OFFSTAGE (Suspire Series #2)

Kabanata 18

Akala ko si Lake at Aubry lang ang bibisita sa akin sa araw na 'to. Ngunit paggising ko kanina ay naabutan ko si Aklan at Mason na nag-uusap. Hindi rin nagtagal si Aklan dahil may klase pa daw siya. Pero bago siya umalis ay kumuha siya ng litrato namin para daw ebidensya na okay lang ako dahil ise-send daw niya 'yon kay Lexa.

After I finish my breakfast, one of the nurses checks to see if my IV bag has been drained and replaces it with a new one. Mason took a break from his theater work. He stated that the play he co-wrote with Leah was going well and that his presence was not needed. Dahil wala akong kamag-anak. Siya na talaga ang nagbantay sa akin.

Hindi pa natatanggal ang bandage sa ulo ko kaya nagpatulong muna ako sa nurse na alalayan ako sa cr para maghugas ng kahit katawan ko lang. What I mean katawan ay simula sa balakang ko pababa. Hindi pwedeng mabasa ang sling na suot ko kaya punas-punas muna.

Pagdating ni Aubry kanina ay may hawak siyang envelope at sinabing may pag-uusapan daw kami. At habang nagbibihis ako ay inaasikaso niya 'yong mga dala niyang papel.

My upper abdomen no longer hurts much, but there are still a few aches if I move aggressively, and the same is accurate for my head. Because my dislocated shoulder is still in a sling, I can't do much on my own. I still require assistance. The nurse led me to my bed after I changed into new hospital gown. Aubry remained seated on the couch, compiling the papers.

Si Mason ay may tinawagan lang saglit kaya lumabas siya ng room. Nagpasalamat ako sa nurse na tumulong sa akin bago siya nagpaalam na umalis.

I looked at Aubry, who was still working on her papers. "Ano 'yan?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

She smiled as she met my gaze. She was looking through the print for something, and when she found it, she stood up and handed it to me. Was it an outline of a house? It has the appearance of a mansion, but it is much bigger.

Aubry beamingly smiled. "How do you feel about partnership?" When she finished her sentence, her eyes and smile brightened.

"With you?"

She gives a nod. "I gave my shop to my secretary, and I was thinking about starting a new business with you."

I scan the sketch in my hand. For a brief moment, I pondered. It was lovely, and to be honest, I'm looking forward to doing more business. And now that Aubry is my partner, it would be ideal.

"I love it," I exclaimed, and she burst out laughing. "Great plan."

Pagpasok ni Mason akala niya kung ano nang nangyari. Rinig siguro mula sa labas ang tawa at sigaw namin. Pero nang sinabi namin ang plano namin ay umusod din ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya. Aubry and I spent the afternoon talking about the business we're going to start before she decided to leave.

Sinabi ni Mason sa akin na hindi makakabisita si Lake ngayon dahil may emergency business trip daw. I wanted to call Zoe and Cheryl to check about the boutique, but my phone was smashed in the accident, and I don't recall their phone numbers. I should probably raise their wage for managing my boutique in their own.

Habang walang magawa ay nanood muna kami sa laptop. Pareho kaming nasa kama ko. Nakasandal ang aking likod sa kaniyang dibdib habang nasa harapan namin ang laptop.

"Gusto ko nang umuwi," bulong ko.

"I'll ask the doctor if you can go home tomorrow," he said. Tiningnan ko siya sa likuran ko. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay sinusubukan ko siyang basahin.

He was looking at me like he used to, but there was tension and...guilt in his eyes that I couldn't spot why. There was still something bothering him.

Pero bakit guilt? Tama ba ang naisip ko? Nagu-guilty siya sa nangyaring halik nila ni Leah? Sa totoo lang hindi ko na inalala ang tungkol doon. Hindi na rin naman in-open ni Mason para pag-usapan pa, kaya ang alam ko ay nakalimutan na rin niya. He didn't say sorry either, so I don't think there's anything to be guilty about, which means he didn't initiate the kiss. It is something I believe. Because I have trust in him.