His Broken Gem

HBG 12

Stella's POV

The noise of the room wake me up. I tried to open my eyes yet it feels heavy. Mas minabuti ko na lang na matulog ulit. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal nakatulog but when I woke up, I found myself inside a white room, hospital to be exact. Nang silipin ko ang labas ng bitana ay madilim na.

"Gising ka na pala?" I turn around to see who talked. Sebastian was standing at the door holding a plastic bag with food inside.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him in a haughty tone, showing my strong disapproval of his presence. Bakit ba laging siya ang nakikita ko tuwing nagigising ako? Am I cursed by him?

"You're welcome," nakangising wika niya bago pumasok sa loob. I just realize that he's not alone, mom walks inside after him followed by Mikaela. They both carried a basket with fruits and paper bag that smells like it has a food in it.

"How can you be so rude to Ali, Stella?" mom commented on my statement. Narinig niya pala ako kanina. "He's the one who brings you here, living together is convenience after all," she added.

My eyes narrowed at her statement, same with my furrowed brows. Ali? since when did they become close? Isn't that fast? for a woman like Mom who doesn't like to trust people that easily, unless they did something that caught her interest. Being my boyfriend is a big help I guess.

"It's okay, Tita. Stella is always like that when she's upset. She wants me out of her sight as if I did something wrong," Sebastian jokes. He even laughs with the most annoying laugh I've ever heard. I did my best to stop my eyes from rolling.

Okay, I just don't like him so everything he does infuriates me.

"Oh. You're right! I really want you out of my sight, right now," I thought.

Mom laughs at his statement that make me annoyed. Like hello, I'm just right here in case you forgot.

"I agree with you, Hijo. Stella is always like that," she commented.

I noticed Mika laugh in secret at the corner of the room. I send her a deadly gaze that she immediately senses, so she stops. Most likely, she's trying not to laugh. I rolled my eyes on them, immediately feeling tired from all the lying I did.

"How long have I been out?" I asked them, trying to change the subject. I successfully caught their attention.

"Almost a day..." Mika answered.

"Let's be serious here, sweetie. You should take a rest, do not overwork yourself to the point that you'll pass out." Concern was visible on their face. I want to roll my eyes but I won't. They're acting like it's the first time that this ever happened.

"I'm fine, Mom. You're worrying over nothing," I scoffed.

"Of course, Stella. You're always fine," she sarcastically says and rolls her eyes on me. Yeah, she rolls her eyes on her own daughter. Binaling niya ang paningin kay Sebastian. "Hijo, I can trust Stella's health to you, right?" she asked him.

I saw him take a glance at me so I arch my eyebrows at him warning him about what he's going to say. He immediately avoided my gaze without any expression as if he didn't get what I meant.

"Of course, Tita. I'll take good care of your daughter," he smiles. I didn't even notice that he's already on my side holding my hand. He looks at me with tender eyes, like he has a sincere feeling for me. "Right, Hon?" he said as he kissed the back of my hand.

I blink multiple times trying to process what he said and did. I stared at him, bewildered.

Nang hindi ako makasagot ay muli niya akong tinanong, "Hon? Are you okay?" he asked sweetly.

'Gross!' Megan commented but to my surprise, I said it out loud. The shock on their face makes me wants to hide. Megan!

'What? I just said what I saw,' she defended herself. I groan as I lowered my gaze.

I heard Mika laugh to break the awkward atmosphere. "Time na siguro para makapagpahinga si Stella, ano? para naman madischarged na siya bukas," she suggestion still laughing awkwardly.

Mabuti na lang at sumang-ayon si Mommy. She bid her goodbye after reminding me and Sebastian about resting. I just agreed with her without complaint so she can leave immediately.

Nang makalabas na si Mommy ay sumunod naman si Mika dahil may pasyente pa siyang aasikasuhin. i turned my attention at him, "What the hell did you said a while ago?" I asked him.

He folded his arms above his chest as he stand up properly.

"I'll take care of you?" he inquires. I arch my brow at him. "Ano ba? 'Yong Are you okay ba?"

I huffed as I'm starting to get irritated by his naivety. "No," I said.

"Saan ba do'n?" he confusedly asked.

"Are you playing dumb with me?"

"Tinatanong nga kita nang maayos tapos magagalit ka?" he scoffed.

"Never mind," I sigh and tried to move out of my bed.

"Oh, sa'n ka pupunta?" nagtatakang tanong niya habang dinuduro ako.

"Mag-c-CR. Bakit? Sasama ka?" I rolled my eyes before I make my way toward the restroom.

Morning came and I was now discharged from the hospital. My doctor strictly advice that I should rest. I just agreed with all of them, I wanted to go home now.

I opened the passenger door. I almost stumbled on my place as I saw the person behind the steering wheel. It's Sebastian.

What the hell is he doing here?

"Ano? tatayo ka lang ba diyan? o uuwi na tayo?" he impatiently asked.

I hesitantly entered the car and fasten my seat belt. I look at him manifest the car. It seems like he knows how to use a car after all. too much knowledge for a commoner like him.

"Are you sure you know how to drive?" I asked him trying to break the deafening silence.

Tinignan niya ako na parang tinubuan ako ng pangalwang ulo. "I'm a licensed driver, in case you don't know," he declared showing me his driver license."Ano na lang sasabihin ng mommy mo pag nalaman niyang wala kang kaalam-alam sa buhay ng jowa mo?" he says. I just rolls my eyes on him and look outside.

Madali lang naming narating ang condominium building since it's not that far. I went inside my room as we reach the unit, he brings my thing with him which makes sense since I'm still his employer.

I lie down on my bed and massage my head. it's starting to hurt again. A knock broke out the silence. I tried to ignore for him to think that I'm asleep. The knocking stops but a tiny voice took over.

"Ate? Are you sleeping na po?" Shy's small curious voice said. I get up from my bed and went to the door. I opened it and saw her holding a cup of drink, it's not water this time. "Sabi ni Kuya inumin mo raw po 'to," she respectfully said as she hands me the drink.

"What's this?" I grimaced as I inhaled the scent of the drink. This is gross! I almost gagged at the scent so I push it away from my face.

"Herbal drink 'yan, pampawala ng sakit sa ulo," he shouted from the kitchen.

I took a look at the drink before looking at Shy. "Is this even edible?" I asked her.

Kumunot naman ang noo saka napakamot sa ulo niya. "Ano po 'yong edible ate? Konti pa lang po kasi ang alam kong english, si kuya po nagtuturo sa akin kasi hindi pa ako nag-aaral po," she shared. Ako naman ngayon ang napakunot ang noo.

"Ilang taon ka na?" I asked her.

"Seven po."

"You're already out-of-school?" I asked her.

"Nakapagkinder po ako pero dahil po sa sakit ko hindi po ako nakaproceed ng grade 1," she stated.

I felt a thug in my heart, thinking that this child in front of me was deprived of an opportunity to study because of her sickness. I squat to be on her level.

"Gusto mo ba mag-aral?" I asked her. Her eyes immediately twinkle as she nodded her head repeatedly. Her eagerness to continue her studies is visible in her face.

I smiled at her and patted her head. "Okay, ako na bahala," I assured.

She returns the smile and holds the side of my face.

"Ate, dapat dalasan niyo po ang pag ngiti. mas maganda po kayo kapag nakangiti," she complimented me. My smile immediately fade as I heard those words.

"Don't stop smiling, ngumiti ka lang habang hinuhubad mo ang damit mo..."

"Inumin mo na 'yan bago lumamig."

Napabalik naman ako sa wisyo nang marinig ko ang boses ni Sebastian. I rolled my eyes at him and hands him the drink. I went straight to the kitchen and took some water. I can feel his presence on my back.

"I'll add some conditions on our deal," I stated as I face him. His brow furrowed but he didn't say anything. I take that as a sign and continue my words. "I want to add a 'No Touching Rule'," I added.

"What do you mean by that?" he inquires.

"It means physical touch such as holding hands, hug, and especially kissing is prohibited. We're just pretending so we don't need those kinds of skinship," I told him but he just laugh at me in return. I arch my brow at his reaction.

"Seryoso ka ba?" he asked, laughing.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" My face shows no emotion to support my response. He just shook his head before putting the cup of herbal drink in the sink.

"How can you convince everyone that you're in a relationship?" he asked.

"Well, first of all, we only need to convince my Mom so other people don't count." He nodded his head before leaning his back in the sink.

"Okay, let me rephrase it... So, how are you going to convince your mom that you and I have a relationship," he challenged me.

"Simple. I, myself, am a very conservative person. I prefer the traditional relationship like marriage before s*x, living separately before marriage, things like that..." I explained. "Mom won't question my preference in terms of this things since she knows me," I added.

He nodded his head again slightly tilting his head upward as if he was thinking. "Hmm, that's a good reason. But the problem is, that's you," he rebut.

"What do you mean it's me?" I asked him, confusion was visible in my voice.

"You know, that's you and your preference, not mine," he said in a neutral voice.

"Are you saying na I should consider your preference in this relationship?" I asked him.

"Bakit? Kapag nasa iisang relasyon ka ba ay ikaw lang ang masusunod?" he questioned me as if I've asked the most stupid question on Earth.

"Why not?" I confidently answered. I saw his jaw drop, as if he can not believe that I've said.

He burst out laughing as soon as I said those words. Nanginginsulto ba siya?

"Wow, I really admire your arrogance. Pati sa relasyon, gano'n ka rin..." he stated. Umayos siya ng tayo at unti-unting lumapit sa akin. "If you keep on thinking that way, then that relationship of yours won't last," he added while doing a tsk-tsked expression.

I rolled my eyes at him, when I look at him again he was already standing in front of me.

"Let's go back to our topic..." he said as he put his left hand on the table on my right side. it's near me so I move backward a little to maintain the distance. "I'm not the type of man who'll just stand and listen all day, I'll bet that your mom knows that."

He lean closer to me and put his right hand on my left side, I just realized that he's trapping me in between his arms, his body and the table.

"I don't do just talking in a relationship, I'm also a very impatient man. I'll suggest that you should consider that...Hon," he said in a very low voice. He winks at me before leaving me bewildered at the kitchen.

I suddenly felt the hair of my body stands up. his image flashes right before my eyes.

He looks sexy-

I shiver at the thought of him being sexy. Ghad, he's not sexy at all!

'Si ate Stella, crush niya si kuya Ali,' Elly teased in my mind. I rooled my eyes.

"Pati ba naman ikaw? Nakiki-Ali ka na rin sa lalaking 'yon?" Elly just shrugged as she laugh.

Geez, what was that?