Sentry of The Wounded Heart

CHAPTER 13

"Sigurado ka ba'ng ayaw mong sabihin sa papa mo?"

I halted drinking the remedy for my thirst. The question is something I've been asking myself, too. Dapat ko bang sabihin kay papa na muntik na akong mabagok sa ulo? Or 'wag na lang alang-alang sa kapakanan ng iba?

The latter is probably the least, but at least it has a better outcome than the former, I think.

Umiling ako't inilapag sa papag ang baso na may lamang tubig ng buko. I remained calm after minutes of battling against the aftershock.

It's difficult to fight against the agony and fear. It's like fighting against the cursed gods of unending cruelty. Buti na lang talaga at nandito si Salem.

He helped me get myself back at ease from the trauma and excruciating shock through his genuine physical touches: tapping my back gently and caressing my hair in a smooth motion as if he were taking more care of a toddler who needed guidance while walking to earn trust even though there's a fear of falling.

"Walang mangyayaring maganda kapag sinabi ko ang lahat sa kaniya. He's irrevocable whenever my name is at stake, and he will do everything when it comes to me, Salem."

My voice suddenly became weak as the memories traveled in my head.

"Even if that includes firing someone who's innocent. So telling him nothing is better than to share the worst."

I can't even clearly remember things going back to my innocent childhood days. I can remember that only one night when I was lost somewhere familiar in the hands of a trusted confidant, but I don't know where I was. My father was angry and fired someone he trusted so much. I never asked my father to retell what happened, but I know that memory existed not just in my head but from the mournful past.

Maybe in the right time. Matatanong ko rin sa kanya 'yun. Siguro naman, hindi niya na ipagkakait sa akin ang memoryang nawala.

Napatayo siya at pinagpagan ang kanyang pantalon na dinikitan ng alikabok dahil sa matagal na pagkaka-upo sa maruming papag. Inilahad nito ang kamay sa 'kin.

"I think we should go back?" he calmly suggested.

I didn't refuse and held his hand. I admit that from the moment I was in his arms after the torment, my trust tightened its grip as if it didn't want to let go of him.

Ito na ba ang simula? I'm afraid that I won't be able to stop this feeling anymore. The urge to know him deeper is unstoppable. It's like trying an ecstasy for the first time, and I swear my ardency wants more.

No one brought up the topic of what happened on the coconut farm. Nagtaka nga lang ang ilan maging si papa kung bakit kami natagalan. But we made up a strory.

"Tsk! Ano ba 'yan!" Nagitla ako sa biglang pagdadabog ni Bev sa sahig. "May traffic ba sa sa ere eh magtwe-twenty minutes na pero wala pa rin si Eros?" reklamo niya.

Dalawampung minuto na akong nakatayo habang bitbit ang welcome placard na ginawa namin kagabi, ngunit hindi ko man lang naramdaman ang pangangalay. Bumalik lamang ako sa tamang wisyo nang biglang tumayo si Bev at mabilis na sinalubong ang kararating na si Salem galing pa sa cafeteria ng airport.

He insisted on giving us a ride, but I only knew it this afternoon when I suddenly saw him upon entering the car. Si papa pa talaga mismo ang nagsabi sa kanya na may pupuntahan kami ngayon kaya heto naging guardian at driver pa namin siya ngayon.

Botong-boto talaga si papa kay Salem. Hindi ko alam kung paano, pero biglang naging close na lang silang dalawa nang hindi ko man lang nalalaman kung bakit.

He bought us snacks to eat. We didn't give him an order to buy us food. Nagpaalam lang siya kanina na may bibilhin sa cafeteria.

Walang hiyang hinablot ni Bev ang mga pagkain na dala nito: four large burgers, two fruit smoothies, and one bottle of water. Inabot niya sa 'kin ang isang plastic na may lamang burger at smoothie na tinanggap ko naman kahit hindi pa naman ako nakakaramdam ng gutom. Sayang naman ang effort at pera nito.