Eyes Closed in the Fall (Trip & Fall Series #1)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Trip & Fall

"I'll take you somewhere nice. It's a three to four-hour ride away from here though. Okay lang ba sa 'yo?"

Tumango ako.

Kailangan ko ring libangin ang utak ko. Ayokong nakakaramdam ng ganito- masyadong nalulunod sa sarili kong damdamin kaya't hindi ako nakakapag-isip ng maayos.

The car stopped in front of the nearest 7-11 store. Nanatili lang ako sa sasakyan, nakapikit ang mga mata pero hindi natutulog, hindi rin nakakaramdam ng antok, hinihintay lang siyang makabalik. I inserted my hands at the holes of his jacket, sighing at how cozy it felt.

Pagkabalik niya'y may dala-dala na siyang plastik. He untied the handkerchief wrapped around my index finger. Itinabi niya 'yon at kumuha ng isang band-aid mula sa isang box na binili niya.

"Ano 'to?" tanong ko habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang laman nang plastik. Puro matatamis.

He peeled the band-aid and covered my finger with it. "Para gumaan ang pakiramdam mo."

Hinaplos-haplos niya pa 'yon bago tinanggal ang kamay. "Sana may band-aid din para sa puso."

"Bakit?"

He lifted his head and smiled. "Para hindi na masyadong masakit 'yang dinadama mo."

Inilayo ko ang tingin ko. Nagsimula na rin siyang mag-maneho papuntang Batangas. Sumilip ako sa may bintana, tinatanaw ang mga nadadaanan namin. Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at nilagay iyon sa dibdib ko, at the spot where the blood was blotched. It feels itchy for some reason, as if I want to carve my heart out and scratch it myself.

We arrived at our destination hours later.

In this secluded area, birds chirping served as the equivalent of the buzzing noises in the city. Puno ang nagsisilbi nilang kapitbahay. Tahimik ang lugar, malayo sa sibilisasyon. Although quiet, it wasn't eerie, it was...peaceful.

There was a large wooden gate in front of what seemed to be a tunnel. Two men dressed in casual clothes on both sides were guarding the place. Tinanguan nila si Tristan na kakarating lang galing sa pag-parke ng kotse sa garaheng katabi ng gate.

He held the small of my back. "Let's go."

Ni hindi ako makatango. Masyado akong mangha sa lugar. At the end of the tunnel, there was a sign 'Royal Mountain' displayed at the top.

Paraiso- 'yon ang unang salitang pumasok sa utak ko nang nasa loob na kami. The hectares of land were vast. At one side, there was a golf course, and on the other, a playground was built. Hinayaan kong gumala ang tingin ko, pero sa huli'y napagod din ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko makita ang dulo.

Mayroong isang palapag na bahay sa gilid. Hindi gaanong malaki, hindi rin gaanong maliit, sakto lang sa pamilyang may apat hanggang limang miyembro. Sa harap non ay isang hardin, buhay na buhay dahil sa kulay ng mga bulaklak.

There were a few hanging pots of plants displayed on each side of the wall, in the middle was the main door.

The curtains were casted aside, allowing me to have a vague image of what was inside. The chandelier in the living room wasn't open, sunlight streamed through the open window, serving as its replacement. Salungat sa sala, nakabukas ang ilaw sa kusina- ang silid na kasunod non.

"Nand'yan si Manang Yeni." Yumuko si Tristan. The tiles of the terrace were of the color brown, pero may isang medyo may kaibahan sa kulay, it was a shade lighter. Itinaas 'yon ni Tristan at kinuha ang susi sa ilalim.

He inserted the key, the door opened. Pinauna niya 'kong pumasok. Sinara niya ang pintuan nang dahan-dahan. Then, he placed his index finger in front of his lips. I pursed mine in return, nodding at his signal.