Wind and Sail

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Dayn’s PoV

I woke up when a felt a sharp sting sa sugat ko. Binuksan ko ang lamp sa tabi ko at umupo. Wala na si Sxan sa tabi ko. Umalis siya noong nakatulog ako dahil iyon naman ang sinabi niya.

“Will you be spending the night here?” I asked.

“I’ll go when you fall asleep.” Then I don’t want to sleep.

I just nodded. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako dahil siguro sa pagod.

Napatingin ako sa side table ko. May gamot doon at isang basong tubig. Ininom ko iyon at may nakitang note sa gilid ng bago.

Meds for pain. Foods are in the fridge. See you tomorrow, mademoiselle.

Napangiti ako sa sinulat niya. Inilagay ko iyon sa loob ng drawer ko. Sumilip ako sa labas at pasikat pa lang ang araw. Pumasok ako ng banyo para lagyan ng tubig ang thermos, isinaksak ko iyon para pakuluan.

Nag-walis muna ako sa loob ng kwarto habang hinihintay iyon. Sinilip ko ang fridge, may Tupperware doon. Kinuha ko iyon at binuksan. It’s a sandwich with tuna fillings. Wala naman akong matandaan na may inilagay akong ganito rito.

May note din sa Tupperware.

I’m sorry this is all I prepared. Wala na rin kasing bukas na kainan.

Napailing-iling na lang ako. Nag-timpla ako ng kape at pumunta sa balkonahe para mag-agahan.

I watched the sun rise. It was very peaceful, there were birds singing, the breeze was not super cold but it’s very calming. I take a sip from my coffee and tasted his sandwich.

It’s really good, I wonder if he made the filling, or he just bought it.

Noong lumiwanag na ay nagbihis na ako para pumasok sa school. Hindi na rin masakit ang mga sugat ko dahil siguro sa pain meds na ininom ko. It stings but it’s bearable.

My phone lit up from my nightstand.

Nilapitan ko iyon at binuksan.

Sxan:

Good morning. Are you awake already? How are you feeling?

Umupo ako sa kama ko at ni-replyan siya.

Ako:

Morning, I feel much better now. Thank you for the food, it was good.

Sxan:

Really? That’s great then. I’ll see you later? Please don’t move too much and magpahatid ka nalang.

Ako:

Hmm. Alright, gotta go. :)

Sxan:

Ingats. :>

I put the phone inside my bag and went downstairs. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba ipapaliwanag ang band aid ko sa noo.

“Anong nangyari sa’yo ha?” bungad ni Ate. Umupo siya at nagsimulang kumain.

“Nakipag-away ako,” sagot ko.

Napatayo siya sa upuan niya. “ANO?!”  she exclaimed.

“Charot lang, nahulog ako sa kama,” I lied.

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at umupo na ulit. “Tanga talaga kahit kailan. Sinasabi ko sa iyo, Dayn. Iwas-iwasan mo na iyang mga gulo na ‘yan.”

“Gulo kaya lumalapit sa akin, duh.”

Kumuha ako ng bacon at sinubo iyon diretso sa bunganga ko. Tinampal niya ang kamay ko noong kukuha sana ulit ako.

“Alis na ako,” nagpaalam na ako at pumasok na sa kotse ko.

“Bakit hindi ka ata nag-motor ngayon?” tanong ni Ate. Sumandal siya sa pader sa likod niya at nag-cross arms. Ibinaba ko ang window ko at ni-start and kotse.

“Hindi ko trip?” sagot ko.

Inirapan niya ako. “Layas na, ingat ha. Tanga ka pa naman,” sabi niya at pumasok na sa loob.

Pinark ko ang kotse ko malapit sa room namin. Pagbaba ko ay nakita ko agad si Sxan na tumatakbo palapit sa akin.

“Akala ko ba magpapahatid ka na lang?” tanong niya noong makalapit siya sa akin.

“Busy, e,” tipid kong sagot. Kinuha ko ang bag ko sa loob ng kotse, isusukbit ko n asana pero inagaw niya iyon sa akin. “Kaya ko na ‘to.” I reached for my bag, but he turned away and shook his head.

“Masakit pa ba balikat mo?” tanong niya ulit.

“Hindi na, nakapag-drive nga ako, oh.” Mayabang kong sagot.

“Stubborn,” he uttered. He shook his head once again. “Did you put a new bandage?”

Huminto ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kaniya. “Yes, doc. Wala nang masakit sa akin kaya akin na iyang bag ko.”

Tumikhim siya at lumayo. “Nope.”

Hinayaan ko na siyang bitbitin ang bag ko hanggang sa makarating kami sa classroom, tutal ay magkaklase naman kami.

Ibinaba niya iyon sa upuan ko at umupo siya sa tabi ko.

He turned to me again. “Anong oras ka nagising kanina?” tanong niya.

“Before sunrise, sigurp mga five?” alanganin kong sagot.

Tumango-tango siya. “Bakit hindi ka nagpahatid?”

“May kotse naman ako at sanay akong mag-drive. Bakit pa ako magpapahatid?”

“Pero…”

I didn’t let him continue, I shushed him and put my finger on his lips. He kissed it. Inalis ko agad ang daliri ko at nandidiri siyang tiningnan. Wala namang laway pero pinunasan ko pa rin.

“Gosh, kadirs ka,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

He just laughed.

“Hindi na ba nag-bleed ‘yong forehead mo?” He extended his hand and touched it gently.

I shake my head no.

“Buti naman,” bulong niya at inalis ang daliri niya.

“Buti naman ka diyan, sapakin kaya kita?”

He looked at me as if he was offended. “Excuse me?” He scoffed.

“Then why are you there? It was like you were expecting me to come home in that state?” Nakataas ang kilay kong tanong.

“Hey, I know you know,” he said.

“I don’t so tell me,” I said firmly.

Nakaligtas siya sa hot seat dahil dumating na ang professor. Panay ang sulyap niya sa akin at sa balikat ko.

“Stop checking me,” I murmured.

“Hmm?” Inilapit niya ang ulo niya sa akin habang nakatingin sa harap.

“I said, stop checking me. Kanina pa kita napapansin na lingon nang lingon sa likod ko.”

Pagkasabi ko noon ay tiningnan niya ulit ang likuran ko. Sinipa ko siya sa ilalim. “Hindi ka ba titigil diyan?” I warned.

“Ito na, hindi na,” sagot niya at humalukipkip.

“Oh.My.Gee! What the heck happened to your forehead?” Clarene exclaimed when she saw me walking towards her. Sxan had business with his club that is why he can’t have lunch with me. Siguro ay iniiwasan niya lang talaga ang mga tanong ko.

“You know, just a little fight?” I spoke. Her eyes widened.

“You fought with somebody? With whom?” she asked with a worried look.

Naaalala ko tuloy ang sinabi niya kagabi bago ako bumaba ng sasakyan niya. “Baka may mangyari sa iyong bad doon, huh?”

I kept on thinking about it while we were eating. Pareho sila ni Sxan na para bang nag-eexpect na may mangyayari talaga kagabi. Napaisip tuloy ako kung magkakilala na ba sila bago pa kami magkakilala ni Sxan. Pero imposible naman iyon, dahil parang na-fall in love at first sight itong si Clarene noong nakita niya si Sxan sa unang pagkakataon. Hindi rin tumutugma ang mga kwento ni Clarene kung sakaling matagal na silang magkakilala.

“Are you good?” Napatingin ako sa kaniya noong nagsalita siya. “You’re not touching your food. You’re just staring at…” tumingin siya sa likod niya. “at him?”

“Ha?” wala sa sarili kong sagot.

She snapped her fingers in front my face to get my attention. Napatingin ako sa likod niya. I didn’t know I was just staring at somebody. Nakita ko na kinindatan pa ako noong lalaki, akala niya siguro ay interesado ako sa kaniya. Hell no. Gross.

“What? No.” I chuckled then started to eat.

Maya-maya ay nakita ko ang lalaki na tumayo at naglalakad ito ngayon palapit sa table namin.

“Ay gago, Clarene, lalapit ata ‘yong lalaki.” I said, panicking but still calm.

“What? Where?” Bigla siyang lumingon sa lalaki.

“Why did you look?!” impit kong pagalit.

“Were you a patient in a mental hospital? Of course, I would look!”

“Hey, miss,” the guy said seductively. Clarene almost choked. I kicked her feet under the table.

“Uh... yes? Do you need anything?” I answered with a formal tone.

I saw Clarene pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a laugh. Pasimple ko siyang pinanlakihan ng mata.

The guy smiled, which I find very disgusting and creepy.

“I see that you keep on staring at me earlier,” he said, full of himself.

“What? No.” I answered. “I was gazing but not at you.”

“Same thing for me,”

Clarene scoffed.

“Can I have your number?” he asked.

“No,” I answered, firm with my decision.

He snickered and bit his lips. Oh my god, disgusting as s**t.

“That’s what I like, hard to get.”

“Oh my… Just leave us alone. I am not interested,” I said. Inalis ko na ang paningin ko sa kaniya at humarap kay Clarene.

“You know what, f**k off!” I raised my voice at him when he touched my arm. It wasn’t aggressive or violent. Just a touch but I didn’t like it. I was keeping my cool until he’d done that. Gosh, he shouldn’t have.

He was taken aback by what I said. I put down my utensils.

“Yeah! She wouldn’t go out with you, jackass, full of oneself, arrogant, and can’t take a no for an answer, asshole,” Clarene joined.

He was about to hit Clarene but I grabbed his arm and slapped him with my other hand. It was so f*****g hard that he almost hit his head on the pole. I didn’t let go of him. Noong makarecover na siya ay sinampal ko ulit siya.

Napatayo na ang mga tao na nasa cafeteria. They are booing him.

“Hey, what’s happening?”

I let go of this motherfucker’s hand and turned to Sxan na kararating lang. Pumunta siya sa harap at itinago kami ni Clarene sa likod niya.

“This motherfucker is harassing us,” Clarene explained.

“Harassing you? I am the one who’s harassed here!” he yelled and played the victim.

“Tangina mo pala e.” Susugurin ko na sana ang lalaki ngunit hinawakan ako ni Sxan. “Gago ka, we said no multiple times, but you went on and on and won’t just leave us the f**k alone!”

“Your girlfriend was flirting with me.” I scoffed when he said that.

If Sxan is not holding me back, this asshole is probably begging for mercy.

“Nahihibang ka na ata, bakit ka naman papansinin ni Dayn when you look like a f*****g slug and a dumbass broke drug lord!” Clarene said.

“Don’t be full of yourself, you look so f*****g dumb right now. I don’t have to explain anymore, let’s just go before I f*****g take his breath out of his f*****g lungs.” Inalis ko ang kamay ni Sxan na nasa braso ko. Lumabas ako ng cafeteria, I have to cool down. My veins are popping out, kulang na lang ay bumuga ako ng apoy sa sobrang inis.

Napatingin ako sa loob noong lumakas ang mga boses nila. They went “woah” and “ooooh”. My eyes almost popped out of its socket when I saw Sxan throw his hand at the guy. Ilang segundo lang ay nakita ko si Sxan na palabas na ng cafeteria habang si Clarene ay nasa likuran niya.

Noong nakita ako ni Clarene ay tumakbo siya palapit sa akin. Nag-aaalala siyang tumingin sa akin at sumulyap kay Sxan na lumiko sa ibang daan.

“What did he do?” I asked.

She held my hands and said, “He punched him. The guy was knocked down with only one suntok. Amazing, isn’t it?”

“What?!”

“I know. I know,” she said while nodding her head.

“Why did he punch the guy?”

“That asshole just called you a slut and other bad words like a b***h. He was about to go out but when he heard that, his safety pin just pooof!” she made an exploding sound of a champagne bottle being opened. “He went mad, girl.”

“What?” I was utterly shocked.

“He went mad, girl,” she repeated.

“Yeah, you just said that.”

“But you asked what, I thought you didn’t hear it clearly. What about you? All cooled down?” she asked.

I nodded yes as an answer.

Hinatid niya ako sa room, last class na ito. Nakita ko si Sxan na nasa gilid at tahimik na nagsusulat. Bakante ang upuan sa tabi niya. Lumapit ako roon. Tumingala siya sa akin at ngumiti.

“I didn’t notice you there, sit down.”

I sat down like he said. “Why did you do that to the guy?” I asked.

“He deserved it,” he said with a cold tone. “I could’ve snapped his neck there, but I know you’d get angry so I just gave him the least I could do.” He looked at me. Gumapang ang tingin niya sa balikat ko. Agad niya akong itinalikod sa kaniya.

“Damn it, you’re bleeding,” he said. Tiningnan ko ang likuran ko at nakita na basa nga ang suot kong maroon na polo-shirt. He grabbed my wrist and stood up. Isinukbit niya ang bag niya at kinuha sa akin ang bag ko. “Get up. Let’s ditch.”

“It’s unnoticeable. Mamaya na lang, pumasok na tayo tutal last na ‘to.” Hinablot ko ang bag sa kaniya. I suddenly felt a sharp pain sa parte na may sugat.

“See? Tara na.” Kinuha niya ulit sa akin ang bag ko.

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumayo.

Binitiwan niya ang wrist ko at hinawakan mismo ang kamay ko. Ito na naman, magkahawak na naman ang mga kamay namin habang nagmamadaling maglakad sa hallway papunta sa den.

He let go of my hand and pulled the key card out his wallet then opened the door for me. He told me to sit down while he went to the restroom to get the first aid kit that’s under the sink. I turned on the air conditioner.

Lumabas siyang hawak ang kit at may kumot na bitbit. Ibinigay niya sa akin ang kumot, inilapag niya ang kit sa tabi ko at pumasok pabalik ng restroom.

Na-gets ko naman agad ang ibig niyang sabihin. I took off my clothes at hinarang ang kumot sa chest ko. Exposed and buong likod ko.

“You can now go out,” I said. Lumabas na siya at dumiretso sa likod ko. Hinila niya ang excess na tela ng kumot at tinakpan ang parte ng likod ko na hindi naman niya kailangan gamutin. Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

“Let me know when it hurts, I’ll stop.”

I nodded. Naramdaman ko ang cotton ball sa likod ko. Nilinis niya ang sugat ko at nilagyan ulit ng panibagong bandage.

“All done. Do you have spare clothes to change into?” he asked.

Inisip kong mabuti kung mayroon ba ako sa locker. Shucks, wala na palang damit doon dahil pinalabhan ko lahat. I shake my head no.

He nods then started digging in his backpack. Inilabas niya ang isang putting t-shirt. Ang problema lang ay may pangalan niya iyon sa likuran. Apelyido pa niya.

“Use this.” Inabot niya iyon sa akin.

“I’ll ask Clarene if she has spare clothes.” Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinext si Clarene. I am hoping that she has one.

Ako:

Do you have spare clothing for me to change into?

Clarene:

Yes, I have.

Thank heavens!

But I’m not at school anymore. I’m on my way home. I don’t have class after lunch na, e. Sorry, forgot to tell you.

Goddamn it. False hope.

I sighed. I have no other choice but to wear his shirt.

Kinuha ko iyon sa kaniya. Ngayon ay tumalikod na lang siya sa akin. Sinuot ko ang damit niya and I am telling you, it smells so f*****g good. It smells like as if it just got off the dryer.

“All good?” he asked.

“Hmm.”

He turned around and a smile flashed on his face. “You look pretty,” he said.

“Tigilan mo ako,” sabi ko at umirap sa kaniya.

“Let’s get you home.” Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

“I can drive.”

“Don’t be foolish, let’s go.” Tinulungan niya akong tumayo. Pinatay ko ang aircon at sabay kaming lumabas ng room. Bitbit niya ang mga bag namin.

Tumakbo agada ko papunta sa kotse ko pero naunahan niya ako pintuan ng driver’s seat.

“No, kaya ko naman, Sxan. Thanks for the help, but I got this one.”

“Please? Just this once? Let me drive you home,” he pleaded. His eyebrows furrowed and he frowned a little.

I sighed then nodded okay. His smile grew. Kinuha niya ang car key sa bulsa ng bag ko at in-unlock iyon.

Pumunta siya sa passenger side at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.

“How do you feel?” tanong niya habang nagmamaneho.

“Sxan, kutsilyo lang ito. Tinamaan na ako ng baril, malayo ito sa bituka, kung makareact ka naman, daig mo pa si Mama,” puna ko sa kaniya.

When we stopped at a red light, he looked at me.

“Mas malala pa ata iyong tama sa iyo, e,” dagdag ko. Kumunot ang noo niya.

“Tinamaan ka ba naman sa akin, e,” banat ko.

His mouth opened slightly and laughed in disbelief. He is smiling from ear to ear and his cheeks are red. Natawa ako sa naging reaksyon niya.

“Ano ba? Bwisit ka, akala ko nagseserysoso na na! Ikaw ha, saan mo ‘yan natutuhan?” tanong niya, nakangiti pa rin.

“Diyan lang, sa tabi-tabi.”

“Saang tabi naman ba iyan?”

“Secret walang clue.”

He cackled. “Kung saan mo man iyan nakuha, pakisabi ay galingan pa, ha?”

Hinampas ko ang braso niya habang tumatawa.

“Wala na, isa lang daw ‘yon.”

“Nga pala, paano ka uuwi niyan?” tanong ko sa kaniya noong humupa na ang tawa.

“Magcocommute, basic,” simpleng sagot niya.

“Imbes na hindi mo na kailangan pang bumaba ulit ng school, mapapababa ka pa roon dahil sa akin.”

He glanced at me. “It’s fine, wala na rin naman na akong gagawin. Walang masasayang na oras basta ikaw kasama,” he casually said while his eyes are on the road and my eyes are at him.