Simply The Best

45

"COME in," sabi ni Ember nang makarinig siya ng katok sa pinto ng kuwarto. Kasalukuyang nakatuon ang kanyang mga mata sa screen ng laptop niya.

"Ember— What the hell are you doing?"

Noon nilingon ni Ember si Ivo. Bahagyang nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay sa tono nito. Parang gustong magalit sa kanya na parang nadatnan siyang may ginagawang hindi maganda. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Working," sagot nito. "You're on medical leave and you shouldn't be working."

"Not really working. I'm just checking—"

"You're not supposed to do anything. You'd strain yourself."

"I am not straining myself. Hindi naman ako gaanong gumagalaw. I'm mainly using my right hand. Isa pa, huwag mo ngang sabihin na I'm not supposed to do anything. I'm fine. Hindi ako invalid."

"I don't remember you being this hard-headed."

"And I don't remember you being this nosy and uptight." He was not really those things. He was caring and concerned. Gets naman iyon ni Ember. Bahagya lang siyang naiinis talaga kaya naghanap siya ng maibabalik.

Hindi siya sanay na may sumusuway o may nagmamalasakit sa kanya nang ganoon. Hindi na siya sanay na inaalagaan. Saka parang automatic nang naiinis si Ember kapag sinasabihan siya ng mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin. Alam naman niya na si Ivo ang kasama niya ngayon at hindi nito gagawin sa kanya ang mga ginawa ng dati niyang ex-boyfriend. Hindi siya pipilitin ni Ivo sa kahit na ano. Siguro ay hindi maiiwasan ang ganoong pakiramdam pagkatapos ng kanyang mga naranasan.

She had been in control for a long time and she had promised herself that she would never let another man control, manipulate and abuse her.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ivo sa narinig mula sa kanya. "I am not nosy and uptight," sabi nito, namamangha sa kanyang mga inakusa.

"And I am not hard-headed," balik ni Ember.

Iminuwestra siya ni Ivo. "Exhibit A."

"I'm just checking," pilit niya. Halos wala sa loob na napatingin siya sa ginagamit na desk. It was cluttered with her work stuff. She was busy reading some reports and making notes.

"The doctor said you shouldn't be working and straining yourself. Nagpapahinga ka dapat."

"I've been cooped up and doing nothing for days," naiinis na sagot ni Ember. "I'm just checking." Hindi naman siya gaanong nagsisinungaling. She was just checking the work and reports of her men. Hindi siya sanay na walang ginagawa.

Bumuntong-hininga si Ivo. "If you don't take things easy, mas matatagalan ka sa paggaling. You'd stay here longer. I would love that, but would you? I guess you would, right?"

"No!" mabilis niyang tanggi. "I just... I just can't really stay away from work. I need to at least check on the progress. We had open cases that were important and needed solving. There are many people who need help."

Naging mas banayad ang mukha ni Ivo. Nabura ang anumang inis sa ekspresyon ng mukha nito. "I can understand that. Pero alam ko na alam mo na mas makakatulong ka sa mga taong kailangan mong tulungan kung maayos ka, kung kaya mong ibigay sa kanila ang one hundred percent mo. You try to use one hand but you're used to using two. At some point, you'd unconsciously use two hands. Kahit na paano ka mag-ingat, you'd strain your wound—bullet wound. And you'd be in pain. You insisted on weaning yourself on pain meds early. You're—"

"I get it, I get it!" putol ni Ember sa sasabihin pa sana ni Ivo. Mas naiinis siya habang lumilipas ang sandali. Alam naman niyang tama ang lahat ng sinabi nito pero naiinis pa rin talaga siyang marinig. Hindi naman siya inuutusan ng lalaki. Hindi nito dinidiktahan ang buhay niya. Ivo just wanted her to take it easy and be okay. He was concerned, muli niyang paalala sa sarili. "Just shut up. I need you to shut up. Don't tell me what I already know!"