I Fell As I Heal

Chapter 2

Dahan-dahan akong nagmulat ng mga mata mula sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog.

I wandered my eyes in every corner of the room where I am lying. Its walls are painted gray, it has a big window without a curtain so I think it’s a reflective one, and the last thing I observed it the neatness of the room. This is definitely not mine.

Where am I?!

I tried recalling the last thing that happened to me before I fell asleep. I fainted on the street. And someone catched me.

I tried my best to recognize that person but I failed. As far as my brain remembers, it’s a man.

Am I kidn*pped?!

Well, it’s better to be kidn*pped than to live with my family. At least, I’m in a decent and comfortable place. My body doesn’t have any bruise, meaning, I was not hurt.

I think I was not kidn*pped. I’m perfectly fine!

But wait, my clothes. Inalala ko kung ano’ng suot ko bago mawalan ng malay, at iba iyon sa suot ko ngayon. Hospital dress ang suot ko noon, ngayon ay pajama na! Is it possible that, that man r***d me?

Ngunit wala naman akong nararamdamang sakit sa ibabang parte ko.

To find out what really happened, I got up from the bed and opened the door. Nakaamoy ako ng sinigang, maybe someone is cooking downstairs. Lakas-loob akong lumabas at bumaba upang hanapin ang taong nagluluto.

Simple lang ang design ng bahay nito kaya madali ko lang nahanap ang kusina. Bumungad ang isang lalaking tutok sa pagluluto.

I just stared at him mixing the dish in the caserole until he’s done. Inilapag niya ang sandok at humarap sa kinaroroonan ko.

My eyes grew bigger and my jaw dropped on the floor when I realized who the man is. It’s the psychologist!

“f**k, how did I end up here?!” agad na tanong ko.

He did not answer me. He removed his apron and took the caserole to put it in the table. He grabbed two plates and two spoons and put in the table.

“Let’s eat first.” he offered me a seat.

“No, answer me first.” I need an answer and not a food—

My stomach suddenly made a sound, indicating that I am hungry.

“Wala kang malay for more than 24 hours, malamang ay walang laman ‘yang tiyan mo kaya kumain ka muna.” he laughed a little.

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang umupo at saluhan siya. Walang salita akong naglagay ng kanin at ulam sa platong nakatapat sa akin. Nagsubo ako ng ilang beses at tinanong siya.

“Now, explain to me why I am here.” I demanded.

He smiled. “When you lost your consciousness, you’re in front of a house, right?” I nodded. “That house is mine.”

How unfortunate of mine! Sa dami ng bahay na nadaanan ko, roon pa ako nahimatay sa tapat ng bahay niya!

“Alam mo bang tumakas ako sa ospital no’n?” I asked.

“No. When I left your room, I saw your mom talking with someone. Nakita niya ako at tinanong kung ano nang nangyari sa’yo, I told her that you wanted me to leave. Nagalit siya at pinaalis na lang muna ako dahil kakausapin ka niya. I tried to give her an advise upon approaching you.” wika niya. “Did she offended you kaya mo naisipang tumakas?”

“No, hindi pa siya nakarating sa kwarto noong umalis ako.” he nodded.

Kumain ako nang tahimik hanggang sa may naalala ako.

“Psycho, I have something to ask.” I called his attention.

I saw a hint of annoyance in his face but he still tries to show me a smile. “I’m not a psycho, please don’t call me that.”

“Psycho, short for psychologist.” I playfully smiled.

“Okay, fine.” he slightly shaked his head.

“Okay. My question is, who changed my clothes?” I asked. Bigla siyang nabulunan. Agad siyang uminom ng tubig, mabilis naman siyang nakahinga nang maluwag.

“Uh…” he looked away. There’s a hint of blush in his face. Does that mean…

“Who changed my dress?” may pagbabanta na sa aking tono.

“Me.” he scratched his nape.

“What the f**k?! Are you f*****g serious?!” I was surprised. He’s a man, bakit siya ang nagpalit ng damit ko?!

“Hindi kita minanyak, okay? I was so worried nung dinala kita rito hanggang sa time na pinapalitan kita ng damit, hindi ko na nga pinansin ang katawan mo. Don’t worry, hindi ko naman pinalitan ‘yung underwears mo.” he smiled.

“Alangan namang palitan mo! You, p*****t!” ngiwi ko. “Bakit hindi mo na lang ako dinala sa hospital?”

“I was worried na baka tumakas ka na naman. Calling your parents is not a good idea naman kasi alam kong pababayaan ka lang nila, kaya dito na lang kita dinala. Besides, alam ko naman ang gagawin sa isang taong walang malay so I thought that everything would be alright if I bring you here.” napalunok ako. Bakit may pakialam siya? Bakit hindi niya ako pinabayaan? Bakit inisip niya ang kalagayan ko?

Tumahimik ako at inubos na lamang ang pagkain. Inilagay ko ang aking plato sa sink at lumapit kay psycho.

“Psycho, aalis na’ko ha.” I said.

Tumingin siya sa akin. “Aalis? Saan ka pupunta?”

“Sa lugar kung saan hindi na ako mahahanap ng pamilya ko.” I answered.

“No, you’re staying here.” iniligpit niya ang kanyang pinagkainan at nilinisan ang table.

“Psycho, ayaw ko nang bumalik pang muli sa pamilya ko. Hindi rin naman ako pwedeng manatili rito.” I reasoned out.

“If you don’t want to go home yet, you can stay here, I will not do anything abusive.” he smiled.

“Wait, wala akong sinabi na tatanggapin na kita as psychologist ko.” my brows knitted.

“I didn’t say that you did.” what?

“So bakit okay lang sa’yo na manatili ako rito?” naguguluhang tanong ko.

“Because I cared for you. Maraming mga masasamang loob d’yan sa paligid, it’s much safe here.” natulala ako. Does he really mean that? “Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

“Wala ka bang trabaho?” kuryosong tanong ko.

“Actually, ginagawa ko na siya ngayon.” what? Ginagawa? But we’re currently climbing at the stairs.

“Huh?” I asked in confusion.

“Convincing you to claim me as your psychologist.” I rolled my eyes. “Just kidding. For now, I’m not accepting patients pa because you’re my exclusive patient. Your parents asked me to focus on you for your faster recovery.”

“I heard from your conversation with mama that your father is training you to become your company’s CEO?” I asked.

“Yes, I am actually practicing now. Madali lang namang pagsabayin ang pagiging psychologist at practice CEO. The only problem is I still don’t have a secretary.” I nodded at his response.

“Ito lang ba ang kwarto sa bahay na ‘to?” tanong ko nang makarating na kami sa kwarto kung saan ako nagising kanina.

“Yeah. I’m not planning to have a family pa kasi, I bought this house for myself.” he sat at the sofa.

“Hey, I’m really serious. I don’t want a psychologist.” I said.

“How about your mental health?” nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay.

“I badly want to die, actually. Pero kung hindi ako pwedeng mamatay, ayaw ko rin namang mabuhay nang mayroong nagtuturo sa akin kung paano mag-recover. I want to recover with the help of myself only.” I smiled a little.

“Okay, I understand your point so I’ll let you lead your own life now. Pero mayroon pang isang problema.” nangangambang sabi niya. “Your parents talked to my dad, and my dad promised them that I will make you recover so they paid me a million. They said that I should make you recover. Kung hindi ko magagawa, kailangan kong ibalik sa kanila ang perang ibinayad pero kailangang doble. I cannot ask money from dad kasi ayaw niyang tanggapin sa sarili niya na hindi kita kayang pagalingin.” my eyes grew bigger.

“What?! A million?!” well, it’s a very small amount compared to the estimated net worth of my parents.

He nodded. “Pwede rin daw kitang dalhin kahit saan basta kapag ibabalik kita, dapat maayos na ang kalagayan mo.”

“Did you informed them that I’m with you right now?” he nodded.

“Alam ko na, I just gonna act.” sabi ko.

“You father is a lawyer, and your mother is a doctor. Do not underestimate them, they are not dumb.” he gave me a warning.

“So there’s only two choices. First, ay ang pumayag akong tulungan mo. Second, ay tutulungan kitang makaipon ng another million.” he nodded. “What is the most easiest way to help you to earn another million?”

“I’m a practice CEO, right? So may itinago si dad na pera na siyang ipambabayad ko sa secretary na kukunin ko.” so what is his point?

“You are planning to get that money?” I asked.

“Kung mawawala ‘yon, wala na akong maipambabayad sa secretary na kukunin ko. As a practice CEO, a secretary is very important para sa time management ko at para sa iba pang mga bagay.” so he’s saying…

“You wanted me to be your secretary?!” I exclaimed.

“I don’t even have a choice. You choose. Be my secretary, or my patient?” f**k, this is the most hard choices I’ve ever encountered in my life.