Emory's Pov
I can't believe Ren hid everything from me.
Nung una nagtaka ako kung bakit sa ambulansya agad siya sinugod at hindi sa clinic. Ngunit naguguluhan man ay hindi na'ko nagdalawang isip at sumama patungong ospital. Wala akong balak na iwanan siyang magisa. I know his parents are abroad and just like mine, they're too busy with their freaking works.
Nang makarating kami sa ospital, nalaman ko na lang na may komplikasyon siya sa puso. Ren has a weak heart and he shouldn't do strenuous activities such as running. And I badly want to smack him in the head, knowing that he ran last night just to find me.
Now everything makes sense.
Akala ko dahil lang sa matangkad ako kaya ako ang pinapabili ni Ren ng snacks niya. He's always sitting and never goes at P.E class. I thought since he's the smartest one, the teachers always go easy on him.
But it was because of his heart. All this time, he's sick and he didn't tell me anything.
I feel so dumb.
He's always with me yet I didn't notice. I feel like a useless friend.
"Stop frowning. You look ugly."
Napaangat ako ng tingin at nakita si Blaise. Nakatitig ito sa akin habang nakaupo sa umbrella seat, sa tapat ng convenience store na Goodbye. Pinagkrus nito ang kaniyang mga binti at humalumbaba sa mesa.
"Something's wrong?"
Nasa kabila ako ng kalsada kaya naman luminga muna ako sa kaliwa't kanan bago tumawid.
"Kailangan ko ng beer." Sumalampak ako sa upuan at iginilid ang dala dala kong maleta. Yakap yakap ko naman ang dalawa kong itim na bag. Galing ako ng bahay at nagimpake ng ilang damit at mga gamit. I'm about to go back at the hospital where Ren is staying. I'm not going to leave him until he wakes up.
"How's your boyfriend?"
Iniangat ko ang tingin kay Blaise. Nakatitig pa rin ito sa'kin.
"He's just a friend. And I honestly don't know if he's fine or not. The doctor says he'll be fine but Ren's still not awake. So I can't be rest assured."
"Oh."
There was a minute of silence but then he asked again.
"If he's not your boyfriend, then why does it seems like your ready to live with him?" Napatingin ito sa dala dala kong mga bag at maleta.
"There's no one to watch over Ren. His parents are in another country."
"Oh." He mumbled again, now doing something on his phone.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit para akong nairita. We're talking about something so serious and yet he doesn't have any emotion in his blank face. He could have just showed a little bit of sympathy, but he's even using his phone. I feel so disrespected I couldn't dare to stay for even a second.
I mean, he's the one who talked to me first so why is he being rude now?!
"Alis na'ko." Akmang tatayo na ako ng bigla niya akong pigilan.
"Wait," Ibinulsa nito ang phone at dumako ang tingin niya sa'kin. "Hintay lang."
Tumayo ito at pumasok sa loob ng convenience store. Wala akong magawa kundi mapabuntong hininga habang nanatiling nakaupo.
"Alas tres na." Naiinis kong saad habang nakatitig sa relo ko. Paano kung magising si Ren at walang tao? Kailangan niya ng magaasist sa kaniya.
I was about to go when Blaise went out from the store. May hawak hawak itong brown paper bag.
"Oh." He extended his hand and gave me the bag.
"Ano 'to?"
But I felt taken aback when I took a peek inside. Tatlong siopao.
"Eat it while on your way. You hadn't have any snacks right?"
"It's fine-"
"Marshall."
Napalingon kami ng may tumawag sa kaniya. It was a girl with pigtails. Kahit na ang cute niya ay mukha itong masungit. Parang anytime ay mananaksak.
"Thank you, Kim." Hinubad ni Blaise ang itim na vest at binigay sa kasama.
"Ngayon lang 'to, Marshall. Wag ka ng uulit." Banta ng dalaga at nagsimulang pumasok sa loob ng store.
I didn't even knew I was holding my breath until she went inside. She looks so intimidating! Kahit medyo maluwag turnilyo sa utak ko hinding hindi ko 'yun babanggain. Mukhang mabangis.
"Tara?"
Natigilan ako ng makitang dala dala na ni Blaise yung maleta ko.
"Teka, ba't-" Hindi na'ko nakapagsalita nang kunin niya rin yung dalawa kong bag at isinakbit sa balikat niya.
"Hatid na kita."
Nanatili akong nakatitig sa likod ni Blaise habang nagsimula na ito sa paglalakad. Hindi ko maiwasang pagisipan ang mga kinikilos niya. It took me a while to process what was happening.
I judged him too early when all the while he was just trying to help.
I started running and walk fast to meet his pace.
"Thank you."
Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla nitong binagalan ang paglalakad. But better for me, atleast I could walk properly.
Blaise shot a glance at me. "For what?"
"Para dito," Turo ko sa siopao. "Para d'yan," Turo ko sa maleta at mga bag. "Para dun." Nguso ko sa convenience store.
He clocked out just to help me carry my bags.
He shrugged, then pulled my hoodie. He made me walk at the inside of the street. "It's nothing."
Nang nakarating na kami sa terminal, I told Blaise that he could go first but he insisted on waiting for the bus with me. He's still carrying my bags. Ni ayaw ngang ipahawak sa'kin. Mukha ba'kong may nakakahawang virus?
"Anak ka ni mayor di'ba?" Bigla nitong tanong.
"Oo, bakit? Kikidnapin mo ba'ko tas hihinging pangransom?"
"Thanks for the idea but no. Gusto ko lang tanunin ba't ka pa magbbus. Sigurado namang may sasakyan kayo."
"Ahh," Wika ko ng magets kung anong ibig niyang sabihin. "I prefer riding buses than cars. It makes me feel like a normal person. And it's more fun. Minsan may madadapa, minsan may magaaway." Napatawa na lang ako nang maalala ang mga nasasaksihan kong bardagulan sa loob ng bus.
"Pero delikado. Babae ka pa naman."
"Wow, concerned?"
Tinapunan ako nito ng tingin. Kahit blangko parin ang ekspresyon nito alam kong hinuhusgahan na'ko ng isang 'to.
"Oo sana pero wag na lang."
Maya maya'y dumating na ang bus at nagsimula ng magakyatan ang mga pasahero. Si Blaise na mismo ang nagbitbit ng mga dala ko pataas, yung maleta dun sa compartment.
"Thank you, really."
"It's nothing. Akyat na."
I hopped on the bus and took a peek at the window. Hindi talaga umalis si Blaise hanggang sa umandar na 'yung bus. I wanted to thank him again and say that I'll treat him next time, kaso naalala ko di ko nga pala alam kung anong number niya. Maybe I'll ask for it next time.
But wait.
Napatigil ako nang may napagtanto sa sarili.
"Wala na'kong sapi!" Napahalakhak ako ng malakas at muntik pa'kong mapatayo sa bus. Agad akong napangiti ng malawak at nagpapalakpak.
"Luh, iskeri." Umupo sa ibang pwesto yung katabi ko.
Pero ngayon ko lang narealize na nakausap ko ng matino si Blaise. Ni hindi ko naramdaman yung malakas na pagkabog ng dibdib ko gaya nung kanina sa canteen. Ni hindi ako kinilig kahit na hinatid niya ako sa terminal at binigyan ng siopao. Take note, asado pa ang lahat.
Ngunit sa di malamang dahilan, dumako ang aking tingin sa relong bigay ni Ren. Suot suot ko parin ito.
At tumigil na naman ang mga kamay nito sa paggalaw.
Ren said something about this wristwatch. He said it has something to do why I feel different towards Blaise. It doesn't make any sense but Ren never tells a lie. He doesn't even believe in superstitions. He's a man of science so what does he meant when he said that?
"Anong meron sa'yo?" Bulong ko sa sarili habang nakatingin sa relo.
Ngunit agad akong napabalikwas ng may magsalita sa tabi ko.
"Gusto mong malaman?"