Woven on Time (Student Series #3)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I thought he was bound to protect me from danger. Little did I know, he was the danger I had to avoid. 

My little heart shed blood. My lip was swollen and there was a purplish shade tinted on the middle. May bahid pa iyon ng dugo noong nagising ako at ngayong natapos na akong mag-toothbrush na inabot pa nang siyam-siyam dahil sumasakit tuwing ini-stretch ang labi, halata na ang bakas ng kagat ng ngipin doon. 

Nakabihis na ako at dala na ang bag nang pumunta sa kusina. Suot ko na rin ang jacket at may hawak pang shawl na nakita ko rin sa closet.

Nakaupo na si Kuya Lair sa tapat ng dining table at may nakahanda nang pagkain sa mesa. Tumigil ako sa paglakad at sinubukang suklian ang tingin niya subalit ako rin ang unang umiwas. I devoured my supposed morning greeting for him and silently walked to the dining table.

"Na-check ko na ang mga assignment mo, except for your essays. Wala naman akong nakitang mali sa mga sagot," ang bungad niya nang hinila ko ang isang upuan.

I nodded and kept mute. Sa may kabisera siya nakaupo at madalas ako roon sa unang dulo sa kanan niya pero ngayon, nilaktawan ko ang dating puwesto at sa katabing upuan ako naupo. Doon ko na lang inilagay sa tabi ang mga gamit ko.

"Kumain na tayo," mahinahon niyang sinabi.

My stomach growled as I inspected the food he prepared. May baso ng gatas na rin. Huminga ako nang malalim at iyon na lang ang ininom. My lip hurt the moment the glass nestled on my lips but I ignored it. I even licked it after finishing the glass of milk. Pagkapatong ko nito sa mesa, tinulak ko iyon palayo pa sa akin gamit ang hintuturo.

"I'm not hungry po. I'll just wait for you here to finish your breakfast," I told him and looked away from him.

He sighed. "Wala kang maloloko rito. Palagi kang gutom. Kumain ka na."

Ngumuso ako. May kaunting kirot sa labi but it was bearable. Ayoko nga kumain, e. Hirap kayang ngumuya. Saka galit ako sa kaniya!

"Nuala." May pagbabanta na sa boses niya. "Hindi tayo papasok nang hindi ka kumakain."

Suminghot ako at nilingon siya, masama ang tingin. My nails dug into my palm on the table. With his gaze serious and menacing under those thick lashes, jaw painfully clenching, and lips in a grim line, I knew he was trying to transcend my ire at him. 

Grabe. Siya na itong may ginawa sa aking hindi maganda pero siya pa rin ang nagbabanta ngayon? He should be grateful I'd even wait for him 'til he's done having his breakfast! Pero baka kapag nagtagal pa talaga ako sa harap ng mga pagkain, kumain nga ako.

Ayoko. Dapat kong pigilan ang gutom! Matapang ako! Kaya kong labanan ang gutom ko, 'no.

Kumulo bigla ang tiyan ko.

I'm starving. I wanna cry already. Maybe I could sneak some toasted bread when he's not looking?

Pumikit siya at humilig sa upuan, tila nanghihina. He fisted his hair using his bandaged hand which made me think again of what happened to his hand. Nalinisan niya na kaya iyon? Papalitan na ba agad dapat iyon? Hindi ko alam. I'm not really good in medicine and how to treat people's wound when I couldn't even properly treat mine.

I wanted so bad to ask him if he was okay, if his hand was still hurting, but my little heart was in more pain because of him. The cut on my lip may be small, but my heart's scar is also painful. Maybe because the one who maltreated it was someone who holds the biggest part of my heart now. He wouldn't even apologize for it!

Ngumuso pa ako lalo.

"I didn't..." Dumilat siya at lumambot ang ekspresyon nang tumingin sa akin muli. "Nuala, nagrerebelde ka ba?"