Humihilik pa sa kama at wala pang ligo. Hindi man lang nagpalit ng damit simula kagabi. This is Aciel the next morning. His face still has the stress Yuki gave him yesterday.
Umaga na?
He reached for his phone, which at the time was ringing, and set off the alarm. That was probably the 10th time it rang and he still didn't want to get up.
"How can you be this handsome when you just woke up?" tanong niya sa repleksyon niya sa nakapatay na phone.
Naupo siya sa kama. Tinignan niyang mabuti ang kabuuan ng maliit niyang kwarto. Dahil bagong lipat lang, nakatengga pa rin ang kahon-kahon niyang mga gamit. Inaagiw pa ang mga dingding at sira-sira pa ang ilang bahagi ng kwarto.
"SHE'S STILL MORE DISGUSTING THAN ALL OF THESE," determinado niyang sabi, sabay bangon.
Kinakamot pa niya ang puwetan at humihikab nang pumasok sa restroom. Hinugasan muna niya ang mga kamay bago naghilamos. He smiled upon seeing his face on the big mirror in front of him.
He scrolled through his playlist on the phone and played some music. He danced with swag while brushing his teeth. Moonwalk, perfect turns, graceful sways, and hip shakes? Name it. He can even tango alone.
"Ah..." Sinimulan niya ang pagmumumog. "You're smooth, man," he complimented himself.
- - -
"Oh? You're here," nakangiting pagbati ni Hakim sa asawa niyang binisita siya sa kaniyang opisina. Si Doc Thea.
"Yuki?" tanong ni Thea sa pagod na boses at bumeso sa asawa bago naupo sa mesa nito.
"Natutulog pa." He held her hands. "The mother of the organ donor still hasn't decided."
"To us, that girl is just a brain-dead patient. But to her mother, she's a precious daughter," Thea explained. "Kahit anong maging desisyon ng nanay niya, irespeto natin."
"Yuki doesn't want to undergo the surgery, when she's aware that the only way for her to survive is through kidney transplant. Kung tumagal pa lalo ang pagdedesisyon ng nanay..."
"We might lose Yuki? She's miraculously survived all the worst stages. Makakayanan niya ulit."
"Nagsisimula nang maapektuhan ang ibang bahagi ng katawan niya. This time, mga braso at binti niya. Kung hindi agad mapalitan ang kidneys niya..."
Iniwasan nila ang mga mata ng isa't isa. Mas humigpit din ang kapit nila sa mga kamay.
"YUKI WILL DIE," Hakim continued.
- - -
Pumasok si Aciel sa kwarto ni Yuki na noon ay mahimbing pa ang tulog. May hawak na mahabang stick sa kanang kamay, at isang paper bag sa kaliwa. He placed them on the table and went to the fridge to get some ice. He put them inside the ice bags he brought from home. Maingat siyang lumakad palapit kay Yuki. Alangan pa siya sa pag-angat ng kumot nito sa bahaging paahan.
"Gross," he whispered to himself as he gently put the ice bags on each of her ankle.
"PUT THEM AWAY."
Wala pa ngang ilang segundo mula nang ilagay niya, inalis niya agad ang ice bags sa utos ni Yuki. Gising na pala.
"Ikaw na naman? No wonder it felt eerie as if someone wanted to strangle me," dagdag pa ni Yuki.
YOU ARE READING
See You Tomorrow, Yuki (EDITING)
RomanceA healing romance between Yuki, a long-term patient known to be rude and cold-hearted, and a physical therapist called Aciel. Seeing through Yuki's inner self, Aciel tries to befriend her. Yuki who's devoid of emotions now learns it all through him...
