10 years older than her

Chapter 7

As we watch movies, Jia and I are also bickering at each other the same time.

"Ayoko na! You are no fun!" She sounded defeated.

"You are gonna find out the ending anyways. Might as well tell you as early as the beginning of the story." I laugh louder when she face-palm her face.

"Ewan ko sayo."

I continue to eat and entertain myself watching my favorite movie. When I look at Jia she is now looking at the clock.

"Is it your bed time?"

"Hindi. Iniisip ko lang ang pag mamaneho mo pauwi. Past 9 pm na."

"I'll be fine."

"Sure ka?"

"It's not like the road are gonna be longer anyways. I'm sure." I remember something that's why I asked her if it's okay to ask questions. When she agreed, I fire it away. "What happened to your parents?"

She exhales and acted like she's thinking. "Well, they died in a fire incedent 2 years ago."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "Are you for real? My parents died in the same accident too."

She nodded. "We lived in a residential area before somewhere in Sta.Mesa. May bisita pa nga non sila papa kasi dumating yung childhood friend nya from US. Around 8pm malaki na yung apoy. Sobrang bilis daw ng pangyayari sabi ni ate. I didn't know what really happened prior since nasa practice ako ng declamation non." She paused and tried ger best not to cry. "I only remember entering in the house seeing ate and a guy on the floor. I helped them right away and like superman thinking it was papa, I lead them to safety. Babalik pa sana ako thinking na naiwan si mama sa loob, but I couldn't. I was suffocated by the smoke, I didn't even notice that I have burns all over."

"I-i'm sorry." that is the only words I can say that moment. The realizations is mind blowing. All this time, it was Jia. It is her who saved me. The person I blamed why my parents are dead and I am not. The very reason why I hated myself for two years. She's the one who saved me that's why she looked familiar!

She nods. "Okay lang. You see, I really don't like to talk about it because I blamed myself alot. I always thought, what if I skip the practice? Mailalabas ko kaya sila mama at papa? But hey, I'm glad I was able to help another human being." Umayos ito ng upo at humarap sakin. "Alam mo sir Lucio, nalungkot talaga ako ng malaman ko na kagaya ko e nawala din ang mga magulang mo dahil sa isang aksidente. When manang Esther told me na you tried to end it all at first, I thought it was so stupid. But then, I realized how brave you were."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Ang ibig ko lang sabihin e napaka tapang mo para mag simula ulit. You almost lost it but look at you now. Here." She gave me a proud smile and started to clap her hands. "Ako naman mag tatanong. Pwede?"

I know where this is going. How am I supposed to tell her?

"I guess?"

"Nabusog ho ba kayo?"

"Ha?"

"Kako nabusog ka ba?"

I slowly nodded. "Sa dami ng kinain natin, of course."

"Mabuti kung ganon. Wait lang at may ibibigay ako sayo."

Tumayo ito at lumakad papunta sa closet nya. Naiwan ako mag isa sa kama nya. I thought she will ask me what happened to my parents. What accident took them away? Where am I that time? Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. My heart is beating really fast. I tried to check Jia but she is busy looking for something. I kind of feel the butterflies in my stomach. But why?!!

"Eto!" Jia exclaimed. Napabalik ako sa katinuan ng bumalik sya sa bean bed at muling humarap sakin.

"Sayo nalang 'to."

Inabot nya sakin ang crochet boquet na color black and gold. Tinaggap ko naman ito agad.

"Thanks, Jia. Where did you bought it?"

"I didn't it. I made them." She smiles and suddenly my heart started to beat really fast that it hurts. Agad akong napahawak sa dibdib ko at napansin din ito ng babae sa harap ko.

"Okay ka lang sir Lucio?"

"I'm fine. Kailangan ko na siguro umuwi. Almost 11pm na and you need to rest."

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Picture muna tayo." Ipinakita nya sakin ang instax nya at umupo sa tabi ko. "This is the proof that the nice Lucio is here." She said while laughing.

"1.. 2.. 3!" She counts as we pose in front of her camera. "One more! 1.. 2.. 3!"

After 2-3 minutes, nakita na namin ang resulta. It was a cute yet distant type of photo. The first photo is Jia doing the finger heart while I was looking at her flatly and the second one is me smiling while she puts her index fingers upward, like the devil pose.

She gave me a copy. It was her doing the finger heart. Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Agad akong tumayo sa kama dahil baka marinig nya ang lakas ng pag tibok niyo. Mabilis akong nag suot ng sapatos at pumunta sa pintuan ng dorm nya habang nakasunod lang saakin si Jia.

"Sir Lucio, kinakabahan ako sayo. Ayos ka lang ba talaga?"

"Yes. You don't have to worry."

She sighed out of relieved. "Mabuti naman. Nga pala, salamat sa mga dinala mong food. Nabusog din ako."

I nodded. "You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you. Ingat ho sa pagda-drive."

"Good night, Jia."

I drive like no tomorrow just to get home fast. Kailangan kong maligo at matulog. Baka sakaling bukas, pag gising ko, hindi ko na nararamdaman ang kaba sa dibdib ko tuwing maiisip ko si Jia. Bitbit ang crochet boquet at ang binigay nya sakin na picture, dumerecho ako agad sa aking kwarto. Inilagay ko ang binigay sakin ng dalaga sa bed side table at pumasok ako agad sa banyo.

Kumalma naman ang puso ko sa pag tibok nito ng mabilis. Nang makapag bihis ako ay humiga na ako sa aking kama. Pinipilit mag relax at makatulog.

"Fuck!"

Mariin kong ipinikit ulit ang mata ko dahil pag mulat ko, nakita ko ang binigay sakin ni Jia at heto na naman ang puso ko parang lalabas sa dibdib ko.

"I think I'm gonna need to see a doctor first thing in the morning."

Photo for inspo: ©google images