibang klase ng sasakyan.

The whole scenery is new and marvelous for the young cherubim. Earth is much more lively compared to the quiet, serene and peaceful Celestial Palace. But she likes both worlds.

Tumayo si Juna para makipag-usap sa mga classmates nitong nakaupo sa kabila. Bumalik ito sandali para kumuha ng pagkain sa tote bag ni Maimin at ibinahagi ang mga 'yon sa mga classmates niya.

Napangiti na lang si Maimin. Isang mabait at palakaibigan na bata si master Juna kaya walang karapatan ang sundong si Hampi para kuhanin ang buhay nito.

Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa labas ng bintana at napansin niya ang sasakyang katabi ng bus nila.

Hey? Bakit parang pamilyar ang sasakyan na ito? Teka lang... ...sandali siyang nag-isip kaya lang naagaw ng isang golf course ang tingin niya kaya nawala na sa isip niya kung saan niya nakita ang sasakyang ito.

Namangha siya kung gaano kapatag ang lugar na 'yon at may mga taong may hawak na stick at inuunday nila 'yon. Nang makalampas sila ng golf course ay may nadaanan naman silang malaking padulasan. Isa itong public swimming pool.

Marami pang ibang nakita si Maimin dahilan para makalimutan niya ang nakitang sasakyan kanina.

After another two hours ay narating na nila ang destinasyon nila.

Ang Pure Water water park.