Now and Forever |순키| Finished

07

Kei

I left the kitchen with him and his friend's order. Aeron was following me holding the other tray of foods. Noong makarating kami sa mesa nila I gave them all a smile except for him.

"Oh! So you're Kei! Crush ka ni Jaze." I heard Aeron laugh behind me. I looked at him and glared before turning my attention back to the person who said it.

"Rhyden shut up! Mas nakakahiya ka!" He said matapos niyang kurutin sa braso ang katabi niya.

"Okay na... Thank you!" He said. I smiled at him and turned my back to them. I can still hear them laughing pero hindi ko na sila pinansin at muling nalang bumalik sa kusina.

"Thank you, Aeron!" I heard someone screamed kaya lumingon ako at doon ko napansin na ang kaibigan ko ay nahuhuli na pala at nakuha pang lingunin ang mga kaibigan ni Jaze. Ugh, Why am I even calling him Jaze like I know him?

I started cleaning the sink as soon as I arrived sa kitchen. Alam kong sinundan pa rin ako ni Aeron dahil hindi niya gugustuhing hayaan lang akong magpalakad-lakad magisa.

"Please... Calm down sa pagkilos, baka mapagod ka naman ng sobra?" He said. I shooked my head at looked at him before giving him a huge smile.

"If i manage to do all of this today... Ibig sabihin nun I am getting better." I answered. He smiled at me before hugging me from bebind.

"Ang kulit mo talaga kahit kelan. Pero ano pa bang magagawa ko if that's what you wanted to do diba? In the end naman susundin mo pa rin yung gusto mo." He said. Nginitian ko siya at tinanguan tska tinuloy ang paglilinis sa kusina.

Habang naglilinis ako bigla kong naisip na silipin siya para alamin kung nakaalis na ba sila. I peeked through the door and I saw him, He was chewing his food while his eyes are closed and frowning. Does it mean he likes it?  I smiled at the sight of him. And that's when I realized that anybody can see me smiling and will thinking that I am crazy.

--

Time passes by, Unti unti nang nagsisialisan ang mga customers. It was already 10PM and we're preparing to close and rest.

While I was washing the dishes, I remember how he talked and laughed with my sister and my grandmother. Para bang kilalang kilala niya ito.

Para bang kilalang kilala niya ako.

I don't know what Kuya CJ told him when we're in the hospital. I hope it wasn't something to private.

"Huy! Tulala ka nanaman tignan mo yung tubig mo naapaw na!" Muntikan ko nang maibato sakanya ang basong hawak hawak ko dahil sa gulat.

"Sino bang iniisip mo? Si Jaze? Nako, That kid was soooo sweet! Nagmano pa siya kay Lola before he left. Jowa mo ba yon?" Agad ko siyang sinimangutan at pinatahimik.

"Hindi ko nga iyon kilala! Tinulungan niya lang ako na dalhin sa hospital noong araw na hinimatay ako... Tska noong nakaraang araw na lumabas ako... Tapos wala na!" Sagot ko. Ate Amyra laughed at me. Muli ko siyang sinimangutan at inirapan.

"You guys would totally look good." Muli niyang banggit. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin dahil wala naman sa isip ko ang mga bagay na ganyan. Hindi ko gusto yan at hindi ako handa para dyan.

I went to my room to get my clothes that I'll be wearing for tonight. Dahil sa tagaktak na pawis mula kaninang umaga hindi na ako magtataka kung mamaho ako.

While I was taking a nice and refreshing shower, my phone kept on buzzing. I didn't think much of it dahil panigurado si Aeron yon na papaalalahanan akong wag magpakapagod.

Hindi na ako nagtagal pa sa banyo dahil gusto ko na ring magpahinga. I sat on my bed noong makalabas ako sa banyo. Pinapatuyo ko ang buhok ko tska ko binuksan ang cellphone ko at basahin ang mga message na akala ko ay nanggaling sa kaibigan ko.

From Unknown:
Hi Kei!

From Unknown:
I got your number sa Ate mo hehe

From Unknown:
I wouldn't bother you na, i know you're tired after accepting a lot of customers earlier. I just want to tell you to not overwork yourself and always stay healthy. Goodnight!

From Unknown:
<3

Muli nanamang napalitan ng simangot ang nagpapahinga kong kilay. Why would she give my number to someone she just met? Si Ate talaga, pati ako dinadamay sa pagiging friendly niya.

I turned of my phone and placed it on the table next to my bed completely ignoring his messages. Ayokong magreply, hindi ko alam ang irereply ko.

I lay down and closed my eyes.

Should I thank him?  Should I reply to his messages?  I mean... Nothing bad will happen right?  But what will I say? What if --

I took my phone and sat down. I opened his messages and read them carefully. Paulit ulit lang ako sa pagbabasa rito hanggang sa napabuntong hininga nalang ako at nagsimulang magtype.

From Kei:
Thanks, Goodnight.

I quickly muted my phone and placed it to where it was earlier. Agad ko nang ipinikit ang mata ko at pinilit ang sarili na matulog dahil kung hindi baka hindi pa ako sa sakit ko mamatay kundi sa hiya.