CHAPTER 6
1786 Words
CHAPTER 6
NAALIMPUNGATAN ako sa aking pagkakatulog ng marinig ang ilang kaluskos at mga boses sa aking paligid. Nagmulat ako ng tingin at nanghihinang inaangat ang sarili.
“Are you okay now?” Nicholas said as he approaches me.
Pumikit ako ng mariin. “I—I’m good..”
I still felt the light sting of pain in my head. Nicholas right hand was on my waist as he supports me in lifting up my body to the headrest of the bed.
“Ano pong nangyari?” Tanong ko kay Nanay habang pilit na binabalewala ang presensiya ni Nicholas sa tabi ko. He was so closed on me and his face looks so worried that startled me.
“You’ve passed out, Ms. Del Olmo. You suffered a severe headache and your body didn’t make it that’s why you lost consciousness. May iba ka bang naalala bago ka nawalan ng malay?” It was Doctor Fetalbero who answered me. She was my doctor since I came here.
Nawalan ako ng imik saglit. I don’t remember anything.
“Wala po, Doc. Kusa lang pong sumakit ang ulo. It was actually the first time I’d experience it since my accident.” Sagot ko ilang minuto ang lumipas.
“That’s impossible, there should be a thing that triggers your brain to react that way..” Kumunot ang noo niya.
“I don’t have, really...” I replied still unsure.
Nicholas sighed heavily. Napatingin ako sa kanya.
“You got me worried.” He said painfully. “I almost wanted to jump to the first floor and call your doctor immediately.” Aniya sa baritonong boses.
Namilog ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya. “Pasensiya ka na. Nadamay ka pa tuloy..”
He’s really too close to me and even the air we breathe now is just one. Kahit si Nanay ay nagtataka sa ikinikilos ni Nicholas ng ibaling ko ang tingin sa kanya. Lumapit siya sa akin at inilahad ang isang basong tubig.
“How about you experienced too much emotion, hija?” Doctor Fetalbero asked again.
It made me stopped on my track. Did I? Last thing I remember is the loud beating of my heart that took me away while hearing Nicholas muttering and saying some foreign words. I’m sure he was talking to Greg over the phone. Hindi ko alam ang pinag-uusapan nila but I really think it was me. Or I am just assuming things now?
Is it impossible to feel that suddenly?
“I don’t really remember, Doc.” Tanging nasabi ko na lang. I can’t say it because of Nicholas. Wala siyang kinalaman sa alaala ko, nakakahiya iyon kapag sinabi ko.
Tumango siya sa akin at agad may isinulat sa kanyang dalang mga papel.
“Uminom ka muna nito, hija. Nawalan ka ng malay ng mahigit na apat na oras at baka inuuhaw ka na.” Ani ni Nanay.
Nakangiti kong tinanggap ito. Kumalas naman din ng yakap ni Nicholas sa akin at hinayaan akong uminom. He then eyed me sharply. Tumayo siya kaagad at masinsinang kinausap ang doctor ko. He guided the doctor professionally away from us and I can’t hear what they were saying.
Umupo si Nanay sa tabi ko kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.
“Mabuti na lang talaga at nandon si Engineer kanina nang mawalan ka ng malay kung hindi ay baka matagalan pa bago ka namin makita. Lahat ng mga kasambahay ay nandoon sa baba naglilinis dahil katatapos lang din nila dito sa taas ng oras na iyon.” Nababahalang sabi niya sa akin.
Hinilot ko ang sintido ko sa sinabi niya. “I’m sorry, Nanay. I really didn’t know that it would happen to me this day.”
“Kaya sa susunod, hindi na kita hahayaan pa na gagawa pa ng ilang trabaho dito, mapabigat man o hindi. Ako ang natatakot sa iyo, eh. Halos hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kanina ng makitang buhat buhat ka ni Engineer ng walang malay. Siya na nga ang nagtawag sa doctor mo dahil natataranta na ako at hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.”
I felt so guilty about it.
“Uulitin ko, Elizabeth. Huwag ka nang masiyadong magpapagod.”
I defeatedly nodded at her.
I don’t want to burden anyone here. My heart felt so heavy.
"I’ll take my leave now, Ms. Del Olmo. Inihabilin ko na kay Engr. Martinez ang ibang dapat mong gawin at iwasan. If it is possible, don’t be too much stress because it sometimes leads into pressuring your own brain.” Nakangiti niyang saad sa akin.
“Thank you so much, Doc.”
With a sterning look, Nicholas stood so proud in front of me with a minimal expression in his eyes. I trembled a bit at his dark stares. Kusa siyang nagbaba ng tingin at inihatid ang doctor sa labas.
“Ako ay mauuna na, hija. Magpahinga ka pa muna, pahahatiran kita ng lunch mo dito sa kwarto mamaya.” Si Nanay.
Tumango ako sa kanya.
I stared at the ceiling. Unable to think properly, I choose to close my eyes and let myself drift to sleep again.
Just think about happy thoughts, Eli! Don’t let stress take all your senses away.
It took me a minute to sleep again. But I don’t know how many minutes had passed when I felt someone was touching my face. It was so warm and I can’t even stop myself to pull it closer to me. Nagmulat ako ng mata.
It was Nicholas who was caressing my face slowly. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at nagtatakang tiningnan siya. I then closed my eyes when I felt how embarrassing it was. Naramdaman ko ang marahang pisil niya sa aking kamay. Napatingin ako kaagad doon at ngayon ko lang napansin na kanina ko pa pala hawak ng mahigpit ang kamay niya.
“I’m sorry.” Agad hinging paumanhin ko sa kanya.
He smiled. “You can hold my hand more if you want to.” He smirked at me.
“H-ha?” I asked innocently.
Umiling siya habang may tinatagong ngiti. “Nothing. I brought your lunch by the way.” Saad niya at inilahad niya sa akin ang isang tray.
“Salamat, Nicholas..”
He nodded at me.
“How about you? Tapos ka na ba?”
“I’m done already, don’t worry about it.”
I sighed. Buti naman….
Itinabi ko muna ang tray at tumayo. Sumunod ang mata niya sa bawat galaw ko.
“Hindi ka pa kakain?”
Umiling ako. “I’ll just take a bath first. Hindi pa naman ako masiyadong gutom..”
Tumango siya sa sinabi ko at tila nanantiya.
“I’ll just wait downstairs then.” Seryoso niyang saad sa akin.
“Okay.” I awkwardly reply.
It took me hours to finish my bath and eating my food. Agad din akong bumaba ng matapos habang dala dala ang tray na puno ng pinagkainan ko.
“Ako na po ang magdadala, Ma’am.” Si Mila.
Ngumiti ako at hinayaang ibigay iyon sa kanya. Ayaw ko nang makipagtalo sa kanilang lahat.
“Nasaan pala si Nicholas, Mila?” Tanong ko sa kanya.
“Nandoon sa library po ninyo si Engineer, Ma’am.” Sagot niya sa akin bago siya umalis sa harap ko.
Humakbang ako at tinungo ang library. Naabutan ko siyang printing nakasandig sa wall ng bintana habang seryosong nagbabasa ng libro. I’m glad that he’s already acquainted with my books. He looks so serious that even his forehead was knotted in a stressful manner. I wonder what book he is reading.
“Hey.” I said to get his attention.
Salubong ang makakapal at maiitim na kilay niya nang mag-angat ng tingin sa akin. He then changed his facial expression when he realized it’s me.
“I’m sorry if I touched your books..” Saad niya sa mababang boses.
Umiling ako. “It’s okay. I’m glad you like it.”
Kumunot ang noo niya pero agad din niyang ibinalik ang dating ekspresiyon. Umalis ako sa harap niya at tinungo ang kanang shelves ng library. I was told by Nanay Ending that the blueprint of the house was in here when I asked her last night. Inabot ko ang mataas na parte na iyon. I even tiptoed to reach it but still I can’t.
Napapitlag ako ng maramdaman ang presensiya niya sa likod ko. Hinawakan niya ang beywang ko ng muntik na akong mabuwal ng matigil ako sa pag-abot ng blueprint. Hindi ko napansin na nakalapit na pala siya sa akin.
“I’ll get it for you.” He whispered huskily at me.
I shivered when his breath reached my skin making my heart react violently.
Nang matapos niyang makuha ay marahan niya din akong hinigit kasama niya. I couldn’t react with his smooth moves. It’s like he’s body was so used to this kind of intimacy were currently having now.
My breath hitched when he encircled his arms on me while he opened the blueprint.
Is this normal?
“We have a table in the right side of the library, Nicholas. You can unfold it there so that you can see it properly.” Maliit na boses na sabi ko sa kanya.
He’s caging me and he looks so serious about it.
“I’m fine here.” Seryosong saad niya. He even lowered down his head. Halos bumulosok ang kaba patungo sa mukha ko ng makita ang magkalapit naming mukha.
Why does he look so calm while I’m not? How could he do that?
Hindi na ako halos humihinga dahil feeling ko ay mas lalaong lumalapit ang mukha niya sa akin. I look so stiff and I don’t want to move. He was silent too while seriously looking at the blueprint.
“There is a large space and area here, you should place your lanai in here.” Saad niya habang may itinuturo sa akin.
Hindi ko na halos maintindihan ang sinabi niya. Kung siya ay parang kalma lang, ako ay parang naiihi na dahil sa kaba. I can’t even process and comprehend what he is talking.
Bumaling siya sa akin ng hindi ako makasagot. My breath hitched when my eyes meet his.
“What’s wrong?” Tanong niya sa akin. Seryoso pa rin at hindi alam o napapansin ang kalagayan ko.
“Can I go to the bathroom?” I said to excuse myself.
He eyed me differently.
He sighed heavily.
Bigla kong naramdaman ang hininga niya sa buhok ko. I felt his light kiss in there.
“Nicholas…” I said breathless at him.
“Sige. Bumalik ka kaagad dahil pag-uusapan pa natin ang sa lanai.”
Wala sa sarili akong tumango sa kanya at iniwan siya.
I sighed.
What the heck did just happened?
- Writer
