Limits and Heartbeats

Kabanata IX

Ramdam ni Ralf ang bigat ng talukap ng kaniyang mata. Para siyang pinipigilan nitong masaksihan ang masakit sa matang ilaw ng silid. Papikit-pikit siya habang dahan-dahang ibinabaling ang ulo sa kaniyang kaliwa. Wala siyang nakita roon kung hindi ang blankong bahagi ng kuwarto. Puting-puti ang pader at tulad ng hinihigaan niya, may sofa roon na batid niyang malambot. May maliit na mesa rin roon at nakapatong doon ang dalawang asul na supot, pero hindi niya alam kung ano ang laman no’n.

With all of the features that he was witnessing, he knew that he wasn't in the school clinic or a public hospital. He's sure that he's in an infirmary that was owned by their mayor, who's also a doctor.

Gusto niyang takpan ang kaniyang ilong dahil sa amoy ng alcohol at galing sa mga kemikal na hindi pamilyar sa kaniya. Kung hindi dahil doon at sa ingay na nanggagaling sa labas, baka hindi pa siya magigising.

Hindi alam ni Ralf kung ilang oras siyang nakatulog. Wala siyang nararamdamang kung ano mang kirot ng katawan. Pero parang hinihigop ng kama ang katawan niya. It seems as though this was his first sleep in a year. His body was so worn out that it had forgotten what a good bed felt like.

Akma sana siyang babangon ngunit may nasagi ang kanang kamay niya. Daliri iyon at nang mapalingon siya sa kaniyang kanan, nakita niya si Drei na ginawang unan ang sarili nitong braso habang nakaharap sa kaniya. Nakapikit iyon, walang kaalam-alam na pinagmamasdan na niya ito. Nakapagpalit na rin ito ng damit at wala ng bakas ng pagod na makikita sa mukha niya.

Tinitigan niya lang ang mukha ni Drei habang iniisip kung bakit ito lang ang nasa loob ng kuwarto at kung bakit sa lahat, siya pa talaga ang naroon.

Nanlaki naman bigla ang mata niya nang may maalala. His breath was stuck in his throat. Pinilit niyang bumangon dahil naisip niya ang pamilya niya. Alam na kaya ng magulang niya ang nangyari? Walang problema kung alam ng mga kapatid niya, pero kung ang nanay niya, iyon ang ikinakabahala niya.

Napamulat si Drei ng kaniyang mga mata nang maramdaman ang paggalaw ng higaan. Nang makitang nakaupo at gising na itong si Ralf, kaagad niyang pinunasan ang kaniyang mga iyon gamit ang palad. Napaayos siya ng pag-upo saka seryosong napatingin kay Ralf.

He wanted to say something, but he's holding back. His poker face was built for moments like this and and he wouldn't let a single word from his mouth reveal his vulnerability when it came to Ralf. Napahinga siya nang malalim saka tumayo. He didn't say a word, and Ralf thought that he would be leaving by now. But he went to the other side of the room and opened the plastic.

Kinuha niya ang food pack saka muling lumapit kay Ralf. “You need to eat,” he casually said. His voice was as cold as ice.

He handed the food pack to Ralf, which the latter accepted with a mixture of elation and skepticism on his face.

“Susubuan mo ako?” Ralf teased and grinned. It pangs his heart when Drei's mad at him, but there were times when he just loved staring at Drei's angry face.

Drei dragged the chair away from the bed. He moved it close to the wall so that he could lean on it. Both of their backs were against the wall, and they were one meter away from each other.
 
Well, with him acting apathetic, it would be awkward if he were sitting very close to Ralf. Lalo na kung magkaharap sila. Napasulyap lang siya kay Ralf. He tried to make his stares more fierce and sharp. He ignored his question and squared his arms. The sudden gain of muscles on his arm became more noticeable because of his position and his plain white Dri-Fit shirt.
 
His stare went straight. “You lost consciousness because of fatigue, lack of sleep, too many physical activities, and stress.”

Ralf was all ears and eyes on him. He was actually hoping that Drei would glance at him once again.

“You need to take some rest.” Nangyari na rin sa wakas ang inaasahan ni Ralf nang sumulyap sa si Drei sa kaniya. “And eat that to regain your strength.”