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lavi | narration

Binaba ko ang cellphone ko at napatingin sa kabuuan ng kwarto. Malawak, may nakadikit na ilang posters at vinyl records sa dingding, may nakasabit ding gitara malapit sa pinto.

I didn't know Adriel is into music. I usually looked at him as a guy who likes to study, quiet, and serious.

Ilang minuto pa at may nagbukas ng pinto. Nagpakita dito si Adriel na may hawak na plato at baso ng tubig.

"Hi," bati nito at inilagay muna sa side table 'yong pagkain. Sinigang. Kinuha niya 'yong small table at inilagay sa harapan ko sa kama.

"Eat, then after that take your meds." I looked at him. Pawisan dahil siguro sa init habang nagluluto.

And I can't really tell what's going on in his mind right now.

"What is it?" tanong niya nang makita niyang nakatitig ako sa kanya. Marahan akong umiling at ibinaling sa pagkain ang tingin ko.

Pinilit kong kumain kahit medyo wala akong gana, kaso humaharang ang buhok ko at minsan pa ay napapasawsaw ito sa sabaw ng sinigang.

Biglang lumabas ng kwarto si Adriel at ako naman ay hinawakan ang mahabang buhok ko para ilayo sa pagkain.

Bumalik si Adriel na may dalang hairtie. Lumapit siya sa 'kin.

"Ako na," sabi ko at kukunin sana ang hairtie na hawak niya pero nilayo niya ito.

"No, you hurt your arm. Let me do this," aniya at hinawakan ang buhok ko para i-ponytail.

He softly touched it as if he was holding a baby. He also used his fingers to comb it.

"Is it okay? Not too tight?" tanong niya nang matapos at tumango naman ako.

I didn't know that he has this side of him. Soft and thoughtful.

Lumayo siya sakin. "I'll be downstairs, message me if you need anything," pagpapaalam niya at lumabas ng kwarto.

I rarely touched my food. Nakatitig lang ako rito ng ilang minuto. Ayaw kong kumain.

Yinakap kong na lang ang mga tuhod ko at tumungo dahil ayaw pa rin maalis sa isip ko 'yong nangyari kagabi.

Cadmien holding me, kissing me. Napahigpit ang yakap ko sa sarili ko at nasasaktan na rin dahil nakahawak ako sa braso kong may bandage.

But I am more hurt emotionally than it hurts physically.

Napakagat ako ng labi nang maramdaman kong mapapaiyak na ko sa mga iniisip ko. Iniiwasan kong makagawa ng ingay.

Hindi lang naman si Cadmien, but the past is also entering my mind.

How my step-father touched me and when I told my mom about it, she never believed. No one believed me.

That is why when I needed to go to college, I saved money as much as I could and apply every scholarship that I can. And left that hell.

I can feel my tears on my cheeks but I avoid making crying noises that Adriel might hear. He's done so much things for me, from the suspension and now, missing his classes to take care of me. I don't want to be a burden anymore.

***

adriel | narration

She really looks tough on the outside but now, she looks weak, fragile, and anytime she might breakdown.

thirty minutes had passed and Lavi never messaged me.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa at tumayo mula sa sofa. Dere-deretso ako papunta sa kwarto.

And when I opened the door, I saw Lavi hugging her knees.

I quickly walked towards her. Inalis ko 'yong small table sa kama at tumabi sa kanya.

"Hey," nag-aalala kong sambit at itinaas ang kanyang ulo para makita ko ang mukha niya.

And all I can see in her eyes are tears. Her bottom lip is also bleeding from biting her lips to not make a sound.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I cupped her cheeks and wiped her tears with my thumb, but she kept on crying.

Tiningnan niya lang ako, her eyes tells it all. She is not okay and just wanting to bury the memory deep in her mind.

"Vice..." she cried. "Ang sakit..."

"Yes? saan masakit?" I worriedly asked her but she just rested her face on my chest and kept on crying.

I softly caress her hair and swayed to tell her she's safe in my company.

***

I was awaken by the sounds from my phone. Rizen's messaging me. But before looking at my phone, I glance at the girl, sleeping beside me.

Nakatulog na siya sa 'kin kanina, and before I can pull myself away after laying her in my bed, she suddenly hugged me as if she want me to comfort her more.

At ngayon, she's beside me, sharing one bed.

Sobrang lapit niya at ang isang braso niya ay nakayakap sa 'kin. Her long eyelashes and rosy cheeks. She's so pretty. I can feel my heart beats faster and my face starts blushing.

What did you do to me, Lavender?

Rizen's name kept on appearing in my phone screen, so I decided to open his messages.

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Rizen Guerrero
active now

feb 02 | 03:30PM

Rizen:
pare koooooo
gagoooo
kanina pa ako kinukulit ni tanari
asan ka ba??
umuwi ka daw ba??
ba't di mo daw sinabi sa kanya?

Rizen
hoy gago, sinasapak na ko
alam mo namang sobrang alala 'to sa kaibigan niya

03:35PM

Rizen:
ahh, bahala na!
pupunta kami sa inyo
vacant naman naming dalawa

03:40PM

Rizen
pupunta kami dyan ha!
kung ano mang kalokohan ang ginagawa mo sa lavlav mo ngayon, itigil mo muna

Rizen
kasi yung ilong at tenga ni tanari ay umuusok na

Rizen
ikaw kasi, gusto mo laging sinosolo lavlav mo, e

04:00PM

Rizen
malapit na kami

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