3.2 POLLEN ALLERGY

XYLARA REYNA

"Ma---Marco?" Para akong tinamaan ng kidlat sa gulat nang makita si Marco na siyang nag bukas ng pintuan. Walang sere-seremonya siyang pumasok. Agad ko siyang sinalubong dahil gusto ko syang kainin ng buhay!

"What are you doing here?!" I asked clenching my fist. I have to control my temper. I don't want to look like a wild animal in front of the customer who is now looking at us.

"Babe," nakangiti pa ang unggoy at may kung anong tinatago pa sa kanyang likuran.

"Marunong kabang magbasa? EXCLUSIVE. Nakita mo ba?" Tinuro ko pa ang signage na nasa pintuan.

“Didn’t I say I don't want anyone inside?"

Napalingon ako kay Mr. Beer. Alam kong magagalit siya at may karapatan siya don.

"Sir, I'm sorry, aalis narin naman siya. Hindi lang niya nakita ang sign sa labas," gumawa gawa nalang ako ng rason.

I saw Marco smirked facing Mr. Beer. "Sorry pare, nandito lang naman ako para suyuin itong girlfriend kong nagtatampo."

My eyes widen. "What? Do you still have the audacity to say that?" Tinuro ko ang pintuan, "Get out! "Di ko na napigilan ang pagtaas ng boses ko.

"Babe, chill, I have something for you," Iniabot niya saakin ang isang bouquet ng bulaklak

I couldn't believe that Marco would bring something that would made me extra mad at him.

Not again!

Flowers!

Really?

My jaw dropped staring at the bouquet. A bunch of daisies, baby's breath and aster. These flowers are only a span away from my face. Will he feed them to me?

"Aaaa----Aaaachhuuuu!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang mabahing. "Marco get out! And bring your flowers with you!"

"Babe-"

"She said get out, and I want you to get out!" Pareho kaming natigilan ni Marco at napalingon sa direction ni Mr. Beer. He's fuming mad at his state.

I know how egoistic Marco is, kaya hindi na ako magtataka sa galit niyang mukha ngayon dahil sa sinabi ni Mr. Beer.

"Babe, please hold this," pagalit na pinahawakan saakin ni Marco ang bulaklak. Shit! mas lalong nangangati na ang ilong ko.

Nagmadali akong humakbang para habulin si Marco. He's heading to Mr. Beer!

Marco stopped when he reach Mr. Beer's table, "I don't mind paying your bill. Ikaw kaya ang umalis," naghahamong wika ni Marco.

"Marco please,Aaaa... aaachu!" I'm grabbing Marco's arms from behind, "Marco lumabas kana, ayo'ko ng gulo! Aaaaachu!" hinila hila ko pa ang braso ni Marco, pero walang effect, hindi ko man lang siya napahakbang kahit isang beses paatras.

An atrocious noise echoed. I'm scared to death seeing Mr. Beer had punched the table!

Mr. Beer stood up to face Marco. Seeing his cold rage terrifies me. If these two get heated and get into a fight, there's nothing I can do but scream. My current condition getting so bad. Nagdala pa kasi ng bulaklak ang unggoy!

Speaking of flowers, bitbit ko pa pala ito. Inilapag ko ang bulaklak sa table two at pwersahan ko nanamang hinila si Marco gamit ang dawala kong kamay.

"Sir please, wag po, ayaw ko ng gulo," pagsusumamo ko kay Mr. Beer, " Aaaaa Achu!"

The two faced each other. No one utter even a single word. It seems that at any moment someone will punch one of them, at iyon ang iniiwasan ko.

Mr. Beer released a punch and it hit Marco's face. "Paying my bill?" Mr. Beer spoke and smirked.

"Marco!" napalingon ako kay Marco nangayoy napaatras ng tatlong hakbang sa ginawa ni Mr. Beer at napaupo sa sahig. I think that punch hit so bad.

Hindi ko napigilan si Marco sa agad niyang pagtayo at gumanti ng suntok kay Mr. Beer. Tinamaan niya ito sa kaliwang pisgi.

"Tama na!" sigaw ko, pero hindi pa rin nagpaawat itong si Mr. Beer sumuntok pang muli.

Marco has a wound on the side of his left eye, it's bleeding! He would have retaliated with a blow to Mr. Beer but I blocked and intervened.

"ENOUGH!” I screamed.

Nasa likuran ko ngayon si Mr. Beer.

Kung hindi pa ako umabot ay malamang tumama na ang suntok ni Marco sa kanya. Malamang sa malamang gaganti din ito.

Ba't ang iinit ng mga ulo ng mga lalaking 'to?

"Marco, get out! Huwag kanang magpapakita sa akin. Our relationship has been over for a long time. If you would have listened to me, we would not have reached this point! This is too much. Hanggang dito ba naman mangungulit kapa rin?Tantanan mo na ako!"

Marco gritted his teeth. Nakita kong kinuha niya ang bulaklak na nakalapag sa table.

He threw the flowers at my detection. Parang nag slow motion ang mundo ko ng mga sigundong iyon.

I closed my eyes and waited for the bouquet to hit my face. Uhg! Bad luck strike me so hard this time!

I took a deep breath. A moment later, I smell something that sends cold shivers all over my body. Oh, how can a bunch of flowers smells like a masculine scent?

Grapy, citrusy. Wait. This scent isn't a flower!

I open my eyes and lifted my gaze. I stunned realizing that I was in the arms of Mr. Beer. But how?

"You have a pollen allergy, right Reyna?"

Tumatama pa ang hininga ni Mr. Beer sa tenga ko habang nagsasalita siya.

"Aaaaachu!" dumistansya na ako sa kanya. "Aaaaachu!" I rub my eyes. I scratch my neck, arms, hands. I feel so itchy! "Aaaa.... achu!" my eyes started to become watery.

May sinasabi si Mr. Beer pero hindi ko na maintindihan. He's acting worried.

"Sir.... Aaa... achu!" I need help. I'm scratching all over. I felt so itchy.

Naalala kong may anti-allergy ako sa medicine kit namin sa kusina. I need to take medicine as soon as possible!

I was about to run into our small kitchen inside, but I stopped and felt myself kneeling on the floor. I hold my neck. What the heck! nagsisimula ng mangati ang loob lalamunan ko!

My pollen allergy never came this far, ngayon lang nangyari saakin to. Ilang billiong pollen kaya ang dala ng daisy, babies breathe at aster ng bouquet na'yon?

Someone held me and helped me stand.

"Aaaa.... achu! " I'm coughing and sneezing at the same time.

"Do you have medicine with you? Your allergy is getting worse.” That's is Mr. Beer.

"Kitchen...... aaaachuuuu! ... my," the struggle is real. I want to talk, but sneeze and cough stopping me, “med-kit-" I'm pointing the kitchen door.

That's all I answer and he took me to the door I pointing to. As soon as I grab the kit, I immediately open it and took three tabs all at once. Mr. Beer handed me a glass of water. I sat on the chair beside me and let myself calm.

A moment later. Mr. Beer hold my chin and turn my face to him. Oh gosh! Ba’t ang hilig manggulat ng lalaking to? Daig ko pa ang statua ngayong nakatitig sa asul niyang mata.

"Your eyes are getting red," he raised my chin to peek on my neck, "You have rashes all over your neck, arms and face. You need to take a bath to get rid of the pollen that sticks on you. Your medicine will be useless if you don't take a bath."

Tumango ako," I..... aaachu! I guess you're right. I need to go home and bath," I said between my sneeze.

"Don't you have shower here?"

Umuling ako.Meron kaming tulugan dito, kusina at comfort room pero walang shower room.

He suddenly hold my hand and grab me towards the door. "Where are we.. aachu!... we going? " nagpakaladkad lang ako sa kanya.

"We must get rid of those pollen."

Matapos niyang buksan ang pintuan ay pareho kaming napahinto. Tanaw namin ang malakas na ulan. Mas malakas pa ito kumpara kanina.

"Now lets take a bathe." Mr. Beer said.

Hinila niya ako sa parking space ng shop at ngayoy basang basa na sa ulan. Wala pang isang minuto sa pagkakatayo sa ilalim ng ulan ay daig ko pa ang naligo sa shower.

"Now start scrubbing your face and neck, it'll help, trust me.”

Nabaling ang pansin ko sa kanya. Now he's wet too! Akala ko ako lang ang maliligo pero ngayo'y dalawa kaming basang basa na sa ulan.

I started scrubbing. I feel my cough subsided a little. I think the medicine starting to work.

Five minutes passed and we were still under the rain. When I looked up at the sky, it's dark. I guess the rain has no intention to stop.

I closed my eyes and let every drop of water drip down to my body. I lift both arms in the air. I felt the rain. I couldn't hear any other sound around me except the noise of the raindrops. I smiled.

It's been a while since I took a shower under the rain. When was the last time? High school, with daddy. The trace of the smile disappeared from my face.

"Feeli'n the rain,huh."

Napalingon ako. It's Mr. Beer. His arms are crossed on his chest. He's smiling at me. It's a genuine smile. I can't help but admire how handsome he is.

Mas bagay sa kanya ang ngumiti kesa sa seryosong mukha na nakikita ko sa kanya nung nakaupo sya sa loob ng shop mag-isa.

"My cough subsided a little.... achu!"

He chuckle, “Follow me."

Tiningnan ko lang siya. He stop at the back of a luxury car. Sumunod ako at nakitang binuksan niya ang compartment. May hinanap siyang kung ano sa loob.

Ini abot niya saakin ang isang maliit na box. "Sabon?"

Tumango siya, "Lucky you, now clean yourself."

Bumalik ako sa pwesto ko kanina sa parking space. Nagpalingon lingon ako at di'ko na nakita si Mr. Beer. I opened the box and smelled what's inside. The soap smells like ladies perfume.

Ba't kaya may ganito siya? Sa girlfriend kaya niya ito? Whoever's the owner, salamat sa kanya.

Bulang bula na ang leeg, braso pati mukha ko.To sum-up ang halos buo kong katawan. Nawala na ang kati. Bumabahing parin ako paminsan minsan.

Napatingala ako sa kalangitan. What's happening? Tumila naba ang ulan? I'm about to rinse, heavens! Saan ako magbabanlaw ngayon? Bulang bula pa naman ako.

Ibinukas ko ang mga palad sa kawalan at dinama ang mga patak ngulan. Humina nanga ito. Pa'no ngayon to?

Napalingon ako sa pintuan ng shop. I heard someone's laughing. It became louder and louder. It's Mr. Beer.

"So, pa'no bayan? Saan ka magbabanlaw ngayon?" tawang tawa siya na pinagmasdan ako.

I raise my brows, "Saan do'n ang nakakatawa? "

Tawang tawa parin siya sa akin. Tuluyan ng tumila ang ulan, ibig sabihin nito di'na talaga ako makakabanlaw. Lumapit saakin si Mr. Beer.

"I guess kailangan mong umuwi ng ganyan," napahawak pa siya sa kanyang tyan habang tumatawa. Ang saya ng mokong!

I brilliant idea pop's into my mind. Kapag matalino kanga naman. Bakit ngayon ko lang ito naisip?

Naglakad ako di kalayuan kay Mr. Beer .

I picked up the hose that was on the side of the flower pot, auntie and I use this hose to water the ornamental plants here outside the coffee shop. I turned on the faucet and handed the hose to Mr. Beer.

Natigilan siya, akala niya umuulan. Nilakasan ko pa ang faucet, ngayon ay nakatingin na siya sa direction ko. He saw me holding my smile.

"Reyn, stop it!"

Inutusan niya akong itigil na ang pag basa sa kanya ng tubig. Hindi parin ako tumigil, ako naman ngayon ang tawang tawa sa kanya. Hes covering his face as he trying to avoid the running water.

"Ahhh!” screamed.

I let go of the hose and now he's holding it. Gano'n niya kadaling naagaw saakin ang hose? Hindi ko man lang namalayan.

“I’ll help you rinse." Hininaan niya ang tubig saka itinapat iyon saakin.

I started rubbing my neck, arms and hands. I glanced at him. I saw how his adams apple moved. Did he just gulp?

Our eyes met, pero nagbawi agad ako ng tingin. "I think this is enough. Thank you Mr. Beer, and I'm so sorry for what happened."

He chortle, "What did you just call me?”

An O shape formed into my mouth, “O’.. uhm Mr. Beer, since I didn't know."

"That's why my name on my coffee cup earlier was beer. Why didn't you ask me?"

“Hindi na ako nang-istorbo, ang lalim kasi ng iniisip mo."

Tumango tango naman siya sa sinabi ko.

"It's Kanji."

Hindi ko inaasahan ang paglalahad ng kamay niya saakin.

"Reyna." Nagpakilala narin ako habang nakikipag kamay. "It's getting late night, I'm going to close the shop. You’re wet, you might get sick from that."

"You sure? Pa'no ka uuwi? You're all wet and might get sick too."

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I think my allergy will just leave rashes, but I'm sure it'll be fine. Maybe you want a coffee, I'll give you a free one, uhm, probably a long black."

Hesitant man pero nag offer narin ako para makawi sa nangyari kahit papaano.

"That's a good idea."

Hinintay niya ako sa labas ng pintuan. Di nagtagal ibinigay ko na ang kape na hinanda ko para sa kanya.

"Salamat Sir Kanji, good night."

Tinanggap niya ang kapeng binigay ko. Isang puting tuwalya naman ang ibinigay niya saakin.

"I think you'll need that. Good night Reyn. "

Hindi ako nakasagot at pinanood nalang siyang sumakay sa kanyang luxury car na ngayoy papalayo na.

I look at the towel. I smell it. My hairs stood up all over my body. Is this Kajis towel? Oh his scent!