Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 26

“Nurse Kenzie, can you please hand me the apple?” sumama ang mukha ko at muntik nang batuhin si Mace. Tumawa siya at umaktong sumasakit ang ulo.

“Ang tagal naman kumilos ng nurse na 'to, mamamatay ang pasyente saʼyo.” nilapitan ko siya at piningot na ang kaniyang tenga kaya bigla siyang napasigaw. Nakahilata siya ngayon at ako ang nag-aalaga sa kaniya dahil kasalukuyan siyang may flu. Ang kaso lang ay kanina niya pa ako iniinis kaya imbes na gumaling siya, parang mas gusto kong palalain ang sakit niya.

“Is this really how you treat your patients?! Hinding-hindi ako magpapa-admit sa hospital niyo!” dagdag niya pa kaya inirapan ko na lang siya.

“May sakit ka ba talaga? Nag-iinarte ka lang ata eh,” inis kong sabi.

“Aba bakit ako ang tinatanong mo? Ako ba ang nurse sa ating dalawa? You must tell if Iʼm sick or what.” akma ko ulit siyang babatukan kaya pinangsangga niya na ang braso at tumawa. I donʼt know how he can still laugh right now, ang init-init niya kaya.

“Ewan ko saʼyo, imbes na natutulog na ako ngayon!” pagkatapos kasi ng shift ko ay diretso ako rito sa kaniya dahil sa sobrang pag-aalala. Magsend ba naman ng text na, Kenzie, mamamatay na ata ako. Hindi ko na alam kung paano ko siya naging kaibigan ng ganito katagal.

He smiled and tapped the space beside him. “Usap muna tayo bago ka matulog doʼn sa guestroom. You have a lot to tell me, Mackenzie.” naupo naman ako roʼn at inayos ang towel na nasa noo niya.

“What do we need to talk about?”

“About Castriel, of course. Whatʼs the score between you two? Hindi ka na nagsasabi sa 'kin, nagtatampo na ako. Mas matimbang na ba sina Georgia sa 'kin ngayon?” he said dramatically. Pinigilan ko ang sarili na kurutin siya at seryoso na lang siyang pinagmasdan.

“Thereʼs nothing between us.” his eyebrow immediately shot up.

“You donʼt have to lie to me.”

“Iʼm not lying. There is nothing between us.” itʼs been more than a month since that scene on the island. I didnʼt respond to what Castriel has said to me. I just simply ignored him until we finally landed back here in Manila. He also didnʼt try to explain himself further, and I hate him for that. I was atleast hoping for a better explanation on how it suddenly happened. How come he already like me? Itʼs just too surreal for me. Itʼs hard to believe. Up until now, Iʼm still ignoring him. I didnʼt even attend their Halloween gig.

“Ang sabi madalas ka raw sinusundo sa hospital? Come on, spill it. Donʼt be so secretive about it.”

“Itʼs nothing. Heʼs confusing as heck and I donʼt want to deal with anyone who confuses me.” his mouth formed O, itʼs like heʼs amused with every words that are coming from me.

“Wow... I canʼt believe I will ever hear this from you. I mean, seriously? Mackenzie Sebastian, ignoring Castriel Sanz? Now, thatʼs so unbelievable.” I just shrugged and lay on his stomach. He tried to push me away but I just put a weight on my head.

“Baka mahawa ka sa lagnat ko, youʼre such a careless nurse,” aniya pero hinaplos din naman ang buhok ko. I just closed my eyes and let him stroke my hair, the gesture always comforts me.

“I guess hindi na tayo ikakasal kapag 35  na tayo, ikakasal ka ata sa iba eh,” pabirong aniya. Sumimangot ako at hinawakan ang isang kamay niya. Mace is my very very bestfriend and I keep on saying this, but I really feel like I couldnʼt live without him anymore.

“Hindi natin sure. Letʼs keep that agreement, okay?” I truly want to be with Mace forever. Kaya nga hindi na ako naghahanap ng serious relationship ngayon, kasi alam kong meron naman akong Mace.