Admiring Winter (Seasons of Love Series #1)

07

Aurelia Winter

"What were you doing?" I crossed my arms in front of my chest and stared at him. Nang dahil sa kaniya ay baka babaan ako ni Veles ng tawag.

Nagpakawala ako ng isang malalim na hininga. Naiirita ako!

"I w-was just... What I m-mean is... it was an a-accident!" Keiran was stammering.

Narito kami ngayon sa kwarto niya matapos ko siyang akayin dahil hindi siya makalakad. He was so freaking heavy!

"Natapilok ako tapos... ganoon ang nangyari. I'm s-sorry, okay? It won't happen again. I promise," he said and apologized.

Umirap ako. "Bakit ba english ka nang english?!"

He tilted his head and his brows furrowed like what I said was out of our topic. "What?"

Namaywang ako. Akala niya siguro hindi ko napapansin? Huwag niya akong gawing tanga. Duh! Don't me, Keiran!

Tumitig siya sa akin ng ilang sandali. Malalim ang kaniyang paghinga at parang kamatis ang mukha niya dahil pulang-pula. He tried to break our contact by grabbing his phone from the corner of the side table.

Nakita ko ang pagliwanag ng mata niya nang may mabasa sa kaniyang cellphone.

"May trabaho pa pala ako," he declared.

I was shocked when he suddenly switched his language to Filipino. It was a bit off, actually. I just bit my lower lip and tried not to think about it anymore.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Are you sure na magta-trabaho ka? Nahihirapan ka pang maglakad, oh!" I said with concern while pointing his foot.

"Huwag ka nang magalala sa akin. Kaya ko naman... at h-hinihintay na nila ako roon sa convenient store."

Nabanggit nga pala niya sa akin na natanggap siya bilang isang cashier sa convenient store. Tuwing gabi siya nagta-trabaho roon dahil siya ang pang night shift.

"Sigurado ka? Huwag ka na kaya muna pumasok?" I insisted. Baka mas lalong lumala ang kondisyon ng kaniyang paa kung pipilitin niya.

Bumuntong hininga siya at tumingin sa mata ko. "You are not in the position to tell me what to do in my life."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. He said it in a monotone voice so I don't have any idea if he's mad or something. Bakit parang bigla-bigla namang nagbago ang mood niya?

I remained silent. Fine! Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Concerned lang naman ako sa kalagayan niya. As a nurse, I just wanted to help him by giving him advice. If he won't take it, then I will let him be. Ganoon ako kadaling kausap.

Parang ako pa tuloy ang nagmukhang masama. I felt so little.

Tumango ako at pinag-krus ang braso sa harap ng aking dibdib. "Okay!"

Nakita ko siyang bihis na paglabas niya ng kaniyang kwarto. Suot niya ang uniform ng pang cashier. Hindi siya nagsalita habang inaayos ang gamit na dadalhin. I just looked at him while he's busy doing things. When he was already finished, he didn't even bother to say goodbye to me. Umalis na siya agad nang hindi man lang tumingin sa akin.

Tsk! Attitude talaga.

Kahit paika-ika sa paglalakad ay tumuloy pa rin siya.

I turned my back and went back to my room as I suddenly remembered that I was talking to Veles over the phone! Nagmadali akong pumasok sa loob at tiningnan ang phone para i-check.

"Uh!" I groaned silently. Due to frustration, I pulled my hair like a crazy woman.

Wala na! Binabaan niya na ako ng tawag!