Chapter 16
1174 Words
CHAPTER 16
Beside him
Trauma burrows into the depths of a person's soul, placed between delicate feelings and memories, contaminating its surroundings until its effects become apparent in the person it has taken hold of.
The concept of trauma is vast. It causes people great pain before deceiving them into thinking they have moved past it or they are stronger than it.
These outcomes frequently have the power to alter a person's perception of reality to allow an escape into one that is less intense.
Even while traumatic events may seem like a bandaged wound, they can still have a big impact on a person's life. It seems as though the wound was never properly attended to and never had a chance to heal.
After that terrifying experience, Law didn't leave my side. Matapos na matapos ko ring gamutin ang natamo niyang sugat sa pagsuntok niya ng pader namin, tumawag na siya ng pulis para ipahanap si Theo.
He accompanied me until the next day. Roon palang nakauwi si Rhea. Kaagad kong ikinuwento sa kanya ang lahat.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry I wasn't here!" ani Rhea matapos niyang marinig ang lahat ng nangyari. Namuo ang mga luha sa gilid ng nga mata niya.
I gave her an assuring smile.
"It's fine, Rhea. I'm okay. Hindi naman niya tinuloy," utas ko na lang.
"Still! That must be traumatic for you."
Well… it is.
Ilang gabi akong binabangungot tungkol pa rin sa kamuntikang gawin sa akin ni Theo. Dumating sa puntong maski iyon, ikinonsulta ko na sa therapist ko.
Seeing my therapist weekly helped me to get over my trauma in a short period of time. Aside from that, Law helped me too, by just being beside me.
Ngayon, binisita ko siya sa school niya. Naiwan niya kasi ang cellphone niya sa kuwarto ko kagabi.
Pinatawag ko siya sandali sa klase niya para personal na iabot ang kanyang cellphone. Isa pa… kahit magkasama kami kaninang umaga, miss ko na naman siya.
I don't know what's wrong with me but lately, I always want him by my side. Lalo na matapos ng pag-uusap namin noong ginagamot ko ang sugat niya sa pagsuntok niya ng pader.
Because of everything I heard from him that night, I began to consider us again. I started to let myself choose happiness over conformity to what's appropriate in society.
Ilang minuto lang akong naghintay bago ko siya nakitang patakbong tumungo sa kung saan ako naghihintay.
My heart fluttered when I saw him in his uniform. He was wearing a white long sleeve with a black striped necktie paired with black trousers.
He has a campus crush vibe with his looks. Kaya rin siguro maraming nagkakandarapa sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay sobrang suwerte ko.
Bago pa siya tuluyang makalapit sa akin, may pumigil na sa kanyang babae.
From afar, I could say she's one of his schoolmates. Dahil din sobrang pokus ng babae kay Law, hindi na ako nito napansin.
“Hey. Can I get your number?” medyo nahihiyang tanong ng babae.
Oh hell.
When I heard that, I automatically looked away from them.
To be honest, we never really clarify our relationship. We never put a label on it. Basta't nagbalik ang pagiging malapit namin matapos ang ginawa ni Theo.
Nevertheless, despite that uncertainty, I am assured he's no longer seeing another woman and so am I.
I was kinda nervous about how Law would handle the situation he was in. Medyo kinakabahan ako at nag-o-overthink na ma-disappoint.
“I'm taken,” dinig ko na ngang sagot niya sa babae.
Awtomatiko tuloy akong napalingon ulit sa direksyon nila.
“Oh.” The girl's lips formed an 'o'. She didn't seem to expect that Law would commit to someone.
When I darted my eyes on Law, he was already looking at me. His glance was as conspiratorial as a wink. Todo tuloy ang pagpipigil kong mapangiti.
Taken, huh? I guess that's his clarification about our relationship.
“Gotta go. My girlfriend is waiting for me,” paalam niya pa sa babae. Napatingin din tuloy ito sa direksyon ko.
Hell!
I can’t believe this man!
Sandali akong pinasadahan ng tingin ng babae, bago ito nahihiyang umalis. Maski ako ay nahiya. Pakiramdam ko, na-judge ang pagkatao ko nang ilang segundo.
Law jogged on his way towards me. Sa kanya ko na lang ipinokus ang atensyon ko.
"You look cool in your uniform," bungad ko nang tuluyan siyang tumigil sa harap ko.
Naisip ko tuloy na kaya siguro ang lakas ng loob niyang magpa-tattoo sa braso ay dahil long sleeves naman ang uniform nila.
"I don't think so. I look young," he disagreed.
My eyebrow arched, trying to tease him.
"You are young," biro ko sa kanya.
He narrowed his eyes. Ayaw niya talagang sinasabihan ko siyang bata. Tuluyan naman akong natawa sa reaksyon niya.
"What? Everybody wants to be young forever!" dipensa ko pa.
"I'll just be happy to be young if you'll call me 'baby'," he said.
Ako naman ngayon ang naningkit ang mga mata. Bahagya siyang napahalakhak nang magkapalit kami ng reaksyon.
After that, he pulled me closer to plant a kiss on my temple. The butterflies in my stomach awakened because of that spontaneous move of him.
"What brings you here, baby? Miss me already?" pang-aasar niya pa at tinawag akong baby.
The way his comments made my stomach twist made me cringe.
"Stop," nangingiting suway ko kahit na tumitindi ang pag-init ng pisngi ko.
Sadyang nakakahiya lang kung may makarinig sa kanya. Hell no!
"Alright."
"I'm just here to give you this. Naiwan mo sa bahay." Tuluyan ko nang inabot sa kanya ang ipinunta ko rito.
Kaagad niya namang tinanggap ang cellphone niya.
"Sweet. Thank you." He then smiled sweetly, revealing his dimple.
It was hard not to smile back and keep my composure but I did. Baka kasi isipin pa nito ni Law, ganoon na ako kabaliw sa kanya.
"Go back to your class. Study well," utos ko na hindi naman na niya inangalan pa.
"I will. Let me have a kiss first."
I was caught off guard when he suddenly snaked his hand onto my lower back and pulled me closer. Napasinghap ako sa ginawa niya.
Mas lalong tumindi ang pag-init ng pisngi ko. Ang puso ko, hindi magkamayaw sa paghuhurumentado.
"We're in school, Zryan." Lumiit ang boses ko dahil sa hiya.
Opposite from by shy reaction, he remained focused on his goal. He even lean closer as if our distance was not yet close enough to him.
"So?"
"It's inappropriate—"
Before I could continue to reason out, even more, he shut me up with a quick kiss on the lips.
Sandali kong nahigit ang hininga ko dahil doon. Si Law naman, mukhang tuluyang nakuntento. Muling gumuhit ang matamis na ngiti sa kanyang labi.
Pagkatapos, hinatid niya ako sa gate at hinintay na makasakay sa tinawagan kong Uber bago siya bumalik sa room niya.
It might be a simple day for both of us but it feels exceptional when I am beside him.
- Writer
