The Paternity Puzzle

Kabanata 35

I feel so tired, but I was forced to wake up by my cousins who are now in the bed with me.

"Man, tulog mantika ka naman pala. Anong oras na, oh," I heard Skyller say.

"True," pagsang-ayon ng iba.

Kahit pagod, ibinukas ko nang malaki ang mga mata ko. Bukas naman na kanina, hindi nga lang gano'n ka-bukas.

When I opened my eyes widely, si Rajna kaagad ang hinanap ko.

"Oy, may hinahanap," panunukso nila.

"Wala na. Tapos na ang digmaan. Panalo na talaga si Rajna."

"Where's she?" I asked amid their teases.

"Saan nga ba?" tanong ni Busk pabalik.

"I don't know," Kuya Cello Mike answered.

Kumunot ang noo ko at dahan-dahang bumangon. I need to because my wound is not fully healed yet.

"Kanina pa kayo narito, imposibleng hindi niyo alam," reklamo ko. "Are you playing with me?"

"Hindi, ah," sabay-sabay na sagot nila.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at bumaba ng kama. Si Hedy lang yata ang wala rito sa kama kasama ko. The rest are here.

Sa sagot pa lang nila, alam ko na may nangyari.

I don't know if I should be nervous or excited.

Pumasok ako sa banyo para maligo at hinayaan naman nila ako. When I went out of the bathroom after taking a quick bath, wala na sila. But I could hear them making noises outside.

I used to believe that they were fun to be with because we made noises when we were together. But after I found Rajna, I now believe the opposite.

Well, what can I say? That's Rajna Shamanta Ensulada. The woman who owns my heart.

After putting on some pants, I walked through the door and opened it.

"I need someone to help me," I announced.

They stopped yelling at each other—their normal behavior—and focused on me.

"What is it?"

"I need help with this." I pointed to my wound.

Sumipol si Skyller at tumayo. "Ako na. I'm good at this."

Tumayo si Darwin at hinila pabalik si Skyller. "You're an actor, not a doctor."

Busk stood up, too. "No, man. I can do this. I am his brother."

As expected, Kuya Cello Mike stood up, too. "I'll do it. Y'all just treating this as a joke."

"Better," I answered. "Mamatay pa ako ng maaga sa tatlong 'yan, e." Umiling ako at naunang pumasok.

Sumunod si kuya at sumunod rin ang mga lalaki. Wala na akong nagawa nang tumabi sila sa akin sa kama at pagtulungan ang sugat ko.

What I did the whole time was sigh. Gusto ko pa naman mapadali 'to dahil gusto ko na makita si Rajna.

"Done!" sigaw nila. "We did a great job, guys!"

I glanced at my wound and I don't agree with what they said. They tortured my wound. Para naman akong bagong nabaril sa dami ng bandage na nilagay at mauubusan na ng dugo.

Ah, these guys!

Nagsuot na ako ng damit at tumayo.

"Thank you, guys," sarkastikong sabi ni Darwin.

"You're so much welcome, Dar."

I sighed. "Thank you kahit tinorture niyo ang sugat ko. Anyways, where's Rajna?"