Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 33

More than a week before Ludic Selcouthʼs departure and I still canʼt hang out with Castriel too much. Mace is doing good now and heʼs still living with us. Nagtatrabaho na ulit siya at medyo bumalik na ang dating sigla niya. Palagi kaming magkasama tuwing gabi at nanunuod ng kung ano-anong movies. We have this talking session every night until midnight. I feel a different kind of relief whenever Iʼll talk to Mace. The laughter and the banters, those are the things that I always look forward while Iʼm going home from work.

“Hoy, ano 'yan?!” I shouted while brushing my teeth. Mace looked at me with unserious disgust on his face. Lumapit pa ako sa kaniya at tiningnan ang hawak niyang box, parang jewelry box.

“Whatʼs that?” ulit ko pero lumayo lang siya sa 'kin.

“Finish brushing your teeth first. Kadiri ka, tumatalsik sa akin,” maarteng aniya kaya natawa ako. Tumakbo ako pabalik sa bathroom at mabilis na tinapos ang pagsisipilyo ng ngipin. Nang makapagpunas ng mukha ay nag-check muna ako ng cellphone bago lumabas. No texts or calls from Castriel. Hindi ko na lang muna inisip at binalikan si Mace.

I sat on the couch beside him. Itinaas ko pa ang mga binti at ipinatong sa hita niya. Umakto na naman siyang nandidiri sa paa ko pero mas inilapit ko lang 'yon sa mukha niya, mabilis niya rin iyong naitulak palayo. I laughed and lay down on the couch, my feet are still resting on his thigh.

“Ano nga 'yang hawak mo? Para sa akin ba 'yan?”

“Assumera ka kahit kailan.” my eyebrow shot up.

“Pero para sa akin nga?” his lip twitched before opening the box. I tried to peek and sit but he just pushed me to lay down again.

“Stay down, dog.” I glared at him. Tinaasan niya lang din ako ng kilay kaya napairap ako.

“Iʼm not a dog! Ano nga kasi 'yan?”

“Atat ka?”

“Oo!” he just shook his head. May inilabas siyang kumikinang na bagay mula sa box at napagtanto kong accessory nga 'yon.

“Bracelet?” I asked. Hindi siya nagsalita at hinawakan ang isa kong paa. He slowly put it around my ankle. An anklet...

“A thank you gift because you never left my side,” he said when he successfully locked it around my ankle. Hindi ako nakapagsalita at tuluyan nang naupo para makita nang malapitan ang anklet. Itʼs an enameled flower gold anklet that has charms hanging around it. I slowly lifted my eyes on his face when I felt a warm feeling surrounded my heart.

“Magkano 'to? Patingin ng box.” umiling siya at mabilis na inilagay ang box sa bulsa niya.

“You donʼt have to know the price. Hindi ko 'yan pababayaran saʼyo, gift nga 'diba?” sarakstikong aniya pero nagsimula nang magtubig ang mga mata ko.

“Isa, Mackenzie, huwag ka ngang iiyak. Parang tanga 'to.” dahil sa sinabi niya ay tuluyan nang naglaglagan ang mga luha ko kaya mabilis ko siyang sinugod ng yakap. What did I do to deserve a guy best friend like him? He also embraced me and started tapping my back.

“Anong gusto mo? I also need to give you a gift for holding on and for being brave,” I said between my sobs.

“Nothing. Youʼre already the greatest gift that Iʼve ever had in my life. What will happen to me if youʼre not here?” I cried even more.

“Nakakainis ka. Bakit ka ba ganito, ha?” natawa siya at inilayo na ako sa kaniya. He wiped my tears with a small smile plastered on his lips.

“Kenzie... About Castriel... Akala mo ba hindi ko alam na pinagseselosan na ako noʼn? You should hang out with your boyfriend often. Mahigit isang linggo na lang aalis na ang banda nila. Iʼm already okay, you donʼt have to worry for me anymore. Iʼm planning to go back on my condo tomorrow.” doon ako natigilan at pinanlakihan siya ng mata. I canʼt let him do that. Paano kung balikan siya noong lalaki? For the past couple of weeks, nothing happened. As in nothing. Noong nawala si Mace sa condo niya, hindi na rin daw nagparamdam iyong abuser niya. Pero paano kapag bumalik siya sa kaniyang condo? What if that man is just lurking in the dark, waiting for the right time to attack Mace?