Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 23

Cray

I silently stare at Eris habang nakahiga pa din ito sa hospital bed. May mga scratch yung pisngi at braso nito. But unlike Tris, mas mukhang malala yung tama nito dahil bahagyang groggy yung itsura nito. Marahil ay dahil sa kung anong drugs yung itinurok dito.

I just don't get it. Why kids are being an ass nowadays. Oo, college sila Tris at Lee. They're probably nineteen turning twenty and are at their last semester of their graduating year. But I am not well aware that drugs are okay to be brought at school. Or was she drugged at school or was it in somewhere else?

"Hey, you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko dito nang mapansin na tila may hinahanap ito sa gilid nito.

Ito naman ay malungkot lang na tumingin sa bahagyang nakaawang na pintuan. Nasa labas niyon ang Mommy Jen nito pati na din si Ember at Tita Sam. They were talking too loud. No, more on si Tita Jen yung naririnig ko na mataas yung boses. Which is so rare. Can't blame her though.

Kanina naman ay yung parents ko naman yung unang hinanap ni Tita Grant. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa sila bumabalik.

"They're mad, right?" Kumpirma pa ni Eris sakin.

Napalingon naman ako doon sa tinitingnan nito. I even heard Tita Jen shouting, which is so unusual. She might be terribly upset at what happened on her daughter.

Before I can answer her ay lumuwag yung pagkakabukas ng pinto at pumasok si Essex. Kasunod nito si Ember. The two both had a looked of a grumpy faces.

But contrary to what I am expecting, sabay na sumungaw yung ngiti ng mga ito nang mapansin na gising na si Eris.

"Hey, you're awake." Lumapit si Essex sa gilid ng kama ng kapatid at saka hinaplos yung ulo nito. "You look like a dying cat here. Tara, uwi na tayo."

Si Ember naman ay lumapit sakin at saka umupo sa tabi ko. Without a word, I pulled her closer to lean on my shoulder.

"Are we going home now, Ember?" Kumpirma pa ni Eris.

Si Ember naman ay pinisil yung kamay ko. "Yes, of course. We'll be home. Mom has come to fetch us."

Pagkarinig noon ay ako naman ang humawak sa braso ni Ember. Napatitig ako sa mukha nito na seryoso lang na tinitigan ako.

"It's okay if you'll not be with us, Ember. I understand that you alread-"

"No." Lumingon si Ember kay Eris at ngumiti. "We'll be all going home. You're right. This ain't the place for us."

Nakaramdam naman ako ng pagtutol sa sinabi nito. Anong hindi ito ang lugar nila? She's married to me. We haven't even consummated our marriage yet. Tiyak na magtataka din ang mga magulang ko kung sakaling biglang uuwi si Ember sa Isla at maghihiwalay na naman kami.

We should set our responsibilities now. She can't just leave me here. Lalo pa ngayon na nagkaayos na kami.

"No, you're not going home with them." May diin na sabi ko. Hinawakan ko pa ito sa braso para iparating na seryoso ako. "Your home is where I am."

"Cray, you have to understand that Eris needs us now." Pagpapaintindi nito.

Umiling lang ako. "I need you too. You're my wife now. We're married. You just can't leave me as you deem necessary. At mas lalong hindi ka dapat nagdedesisyon ng hindi man lang ako kinokonsulta."

Napabuntong hininga naman si Ember. Sumulyap pa ito sandali sa mga kapatid bago marahang umiling.

"Then go with us, Cray. The island is the only safe place for all of us. Malayo sa mga tao."