Kabanata 4

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa pinaghirapan niyang regalo. Didmayado niyang tinitignan ang jewelry box.

“At least wear it just for a day. Or even just for an hour, Yana.” He sounds hurt and disappointed. For some reason, it's affecting me.

Umirap ako. “Hindi ko sinabing bigyan mo ako ng regalo. Besides, my birthday was two weeks ago! Why did you even bother buying one? Especially this cheap one!”

Bumagsak ang balikat niya at saka niya pinulot ang box na nahulog. Tiningnan niya ang laman noon bago niya isinara at ibinalik ulit sa bulsa niya.

Tahimik siyang bumalik sa sink at saka hinugasan ulit ang sugat niya. I forgot he had a wound because of his damn gift for me!

Matapos niyang hugasan ang sugat niya ay kinuha niya ang first aid kit. Kaya lang, hindi niya magamot nang mabuti ang kamay niya dahil hindi niya mahawakan ang mga gagamitin niya.

Buti na lang at may biglang pumasok na isang katulong sa kusina. Natigilan pa ito nang makita niya kaming dalawa ni Miguel.

“Can you help him treat his wound? He can’t do it on his own,” deretso kong utos sa babae.

Kita ko ang pag-alanganin niya.

“Miss, we are not allowed to follow his orders or to help him. Sir Renzo warned us about it,” kinakabahan niyang sabi.

“What?” Kunot-noo kong sabi. Ilang beses na tumango ang kasambahay bago nagmamadaling lumabas ng kusina.

I gritted my teeth when I saw Miguel struggle to open a bottle. Hindi niya magamit ang isang kamay niya dahil tingin ko, malalim ang sugat niya. Patuloy pa ang pagdurugo noon.

“Sa doctor mo ’yan ipagamot. Mukhang malalim ang sugat.”

Umiling siya. “I have to pay for it. Naubos ko na ang pera ko.”

Hindi ako makakain dahil sa iritasyon ko. Naiinis ako na hindi niya magawang gamutin ang sarili niya.

Napilitan akong tumayo at saka umikot sa kanya. He looked at me with a frown.

“Gamutin na kita.”

Akala ko ay aangal siya pero hindi. Nilahad pa niya sa akin ang kamay niyang may sugat. I pursed my lips.

Binuksan ko ang maliit na bottle na binubuksan niya kanina at saka kumuha ng cotton balls. Nilagyan ko ang cotton balls at saka ipinahid doon sa sugat niya.

“How did you get this?”

“A bottle of wine slipped out of my hand in the cellar. I tried to stop it but it was too late,” aniya. Which reminds me again of his gift.

Hindi na ako kumibo at nagpatuloy na lang sa paggamot sa kanya. Ilang minuto kaming tumahimik.

“Belated happy birthday,” he suddenly whispered softly.

My heart immediately reacted to him. I then felt him kiss me gently on my forehead.

Natigilan ako at napatingala sa kanya. Nanlalaki ang mata ko habang tinitingnan siya.

“What are you doing?” Marahas ko siyang itinulak.

Isang beses siyang napaatras at gulat na napatingin sa akin. His face then darkened.

“What did I do?” Now he sounds mad.

“Why did you kiss me?” I demanded, almost irritated than shock.

“Yana, I saw Renzo kiss you on the cheeks. I saw Samuel hug you, and Damien dance with you on your birthday. You never complained! Why are you complaining now that I was the one kissing you? Why are you being so unfair!”

Iritado siyang umabante sa akin. Umatras ako, only for my back to hit the countertop. Nilagay niya sa magkabila ko ang dalawang kamay niya.

“What makes me different from them that you have to complain when I was the one greeting you? I didn't get to greet you on your birthday because they didn't allow me to get near you and I had no gift. I had to work to buy one. Don't fucking be so unfair! I also want to give you a gift!” he said menacingly.

Suminghap ako at hindi nakapagsalita. I don't know what to say anymore. Kabadong-kabado din ako.

The difference is exactly this. He has an effect on me, Renzo and the others don't. I don't put malice on their actions. I can't when it comes to him.

Pumikit ako nang maramdaman kong dumungaw sa akin si Miguel. I felt his breath on my face and then his kiss on my cheek, exactly where Renzo kissed me two weeks ago.

“Again, belated happy birthday. I'm sorry for greeting you late,” he whispered between us.

“Fine.” I shifted uncomfortably. “Akin na ang kamay mo, hindi ko pa tapos gamutin.”

Ibinalik niya sa akin ang kamay niya. Nagpatuloy akong gamutin siya. Pareho na kaming tahimik ngayon. Mabuti dahil kailangan kong kumalma.

Patapos na ako sa kamay niya nang basagin niya ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin.

“Can you wear my gift even just for an hour?” he asked.

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. He looked at me expectantly.

“Okay. I'll wear it.”

His lip twisted into a smile. Kinuha niya ulit ang box sa bulsa niya at saka niya tinanggal ang laman noon. Binuksan niya ang hook ng kuwintas at saka inilagay sa leeg ko.

“I'll buy you an expensive one next time.”

Umiling ako. “You don't need to. Ipunin mo na lang ang pera mo. I can afford my things.”

Hindi siya sumagot. Natapos na rin ang paggamot ko sa kamay niya.

“Nakausap ko pala si Mama. She is willing to give you a monthly allowance,” balita ko sa kanya.

Agad na kumunot ang noo niya.

“Why would she do that? I don't need it!” he said, offended.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. “You don't need it? At ano? Okay na magtrabaho ka kasama ang mga workers dito? Sa cellar?”

“Nothing is wrong with that, Yana. I work to earn.”

I almost groaned. “Kung ayaw mo, ako na lang ang nagbibigay sa’yo! Just stop working! Kaya ka pinag-iinitan nina Renzo!”

“You are the last person I'll ask for money!” he snapped.

“What's wrong with it? I'm your cousin!”

Mas lalo pa siyang nairita sa sinabi ko. His jaw clenched.

“Even so. I won't accept your damn money.”

I glared at him. He watched me but let out a sigh afterward.

“Ngayon lang naman ’to. Once my memory returns, I'll figure out my life,” marahan na niyang sabi.

“Then stop skipping your medicine. Always take it on time,” I whispered to him.

Tumango siya. Nilagay niya ang tikwas ng buhok ko sa likod ng tenga ko.

“I will. I want my memories back,” he whispered hopefully. Like his memory will solve whatever that was bothering him.

…