Eliana Rosé

Planting a seed

Chapter 4: Planting a seed

His side

Where am I?

I blinked as I adjusted my eyes from the light. I was awakened with a monster headache. I winced in pain.

I massaged my temple, trying to pacify the throbbing pain. Worse, my ear pricked at the wailing sound of the alarm, only making my head hurt more. I grabbed the clock from the bedside table and killed the sound. The screen displays 7 o'clock. Nothing will ever happen to me if I stay in bed. I tossed the cover off my body and jumped out of bed.

Coffee. 

I need coffee. I need a cup of coffee to sober me up. 

So I went out of my room, descended the short staircase to the kitchen, and unceremoniously fished out a shirt from the rack. I was about to grab a mug when I found myself frowning when my phone vibrated on my leg. I fished out the phone from my pocket and saw my old man calling me. I turned my phone off because I didn't have the energy to argue with him. After I made my coffee, I sat in one of the reclining chairs near the window. I close my eyes and smell it, and the smell slowly soothes my pain away.

Ako si Eliana at kailangan mo ng tulong...

A memory flashed in like a bolt of lightning that made me stop sipping. I sat the mug down.

Ako si Eliana at kailangan mo ng tulong...

I don't have a full recollection of last night. I can only remember that I almost assaulted Ban, but I don't remember what happened after.

"Was it her?" I asked myself out loud. I leaned back and stared at the ceiling. I remembered that she had long black hair and wore a white dress. But she was nosy and annoying. 

Her name was more intriguing. Maybe she was bluffing. It's possible that she already saw the engraved name on the gravestone. That's why she said she's Eliana, to piss me off. I believe she's capable of doing so since she pissed me off at our first meeting. But, learning her name bothered me. It's fucking annoying. 

I winced in pain as the headache started to resurface. 

I need medicine now. 

I looked for it in the cupboard where it was usually placed, but I found none. I must have consumed it all. But, the pain is almost unbearable. I closed my eyes, leaned my hand on the table for support, and fought off nausea. I was trying, even through the pain, to collect my cool.

"Anong nangyayari sayo?" My heart leaped in shock when somebody suddenly spoke. When I opened my eyes, I gaped and was astounded when I saw the subject of my thoughts standing a few meters away. "Okay ka lang?" She asked warily. Her face looks flustered. She might be worried. "Saan masakit?"

"Why are you here?" I muttered as soon as I recovered from the shock. 

"Hinatid kita pauwi, naalala mo? Di mo siguro maalala kasi lasing na lasing ka kagabi." In an instant, right after she explained, a scene of us entering my unit, her tucking me to bed, wiping off the puke in my face and body, and undressing my dirty long sleeve flashed in my head. I almost lost my balance due to severe astonishment.

"Okay ka lang?" 

She dashed beside me and looked at me worriedly. I grabbed her arm upwards, making her squeak. "How did you know my place? Did you follow me at the bar?" I fired her with a series of questions. 

"Sasagutin ko isa-isa ang tanong mo. Pero, bitawan mo muna ako." I loosened my grip on her arm. She rubbed her arm, and I saw that it was a bit reddish. I must have held her tightly. 

"Now, explain." She sighed and then looked at me.  

"Una, hinatid ka nami pauwi ng isang staff doon sa bar."

"At ikalawa..." she trailed, then sighed.

"And?"

"Kailangan mo nga tulong, kaya tinulungan kita."

I became quiet. I needed it, but I didn't want it. It's annoying.

"Kung natataka bakit pa ako nandito ikaw and may dahilan bakit." she said. My eyebrows furrowed. "Maya't maya mo kasing tinatawag ang pangalan ko, kaya ni ako nakaalis."

"Called you?" What does she mean? "Oo. Maya't maya ang pagtawag mo ng Eliana." 

Oh, fuck! I must have talked in my sleep. It's not her; I was calling my late girlfriend. "That wasn't you," I replied. 

"Oh..kay."

Of all people, why does this woman keep appearing in front of me? It needs to end now; otherwise, it'll be burdensome. "Makakaalis ka na," I said coldly, dismissing her. She looked at me for a minute, then pursed her lips. "What now?"

I caught her sneakily hiding something on her back. "What are you hiding?" She blinked, then feigned innocence. "Wala."

"Leave the item you stole here," I commanded. "Ano?" She looks shocked. "Di ako magnanakaw." she said defensively. "Then what are you hiding behind your back?"

"Wala." She muttered and pursed her lips. "There is!"

"Wala nga!"

"Don't lie, or I'll force it out of you!"

"Wala nga. Sige, alis na ako." She was about to leave, but I grabbed her by the hand and pinned her to the counter. Her eyes were wide open as I dipped my face closer to her face. She flinched. "Anong g-ginagawa mo?" I leaned closer and stared at her lips. She automatically closed her eyes. I smirked. I intentionally breathed out air for her to smell the scent of coffee from my mouth. That made her purse her lips tightly.

I anticipated this. Innocent girls like her easily succumb to this kind of stunt. This trick never gets old.

"Show me what you are hiding," I muttered slowly. Then I snatched her hand from her back, which made her whimper. It was slightly clenched, and after a few seconds, she slowly loosened her grip, revealing the item she had hidden.

I gaped in astonishment at what I was seeing.

Painkillers.

She was hiding painkillers in her palm. I released her from my grip and rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"Bumili ako ng gamot sa pharmacy, ubos na kasi ang stock mo. Pasensya at nakialam ako sa mga gamit mo. Alam ko kasi na sasakit ang ulo mo pagkagising dahil sa hangover. Proven and tested kay Mang Ted." she explained.

"Leave..."

"I'm sorry."

"I said leave!" I shouted at her with gunmetal eyes. Her eyes bulged in fright, then she recovered fast.

She nodded to show she obeyed. Before walking out, she handed me the painkillers. "Pag masakit na uminom ka ng gamot. Wag mong tiisin," she said, then left.

My brows furrowed and my mouth turned grim as I stared at the medicine on my palm. She was pointing out my headache, but I also meant something else. It also meant my long-lived pain. Unfortunately, no matter how many painkillers I take, the pain doesn't easily go away. It doesn't, and maybe it will never be.

She's a bother. There are thousands of people with that name, but she was the first I met after two years. 

I took the painkillers she gave me, shoved them into my throat, and went back to bed.

Before drifting to sleep, pain starts to engulf me. 

To be continued...