The pain he now know (TPHNK Book 2)

#19

Chapter 19

The dinner was amazing, Even though pareho kaming walang imik na dalawa. We just ate Dahil hindi ko rin naman ang alam ang sasabihin ko.

Tapos na akong kumain, at si kage ay hindi pa. After eating 'my' salad, maybe he felt that it didn't made him full, at all, He ordered another batch of food for himself, on which he said and i quote 'real food'

"Zephy"

"Yassy. Done eating?" Tanong ko sa kaibigan na ngayon ay nakatayo na sa harapan namin kasama ang kaniyang kasintahan.

"Yeah. Mauna na kami? Mukhang may kasama ka naman na" she took a quick glance at kage then her smile turned into a teasing one. Umirap ako.

"Sure. Good night"

"You too" she smiled. "Enjoy your night couples" her last phrase made me smile.

"Man, thank you" tango ni kage kay riggs.

"Aight bro, no problem" tango din nito pabalik at umalis na sila.

"Thank you?" Taas ng kilay ko. "Thank you saan?"

Tinitigan niya ako ng ilang segundo bago binalik ang attensyon sa kinakain.

"Dahil hinatid ka niya dito" he said cooly.

"Oh okay" i dropped the conversation.

Ilang minuto pa ay natapos na din siyang kumain.

"What are we going to do after this? No! Ako na" pigil ko sa kaniya nang aakamang ilalabas niya ang pitaka niya. I opened my wallet and quietly cussed when i remembered na wala nga pala akong cash. Kaya wala akong choice.

I called for the waiter and i handed him a card. Nakita ko kung paano Tumaas ang kilay ni kage nang makita ang kaniyang black card ang siyang binigay ko sa waiter para pambayad. Little Later, he just grinned at tsaka umiling-iling.

"Akala ko ba ikaw magbabayad?" He chuckled amused.

"I don't have any cash with me" ilang minuto pa ay binalik na ng waiter ang card. I handed it to him. "Oh!"

"What am i supposed to do with that?" He lifted a brow.

"I'm giving it back to you. Take it" ani ko. Ilang minuto na ang dumaan ay hindi niya pa rin iyon kinukuha. Nangangalay na ang kamay ko.

"Keep it for now."

"Why? Take it" i insisted.

Umiling siya sabay tayo kaya tumayo na din ako. Nauna na siyang maglakad at todo habol naman ako.

"Saan tayo pupunta pagkatapos nito?" Pangungulit ko nang maabutan.

"Ihahatid na kita sa hotel niyo." He said seriously.

"Ano? Ayoko!"

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad. Humarap siya sa'kin na nakataas ang kilay.

"Ayoko pa muna. Wala naman akong gagawin doon e!"

"So what do you suggest for us to do?"

"Tumambay muna tayo doon" turo ko sa buhanginan. It would be fun and peaceful just by looking at the beach view at night.

Nilingon niya saglit ang tinuro ko at akala ko ay papayag siya sa alok ko pero tiningnan niya lang ako saglit bago nagpatuloy sa paglakad.

"Kage naman e! Sandali lang naman!" Habol ko na naman sa kaniya.

"No zephyrine. We are going back to your hotel. Remember that you're not safe, especially gabi na. So please! Take care of yourself. Maging maingat ka naman!" Kunot noo niya. He's like van when in serious mode. Mas strikto nga lang siya tingnan.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at tahimik na lang na sumunod sa kaniya. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa lobby ng hotel, wala pa rin kaming imik. He has a point. Tama naman talaga na maging cautious ako. It's just too darn embarrassing na siya pa mismo ang nagre remind sa akin no'n.

He stopped when we were nearing the elevator. I looked up at him and he gestured me to go in.

"Thank you..sa paghatid" i whispered at yumukong naglakad papasok doon. Napatigil din naman kaagad nang hawakan niya sa braso at hinarap sa kaniya.

"Are we good?" He asked na tila tinatantiya ang ekspresyon ko.

"Huh?"

"You're not mad at me right?"

"H-hindi naman. Bakit naman ako magtatampo i-i mean, m-magagalit?"

Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat then squatted slightly to level our faces.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Aniya sa malambing na boses. Saglit akong Napatigil sa paghinga nang ilapit niya ang kaniyang labi sa aking ilong. He kissed the tip of it softly. "Okay?"

"O-okay"

He smiled warmly which made my heartbeat faster. Damn that smile!

"Goodnight" aniya at binitawan na ako. He shoved his hands on his pocket. Saglit pa akong natulala sa kaniya. i just got back to my senses when he titled his head sideways like he was trying to tell me to enter the lift already. So i did. I smiled and slightly waved my hand hanggang sa tuluyan nang sumara ang pintuan no'n.

"You brought a camera?" Tanong ko sa kaibigan kinaumagahan. We were readying dahil nanyaya na naman sila sumner na maligo, but this time, dito na lang sa pool ng hotel.

"Yeah, i brought this too" aniya at nilabas ang camera na ginagamit niya noon pangkuha ng video. It was the camera na palagi niyang ginagamit sa akin nung nasa ospital pa ako sa states.

My mouth formed an 'o' as i squealed and jumped excitedly para kuhanin ang camera galing sa kaniya.

"Gimme!" Tili ko. Napangiti ako nang makitang nandoon pa din ang mga lumang videos ko. There was a video of us together, mayroon din Yung mga video ko sa magkasunod na mga birthday, when we were dancing, when he was singing to me at iba pa. There were also a video showing me getting my head shaved for the first time.

I fondly laughed at myself nang maalala ang reaction ko noon nang makitang wala na akong buhok. That day na napagdesisyunan kong magpagupit, unti-unti na ding lumalagas no'n ang buhok ko, it fell everywhere in my room, to the bathroom and even on my bed. Kaya i just decided to shave it off. I was half shocked and emotional that day. It was like a nightmare for me seeing myself bald.

I was non-stop scrolling when i came across this certain video. Unti-unti akong napangiti ng mapait remembering those 'bad' old days. I took that video on the day i felt really weak. The quality of it was really poor because of my inevitable shaky hands. I took that video for a certain reason that i was and still..embarrassed to say. I didn't want to reminisce those days kaya i was about to delete it when someone from behind took the camera from my hand.

"Ano ba!"

"Wag mong burahin" seryosong sabi ni van at sinara na ang camera.

"Bakit ba! Ibalik mo na sa'kin—"

"No! Those are memories. Your memories"

"Obvious naman na ayoko nang maalala 'yon! Isa lang naman. 'Yon lang talaga"

"Kahit na. They're still memories. Proof of the battles you won. Besides, you'll thank me one day because I didn't make you delete it" he murmured.

Umirap ako. "Bahala ka diyan" ani ko at nauna ng lumabas.

Nang makarating sa likod ng hotel na kung saan ang pool, nakita ko ang mga kaibigan at pinsan na nandoon na. Some of them were already dipping on the pool and some were just laying for some sun.

"You're here" ani ng pinsan pagkatapos kong humiga sa katabi niyang sun lounger. I just hummed as a reply and took out my prada shades.

"Pansin ko lang huh? Bakit kayong mag bestfriend palaging late na bumaba when in fact dapat kayo yung nauuna dahil mas malayo ang cabin namin dito sa hotel." Aniya.

"Pansin ko lang din na marami kang napapansin" i said in a bitchy tone.

She chuckled.

"Girl, who hurt you today?"

"No one. I just woke up this morning and felt like i needed to b***h out on someone. Unfortunate for you, dahil ikaw ang katabi ko"

She chuckled once again.

"Swimming tayo?" Aniya at tumayo na para hubarin ang kaniyang suot na see through.

"Okay" i said at hinubad na din ang aking shirt. "Let's go?"

"Eh? Ang shorts mo hindi mo huhubarin?" She said expectingly.

"No, I'm good" ayokong makita nila ang scar ko. It was on my abdomen kaya kung huhubarin ko man ay makikita nila iyon. Lalo na ni kage. I don't want him to wonder.

We dived in at nang makaahon, i hugged myself and burred at the coldness of the water.

"Mga bruha kayo! Wala man lang nagsabi na malamig!" Rinig kong tili ng pinsan.

Patuloy ko pa ding niyayakap ang sarili habang nakatalikod sa kanila nang maramdaman na parang may lumalangoy papunta sa akin. I turned around to see no one. Napatili ako ng malakas nang may biglang humila sa aking paa mula sa ilalim ng tubig.

I kicked the unknown annoying person underwater na kaagad ko namang pinagsisihan nang umahon si kage sa aking harapan habang nakatingin sa akin ng masama.

"What the hell woman?!" Simangot niya habang hinihimas ng bahagya ang panga na sa tingin ko ay doon ko siya natamaan.

I stifled a laugh.

"Serves you right" i chuckled pero lumapit naman kaagad sa kaniya. "There, okay na?" I asked after kissing him on that part na nasipa ko.

The corner of his lips slightly rose.

"Okay" lumapit siya sa akin at pinahiran ang basang gilid ng labi gamit ang kaniyang hinlalaki. "But this one's better" aniya at walang sabing hinalikan ako sa mga labi na siyang ikinalaki ng mata ko.

"Yoowwww! Lover boy's on the move!"

"Yiiieeeeeeee!"

"Accckk! Sana all!"

"Gross! You two get a room!"

"What?! What happened? Hindi ko nakita!"

Nahihiyang napapikit ako nang marinig ang panunudyo nila. Come to think na ang layo na nga namin ay nakita pa nila. Unless binabantayan talaga nila kami.

"Nakakahiya" i whispered as he chuckled, hiding me using his large built.

"Don't mind them" he whispered back.

"Ano ba 'yon? Hindi ko talaga nakita! Ulitin niyo!"

Napasapo ako sa noo dahil sa sinigaw ng pinsan. Especially when i heard a majority of chuckle from them and from kage.

"You heard your cousin baby? Ulitin daw natin" kage teased.

Inirapan ko siya.

"Stop it" hinampas ko siya ng marahan sa dibdib. He just chuckled. Nagulat ako nang bigla niya na lang sinandal ang kaniyang ulo sa aking balikat. I was containing myself from laughing each time his breathe would hit my skin.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" I slightly chuckled. "You know, you should shave your stubbles. It's ticklish"

"This bra top is revealing" he murmured on my neck. Napababa naman ako ng tingin sa aking swim suit.

"Hindi naman ah? Alangan nama—"

"Alangan namang mag swimming ka na naka t-shirt? I know you're going to say that" aniya na nagpatawa sa'kin ng mahina. "But i'm glad that you didn't take off your short though. So it's fine" he lazily commented once again.

"Guys! Let's play a game!" My cousin yelled.

"What game?" Tanong naman ni liya.

"Chicken fight!"

"I'm in!' Rinig kong sabi ni cali na sinundan ni yassy, ni tas, at ni liya. Wala naman akong narinig na boses galing kay clover, which wasn't new.

"Zephryine! Halika na dito! Mamaya ka na lumandi diyan!" Rinig kong sigaw ni tas.

"I gotta go" i whispered on kage's ear. Hindi niya pa din inaalis ang ulo niya sa aking balikat kung kaya't hinawakan ko siya sa kaniyang braso. Damn rocky biceps!

He groaned in annoyance pero umayos din naman ng tayo. I just laughed at his reaction and swam papunta sa mga kaibigan.

"So what is the game again?"

"Chicken fight" liya stated.

"Okayyy"

"Kayo boys, hindi kayo sasali?" Tanong ni cali sa mga lalaki na ngayon ay umahon na at nakaupo na sa sun lounger.

Umiling ang fiance niya. "I'm good baby. Kayo na lang"

"Trav?" Ani sumner.

Umiling ang lalaki. "No, I'm okay. Have fun" aniya at inaya pa namin ang iba at nagsi-ilingan naman sila. Except for the two boys. Ken and jay?

"Chicken fight ba? Sus easy! Sali kami!" Pagmamayabang ni jay.

"Bro ayaw niyo? Bahala kayo diyan. Ano girls? Game?" Ani ken.

"Game!"

"Girls vs boys ba?"

"Hindi. Dapat tig-iisang lalaki sa taga groups. Sila dapat 'yong magbubuhat sa mga babae" humarap saglit si sumner para mag explain.

"Ah-eh. Hindi na lang pala kami sasali. Hehe"

"Oo nga, kayo na lang"

"Huh? Bakit naman?" Kumunot ang noo namin.

"Basta kayo na lang." kamot nung isa sa kaniyang batok.

The game started at magkasama kami ni sumner at tas sa iisang group. While si liya, yassy at cali naman sa kabilang grupo. The first one to play was sumner and tas, si tas ang bumuhat sa pinsan habang ang kalaban nila ay si cali at yasmin. I laughed loudly when both got knocked down on the waters at the same time. Hindi pa nagsisimula at paakyat pa lang dalawang grupo ay tumaob na sila.

The second try, nahirapan pa ang mga nasa ilalim mag balance pero nagawa naman nila. The first round favored on our group, lalo na't hindi talaga tinigilan ni sumner si cali. It seems that they took the game personally. Sa huli ay nagtawanan na lang din.

Now for the second round ay nagtuturuan pa kami ni sumner kung sinong magbubuhat at sino ang bubuhatin.

"Ikaw na lang kasi!" Ani ko.

"Hoy! Ang bigat mo kaya!"

"Mas lalo ka na ano! Tsaka hindi ako pwedeng magbuhat. Remember?" Pasikreto kong tinuro ang aking puson na kung saan ako inoperahan. Her mouth formed into an 'o'

"Ah oo nga pala. Baka bumuka." She grimaced. "Sige na nga! Akyat na!" She tapped her shoulders. I chuckled. I sat on her shoulders when she downed her head under water.

"ang bigat-bigat mo naman zephyrine!" She grunted.

I gasped. "How dare you! Hindi kaya!"

"Try mo kayang buhatin sarili mo ano? Para malaman mo" she sarcastically said. I splashed some water on her face making her yell at me angrily na tinawanan ko lang.

"Ano? Game na?" Tanong ko.

"G-game" nahihirapang ani ni cali na siyang bumubuhat kay liya.

I smirked at liya in front of me. Kaagad ko siyang hinawakan sa balikat at gano'n din ang ginawa niya sa akin. We pushed each other while laughing like there's no tomorrow. I was enjoying pushing her and there, I don't know if i could say the same for the two na bumubuhat sa aming dalawa ni liya. At first, akala ko ay matatalo pa kami dahil muntikan pa akong mabitawan ni sumner, good thing she had a hard grip on my thigh. Walang nagpapatalo sa amin, both liya and me were really consistent.

A few seconds later, someone splashed a water at nalagyan ang magkabilang mata ko. Since i was trying to rub the water off, i tried grabbing liya on her shoulders for some support, but since she was still on game on mode, naitulak niya ako on which was a wrong move dahil naiwaksi niya pati ang aking kamay, my long nails accidentally scratched her on the skin making her wobble from lack of balance, dahil siguro ayaw niyang malaglag, nahawakan niya ako sa buhok, she accidentally pulled my hair harshly making me gasp. Nawalan na din ako ng balanse kung kaya't nalaglag na din ako mula sa balikat ni sumner.

Mabilis akong umahon, and i didn't care about my red eyes or my nose na napasukan ng tubig, i was more on concerned about my hair. Horror was evident on my face habang pasikreto kong minamasahe ang aking anit. I was slightly trembling, not because of the cold water but of fear.

"Hey" nagulat ako nang hinila ako ni kage para humarap sa kaniya. I didn't even notice that he went in the water again. "Are you okay? Does your nose hurt because of the water?"

Even though i was still in anxiety, i still managed to fake a smile.

"Are you sure?" Dumako ang tingin niya sa kamay kong nakahawak pa din sa ulo. "Why? What is it? Why are you shaking, hmm?"

"I-it's just cold"

"Zeph. I'm sorry" lapit ni liya sa akin

"Why? What happened?" Kunot noo ni kage.

"Nasabunotan ko ata siya." Ngiwi niya. "Sorry. Masakit ba?" Aakmang hahawakan niya ako sa ulo pero agad akong umatras. Mukhang nabigla naman siya sa tinuran ko.

"I-it's okay. I'm okay" i whispered head down.

"Nasabunotan mo siya?" Ngayon ay lapit ng pinsan sa amin. Mukhang alam din ang pinagmulan ng takot ko kaya lumapit siya sa'kin at pasimpleng hinagod ang likod ko.

"Oo e. Hindi ko naman sinasadya"

"Okay lang. s-sorry din dahil nakalmot din ata kita" ani ko.

"Excuse me kage pero pwede ko ba siyang hiramin?" Hingi ng permiso ni sumner.

"Bakit? Saan kayo pupunta?" Taas ng kilay niya.

"Ihahatid ko lang siya kay van saglit" aniya at hindi na hinintay ang magiging tugon ni kage at inalalayan na ako paalis ng pool.