Chased by El Lewis Vesper Esquivel

Chapter 29

We remained looking at each other when he suddenly stood up from his seat, then started going down his porch, while still looking at me.

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng maisip ang binabalak niyang gawin.

I need to get inside now!

I stood up so quickly when I saw him quickly approaching me but that is when the mug of my hot milk poured to my stomach and arms.

I whimpered in pain when I felt how hurt it was. Tuluyan ulit aking napaupo sa sakit.

“Shit…” I cursed when I felt the sting slowly penetrating my skin and saw the red marks on my hand.

"What happened?"

I looked at my back and saw Joaquin hurriedly making his way towards me, hindi ko maitago ang sakit na nararamdaman.

"Shit, Nikah! What have you done?" He kneeled down and started looking at the red marks  on my hands and lifted my payjama to see my stomach.

"Masakit, Joaquin." I whimper in pain.

"Come one, gamutin natin sa loob. You are really clumsy!"

He helped me stand up and that is when I remembered him. I looked back to his spot but he is nowhere to be found now.

"Come on, Nikah! We need a first aid kit for that."

Am I just imagining things? But I just saw him walking towards my direction.

Joaquin closed the front door at wala na akong nagawa. Maybe I just imagined things, I've been thinking about him these past days and maybe it is because of it.

Jaoquin started applying cold compress while I remained seated on the sofa.

"Ano ba kasi ang nangyari, huh?" Pagalit nitong tanong.

Napalabi naman ako. "Nasagi ko ang inumin ko habang patayo na ako…"

We both applied cold water to the burn areas for about thirty minutes and then he started applying some cream. Habang panay naman ang sermon niya sa akin.

I looked at the clock and it was almost one in the morning. It doesn't hurt that much anymore and what we did was effective.

"Your body is part of the nature of your job, Nikah, so take care of it. Paano na lang kung mas malaking aksidente ang mangyari sayo, huh? Kaya alagaan mo ang katawan mo at maging maingat ka sa mga bagay-bagay."

That was his last sermon before we both fell asleep.

I woke up feeling so tired. Pagmulat ng mga mata ko ay wala na si Joaquin sa tabi ko. I reached for my phone and noticed the red marking on my hands. It is still noticeable but makeup will be able to conceal it. At wala na rin akong maramdaman na sakit.

I ordered food and ate my breakfast alone after taking a quick shower. It was almost ten in the morning but Ervine and the other staff were still asleep, maybe they got drunk last night. While Joaquin only left me a note saying that he is already gone.

Muling bumalik sa isipan ko ang mga nakita kagabi. Or maybe my mind just played tricks on me, but it feels so real though...those dark eyes looking at me as if he was capable of penetrating and reading my mind.

I got goosebumps just thinking about it. I shook my head and rubbed my hands to my arms and shoulder.

Maybe I need to refresh my mind. I may need to find some activity today, or whatever the island has to offer. I just need to do some unwinding to refresh my mind and avert my attention. That is what I need.

I just finished washing my own dishes while planning my activities for today when I heard a knock on my door. Dali-dali ko namang pinunasan ang kamay ko.