Once The Light Fades ✅

Chapter 9 | Fix You

ZIA

 Hunter is the epitome of a knight in shining armor, and I'm the poster child for the damsel in distress.

He's so open, ang dami na n'yang naikwento sa akin tungkol sa sarili n'ya and I can't even return the favor. I keep avoiding looking at him dahil unang una, wala rin naman akong makikita, pangalawa at ang mas importante, baka mapansin n'yang hindi steady ang tingin ko. People always realize there's something wrong sa paningin ko dahil I keep looking around, I can't see clearly kaya ina-adjust ko ang paningin ko para makita ang mukha ng kausap ko and I don't want to tell him how bad my eyesight is.

He already pities me, I'm sure of it. I don't need one more person para kaawaan ako.

Medyo lumiwanag nang makalapit na kami sa convenience store, sumilip ako sa mukha ni Hunter, medyo madilim pa rin, but I can already see some of his features.

He's tall at mukhang maputi, I mean I guessed he's not Filipino-looking dahil sa boses at accent n'ya. I really wanted to take a good look at his face pero hindi ko magawa at ayoko namang inspeksyunin ang mukha n'ya like a weirdo.

I squint para makita ko siya, pero bigla siyang tumingin.

I look away like the idiot that I am.

Blue nga ba mata n'ya? I'm not sure.

We get to the convenience store at lalo nang luminaw ang paningin ko. I look around, still worried na baka makita kami ng mga lalaki kanina. Nagbanta pa naman sila na babalikan si Hunter. I don't think Hunter understood.

Siguro naman hindi kami susugurin dito. May mga cameras naman yata sa mga ganitong lugar.

Hunter doesn't let go of my arm kahit na nandito na kami sa loob, so I say, "I'm okay. My vision is good when there's better lighting."

He turns to face me. I get a good look at his face now, at medyo napapigil ako ng hininga.

Medyo bumaba siya, face level and says, "Oh really? Can you see me clearly now?"

I nod.

Hindi ko lang masabi na, "Ikaw? Ikaw ang nagligtas sa akin? What the hell?"

To call him good looking is an understatement, parang hindi enough kahit na siguro madalas 'yon gamiting description n'ya. I don't think that fits him though, he looks... breathtaking – if you can say that about a guy. And those blue eyes, I mean, he quite literally took my breath away.

At mukhang hindi pa sapat 'yon because he gives me a big smile. My heart beats faster and I feel the warmth creeping up my cheeks. So, I do what every awkward teenager would do – I walk away and yell, "Band aids! We need band aids!"

I can hear his chuckle at napairap na lang ako. Mukha akong tanga pero anong gagawin ko? Alangan namang sabihin ko'ng "Huy! Bakit ang gwapo mo?"

I turn the corner kung nasaan ang mga medical supplies at kumuha ng betadine at band aid. Napapikit na lang ako nang maalala ko na wala pala akong pambayad.

Oh my God.

I turn to my right and see him looking at the stuff I'm holding.

Kinuha n'ya ang band aid at ang betadine, "We need cotton balls and some water."

Kumuha siya ng isang pack ng cotton balls at naglakad na palayo.

Parang wala lang sa kanya at kahit nakakahiya, sinundan ko lang siya pagpunta n'ya sa aisle na puro drinks. Habang kumukuha siya ng mineral water pumunta ako sa refrigerated section at kumuha ng isang bote ng iced tea.

Paglingon ko nasa tabi ko na ulit siya, "What's that for? Are you thirsty?"

I hold the bottle up, "It's for you. You said you're thirsty."

He just smiles and I rattle on, "Do you want something else? Orange juice? Soft drinks?"

Ibabalik ko na sana ang iced tea pero pinigilan n'ya ako, "That's good. I like iced tea."

I nod at kinuha n'ya sa akin ang bote.

We walk towards the cashier, he pays at lumakad na ako palabas ng convenience store. May mga upuan doon sa labas kaya doon na lang ako nag-stay.

Paglabas n'ya naupo na siya sa harapan ko at wala na akong palusot kung hindi tumingin sa kanya. I try to look sa loob ng convenience store at tingnan ang mga kulay doon, but then he talks to me.

"Alright. We need to wash your hands first with the water."

He's Australian, so I need to really try to understand what he's saying. Pero sa tingin ko binabagalan n'ya magsalita para mas maintindihan ko.

Tumango lang ako, but then he surprises me when stands up and kneels beside me. He takes my hand at binuhusan n'ya ng tubig habang dahan dahang nililinis ang mga sugat ko with his thumb.

I bite the inside of my cheek.

He looks up to me with those beautiful blue eyes, "Is it okay? It doesn't sting?"

Umiling lang ako, "Okay lang."

I clear my throat, "I mean, it's okay."

He nods.

Kumuha siya ng bulak at pinunasan ang kamay ko.

I just watch him tend to my wounds, kahit medyo mahapdi ang pagpunas n'ya hindi ko pansin because he's so gentle.

Nang malapit na siyang matapos he puts the cap back on the antiseptic, then I notice may scratches rin siya sa kamao n'ya.

Hinawakan ko ang mga kamay n'ya at inisipeksyon ang kamao n'ya, "Did you get this from earlier?"

He looks at it and just shrugs, "Maybe. It's alright, just scratches."

Pumalatak ako, "We need to fix this too."

He smiles, "Alright. I'll fix your wounds first, then you can fix mine."

I frown.

Unfortunately, my wounds are something he can't fix. No one can.