The Broken Soundtrack

Track 29: Stuck in the Middle

I must be living in a nightmare right now. Gusto ko nalang magising sa bangungot na ito.

Nothing seemed to be going right these days. When I came here, gusto ko lang namang hanapin si papa. Hindi ko naman inasahan na may darating sa buhay ko at guguluhin ang payapa kong buhay.

Rolling on my bed, I reached for my phone on my bedside table and saw a message from Tita Claire. "Jannah, favor naman. Pakibigay yung ginawa kong maja blanca kina Lola Olive. Thank you."

First thing in the morning at may pinapagawa na ulit si tita. I wouldn't normally complain, but with half of my body paralyzed and my head about to burst, I just wanted to bang my head on a concrete and lay in bed all day.

But of course, bilang ako ay isang mabuting pamangkin, umalis na rin ako sa kama sabay hila sa mga paa ko papunta sa baba.

Ang sakit talaga ng buong katawan ko kapag may period ako. Gusto ko lang gumulong maghapon sa kama at huwag gumalaw kung hindi naman kailangan.

Reaching the foot of the stairs, the stinging pain hit me again.

Pakiramdam ko parang nayuyupi ang fallopian tubes ko. I suddenly felt something hot and stirring inside my gut, but I tried to control myself from throwing up.

When the doorbell rang, I straightened myself up, ignoring the pain inside me.

"Is anyone home?" The voice startled me from behind the door. Na-recognize ko ang boses ni Asher at once.

Holding onto the guardrail for support, I forced my feet towards the door.

I leaned towards the side, touching the hallway table. A loud shatter ensued as broken pieces of the vase scattered on the floor. Ano ba yan!

Tumigil ako sa paglakad para yumuko at pulutin yung mga basag na piraso ng vase. I would seriously get in trouble with this. Alam kong meticulous si Tita Claire at baka may sentimental value rin itong vase sa kanya. Lagot talaga ako nito.

"Hey! Who's there? Jam? What's happening?" Asher roared as he banged the door continuously.

I grunted, standing up again and dragging myself towards the door.

Asher's squinted eyes welcomed me as I pulled the door open. "Jam, are you all right? What happened?"

Pressing my lips in a thin line, I answered, "Uh, yes. Nandito ako."

Natahimik si Asher habang nakatingin sa bakanteng sala namin. "Was that it?" tanong niya sabay turo sa may sahig kung saan nakakalat yung basag na vase.

"Yeah. It was an accident," I explained, diverting my eyes on his dirty black Chucks, instead of his hair pulled up in a man-bun.

"Are you sure you didn't hurt yourself?" tanong niya ulit.

"I'm all right, Ash," I mumbled.

"God! I miss hearing you say my name," he blurted out and my eyes darted back to his sparkling blue eyes.

I inhaled a deep breath, not letting his words cloud my thoughts again. "Nandito ka ba para kunin ang maja blanca?"

"Yes, that's the one," he pointed out. "When lola told me this morning, I kept on forgetting its name. Is it a Filipino dessert?"

Tumango ako. "Kunin ko lang sa ref," I said as I turned my back at him.

"Be careful of the broken pieces," Asher mentioned as I walked past the table. "Do you mind if I come in? I'll help you clean that up."

Ayaw ko siyang pumasok sa look pero pagtingin ko ulit sa kanya, he was already making his way in, bending down to pick up the pieces.

"Ash, you don't have to do that," I told him, but he continued what he was doing.