Carnal Schemes

Chapter 13 (HOME)

VISIT.

My eyes roamed around the humble home I was visiting right now. This is my second time entering this house. Hakeem and Max's home.

I visit Hakeem in his house for he invited me. Kakapasok ko pa lang ng pinto ay sumalubong na siya sa akin. He is not removing his mask pero alam kong nakangiti siya. I can saw it in his eyes. Hakeem always wears his facemask dahil hindi siya pwedeng mawalan niyon. His health is fragile.

Ang sabi pa nga ng doktor niya sa akin ay kahit sipon lang ay pwedeng ikamatay ni Hakeem. Mahina na talaga ang immune system niya. My eyes look at the wall kung saan nakasabit ang picture frame ng kasal nila ni Max. I know he is with someone looking for him kapag nasa trabaho si Max pero wala ngayon ang teenager na iyon.

"I am glad you are here," pagal ang boses na wika niya. He tried to sound alive pero iba ang tonong naririnig ko sa kaniya. His voice sounded terrribly ill. "Please take a seat," aya niya sa aking maupo.

He sat on the single sofa. I smiled at him politely while observing him. Kahit ang pag-upo at pagtayo ay mabagal na ang mga kilos niya.

"My wife was excited to meet you..." Hakeem's eyes smile again after saying that.

I smiled and felt guilty. If he only knew...

I wanna say na excited din ako... That I am excited to see Max's reaction once she learned na ako ang sponsor ni Hakeem. Kung gusto na akong makilala ni Max bilang sponsor ni Hakeem ay mas lalong gustong-gusto ko na siyang makaharap muli. Sampung araw na rin mula noong huli kaming nagkausap sa ospital. She might thought na nakauwi na ako sa Pilipinas dahil hindi na ako nagpakita at nakontento na sa pagsulyap-sulyap sa kaniya ng palihim.

"Your wife is working?" tanong ko para maging normal naman ang conversation namin.

Hindi pa siya nakakasagot nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Max doon.

"Hakeem, why you left the door unlocked?" tanong ni Max na hindi tumitingin sa amin. "I told you not to let it unlocked for you might fall asleep and—" she stopped as she saw me.

Max's eyes moved from me to Hakeem, then back to mine. She slowly walked forward, getting near us. Nasa mga mata niya ang pagtatanong kung bakit ako naroroon. I smiled. Trying to make the situation a normal one. But truth is... sa aming tatlo ay si Hakeem lang ang normal ang mga ikinikilos.

"Max..." Hakeem said in his throaty voice. Hindi ko alam kung ganoon ba talaga ang boses ni Hakeem o baka naman dahil kagaya nga sa iniisip ko kanina, dahil nanghihina na siya.

"I... can see you have a... visitor," Max said while giving me glances.

"Yes. I invited him to stay here in our house as ourr guest, actually," masayang sabi ni Hakeem kay Max na kita ko ang panlalaki ng mga mata. Nasa mga mata niya ang pagtutol. "He is the one I am telling you about. The one who will help us for my medication and hospitalization."

"Oh... the sponsor you told me about, right?" Max asked her husband and then looked again at me. Nasa mga mata niya ang pagtatanong sa akin kung bakit...

"Yes," Hakeem sounded happy as he chuckled. "He was always in the hospital visiting me, but you had already gone to work every time he was in my room talking to me."

"Why... you never tell me his name?"

"Oh... I'm sorry I forgot to introduce you to him, sweetie."

Napalunok ako sa narinig kong endearment na tawag ni Hakeem kay Max. Kung dati ay selos na selos ako sa kaniya, ngayon ay awang-awa.