Floral Wounds

19

I've waited long enough to see those dark brown eyes again.

"Why are you here? Nagpapahinga ka pa dapat!"

He went towards me and looked at me as if I was a lost puppy in the rain. Ironic... siya 'tong basang-basa na ng ulan pero ako pa rin ang inaalala niya.

Sinilong ko siya sa payong ko. Even if it is raining, it didn't matter to me. As long as he's here, everything's bearable.

"I miss you."

He was taken aback by what I said. I know I've never been vocal about my feelings... sorry, Third.

He gave me a small smile. Somehow, it reminded me of my mom's... pero hindi 'yong ngiti niya na parang araw. Ramdam na ramdam ko ulit ang lungkot kahit nakangiti ang taong nasa harap ko.

I don't like this. I want to see his eyes twinkle again. I want to be influenced by his infectious laugh. I want to see him smile sincerely.

I desperately want to ask him the reason behind the sadness in his eyes... and why is he in the cemetery?

"I'm sorry I was gone."

Umiling ako. "Wala 'yon."

I don't know how to comfort him but I need to try my best. Isasantabi ko na muna 'yong sarili kong nararamdaman. Bahala na muna kahit sumasakit na lahat ng sugat ko sa katawan. Wala na muna akong pakialam kahit hirap na hirap akong huminga.

Siya na muna ngayon.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Tara na, ibabalik na kita sa ospital."

"No." I gripped his hand to stop him from walking. "I want to stay with you."

Binigyan na naman niya ako ng maliit na ngiti. "Damn, Aster. Since when did you became so straightforward?"

I just smiled back. I switched the topic back to him. "I know what you're going through. Do you want to talk about it?"

He stared deeply into my eyes for a few seconds before answering. "Yes. Yes, I do."

"Okay. Pero sumilong na muna tayo, Third." Hinawakan ko siya sa braso upang hilahin pero pinigilan niya ko. Bago pa ko makapagtanong, iginiya niya ko papunta sa kung saanman.

Ilang minuto na kaming naglalakad sa loob ng sementeryo at lumalakas na lalo ang ulan. Saan ba ko dadalhin nito?

"We're here."

Nakatitig siya sa baba kaya sinundan ko ang tingin niya. It has a familiar name.

Georgia Davin

"Hi, mom. This is Aster." Hinawakan niya ko sa magkabilang balikat at hinarap niya ko sa puntod ng nanay niya. His chest against my back felt nice but because of my wounds, it kind of hurt, too. Hindi ko na lang pinahalata. "Aster, this is my mom."

"H-hello po." I awkwardly raised my hand and waved at her mother's resting place.

We fell silent for a few minutes. I felt Third's hands wrap around me. It made my heart jump. I could smell his manly perfume mixed with some weird smell.

Hindi ko na 'yon pinansin dahil narinig kong humihikbi ang lalaki. Hindi ko siya kaharap pero nasasaktan rin ako. Damn it, Third. What happened?

"There's another time I lied to you. I'm sorry," he said. He lied to me?

"What?"

He hugged me tightly and rested his chin on my right shoulder. "In our family, I'm always t-third... and I don't mean I'm the third son, I mean I always f-finish third. Laging una si Kuya Gerson tapos pangalawa si Kuya Gino at ako ang h-huli."