I flinched.
"Oh?" Rumehistro ang gulat sa mukha nina Hanzo at Luxem.
Dahan-dahan at may halong ingat na hinawakan ni Luxem ang palad ko. It was enough touch to feel the warmth from his hands. Not in a romantic way but rather more of a mother's hand.
I smiled in ease.
"Anong nangyari sa kamay mo, Ash?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Hanzo sa akin.
Pinaghila ako ng bangko ni Luxem habang duniretso sa locker si Hanzo. Agad din naman itong bumalik na may dalang first-aid kit.
They sat by me. Luxem beside me and Hanzo in front of me.
"May nang-away ba sayo?" Diretsong tanong ni Hanzo sa akin habang seryosong nakatitig sa akin.
Nagulat ako nang biglang binatukan ni Luxem ang kapatid nito. Hindi naman magkandaugaga ang reaksyon ni Hanzo sa ginawa ng kapatid niya.
"Give her a break, Kuya."
"What's wrong with asking?" "I'm just trying to confirm if she's being bullied!"
"Don't mind him, Ash." Hindi makapaniwalang itinuro ni Hanzo ang kanyang sarili at pabagsak na itinapon ang kanyang sarili sa upuan.
"So, mind if you tell us what happened?" Luxem have put on some ointment on my bruises. Ngayon ko na lang ulit naramdaman yung kirot sa mga sugat ko sa kamay.
"Uh..." Nakita kong inayos ni Hanzo ang pagkakaupo niya saka pinagkrus ang dalawa niyang braso. "Kaya ko naman sila."
I heard Hanzo let out a long sigh. Half was frustration and the other half was anger I guess.
Tinapos ni Luxem ang pagpapahid ng ointment at ibinalot ng ang aking kamay.
"I see." Luxem contemplated as he replied.
Napakachill nitong binatang ito. Though I still am a teenager myself, unlike him, I can't hold myself being collected and calm that long. I can't say I'm not impressed.
"How long have they've been doing that to you?"
Pinag-isipan ko kung ano ang isasagot ko sa kanila. Hanzo seemed pissed. I can hear his shoes tapping on the floor as if its a way to calm him.
"Since I started my senior high school years, I guess." I exchanged looks on the two brothers.
Luxem trying to find his logic and Hanzo, I guess he's trying not to be chaotic.
"How can you be so calm despite hearing her?" Naiinis na batid ni Hanzo sa kanyang kapatid.
"I'm trying to be rational."
"Rational, my foot." Nagbuga ng hininga itong si Hanzo habang parang hindi mapakali sa kanyang upuan.
"Don't mind him, Ash." Inayos nito ang kanyang salamin sa mata. "Anyway, if I estimated it right that would be 2 years of holding back, right?"
Tumango ako.
"That explains."
"I would've hold my anger back. Kaya ko naman. If it weren't for that money, I would've stayed quiet until they leave." Nilaro ko ang bandage sa kamay. Nararamdaman ko pa rin ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko noong nagdesisyon akong lumaban pabalik.
"What do you mean?" Hanzo curiously asked.
"I..." Nadulas tuloy ako. Nagdadalawang-isip ako kung sasabihin ko ba sa kanila yung nangyari. Nakakahiya kay Hanzo na parang kahapon lang ay ibinigay niya ang pera na ito sakin. If it wasn't for my carelessness, I would have probably saved the money. Nakitang kong tumango si Luxem sakin as if saying Hanzo should know.
BINABASA MO ANG
Hello Doom
Fantasy[ON-GOING] When Asha Buenavella turned 18, she could only wish for one-- to finally end the days of her life. She was fed up with being unlucky and what life had in store for her, sufferring. Will she finally able to achieve peace now that Doom, th...
