Dear, Joey

27

I'm seating on the love seat while Kuya Lenuel is standing beside my veranda's sliding door, and Tegan is seating beside my bed facing his back to his bestfriend. His watching me the whole time that we were silent. 

"So, tell me... Is it something that makes my life risk? or you just been busy those days that I'm in the hospital?" I said fixing my seat, crossing my arm.

"You know why..."

"I don't!" agaw ko sa sasabihin nya.

"I'm older than you Jullieanna, have some respect" he growls putting his hand on his pocket.

I sigh and look away.

"It doesn't make sense to me why it makes you two involve to this."

"Because we are actually involved in this. Ikaw lang ang nadamay."

"How?" wala na silang nasabi kung hindi tumingin lang si Kuya sa akin habang yumuko si Tegan to avoid my stare.

"How can I involve myself to your problem if I'm not presented half of your life? "

Kuya Lenuel frustratedly sigh.

"It's Jullienne, and you always with Tegan... Someone saw you two last month" He gesture us with his hand like we are the problem.

Awang ang labing suminghap ako.

"What's the connection?! We're friends" I panicked make them both tense. We all are tense, and it goes around when I said the last.

Kuya laugh at Tegan and Tegan stare at me intently, like his livid but didn't voice it.

"We're not friends" tingin nya.

"We are" Kuya Lenuel laugh teasingly, his enjoying this.

"Friends don't sleep with each other"

"It does, Enrique always sleeps with me and Jemaine" laking mata ko.

"Now, you can't do that" tayo nya makes me jump a bit.

"I will tell that to Jem also, no sleeping with Enrique" turo ni Kuya sa akin habang natatawa pa rin but I know his serious.

"Ano to?! Enrique is gay, pinagkakaisahan nyo ba ko? nagkakalimutan na ata tayo dito"

"Friends don't kiss each other" iling ni Tegan sa akin looking so disappointed. Okay, I feel like I am at fault here now.

"Yeah, but what?!" asik ni Kuya bigla at tiningnan nya ng masama si Tegan na nakatitig sa akin, bumaling sa akin si Kuya na ikinaiwas ko ng tingin. I felt my face heat. I'm blushing.

"You two kissed?! No way!" singhap ni Kuya.

"Just a while ago..."

"Tegan!" awat ko glaring at him but he ignores me.

"I can't believe it..." he murmurs something to Kuya makes the latter giggle. Seriously!?

"I warned you for this Alfonso, umatras ka na habang maaga pa... You are going to work hard man" tawa ni Kuya at napapaupo sa gilid ng kama ko, leisurely stretch his limps.

"Well, it does not like I'm not ready yet" sulyap ni Tegan sa akin making Kuya smirk more and look at me with this look that I don't know.

"Excuse me!?... Ah!" lito kung asik sa kanila making my face crumble a bit when I feel my wound ache.

Agad na napaupo si Kuya ng tuwid at dadalo na sana sa akin si Tegan ng tinuro ko sya with my sour face.

"Hoyy! We may be kissed but it guts me off guard... Hindi mo nga nililinaw kung anong meron sa atin?! Ano ba ko sayo?!" sigaw ko.

"Oo nga!" sigunda ni Kuya makes me glare at him, even Tegan stare at Kuya Lenuel who have this teasing smile on us.

"You’re my girlfriend but you don't know it yet" seryosong sabi ni Tegan that makes me bulge my eyes out. What?!

Kuya Lenuel laughing voice rang around my room and roll to my bed, laughing his stomach out. Ugh.

"Oh my god! I never saw this coming!" kuya shouted out of breath. 

Napapahawak na lang sa noong huminga ako ng malalim at hinintay na humupa ang tawa ni Kuya while Tegan seems aware about this and just wait for me to talk.

"Okay... Okay... Should I give you too space? Para kasing kailangan nyo eh" tayo ni Kuya at may ngisi sa labing palipat lipat ang tingin sa amin.

"No!... I want to know why I'm involve to this... Alam kung tatakasan nyo lang to. Talk now." I said with my steel voice and seriousness.

Natahimik kaming tatlo bago napapakamot sa noong huminga ng malalim si Kuya Lenuel.

"It started from Jullienne because of Eduardo Sarmiento and his psycho wife... Sarmiento group is connected to me and Marval corporation." pamewang ni Kuya sa amin and look at me and Tegan.

"... but it's done already. We caught the woman who stabbed you... and Jullienne is safe, so you don't have to worry."

Kaya ba umuwi dito si Jullienne because of death threats?

I just stare at them and Kuya just shrug his shoulder to me.

"Wag nyo kung bigyan ng shortcut explanation Kuya. I need a whole detail. I want answers at staka as I see to it, sya ang mas gumalaw sa inyong dalawa" gigil kung turo kay Tegan na napatitig sa hintuturo ko.

"I love you, but can you tone down your rejection, it hurts" simple nyang sabi habang napapailing sa akin. 

"The f**k! Alfonso that's my sister! Stop being cheesy, I don't like the smell of it!" asik ni Kuya makes me frown more.

"Stop calling him Alfonso Kuya, And you! Stop acting like you are being bullied here, Kayong dalawa ni Kuya ang hindi nagbibigay eksplinasyon sa akin!"

"Now your being possessive Joey, really?" tuya sa akin ni Kuya with his innocent look.

Oh my god! I breath deep with frustration toward them. Nagpapaikot ikot lang kami. They do it on purpose. My wound hurt so much with this. I'm in distress right now. Are they aware? s**t of course it is not! Ang hilatsa ng mukha ng dalawang to.

"She's not Lenuel, quit it" awat ni Tegan.

I sigh and look down, trying to calm my breath.

"Oh, now you're defending her, what a love you have soon to be brother-in-law na ba kita?" tawa ni Kuya, at lumapit pa kay Tegan para akbayan, yung isa naman ngumiti lang habang sumusulyap sa akin.

I just glare the two while I hold my wound on the side. I breathe through my mouth, and get my phone on the side drawer, sa gilid ko lang sya. I rest my back on my side drawer.

I dial Mom's number, that's the emergency hot line now a days, it started when I was in the hospital.

"Wala si Jemaine sa bahay nila... You?" tawa ni Kuya Lenuel ng makitang nag da-dial ako pero unti unting nawala ang ngiti nya ng makita ang mukha ko. Even Tegan stops and stare at me.

"Y-You two are dead..." I slowly said glaring at them and breathe hard. s**t. I think, I'm going to pass out.

My wound opens. This two!

"Baby?"

"M-Mom come up... Ugh!" I can finish my words because of a sudden pain inside of my wound, on the center of the wound.

"f**k!" I heard Kuya Lenuel shouted.

They act so fast, Tegan lifts me up to his arms without touching my side, he put me on his chest. I heard his heart beating so fast, with his labor breathe.

"Lenuel, the car keys!" his voice shake, but there's a steel in there and authorization. I was shocked when my hand stain with blood, I think the side of my shirt too.

"s**t! s**t! f**k Jullieanna I'm sorry! Bunso!" taranta ni Kuya Lenuel habang papasunod sa amin palabas. Tegan secures me in his arm while running to go to the stairwell.

I tried to hold his shirt with my clean hand but really, the pain is not bearable anymore. s**t, what is really happening?

"What happened?!" I heard Mom screams and Jullie's voice.

"We can't make it! One-hour ang papuntang bayan, she will bleed more! Oh my god! Oh my God! Where's my phone?! Amy!" taranta ni Mom, I saw them walk around, frantically and hysteric. Even the maids are ready to take off any minute.

I saw Tito Henry get Jullie out of the scene, but my niece is crying while looking at me. Oh God.

Nasa bulwagan kami at palabas na ng front door.

"Call Hersus, Lenuel..." I look up to Tegan and saw his grim but pale face. 

"Yes" Kuya Lenuel said with a different tone that I don't know he had, because of the pain, I lost sight of what happened.

Nagising akung madaming kamay ang umaasikaso sa akin. All I do is to just let them be, nakatulog ulit ako and it's long enough.

After that, nagising ulit akung nasa kwarto ko na ulit, it's like magic but it didn't because first I have dextrose, second because of the noise around me. More like they are shouting and third because of the hand that holding mine. 

"I told you that you can't stress her out Lenuel!" it's Mom.

"I don't, I give her a vague answers Mom."

"Kuya, why not get her to an island? Makalanghap naman sya ng tubig, puro bundok nakikita ni Joey" I frown and tilt my heard a bit and stop, staring at Tegan who's staring at me also. Nasa gilid ko sya ng kama nakaupo.

"Shut up Jullienne! Kung hindi dahil sayo hindi masasaktan si Joey!"

"Lenuel" it's Jemaine.

"Oh, di ako na naman nakita mo?! Why not just admit Kuya that you lack of brave when it comes to us, even Jemaine didn't have faith in you."

"You!"

"Lenuel! Jullienne!" awat ni Mom.

"Jesus, we were talking about the accident, please pinapalala nyo lang!" sigunda ni Enrique.

"Ganito pala pag wala ako... magulo" I voice out still looking at Tegan who looks away.

I heard them gasps and surprise.

Agad na napalapit sa akin ni Mom at Jemaine, tinulungan nila kung makaupo. Tegan gives them space and step back.

"Thank god! Your okay!" Jem.

"Yeah, you make all of us frightened." buntong hininga ni Enrique.

"Are you okay Baby?" mom asked, fixing my hair.

Tumango ako and composed myself, first.

"Water please" I said. Tatayo na nasa si Mom but Tegan do it and give it to her.

She helps me drank the water while I stare at Jullienne who's beside Enrique near the door.

I sigh "What happened?" tingin ko kay Mom, to Tegan who's very silent, to Kuya who's looking away.

"The wound got infected and re-open, buti na lang at naagapan kaya hindi lumala, now the doctor listed everything that concerning your condition..."

"Oh no..." I said between her words makes them laugh but Tegan is almost statue never move and attentive to me.

"Yes, oh no, because you insisted to know everything..." sisi sa akin ni Jemaine making me frown to her.

Tumikhim si Enrique.

"Why not let's give Joey some space?" mag-poprotesta pa sana ako ng makita kung palabas na si Tegan ng kwarto, I watch him go and frown by his action. Lahat sila sunod sunod na lumabas at naiwan kami ni Mom. 

"Is everything okay, Mom?" takang tanong ko. Mom smile at me with uncertain in her eyes. 

"Wala, napag sabihan ko lang ang dalawa"

"Anong sinabi mo?" I asked making her stop a bit and show a bitchy mode. Wala na yung lambing nya. 

"Pinayuhan ko lang ang dalawa, you don't have to worry ang alalahanin mo ay gumaling ka" with her distance stare. I know something was wrong on that scene. 

"What did you tell Tegan?" Singhap ko, I can't get up. 

"Why? I just said that he needs a distance from you, it's his fault in the first place" kumunot ang noo ko sa maanghang na tono ni Mom, did she just b***h someone? She never does that to anyone! 

"Mom! are you hearing yourself? This is not Tegan's fault, it's because of Mr. Sarmiento and his wife, Ex ni Jullienne si Mr. Sarmiento remember?!" giit ko, raising my voice a bit. Jesus, they are all stressing me out! Please God help me. 

Mom stood up and put the plate on the bed side table, tutulungan nya sana akung kumain. 

"It's the same! He also involves in this, at dinamay ka nya dito! that b***h have a lot of motives to targeted you in the first place! Kay Jullienne, kay Tegan and Lenuel!"

"Napagkamalan lang akung si Jullienne Mom! at labas ako sa alitan nila Kuya." napahinto na lang ako ng makita kung nagpapahid na sya ng luha nya. She's crying. 

"You can't make me believe that! kisyo napagkamalan ka o hindi, nadamay ka pa rin, hindi mo maaalis sa akin na magalit dahil Ina ako Jullieanna! when I saw you laying on the bed barely lifeless for a week, para akung nauubos pa-unti unti! and you bled after makes me stop my breathe so don't defend him!" my eyes heat and with frustration, I run my hand to my face. 

All I heard when she finished talking was a pull bang of the door being close and her frantic steps. 

Just like a close door, a mind can also close off and I know my mom took it harder.