Ace's POV
I'm at my room right now, reading Jeffrey's novel March 2020/1 and I'm literally crying right now! I didn't know na ganito pala si Jeffrey magsulat as an author, pinupunit niya ako sa dalawa while reading his novel since I'm on the part where one of the main character was about to attempt suicide since hindi niya na kaya 'yung pain. I remembered what Seph told me about his encounter with me kaya sobra akong nakarelate sa story!
While humihikbi pa ako sa kakaiyak, I saw Chester calling me on my phone and I answered it.
"Ace, umiiyak ka ba?" Chester asked.
"Naiyak kasi ako sa binabasa ko! Nakakainis. Bakit? Tapos na kayo sa meeting niyo? Kakain na ba tayo?" I asked while pinupunasan ko ang mga luha ko from reading the novel.
"Oo, sasabay daw si Kuya Lucas. Okay lang naman sayo?" Chester asked.
"Yes, since I owe him one. Lalo na noong hindi ko siya nasamahan noong niyaya niya ako magdinner." I answered.
"Okay, wait ka namin sa Lobby. 'Di na kami aakyat ni Harry." Chester said and binaba niya na ang call.
I went down and sinalubong ko na sa lobby sina Harry and Chester together with Lucas.
"Hi, Ace." Lucas greeted me and smiled at me.
"Hi?" I greeted him, but as a question. Haha!
"Saan mo gusto kumain? My treat." Lucas said.
Then, nilapitan ako nina Harry and Chester at binulungan, "Mission success. Nakalibre na naman kami ng dinner dahil sa'yo." Chester whispered.
"Thanks, Ace. Araw-arawin na natin sila." Harry added.
Mga baliw talaga 'tong mga tropa ko. Tine-take advantage lahat ng mga nanlilibre sa akin. Haha!
"Kahit saan or anywhere you like." I answered.
"Okay ka lang naman uminom? I mean chill lang, ganoon. G ka?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, it's fine. Isa pa, I really wanted to chill and drink since matagal tagal na akong hindi nakakainom ulit." I answered.
Afterwards, we went to this resto bar na may open space and it was so cozy and the ambiance is really nice. Umupo na kami sa isang vaccant na table and was waiting for our order to be served.
"Oo nga pala, Ace. May outreach program kami as part ng project ng basketball club and open for all who wants to join. Baka gusto mo sumama?" Lucas asked.
"Yun ba 'yung parang sa music club 'yung project naman nila 'yung concert for a cause? Sorry, I'm not familiar sa mga projects ng mga clubs since hindi naman ako sumali sa kahit anong clubs." I said.
"Oo, gano'n na nga. We've decided na mag outreach program sa isang remote location, sa Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija and it will be fun since may mga activities kami na makakatulong sa mga nakatira doon. Gusto mo sumama?" Lucas shared.
"I guess it's fine. Since I can help those who are in need. Sure, sign me up! Kailan ba 'to?" I asked.
"Sa Saturday, but aalis tayo ng mga madaling araw ng Saturday. G ka naman?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, isa pa, Chester and Harry will be there. I won't be alone." I answered.
"Tsaka, I'll be there, don't worry. I'll take care of you." Lucas said.
"Baliw ka! Haha! Yung mga nandoon dapat ang alagaan mo, and not me!" I said.
After a while, dumating na rin ang food and drinks namin so we've decided to eat first then panulak na lang ang beer.
"Aaahh! Ang sarap talaga ng beer!" I said after drinking 1 whole glass.
"Sabihin mo lang, Ace, if gusto mo pa ng beer or kapag hindi mo na kaya. Just let me know." Lucas said.
"Bakit kami hindi mo kami tinatanong ng ganyan? Bakit hindi mo kami inaalagaan? May favoritism ka ba, Kuya Lucas?" Chester asked.
"Bakit? Kayo ba si Ace?" Lucas said and laughed.
I was looking at Lucas and I saw something from his left arm habang tumatawa siya. Hinawakan ko bigla ang left hand ni Lucas and mygahd, sobrang lambot ng kamay niya!
He didn't utter any word while I was holding his hand and bigla ko inikot ang kamay niya ng slight para makita kung ano 'yung something na nakita ko sa left arm niya.
"What's this, Lucas?" I asked him since parang hiwa ng kutsilyo ang nakita ko and it was so deep and medyo fresh pa ang sugat.
Bigla niyang tinago ang left arm niya and said, "Wala 'to. Nalaglag lang ako sa hagdanan tapos nagkamali ng bagsak. Nothing to worry about, Ace." he answered but I know that he's lying based from his expression since hindi siya makatingin sa akin.
I remembered what Tara said, na Lucas is somewhat a gangster sa school or he participates sa mga school gang war. Seriously, what do you get there? Dignidad? Pangalan? But I really don't get it.
I stood up and lumapit ako kay Lucas and I checked his left arm again. Hinawakan ko ulit ang left arm niya but hindi niya na natago sa akin.
"Lucas, tell me honestly, do you still participate in a school war?" I asked Lucas which made him shocked.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Don't play dumb with me. I know na nagpaparticipate ka sa school war. Somebody told me." I said, then Lucas looked at Chester and Harry and I added, "Nope, hindi si Chester and Harry ang nagsabi sa akin."
Lucas sighed and said, "Yes." and he was so embarassed.
Umupo na ako sa upuan ko and started to drink a glass of beer and was waiting for him to start sharing.
"Gusto mo ba tumigil na ako? I will, and I can stop. If ayaw mo na nagpaparticipate ako, I won't join them anymore." Lucas said and I think he's so sincere at this point since he's looking at me straight in the eyes.
"Baliw ka ba? Kahit naman hindi ko sabihin, you should've stopped. I mean, mapapahamak ka sa ginagawa mong 'yan." I said.
"I was supposed to stop, kaso, I needed to fight." Lucas added.
"If ako lang talaga ang masusunod, I'd ask you to stop from fighting. I mean, that's not healthy." I said.
"Okay, I'll stop since ikaw na ang nagsabi. I won't join them." Lucas said.
"Pero, ano ba 'yung dahilan? Why are you engaging in that kind of war? Anong nakukuha mo?" I asked Lucas.
He didn't answer at uminom lang siya ng beer. I guess I won't get any answer from him at this point.
We're almost done eating and drinking and I was about to throw up dahil nasobrahan ako sa pagkain and sa beer.
"Saglit! Mag C.R. lang ako, nasusuka ako." I said.
"Samahan na kita, Ace." Lucas said.
"No, kaya ko na 'to." I answered.
"Shuta, Ace, buntis ka?" Chester said.
"Kailan gender reveal?" Harry added.
"F**k you two!" I said then tumakbo na ako agad sa C.R. na medyo malapit sa backdoor ng restobar.
Pagkabalik ko, Chester and Harry was gone and si Lucas na lang ang naghihintay sa table.
"Where are the two idiots?" I asked.
"Nauna na sila. May gagawin daw sila, sabi nila. Mauuna na daw sila sa dorm." Lucas said.
Hmmm... parang alam ko na gagawin nila. Haha! Pero baka judgemental lang ako.
"Tara na, Ace?" Lucas said and then umalis na kami sa resto bar.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Habang nasa elevator na kami sa dorm, napatingin ako sa left arm niya and it was freakin bleeding! Kaya naman napasigaw ako bigla at tinuro ko ang nadudugo niyang braso.
"Shoot! Lucas! Your left arm is bleeding!" I shouted and I was so damn worried dahil ayoko nakakakita ng dugo!
I was about to go out sa 3rd floor since doon ang room namin, but I immediately closed the door para mapunta kami agad sa 4th floor which is where Lucas' room is located.
"Where's your room! Quick!" I asked and minamadali ko na siya kasi tumutulo 'yung dugo and tipong ako 'yung nanghihina para kay Lucas.
"Room 419." Lucas said and gave me the key.
Click!
As soon as we got in, pinaupo ko agad si Lucas sa sofa niya, and hindi ko na notice na this was my first time sa room niya. It's so damn messy! Mas makalat pa sa kwarto namin nina Harry and Chester.
"Nakakahiya, Ace. Makalat dito, okay lang ako. Don't worry about me." Lucas said while he's so embarassed because of his filthy and messy room.
"I can't leave you all alone like this!" I shouted, "Where's your first aid kit!"
"I'm sorry, I don't have any." Lucas said and nakayuko na siya since pakiramdam ko nahihiya siya sa akin.
Inabot ko sa kanya ang panyo and said, "Use this first to stop the bleeding. Don't worry, I haven't used this one yet. Gamitin mo muna."
"Ayoko, mamamantsahan 'yung panyo mo. Ayaw ko na madumihan." Lucas refused.
"Really? 'Yun pa talaga ang naisip mo? Baliw ka na!" I shouted and binigay ko sa kanya ang panyo ko and said, "Wait for me! Bababa lang ako sa room namin to get our first aid kit. 'Wag kang aalis d'yan sa kinatatayuan mo!"
Then, I went out of Lucas' room and nag fire exit na ako since it will be faster dahil nasa 24fth floor pa ang nag-iisang elevator namin sa dorm!
As I barged in sa room namin to get the first aid kit. I remembered na tinago ko sa C.R. ang first aid kit. But naka-lock ang C.R. so I decided to knock.
"May tao? Paabot ako ng first aid kit. Pakibilis!" I said.
Then, bumukas ang pinto and someone just handed me the first aid kit, but as soon as the door opened, may naamoy ako... something that smells like 'zonrox'! Maygahd! Gusto ko sana asarin kung sino man ang nasa C.R. since that's what it smells like... ng... I don't want to say the word!
So, after ko makuha ang first aid kit, umakyat na ako kaagad sa 4th floor thru the fire exit. Dumiretso na ako agad sa room ni Lucas and soon as I opened the door, his room became spotless! Naging malinis bigla! In that short amount of time nakapaglinis agad si Lucas? But what about his wound?
"Lucas?" I shouted his name since wala siya sa sa room pag pasok ko. Then, I heard a noise sa C.R. niya so I tried to check if naka lock ang pinto, but it wasn't. So binuksan ko ang pinto and I saw Lucas standing... and peeing!
Mygahd! I wasn't supposed to see that! But, I was literally staring at his what... his dick for 10 freakin seconds and that's when Lucas saw me!
"Uy! Saglit, saglit!" Lucas shouted and he hurriedly closed the door.
"I'm sorry, hindi ko sinasadya! Wala akong nakita!" I shouted but sa totoo lang... I saw it... I saw how huge it was! It was too huge for me to handle! I can't unsee it! Shuta!
Please! I need to erase that picture inside my mind! I wasn't supposed to see his large "thing"!
Shoot! Nakakahiya!
Then, he went out of the C.R. and hindi ako makatingin sa kanya.
"I'm so sorry, hindi mo dapat nakita 'yun. Nahihiya ako. Haha!" Lucas said and laughed.
I didn't say a word dahil ayoko magsalita, at ayoko na rin baka may masabi pa ako! Pinaupo ko na lang siya sa sofa and checked his left arm. Nakapalupot ang panyo ko sa wound niya, but, it was still bleeding.
Tinanggal ko ang panyo and I opened the first aid kit. I sat near Lucas and tried cleaning his wound first to make sure na madidisinfect ko 'yung wound niya.
While I was focused on cleaning his wound, I felt his breath coming from his mouth na tumatama sa mukha ko so napatingin ako sa kanya and he was smiling at me... smiling like nasa heaven na siya.
"What? Why are you smiling?" I asked him.
"Wala lang. I'm just happy. I'm happy to see you here at my room and cleaning my wound." he said.
"Gusto mo paduguin ko pa 'to lalo?" I said and pressed his wound kaya lalong nagdugo at nasaktan siya.
"Aray ko!" he whispered and para siyang nanghina.
"Ang kulit mo kasi! I have to disinfect it again! Just stay quiet!" I shouted.
"Ace, if magkaroon ako ng hiwa sa right arm ko, would you take care of me again?" Lucas asked.
"No! Take care of yourself! Bahala ka maglinis ng sarili mong sugat!" I said.
"Alam mo, Ace, you really know how to clean a wound. And sobrang gentle ng kamay mo. Sanay ka sa ganito?" Lucas asked.
"Nope. Natatakot lang ako na baka masaktan ka, kaya I make sure to be gentle as possible." I said.
"Hindi naman ako nasasaktan sa mga ganito. Sa isang bagay lang ako masasaktan." Lucas said.
"And what's that?" I asked while I'm still focused sa pag disinfect ng sugat ni Lucas.
"Masasaktan lang ako if one day, you've decided not to talk to me. O kaya hindi mo ko pansinin. Or magalit ka sa akin, or makalimutan mo ako. O kaya, mapunta ka sa iba." Lucas said.
I stopped for a while and looked at him and said, "Why it's all about me? Ano ako? Ako ang buhay mo?" I jokingly asked.
"I would say, yes. And I mean it. Seryoso ako." Lucas said.
And then I, being a Tsundere, intentionally pressed Lucas wound which made it bleed... again!
"Aray ko, Ace... balak mo ata ako ubusan ng dugo. But okay lang, as long as ikaw ang gumagawa sa akin, it's fine for me." Lucas said while laughing and medyo nanghihina siya dahil sa sakit na natamo niya sa pag press ko ng sugat niya.
"Do you want me to open your wound widely? 'Yung bukang buka where we can see your bones?" I asked.
"Grabe ka naman sa akin, Ace. Pagkatapos mo makita si Lucas Jr. inaaway mo na ako." Lucas said and pouted.
"It's not Lucas Jr.! That's Lucas senior or maybe Lucas the second! That's not the size of a junior!" I exclaimed.
"So malaki nga para sayo?" Lucas asked.
"Yes!" I shouted.
"I'm sorry, hindi mo talaga dapat nakita 'yun. I was saving it for some other day, pero hindi kanina! But then wala na akong magagawa since nakita mo na ang buo kong pagkatao. Haha!" Lucas said and laughed.
"Haha! Funny!" I said sarcastically while I'm cleaning Lucas' wound again and disinfecting it for the 3rd time! "Please, Lucas, kung ayaw mo maubusan ng dugo, wag ka na magsalita."
"Yes po, Master Ace. I won't. Magsasalita lang ako once sinabi mo." Lucas said and hindi na nga siya nagsalita.
Kaso, while I was cleaning and treating Lucas' wound, hindi nga siya nagsasalita, but I was disturbed by his handsome face... I'd say too handsome na nakakainis!
He's just looking at me and watching me treat his wound and he's also raising both of his eyebrows which is lalo akong naiinis!
Naiinis ako, but I'm liking it! Argghh!
"M MMMM MMM, MMM." Lucas murmured and I really don't know what he said
"Anong sabi mo?" I asked.
"M MMMM MMM, MMM." Lucas did it again.
"What? Anong mmm mmm mmm? Magsalita ka nga ng maayos!" I shouted.
"Sabi mo kasi 'wag ako mag salita eh. Haha!" He said and smiled.
"Baliw ka no? Baka gusto mo madisinfect for the 4th time? Marami akong alchol dito, pero kaya kong ubusin dugo mo. Anong sabi ko kanina?" I asked him.
"Secret. Soon, sasabihin ko sayo. For now, M MMMM MMM, MMM muna. Hahaha!" Lucas said.
I was about to poke a knife sa wound niya para masaktan siya since naiinis ako sa kanya, but then, natutuwa ako na makipagkulitan kay Lucas! Nakakainis!
"Ace, you want to sleep here with me?" Lucas asked.
"No! I don't want to!" I shouted.
"Sino mag aalaga sa akin? Sino mag lilinis ng sugat ko? Sino magpapakain sa akin?" Lucas said and pouted .
"Ano ka baldado? Tapos ano ako nurse mo?" I exclaimed.
"Can't you be my nurse? I'll hire you if kailangan ka pang pilitin." Lucas said.
"Parang may paduduguin ako ulit na sugat?" I said and looked at him with squinting eyes.
"Joke lang, Ace. Hehe! Pero thank you for taking care of me." Lucas said.
"May kapalit 'to no." I said.
"Okay, anong kapalit gusto mo?" Lucas asked.
"I want you to tell me a story." I said.
"What kind of story?" Lucas asked.
"Gaano mo na ako katagal kakilala?" I asked Lucas.
I don't know why but I feel that I need some validation. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but I wanted to know din how I Impacted Lucas' life and why he treats me like this. Since I know Seph's story, I want to know Lucas' side.
"Okay, I'll let you know. But first, can I request something?" Lucas asked.
"What's that? 'Yung kaya kong ibigay ah?" I said.
"Pwede ba ako sumandal sa right shoulder mo?" Lucas asked.
What the! First, Seph wants to lay on my left shoulder. Ngayon naman, si Lucas wants to lay on my right shoulder!
I placed in the bandage sa wound ni Lucas and said, "All set."
Umayos na ako ng upo afterwards and I waited for Lucas to lay his head on my right shoulder.
And from there on, what I felt from him when my body touched his, is a feeling of happiness na nagmumula sa kanya that's overflowing inside of me.
Then he moved his body again and hiniga niya ang ulo niya sa legs ko. Tumingin siya sa akin like his a 5 year old kid na natutuwa and napakainosente and said, "This is more comfortable."
He smiled and sighed. Pagkatapos, pumikit siya and said, "Sasabihin ko sa'yo, kung paano kita nakilala, Ace."
End of Chapter 20