Worries Novels & Stories

Ang pormalidad ay napalitan ng matinding pag-aalala at kaba. “God! I’m so fucking worried! Shit, sabihin mo sakin, may ginawa ba siya sayo? Sinaktan ka niya?! Pupuntahan kita diyan—”

pagtanong niya sa akin nang mapasin na umiiyak ako. Napayuko na lamang ako at napahikbi. Naramdaman kong hinarap niya ako. "What happened? Tell me what's wrong? I'll help you!" he worried. Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kaniyang mga mata. Kita kong nararamdaman niya ang sakit na pinagdadaanan ko. He holds my hands gently. I saw his worriedness in his eyes about me. "If you worried about your baby! You don't have worry! I will take care of you! Even your baby, okay!"

Hindi galit ang boses ko—takot. May isa pang sandaling katahimikan. Mas maikli, pero mas mabigat. “I’m doing everything I can,” sagot niya. “Hindi mo kailangang mag-alala.” Napatawa ako nang mahina at nanginginig. Hindi dahil nakakatawa. Kundi dahil overwhelmed ako. “Paano ako hindi magwo-worry?” bulong ko. “Lahat dito pinag-uusapan ’to. Sinasabi nila na parang decided na. Parang inevitable na.”

Ngunit nang pinikit ko ang aking mga mata ay sumagi sa isip ko ang salitang binitiwan ni Fox kanina matapos niyang bumalik. “Because I was worried…” Natigilan ako. Pinilig ko ang aking ulo. Worried siya? Ano ba tagalog ng worried? Di ba nag-aalala? Oh e bakit siya nag-deny? O baka naman sinabi niya lang ‘yon dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang irarason niya? Ugh. This is a very big headache to me. Nagpatuloy na lamang ako sa aking pagligo. I took my time in the shower. At katulad ng dati, nakatulong din ang sobrang lamig na tubig sa ‘kin. Kumalma ang aking nanginginig na sistema.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw kulang na lang hindi ako makatulog sa dami ng iniisip ko. "Mom called me. She is worried about you." Umupo ito sa kama. She looked at me with full of concern. "Anong meron? Bakit biglaan kang umuwi at hindi pumasok sa trabaho? Knowing how workaholic you are, h'wag mo akong bigyan ng dahilang hindi kapani-paniwala. Alam kong may problema kaya magsalita ka."

Jarren had been unusually quiet during dinner, pushing his pasta around his plate instead of enjoying it. “Yeah, just… busy,” he replied, but I could tell he was lying. “Busy?” I echoed, trying to lighten the mood. “Or overwhelmed?” He looked up, meeting my gaze for a moment before looking away. “It’s just work stuff. I’ll handle it.” **A Cloud of Uncertainty** As the days passed, I felt the weight of his worries settling over us like a fog. Jarren’s company had been facing challenges—rumors of financial difficulties circulated, and he had been spending late nights in the office, often returning home drained and distracted.

Minsan talaga, hindi ko maintindihan ang lalaking ito. Masyado ba siyang matatag, o sadyang sanay na siyang akuin ang lahat ng problema nang mag-isa? Marahan siyang huminga bago muling nagsalita. "Also, don't misunderstand me." Bahagya siyang sumandal sa sofa habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin. "I'm worried. Kung inaakala mong hindi ako naaapektuhan ng resulta, nagkakamali ka."

I said as I shifted my eyes to the result of my patient. "Wala ka bang napapansin sa kanya nitong nakaraang araw?" Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong ni lolo. "Like does she in pain these past few days? Or is she acting weird?" She's always weird though. "Just get into the point lolo. Is there something wrong?" I asked in annoyed tone. He heaved a deep sigh. He looks bothered into something. "I'm just a little bit worried. There's a CCTV footage that was being sent to my office."

"Xyriel, I'm just worried. Nag-aalala ako sa 'yo dahil umalis ka ng walang paalam at hindi ka pa umuwi. Kung wala kang lalaki then tell me na wala. Hindi 'yong sisigawan mo lang ako." Now, he's saying that he's worried? Hindi ko naman iyon nararamdaman. Tingnan mo nga naman, imbis na ako ang pakalmahin niya. Mas pinapakalma niya ang pekeng pag-iyak ni Diana. Kaya nasaan ang worried diyan?

“You don’t have to worry about me, okay? Hindi naman siguro magkakatagpo ang landas namin nila Joey or Tita Lumina.” She looked at Yuen and saw the concern in his eyes. Kumikibot ang labi nito na para bang may nais itong sabihin ngunit hindi nito masabi. Hmugot ito ng malalim na hininga at umiwas ng tingin. “I’m just worried.”