Cadikh and I almost slept in the longue area. Pareho kaming hirap na marating kahit ang elevator man lang. I am stumbling and he is having a hard time with the foods he bought. Kaya naman tumawag na siya ng utility para magpatulong sa mga dala niya. After that, he went towards me and guided me. Hindi na ako nagreklamo pa dahil nahihirapan na din akong tumayo.
My body is so hot yet I feel cold. Malamlam na rin ang paningin ko, sobrang hapdi ng mata, at parang naluluha na. Mabuti na lang ay hindi na bumalik ang vertigo ko kaya tanging ang lagnat na lang ang pagdurusa ko.
"What time did you take the med?" Cadikh asked when we reached his unit.
"6...? I don't know."
"Hindi ka ba nasusuka?"
"Hindi po."
"Sleep then. I'll wake you up later to eat and take meds."
I simply nodded my head and went inside his room like it's mine. I took off my shoes, tshirt, and pants. Itinira ko lang ang boxer ko saka nagtalukbong ng makapal na kumot. Kinuha ko rin ang remote ng AC at pinatay 'yon. It's too cold. I can't bare it.
"Take a hot shower first..." Bungad sa akin ni Cadikh nang pumasok siya sa kwarto.
"What?! No!"
"You have to, Luch. Natuyuan ka ng damit."
"Nilalamig ako, sir. Ayoko."
"Ang kulit naman, Luch."
"Ayoko nga po."
"Then, wipe your body!" He hissed. "Kapag hindi ka pa kumilos, ako mismo ang magpupunas sa'yo."
Ibinagsak niya ang pinto na ikinagulat ko. I just clicked my tongue out of frustration and was about to get up from the bed to do what he wants when he suddenly came back carrying a towel and basin.
"There. Wipe your body. Hindi 'yan kalamigan, katamtaman lang. Call me once you're done. And please..." He squinted his eyes, "just listen to me, Luch. For once, don't complain."
Awtomatiko akong napatango dahil parang ibang Cadikh ang kaharap ko. The Cadikh that everyone knows—strict, stern, scary, and all. I can now feel what they felt when dealing with this person. Kahit akong matigas ay natitigilan. It's like, I'm facing a lion who is ruling his kingdom—that I should bow down to him because of the insane authority he has.
With my mind lingering to the thought that Cadikh is indeed a one terrifying instructor when serious, I carefully took the towel from the basin then squeezed the warm water out. It should be a cold water but Cadikh is just so considerate to give me a warm one. Mabuti na lang kasi parang nanginginig na ako sa lamig.
Pinunasan ko ang buong katawan ko. Pumunta din ako sa banyo para magsalin ng panibagong tubig dahil madumi na ang nagamit ko. While waiting for the basin to be full, tumitig ako sa habonera at napakunot ang noo nang mapagtantong pareho kami ng ginagamit na shampoo. Hindi ko 'yon naaamoy sa kaniya dahil mas matangkad siya sa akin.
Sunod na dumapo ang mata ko sa sabon niya. Same brand but not the same product with mine. Bodywash ang gamit ko, sa kaniya ay bar soap talaga. Nailing ako at pinatay ang gripo nang mapuno ang kalahati ng basin. Paglabas ko sa banyo, napaatras ako nang makita si Cadikh na salubong ang kilay. Parang hinihintay niya akong makalabas. At ni wala man lang pakialam na naka-boxers lang ako sa harapan niya!
Well, we're both men. This is one of the usual things we have in common—seeing each other's almost naked body and still don't even care.
"Sinabi kong tawagan mo ako kapag may kailangan ka," Nakakunot pa rin ang noo na aniya pero pinagkibitan ko lang siya ng balikat at nilampasan.
