Shades of Kagan

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Avian Burn's Point of View

We ate our dinner in silence. Kahit si Klaude ay hindi na rin napigilan kumain. Good thing Dr. Marco Lahm allowed him to eat fried chicken with the infusion on.

"I'm really sorry for troubling the two of you." Sabi niya at nilanghap ang amoy ng fried chicken.

"I told you Klaude, it's fine." Ilang beses ko na yata pinaulit-ulit ang katang ito sa kanya. I don't mind spending my time in the hospital. Even Kagan looked like he was rather comfortable inside.

"But thank you for the meal. Didn't know I was famished until I smelled this." He took a big bite of his chicken and ate a spoonful of rice. May nakalagay na table sa kanyang higaan at doon na siya kumain. I took a drumstick and started eating too. Kagan even bought iced coffee for us. Isn't he so thoughtful?

Naagaw lang ang atensiyon namin nang may tumawag kay Klaude nang bumukas ang pinto niya.

"Klaude!" It was Nadia. Nakita ko ang pagtigil na Klaude sa pagkain ng kanyang fried chicken. He was about to take another bite not until Nadia resurfaced. Ang mas nakakagulat pa ay hindi lang si Nadia ang nandito kundi pati na rin si Dan. Nakasunod ito sa dalaga habang nakasimangot. Okay, what's happening in here?

Tumingin si Klaude sa akin na parang nagtatanong. Pero umiling ako na parang sinasabi na wala akong sinasabi kay Nadia na nandito sa hospital si Klaude.

"Nadia? What are you doing here?" He coughed loudly. The food must caught up in his throat. I can't help but feel amused when Dan nonchalantly sits on the same sofa we're sitting on— in front of Kagan. Kagan didn't even glance at Dan.

"I asked your cousin! Kung hindi pa sinabi sa akin ni Kuya Reus ay hindi ko pa malalaman kung anong nangyari sa'yo." She's near to tears. She must really care about Klaude, thinking that she's the only one that Klaude got.

"You're with your... boyfriend." Napalingon si Klaude kay Dan na ngayon ay kumakain na rin ng friend chicken na nakahain sa table.

"Yes. He's worried about you too. Right, Dan?" Nadia turned her face to where we're sitting. Nakita ko ang pagpula ng tenga ni Dan mula sa aking pwesto.

"A little," he cleared his throat. Everyone in this room is no doubt worried about Klaude. Hindi ko lang akalain na magsasama kaming lima sa iisang kwarto. One has a dual personality, one has a weak heart since birth, one has a temper, one is naïve, and one was drowned in self-pity. What a good combination we've got here.

"Am I still dreaming?" Even Klaude looks like he can't believe that we're all here in his room.

"Believe it or not we're really here." Dan said a matter of fact. Kumagat ulit ito sa fried chicken at walang pangundangan na sinawsaw pa sa gravy.

"Nandito ka lang yata para makikain." Sabi ko at nagpatuloy na rin kumain. Even Kagan who's quiet started eating too. It's just that Dan was acting so indifferently today.

"I'm hungry. Just let this man eat in peace, Burn." He shot at me while laughing. There's still a bandaid on his face. I studied Dan's face for a second before. I didn't even notice that Kagan was looking at me not until I saw him in my peripheral vision.

"I'm not gonna get used to this." Ditto, Klaude.

"But you're fine, right? Please stop ignoring me already." Bumalik ang atensiyon ni Klaude kay Nadia.

"I'm fine. My blood pressure just dropped. Pwede na ako umalis bukas din agad. And I wasn't ignoring you Nadia, I was busy." Nakahinga nang maayos si Nadia dahil sa sinabi ni Klaude.