Grape Juice (By the Border, #1) ✓

15

I hated the smell of hospitals.

I shifted and attempted to turn my body to the side, but something weighed on one part of the blanket draped over me. Struggling to open my eyes, the disgustingly white walls of the infirmary looked too sterile, too dead, and I fought back a wince.

"Gosh, Wesley!" A pair of hands reached for mine, and Kenzie entered my line of sight as I lifted my head, her worry and nervousness awfully visible. "Nahimatay ka kanina."

"Yeah, I know." Sighing, I lay back and stared at the ceiling. "How long was I out?"

"Mga limang oras din. Kasisimula lang ng lunch. Aalis kami saglit para bumili ng pagkain mamaya," sagot ni Kenzie. "Musta pakiramdam mo? May masakit ba? Ang lakas ng pagbagsak mo kanina."

I was still too weak to protest, and I couldn't risk another collapse to happen, so I let it be. "I haven't been eating," I blurted out.

Surprisingly, Kenzie just nodded. "Alam ko, gaga. It's so obvious."

From my left, the blanket moved, and the weight went to my arm, causing me to flinch.

"Sino...Novah?"

"I had to ask him to keep you company when I went back to get your things," ani Kenzie habang ginugulo ang buhok ng kuya niya. "Hindi 'yan pumasok sa morning classes niya, ayaw ka raw iwan mag-isa, so I let him stay."

Gusto ko sana siyang gisingin at batukan dahil sa pag-absent para sa 'kin pero wala akong mapapala kung gagawin ko iyon. Since when did Novah care for attendance, anyway?

Staring at Novah's sleeping figure, a million thoughts raced in my head, begging me for answers and clarity. I couldn't do anything but pull myself away before I drowned in them. "I see."

"Kanina pa siguro pagod 'yan. Katutulog lang, eh. Ang kulit, hihintayin daw niyang magising ka. Nakatayo pa 'yan sa may pintuan kanina, tapos pagbalik ko galing sa classroom natin, nakatabi na sayo at hindi kumikibo. Gigisingin ko sana, papalipatin ng pwesto, pero naisip kong baka...baka ayos lang din 'to," sunod-sunod niyang sabi. "He needs to rest."

"Mukhang napapadalas pagpasok niya, ah." I didn't know what led me to say that, but it made Kenzie's hands stop moving. With her attention now fully on me, I thought of the right words to say, but it only left me with more questions. "Wala, hindi ba pwedeng napansin ko lang?" dahilan ko. Natawa naman siya roon.

"Oo, dahil sayo. Mas maaga pa nga siyang nagigising sa 'kin minsan." She smiled and looked at Novah again. "And maybe this is his way of...I don't know, really. But you also think he's waiting, right?"

I frowned. "What do you mean? Anong hinihintay niya?"

Kenzie's smile disappeared, quickly getting replaced by confusion. A hint of sadness passed by her eyes. "Hindi pa niya sinabi sayo?" maingat niyang tanong. Her words came out slowly, like if she was any faster, a disaster would unfold.

"Anong sasabihin sa 'kin?" Stop that, Wesley, the voice warned. Stop asking any more questions. "Am I missing something?"

I could see Kenzie struggling to find her voice. Before she could even say anything, words died down her throat as Novah stirred awake.

Hindi ko magawang manatili ang atensyon kay Kenzie nang umangat ang ulo ni Novah na kanina lang ay nakatago mula sa pananaw ko dahil hinaharangan ito ng kumot. His eyes were still closed shut, and there were marks etched on his face, scarlet red from the wrinkled blanket. Even then, he wore a smile when he saw me.

"Wes," tawag niya at inabot ang kamay ko. "Musta na pakiramdam mo?"

I shrugged and tossed the blanket on the vacant bed beside mine. "Like shit."