KABANATA XXI: Cold

xxx

I was stunned.

She wants me to be happy. Someone wants me to be happy. I'm glad.

"Okay Jiro?" She smiled sincerely. Mas lalong lumiit ang mga mata niya. Patuloy parin ang pag-ulan but I somewhat don't care anymore. Good thing I wasn't raining that hard.

"I promise," I uttered. She closed her eyes and suddenly fell into my chest. I winced in pain when we fell into the ground. Sobrang lasing na siya, kailangan na niyang mag-pahinga sa kwarto. Parehas na kaming basa kaya kailangan na talaga naming pumasok.

I bit my lip and stared at her, gently snoring at my chest. I tapped her cheeks lightly, "Hey, wake up."

She groaned, "Ang bango mo talaga kahit kailan, Jiro~"

I stiffened at my spot. Her head jerked up and she crawled on top of me. Para akong istatwa sa pwesto ko na nakatitig lang sakanya.

She tapped my lips and smiled at me, "Your lips are so red, ang cute mo~" then she held my both cheeks.

"Oooh~ Nag-blublush siya oh~"

Nag-blublush ako? What the heck Jiro?! She smiled mischieveously then she closed her eyes. Her head is laid on the crook of my neck. I could feel her breath on my skin. Mas lalo akong nanigas sa puwesto ko.

Hindi ako maka-galaw bwisit.

"Get off Salmara," I said.

"Hmm? Bakit naman?" her head jerked up again and Salmara pouted at me. She looked like a kid.

"Doon ka nalang sa kama matulog besides, it's pouring."

"Fine hmph," she grunted and got off of me. Tumayo ako at pinagpag ang damit ko. Patayo na si Salmara ng biglang bumagsak siya ulit, buti na lang nasalo ko siya agad.

Wala na akobg ibang choice kaya binuhat ko siya. She is on my arms, sleeping. Hindi siya mabigat kaya maka-dating kami sa kwarto ng maayos.

There was a towel on my right so I grabbed it. I placed the towel and her on the bed, "Dry yourself up." Pinatuyo niya ang sarili niya but she was too drunk to do it properly. Kaya naman ako na ang nag-patuyo ng buhok niya at pinunasan ang braso niya.

She stood up from the bed and went to the bathroom. Pero biglang bumukas ng bahagya ang pinto ng bathroom, "Jiro, can I borrow some clothes? Ngayong gabi lang~", she cooed with her drunk tone.

"Bakit?"

"I sleep with a thin sando on normally... Akala ko kasi babae magiging ka-rommie ko," she murmured.

"Alright. Saglit lang," I rummaged on my luggage but all there is also a few sando and pajamas. Isama mo na rin ang polo. Bakit puro ito lang ang pinack ni Salmara?

"Pajama? Do you want that?" tanong ko.

"Kahit ano nalang," I heard her.

I gave her the red monkey pjs and she came out wearing it. The whole outfit was too big for her. I can't even see her hands. After that she slomped herself on the bed and she quietly slept.  Kumuha ako ng kumot at kinumotan siya.

Ako naman, pinunasan ko rin ang sarili ko at nag-bihis. I ended up wearing the same type of pjs with Salmara but mine is color white.

Napag-desisyonan ko na sa lapag na lang ako matutulog para mas maging komportable ang pag-tulog niya. She had a tough day.

Buti na lang may extra foam sa ilalim ng kama. Nilabas ko ito at pinatungan ng kumot. Kumuha na rin ako ng unan at humiga na sa nilatag ko na foam.

I closed my eyes. Patulog na sana ako ng bigla naka-rinig ako ng malakas na kalabog. Kumunot ang noo ko at idinilat ang mga mata ko. I stood up and looked at the bed.

Nasaan si Salmara?

I heard someone vomiting kaya pumanta ako sa restroom. Pagbukas ko ng pintuan, I saw Salmara vomiting at the toilet.

"Jiro?" Her voice was shaky.

"Kailangan mo ng tubig?"

"O-oo," she answered.

Agad akong pumanta sa baba para kumuha ng tubig. Pag-pasok ko sa loob ng kwarto, nakita ko si Salmara na naka-upo sa kama at nakatulala.

"Ito oh, tubig," inabot ko sakanya ang tubig at kinuha niya naman ito. Nilagay niya ang baso sa may side table.

"Ang sakit ng lalamunan ko," she uttered and ruffled her hair.

I sat at the foam in front of her. I looked at her face and it's odd because she's still beautiful.

"Don't drink too much next time," I nagged. She just nodded her head and sighed. Mukhang nahismasan na siya.

"D'yan ka talaga sa lapag matutulog?" tanong niya saakin. Tumungo ako bilang sagot.

"Puwede bang tabihan mo ako dito sa kama?"

My eats ringed and my head twitched, "Bakit naman?"

"Baka bangungotin ulit ako," she whispered. It's just enough for me to hear.

"Tungkol saan?"

"About the... You wouldn't understand Jiro," she said to me.

"Sabihin mo," giit ko sakanya. She deeply breathed and started talking, "I had a deal with a... person and I think I'm running out of time. At hindi ko kakayanin kung... I won't be able to bare it if I lose."

"I'll help you win, atleast?" I assured her. Ano mang deal ang meron siya, tutulungan ko siya. I would help her anytime.

"Thanks," she uttered. Humiga siya sa kama at humarap sa may bintana. I slowly crept up to the bed. I think I'm going to regret this sooner or later. Humiga ako sa tabi ni Salmara but I faced the opposite side.

"Jiro, even if you help me... Hindi yata ako mananalo," I heard her say this.

"Bakit ka pa nakipag-deal kung ganyan ang mindset mo? It's just like business. You need to take risks.

"Every deals are worth it," I answered her.

"Thank you, Jiro. I needed that. I shouldn't give up," she remarked. Nanahimik ang buong kwarto.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pag-iyak ni Salmara. Gusto ko sanang tanungin kung okay lang siya but I chose to give her space.

I'll make her happy more than the amount of tears she shed.

---

I opened my eyes slowly and saw Salmara's face in front of me. Salmara's face...

Lumaki ang mata ko at hindi inaasahang bumagsak ako mula sa kasama. Bwisit, ang sakit ng likod ko. I silently winced in pain, baka magising siya. Tumayo ako mula sa lapag at umupo sa kama. She's sleeping peacefully. Hindi ko alam pero iba ang mood ngayon.

Everything feels perfect.

'Yung maamong mukha ni Salmara at ang mga kanta ng ibon, isama mo na rin ang sinag ng araw.

Can the world stop for a while and watch Salmara with me?

Nabulabog ang katahimikan at ang pinag-iisip ko ng biglang may kumatok sa pinto. Unti-unting bumukas ang mga mata ni Salmara. Kinunot niya ang noo niya, "Kanina ka pa ba gising?"

Umiling ako bilang sagot. May kumatok ulit kaya tumayo na ako at pinag-buksan ang kumakatok. It was Hailey.

"Kuya Jiro, Ate Salmara, mag-kape na tayo sa baba," ngiti ni Hailey.

"Sige, susunod kami," sagot ni Salmara habang naka-upo sa kama. Tumungo si Hailey at pumunta na sa baba.

Papunta na sana ako ng restroom para mag-mumog ng bigla akong tinawag ni Salmara, "Jiro."

Lumingon ako sakanya, "Uhm, why?"

"You look damn good with that bed hair."

I froze on my spot. "Ah, okay..." I murmured and went inside the bathroom. What was that all about?

Nag-mumog na ako at inayos ang sarili ko, lalo na ang buhok ko. Lumabas ako ng restroom kaya pumasok na si Salmara. She was obviously looking down when she passed by. Umupo ako sa kama habang hinihintay si Salmara matapos.

Natapos na siya kaya bumaba na kaming dalawa papunta sa dining area. Nag-luluto si Natasha at Christine. Si Wright at Hailey naman nag-lilinis ng sala. Meanwhile, Victor is sleeping in the couch.

"Ayan na sila," Wright said. Hailey looked at us. Biglang lumaki ang mga mata niya.

"Uyyy! Matchy-matchy kayong dalawa ah! Parehas pa talaga ng pajamas!" sigaw ni Hailey. I just shook my head and sat. I heard Natasha scoffed.

"Jiro, Salmara, mag-kape muna kayo while I'm still making our brunch," sabi ni Natasha at ngumiti saamin. We both nodded.

"Gawan kita ng kape?" tanong saakin ni Salmara.

"It's okay, ako na lang."

"I insist, maupo ka lang dyan," ngiti niya at pumunta na sa kusina. Not long after, dumating na si Salmara dala-dala ang kape.

She gave me the coffee and I took a sip. It was tasty, really. I smiled at her and nodded so I can signal her that it's good. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti niya. Natapos ko ang kape na tinimpla ni Salmara in no time.

"Wright Punzalan!" sigaw ni Natasha. Agad-agad tumakbo si Wright papunta sa kusina.

"Ikuha mo nga ako ng rosemary," utos ni Nat.

"Saan?"

"Sa labas. Mag-hanap ka ng rosemary bush sa labas, siguradong meron naman d'yan," sabi ni Natasha habang dinuduro-duro niya ang tinidor na hawak niya kay Wright.

"Alright," palabas na sana si Wright ng mag-salita ulit si Natasha.

"Bring Christine with you, too!"

Nanahimik ang buong paligid namin. We all still remembered what happened last night so it's a little bit awkward.

"May ginagawa siya, I'll just take Sal with me," he said in monotone.

"No—"

"May ginagawa ako, Nat, tutulungan pa kita. Let him be," mahinang sabi ni Christine habang nag-hihiwa. Nilingon ko naman si Salmara and she looked kinda confused too.

"Ah, sige..." tumayo si Salmara at sinamahan na si Wright.

I stared Natasha and Christine.

"Tsk! Minsan, ang tanga-tanga mo din Christine! Ayun na 'yung chance mo oh! Makakapag-usap na sana kayo ni Wri—"

"He doesn't care anymore. As I've said, let him be," Christine shut her up.

I laid my head on the table and closed my eyes again. Masyadong marami ang nangyayari ngayon.

"Jiro, no secrets, right?" Jiro nodded at her and smiled.

"I have something to tell you... Please don't freak out okay?"

"I promise that I won't freak out."

"Well, I'm a godd—"

"Jiro Villanueva!" I opened my eyes and saw Natasha in front of me. I'm having these nightmares again.

"Ano?"

"Samahan mo ako sa labas, may kailangan akong ingredient eh," she pouted and looked at me. Wala akong choice kaya tumungo ako. I stood up at sinamahan siya.

Natasha was clinging into my arms. It was uncomfortable pero hinayaan ko nalang siya.

"Ano ba ang kukunin natin?"

Nasa may bandang forest na kami at medyo malayo na sa bahay. She wasn't even looking around, she was just looking at me while we're walking.

"Joke lang 'yun," she chuckled and laid her head into my shoulders. I just sighed in disbelief. What would I expect from Natasha anyway?

"Let's go home, wala naman pala tayong kukunin," ani ko.

"Eh? Mamaya na lang, please? Gusto kong mag-bonding tayo," she sincerely smiled at me. I bit lip and rubbed my temples.

Ayun nga, naglakad-lakad pa ulit kami hanggang sa maka-dating kami sa isang lake. The sunlight is soflty reflecting at the water.

Umupo si Natasha sa lupa at nag-salita, "Jiro, impress me."

I sighed again, "Anong gagawin ko?"

"Yung mga lalake kasi, tinatapon ng malakas 'yung bato tapos paramihan ng pag-talbog ng bato," she explained.

"And you're expecting me to do that?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yup!" she enthusiastically said. I just shook my head and grabbed a stone.

Itatapon ko na sana ang bato ng biglang may nakita akong dalawang pigura na nasa halos malayong kabilang side ng lawa.

It was Salmara and Wright. They were laughing. I was calm not until Salmara almost fell to the lake and Wright immediately caught— hugged her.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa bato hanggang sa naramdaman ko na may tumutulo ng dugo. It was a sharp rock after all.

"Jiro, may proble—"

The stone went off. It jumped multiple times and went under water. Kumuha pa ako ng isang bato with my bleeding hand at tinapon ito ng marahas.

Why am I acting like this?!

Lumingon ako kay Natasha. Confusion was evident in her face.

"Are you impressed enough?"

She remained silent. Kinuha ko ang braso niya at tinayo siya. "Let's go," I declared but she stopped me.

"Jiro, I want to... express my feelings... by this—"

I was frozen.

Her cold lips went to mine.

I can't do anything about it.

xxx

I lost my medias so... :<

KABANATA XXII: I just have to