Sweetest Mistake

Chapter 11

I watched Aidon as he drove the car to the dorm. He's quiet as usual. His downturned eyes look empty, as if he doesn't feel anything at all. I can't help but wonder if he ever loved someone romantically.

Sa gitna ng pag-mumuni-muni, dahan-dahan akong nagtipa ng mensahe para kay Ate Blessie. Ipinaliwanag ko sa kaniya ang mangyayari dahil sa aksidente. Lilipat muna ako kay Aidon para matulungan niya ako sa pagpasok sa araw-araw. Mabuti rin at napakiusapan ko ang tagabantay na huwag na munang sabihin kay Tita Chione ang tungkol sa paglipat ko.

Napag-usapan namin ni Aidon na kukuha ako ng ilang mahahalagang gamit ko para sa pansamantalang pananatili ko sa bahay niya kaya ito kami ngayon.

Aidon parked his car on the vacant lot and went out. I watched as he swiftly got the wheelchair from the compartment. Sa kapapanood ko sa kaniya ay nawala sa isip ko ang mangyayari.

My body froze when the door opened and Aidon bent his body to lift me so I could sit on the wheelchair.

"Uh..." I uttered before he could even touch me.

Aidon looked at me with displeased eyes. Para bang napakawalang-kuwenta naman ng mga lalabas sa bibig ko pero kailangan niya pa rin akong pagpasensiyahan.

"Baka kaya ko na mag-isa."

"Hindi mo pa kaya." He said and scooped me swiftly.

I quietly coughed up the impeded breaths as soon as I was put on the chair. I pinched the side of my thumb thrice to shake the feeling off and focus on greeting Ate Blessie who was waiting for me at the entrance.

She looked genuinely worried as I introduced her to Aidon and vice versa. Kung si Tita Chione rin siguro ganito ang ekspresyon kung makita ako sa ganitong kalagayan.

"Nahanda ko na ang mga gagamitin mo, hija. Ginamit ko ang malaking maleta mo para isa na lang sana ang lagyanan. Pumasok na muna kayo para masiguro mong kumpleto. Pero sinunod ko lang naman ang listahan mo, para makatiyak ka lang."

"Huwag na po. Tiwala naman po ako sa inyo at hindi naman po ako tatagal sa tutuluyan ko. Pansamantala lang po."

I put emphasis on the last sentence so Aidon wouldn't get any wild idea about me.

Aidon excused himself to get my luggage and put it inside his car. I used that time to apologize to Ate Blessie and ask for her support.

Guilt spread in me when I saw the stress on the woman's face. I am putting her on a difficult situation. Tita Chione will surely get mad once she finds out that I'm staying somewhere else. But I promise to take full responsibility of this mischief.

Hindi ko na rin pa pinatagal ang usapan namin ni Ate Blessie dahil dumating agad si Aidon. Tahimik kaming nagpaalam at bumalik sa sasakyan. Hindi na rin ako umalma pa nang buhatin niya ulit ako at iupo sa loob ng kotse.

Hindi mawala-wala ang kaba sa dibdib ko buong byahe papunta sa bahay niya. Gayunpaman, nahahalinhinan ng galak ang kabang pilit kong nilalabanan sa hindi malamang dahilan.

"This is where you will sleep during your whole stay here. You can use the available stuffs here."

Tumangu-tango ako sa mga bilin niya habang nakaupo pa rin sa wheelchair.

"I will assist you with the things you will be needing for the first week. The doctor advised you to rest first before going back to school. So, you'll be alone here whenever I have classes."

I smiled as I waited for his next words but none came. Aidon looked away when he realized we were staring at each other for quite a while.

"I'll prepare your dinner for the meantime. You can fix your things on that cabinet." He said and left before I could even thank him.