Matigas ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Harika na nakatingin lang sa isang banda nang paulit-ulit na humihingi nang tawad sina Mary at Georgia sa loob ng hospital room. Kahit si Chelsea ay inaaming may kasalanan din sa nangyari.
Hindi niya magawang intindihin ang mga ito noong umagang iyon. In her unit, the two girls made fun of her. They brush aside her visual impairment and without her proper consent, they agitated her and interfered. Paano niya makukuhang patawarin ang mga ito? They nearly destroyed her eardrums and put her through a traumatic experience.
"Nurse, can you help them leave? Gusto ko nang magpahinga," Harika told the nurse who had just checked her vitals a minute ago. "Ayokong masira ang umaga ko. Wala na nga akong nakikita 'tapos maingay pa ang kapaligiran ko," she went on, expressing her annoyance at the noise they were making.
Chelsea hurriedly approached Harika for her final words before the nurse ushered them out. "I'm so sorry, Harika, ako talaga ang may kasalanan sa nangyari. I was to blame for bringing them along. Ang buong akala ko ay mas magiging masaya kung marami tayo. I'm so sorry...," she deeply apologized.
Tahimik lang si Harika. Sumulyap muli si Chelsea sa kanya bago tuluyang lisanin ang kuwarto.
Hindi pa rin niya malimutan ang nangyari kahapon. Ganoon pala talaga ang napapala ng isang tulad niyang may disabilidad. Nagagawa ng ibang tao na gamitin iyon upang manghamak at mawalan ng respeto. She was unaware that it was extremely painful. Pangmamaliit ang naagwanta niya, what if she was not blind? Natitiyak niyang iba ang magiging sitwasyon at mas kontrolado niya ang bawat pangyayari.
Sa pagkakataong iyon, mas lalong nanliit ang tingin ni Harika sa kanyang sarili dahil nakukuha na siyang pagsamantalahan ng mga tao dahil bulag siya. Sa mga oras na iyon, paulit-ulit na lang itong gumugulo sa isipan niya. Hindi niya mapigilang lumuha dahil dito.
As soon as she heard approaching knocks, Harika wiped the tears from her face. Pinakinggan niya ang mga yabag nang may pumasok at agad niyang naamoy ang halimuyak ng isang pabango na hindi pamilyar sa kanya. She could only picture a man in a suit giving off the scent, which was woody and masculine.
"Harika," said a slight deep voice, "Genesis here."
She was correct, it was from a man with whom she had previously seen before the accident. Kaya ang amoy, galaw at boses nito ay hindi pamilyar sa kanya. She was holding her breath when he walked in. She wasn't anticipating a visit from him.
Harika then responded with a timid "hi" in return.
Genesis approached her as he placed the flower arrangement he had brought to the adjacent table. "How are you feeling?"
Mas nailang si Harika nang marinig niyang muli ang boses nito nang mas malapit sa kanya. Bigla tuloy siyang na-conscious dito. Ano kaya ang hitsura ni Genesis? Paano kaya ito nakaharap sa kanya? Natitiyak niyang pinagmamasdan siya ngayon nito kung kaya't ganoon na lang ang kabang nadarama niya.
Nagbaba siya ng tingin dahil nahihiya siya rito. She laughed gullibly. "I'm fine and still blind. May nangyari lang kahapon kaya ako narito ngayon," aniya, pinagmumukhang maayos lang ang lagay niya kahit pa naging miserable siya kahapon bago mawalan ng malay.
Genesis gave her a careful look and noticed something. "Are you crying?" he inquired.
Nagulat si Harika, mabilis na umiling at tumugon, "Of course I'm not." She chuckled.
"I'm fairly certain you are."
Genesis already dabbed a tear on the side of her face with his thumb as soon as she lied about it. Nag-init lang ang mukha ni Harika nang dahil doon. Natatawa siya sa sarili niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Sun in Her Eyes
Mystery / Thriller"You radiate comfort in my eyes." After a chandelier crash, granddaughter of an influential congressman Harika Levantine lost her vision following the death of him. When she became sightless, everyone around her turned fake, suspicious and traitorou...
