Camille Syanna

The next morning I woke up with menstrual cramps. I felt like dying in my bed, twisting for the last of life I could hold onto.

I groaned again. I felt like there were angry little ninjas inside me trying to kill me. Every month I suffer this pain. It wasn't easy being a woman.

I couldn't even get up from the bed. I closed my eyes cause my head hurts talaga ng so much!

"Cams," ZA knocked. I didn't have the energy to answer, kaya binuksan na niya ang pinto upang silipin ako. "Aalis muna ak-"

Nabitin sa hangin ang kanyang sasabihin nang makita ang kalagayan ko. I opened my eyes and looked at him helplessly.

"What happened to you?" Nag-aalalang lumapit siya sa kama upang kumustahin ang lagay ko. "Are you okay?"

"Does it look like I'm okay to you?!" Naiinis kong sabi sa nanghihina kong tinig.

My mood worsen ten times than the usual when I have my period. If only men could understand the pain we had to go through a couple of days of every month, they would understand.

Hindi ako halos nakatulog ng maayos kagabi dahil sa sakit ng puson ko. Idagdag mo pa ang mga salitang binitawan ni ZA kagabi. He did not say anything more after that. He just walked out on me. I took that he didn't really mean it. But a tiny part of my brain kept me up by wondering what if he did.

Crazy, right? I blame that on my period.

ZA sat next to me and reached for my forehead. "You're sick,"

"I am?" I whispered. "I'm not surprised. I feel sick,"

"Wait here," tumayo siya ulit. Napansin kong bihis na bihis na siya at handa nang umalis. "I'll get you something."

"Ah, you go where you need to go. I'll live." I told him as the door closed behind him.

Itutulog ko na lang ang sakit. Mamaya siguro'y mababawasa na rin naman ito kahit paano.

A few minutes later, ZA entered the room again without knocking this time. I frowned when I saw him changed in a wife beater and a pair of boxer shorts. He was carrying a tray of mushroom soup and a glass of water.

"Kumain ka muna," malumanay niyang sabi bago bumalik sa aking tabi. "I know you don't want to eat, but you have to. Para maka-inom ka ng gamot."

"You're caring naman pala," I told him as he helped me get up. "I thought you were going somewhere,"

Hindi niya sinagot ang aking tanong. "Anong masakit sa'yo? Should I be worried-"

"Not really. This is normal." I cut him off. "I'm having period cramps."

"Does it hurt so much?" ZA asked gently, placing his hand over my lower abdomen.

I swallowed and imaginary lump on my throat. The warmth of his palm seething through the fabric of my satin shorts sent unwarranted comfort to my body.

"I-it does," I nodded. "Saan ka dapat pupunta? Mahalaga ba? If yes, then you should go. I will be fine."

"I couldn't leave you looking like this," he said. Aalisin niya sana ang kamay niya roon upang tulungan akong kumain nang pigilan ko siya. He looked at me. "You want this?"

Muli akong tumango. He caressed the most painful part of my body right now, and I felt a little relieved. "Please,"

"And this isn't invading your personal space?" Nakita kong tumaas ang isang sulok ng kanyang mga labi.

Ah, so he heard what I said to Henry yesterday!

"No," I rolled my eyes. "You have my permission. Just don't go any lower."

He smiled and watched me as I started eating. "I don't know how painful this can get. So, please let me know if you need anything else."

"Thank you,"

"You experience this every month?" He asked.

"Yes," I said. The soup brought more comfort to my pain. Ah, finally, more relief.

"Do you need me to call Charlene so she can check on you and bring you the right medications?" He asked, still caressing my abdomen.

"No thanks," I rolled my eyes again, drinking water from the glass. Ah, my throat needed fluid. "I rather deal with Dr. Henry,"

"Well, I rather not." Masungit niyang sabi.

Muli ko na namang naalala ang kinakagalit niya kagabi. Napailing na lamang ako at pilit iyong inalis sa aking isipan. I finished my food and let ZA took care of cleaning everything. He also gave me medicines to take to lower my fever.

He went out of the room for a few minutes and went back in. ZA had laid down beside me, bringing me in his arms. I couldn't explain why this feels normal, but it did.

"Sobrang sakit pa rin?" Malumanay niyang tanong.

"Not so much na," I closed my eyes. "Thank you,"

ZA didn't talk much. He was letting me rest in his arms, and it was comforting. I never thought I need this from someone.

"ZA, I wanna help Manang Ising." I told him, naalala ko na naman kasi 'yung tinulungan ko yesterday. "She didn't have anyone to lean onto,"

"Yeah, I already called Dave last night. He said he would send someone for Manang Ising. Her wound might need surgery, so she might need to travel a few hours to MGH. She'll be taken care of, don't worry about it."

I opened my eyes and nodded. "Thank you,"

Napabangon ako nang may maalala. Agad na nakaalalay sa akin si ZA sa bigla kong pagkilos. From the top drawer of the bedside table, I took the slip-in photo album I found last night in one of the cabinets.

"Ang taba mo nung baby ka!" I giggled as I flipped through the pages, and then I pointed one of his frowning photos. "Baby pa lang 'yung eyebrows mo, salubong na!"

Umusog si ZA papalapit sa akin upang makita ang aking tinuturo. His arm snaked around my waist, he was hugging me! I know I should, but I couldn't push him away. I needed the comfort.

"Gwapo pa rin naman," bulong niya.

"Really?" I faked a gasp and turned to see his face. "Let me see the gwapo,"

He flashed me his killer smile. I don't like that I liked it! "Really? You still didn't think I'm gwapo?"

I wrinkled my nose and made a face. "Hmm, pwede na. Nice ka naman today. So, okay. I'll give you the gwapo."

ZA pulled me down, pahiga again sa bed. I let him. Naramdaman kong sumiksik pa siya  sa akin, burying his face on the side of my neck. "Hmm,"

I tried to ignore his breathing against my skin and pointed the woman on the photo carrying baby ZA. "Is she your mom?"

I felt him nod but didn't say anything.

The woman looked a little like ZA but not so much. They were both blondes and fair-skinned, but their similarities ended their. Simple lamang ang itsura ng mommy ni ZA, but she looked really pretty.

"She's beautiful," I commented.

"Very," bulomg niya. Napasinghap ako nang maramdaman ang marahang paggalaw ng kanyang ilong sa bahaging iyon ng aking leeg. He was brushing the tip of his nose against that sensitive part of my skin!

"And I suppose this is your dad," sabi ko habang pilit na ini-ignore ang ginagawa na naman niya sa aking leeg. "Wow! You looked so much like him!"

They have the same green and fascinating eyes!

Hindi umimik si Zander. Maya-maya pa'y naramdaman kong muli ang paglapat ng kanyang mga labi sa aking balat. Agad na bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso.

"Hmm," ZA started kissing my neck again. The same way he did the other night.

"Z-ZA," I called him, and I almost couldn't hear my own voice.

"Hmm? May masakit pa?" Tanong niya, hindi pa rin tinitigil ang ginagawa. "You don't need a doctor, Cams. Ako na gagamot sa'yo."

"Hmm," I closed my eyes forcing myself to think straight kasi nakakagulo talaga kisses ni ZA! "B-but my neck isn't the one hurting!"

ZA stopped, then I felt his hand slid down to my lower abdomen. He whispered against my neck. "Would you rather I kiss you here?"

Shit! Why do I picture him actually doing that?!

I shot him a glare. "I rather you don't,"

"Okay," he shrugged. Akala ko'y titigil na siya ngunit naramdaman ko ang marahang halpos niya sa aking puson na medyo masakit pa rin. "I won't,"

ZA behaved after that. Pinabayaan niya akong buklatin at usisain ang laman ng kanyang photo album habang patuloy siya sa marahang pag haplos sa aking puson.

Nang matapos ay ibinalik ko sa kanya ang album. "Oh, I'm done na. Ligpit mo na 'yan!"

Agad na tumaas ang kanyang kilay. "Wow, magaling ka na, ah."

"No, ah!" I faked a groan. Baka maging masungit na naman siya, eh. "I'm sick pa!"

Natatawa siyang bumangon upang iligpit ang photo album. "Okay, since sick ka pa. Magpahinga ka na dyan."

Lalabas na sana siya ng room pero I reached for his hand and pulled him over me. Nagtama ang aming mga mata. Nakita kong nabigla siya sa aking ginawa. Even me naman! But I wasn't thinking! I want to tell him something kasi.

"Andrei, I miss my mom. Would you let me call her kahit five minutes lang? Please? I swear I wouldn't tell her anything. I just want to talk to her. If you want you can stay and listen. I just wanna hear her voice."

Matagal ako niya akong pinagmasdan bago siya humugot ng malalim na hininga at tumango. "Alright,"

ZA walked out of the room to get a phone. Nang bumalik ay iniabot niya sa akin iyon. It was his phone with the number of my mother already dialed.

Excitement rushed through me. Agad ko iyong kinuha. Akala ko'y mananatili siya sa silid ngunit mabilis din siyang lumabas to give me privacy.

Mom was so happy to hear my voice again. God, I missed her. I told her not to worry about me and that I was fine. I also asked if she could look over Floribunda for me while I'm gone. I wanted to extend our conversation because God knows how much I missed talking to her, but I asked Andrei for only five minutes. I intend to keep my word.

ZA came back almost twenty minutes later from when the call ended. I smiled at him and returned his phone.

"Thank you," I said.

"Are you okay?" Umupo siya sa aking tabi.

"I missed my mom, especially now that I'm sick. She used to baby me a lot even when I wasn't a baby anymore." I told him.

"You look just like your mom," sabi niya habang mataman na nakatingin sa akin.

"You know her?" I asked.

"Not so much as knowing she once was the Miss Universe." He shrugged.

Yeah. My mom is that beautiful. She won the Miss Universe title in 1987. Camilla Velez is the most beautiful woman I know. Her beauty was from inside out. I would always look up to her.

"She's very pretty, noh?"

Tumango siya. "Just like you,"

"Nah," I shook my head. "I'd pale in comparison with her."

"Have you seen you?" He frowned.

Wait. Is he complimenting me? Wow. This is something new!

"So, you think I'm pretty?" I teased, chuckling.

"I didn't think it. I know it." He smirked. "You're a brat. But I'd be lying if I'd say I wasn't smitten by your pretty face. Dang, your smile alone could have soften a gun."

ZA said each word like he meant them. He leaned down and plotted a light kiss on the side of my lips.

And I froze.

What the hell is he doing to me?!