Summer Medicine

Chapter 5

Pat's POV

It's been an hour simula nang magising ako, but I'm still in bed thinking about the kiss. I am overthinking it.

What does that kiss mean? Will it be weird ba if I will make it a big deal? Is it even a big deal? But it can't be anything, right? Should I act normal around him as if nothing happened? But nothing happened. It's just a kiss, right?

Argh! Damn it!

Paikot-ikot ako sa kama at naiinis sa sarili ko when I heard a knock on my door and I know it's Max. Paniguradong may dala nanaman siyang bulaklak.

It's cruel but I didn't open the door and pretended I was still asleep. I don't think I can face Max with a not-so-awkward smile right now.

Nang maramdaman kong wala na siya ay tumayo na ako to make myself a breakfast.

Sa pagtayo ko ay bago ko lang din naramdaman ang init sa pisngi at paghinga ko. I touched my neck and it is burning.

My morning is already not fun, and now I'm sick. This is great. Hindi ko alam kung paano pero siguro dahil sa pagligo namin sa lake kahapon.

No one could help me but myself, so I forced myself to make breakfast. I made a breakfast bowl with oatmeal, banana, kiwi, honey, and chocolate chips.

I know I will be fine alone and sick. I'm used to it. I've been taking care of myself ever since I was a kid. I would copy what my mom would do to my siblings whenever they were sick, and then I would be okay too.

Umupo ako at nagsimulang kumain when I heard a knock again.

"Ms. Lopez? This is Ms. Fee."

My eyes widened in shock when I heard who was knocking. I thought it was Max. I wonder why Ms. Fee is here.

"Coming!"

I ran to the door and immediately opened it.

Pagkabukas ko ay nakita ko siyang nakatayo whild holding a flower.

"I saw this flower here. Is this from Max?"

"I think so."

I awkwardly smiled.

"Did you just woke up?"

"Yes, Ms. Fee. I slept pretty late last night."

"Is it okay if I come in?"

"Sure."

"I hope I'm not disturbing you."

She said while taking her shoes off.

"Not at all."

I shook my head as I prepared tea for her.

"So, how's your stay here so far?"

"It's been only a few days, but I like it here."

The people are nice, unlike other people outside that are far from nice. I guess wounded people are the kindest.

"That's good to know. I've been seeing you hanging out with Max lately."

Oh, Max.

I suddenly feel bad again because I didn't open the door and the flowers... Oh gosh.

I pressed my lips together for a couple of seconds, thinking what to say, but I only chuckled awkwardly.

"I'm glad you came here. I can see you bringing colors to this place."

I never noticed.

"Especially to Max."

Ms. Fee added.

"I think Max is the one bringing all the colors here."

"He needs colors himself."

She answered.

"Ms. Fee, can you tell me anything about Max?"

"Like what?"

"What is he like?"

"Do you like him?"

"Oh no, no, no. Not at all. I'm just curious."

"I see."

Ms. Fee chuckled.

She doesn't believe it, does she?

"Max is a good kid. That's all I can say."

That's disappointing.

I was expecting to hear something interesting or something I don't know about him yet.

"I will be leaving now. Nangamusta lang talaga ako. Take care of that flower."

Ms. Fee said and pointed at the flower she saw in front of my door.

"I will. Thank you, Ms. Fee."

"Sure Iha."

Hinatid ko siya sa pinto at sinara iyon paglabas niya.

Sumilip ako sa bintana and I saw her going inside the next house. I'm guessing that she's checking on every people at the camp.

That's very thoughtful of her.

I went back to eating my food then I washed the plates I used. After that, I decided to sleep again as I am not feeling well, but I set an alarm, so I could eat lunch for sure.

It didn't last a minute when I fell asleep the moment I lay in bed and closed my eyes.

Sleep seemed so fast when something woke me up. It was not my alarm. I opened my eyes and was shocked to see Max inside my house.

He is wearing an apron at may isinasalin siyang tubig na kulay brown to yellow-ish sa isang baso.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wake you up? I didn't mean to be loud."

He smiled with a mark of worry on his face. He walked towards me and sat down on my bed beside me.

"The door is not locked, so I entered. I apologize for that. But thankfully, I did because I found you burning in fever."

Pagpapaliwanag niya at kinapa ang leeg at noo ko at ikinompara 'yon sa kaniya.

"You still have a fever pero parang mas bumaba na. I made you some tea. Drink all of this."

Iniabot niya sa akin yung basong sinalinan niya nung kung anong liquid kanina na nalilitong tinanggap ko naman.

"It's ginger tea with honey and calamansi. I made sure na masarap yung lasa para maubos mo kaagad."

He added.

"Why are you here?"

He acts so normal like we didn't make out at the lake yesterday.

"I saw that the flower in front of your door is gone, so I figured that maybe you got it?"

"Yes. Ms. Fee brought it inside."

"Oh."

"Thank you."

I smiled, but it was only half of my lips.

"Sure, always."

The room was filled with silence, so I just drank the whole cup of the tea he made me.

"Masarap?"

Tanong niya nang ibaba ko na yung baso.

"Huh?"

"The tea."

The tea. Ano pa nga ba?

"Oh yeah, it's sweet."

Thanks to the honey he put. Nakita kong hinuhubad niya yung apron na suot niya at tinupi iyon pagkatapos ay nilapag niya sa gilid ng kitchen sink.

"Go back to sleep. Take a good rest para gumaling ka kaagad. I'll come back here later to bring you lunch."

He opened the door and was about to leave nang bigla akong tumayo

"Max."

"Yes, Pat?"

"I'm sorry."

Nahihiya kong sabi. Nakakurot pa akong daliri ko sa binti ko para lang pigilan ang hiyang nararamdaman ko.

"For what?"

"For not opening the door kanina. I was already awake. I didn't know how to face you after what happened yesterday."

Pagpapaliwanag ko.

"I understand."

"That's it?"

I asked.

Is he not going to say anything more about it?

"Are you comfortable?"

"What?"

"I want to make sure you're comfortable enough to talk about it."

Am I? I'm not sure, but I want to talk about it. I'm getting nervous just thinking about it while I'm looking straight at him right now.

"No."

I finally answered.

Max smiled at me at tuluyan nang lumabas ng pinto. Naiwan ako sa loob ng kwarto nang nakasimangot nang matanaw ko ang bulaklak galing kay Max kanina na ngayon ay dalawa na at nakalagay sa isang baso na may tubig.

Hindi ko nasunod ang bilin ni Max na matulog dahil hindi ako makatulog. Nakahiga lang ako buong umaga at nagbabasa ng aklat because I don't want to think too much.

I'm also waiting for him to come back because he said he will bring me lunch. I admit that it's not the food that I am waiting for.

12:30 noon nang may kumatok sa pinto ko. Balot ng puting blanket ay lumapit ako to open the door.

"Max."

I said, but it was not Max.

"Oh, hi."

"Emma."

It is Emma at the door. She's wearing a white shirt and simple jeans at may dala rin siyang sling bag.

"Max told me to bring you lunch and medicine. He couldn't come himself because... I honestly don't know."

"Oh, I see."

Does he not want to see me? Oh gosh. I feel so embarrassed. Sana pala hindi na ako nagsalita kanina nung paalis na siya.

"You seem disappointed to see me. Magtagampo ako niyan."

Emma pouted.

"No, no. I'm sorry. I don't feel okay."

"Just kidding. Yeah, Max told me you're sick."

"Hmm."

"Here."

May kinuha si Max sa dala niyang sling bag. It is a brown lunch box at pagkalabas niya pa lang nun ay naamoy ko na kaagad ang nakakagutom na amoy.

"Go eat your lunch. Ubusin mo tapos uminom ka ng gamot. Papagalitan ako ni Max kapag hindi mo inubos yan."

"Is he my mom?"

I joked.

"Siya kasi yung mismong nagluto niyan."

"Thank you, Emma."

"Get well soon. Babye."

"Bye."

I waved at her and closed the door.

I sat down on a chair and opened the lunch box from Max.

There's a soup, a tofu dish, an egg, peeled orange, and medicine.

Napangiti ako sa nakita ko. I grabbed my phone and took a picture of it. I was thinking about sending it to Max, but I almost forgot that we are not friends on social media platforms. I don't even know his last name yet.

After I ate all of the good meals he made. I looked at his house from my window and did that many times for the next hours until I watched the light goes off.