DM #4: Ares Madriaga

Kabanata 25

Kabanata 25

News

I want to rest for the whole day. Iyon ang unang pumasok sa isip ko nang naalimpungatan dahil sa hindi magandang pakiramdam. I felt nauseous and wanted to vomit, but I didn't want to get up and rush to the bathroom. Ayaw kong bumangon o kahit gumalaw man lang.

The room was dim, but I could tell it was already morning from the faint light seeping through the dark curtains. Pakiramdam ko ay masyadong maikli ang pagtulog ko. I need a full day to recover my strength after what happened last night.

Marahan kong nilingon ang katabi. He's peacefully sleeping that I could tell with his deep breathings. It was like even if I leave his side, he won't ever notice.

I'm currently wearing his white shirt and underwear beneath the sheets. His arm serves as my pillow, while the other one is wrapped around my waist. Despite the bed being large, it feels small with us so close together.

Mariin akong pumikit nang maramdaman muli ang hilo. I didn't even move that much yet. At nang hindi na kinaya, bumangon na ako. Half running, I made my way to the bathroom. I went into the sink, and silently bent my body when I started to vomit.

Napapikit ako sa sunod-sunod na pagduwal. Mahigpit na ang kapit ko sa gilid ng sink. Even though I'm struggling to breathe and I started to tear up, I throw up silently.

It was just a span of one minute when I felt a warm hand caressing my back. I suddenly felt emotional when I felt his touch. I thought he won't ever wake up, I even tried to stay silent.

He quickly left my side and when he went back, he gathered my hair and gently tied it with a hair tie. Then, he continued to caress my back.  I'm not even sure if he tied it properly, but I don't care about that now. I silently thanked him for removing the strands of my hair away from my face.

I sighed in relief when the foreign feeling inside my stomach subsided. I gargled some water and brushed my teeth after. Ares silently watched me and waited until I'm done.

I felt so weak that I only wanted to sleep. I looked at him and met his dark curious eyes, watching me closely. It was like he's just waiting for me to command something to him.

He's topless and only wearing gray sweatpants. He looked so manly, and his disheveled hair just made him look more attractive.

I don't know exactly what to say. Hindi ako makapag-isip ng maayos. All I know is that I'm tired and my body is aching so bad, just like what I expected last night. Also, just by looking at him, he's fully aware of what I'm feeling right now that he didn't bother to ask if I'm feeling okay.

"What do you want for breakfast?" he asked gently, very opposite of the intensity of his eyes.

He held the small of my back and motioned me to go back to the bed. Naupo ako sa kama at tiningala siya. He's now looking down at me, like a predator cornering at his prey.

I shook my head firmly to answer his question.

"I don't want to eat,"

Natahimik kami. He didn't say anything for a few seconds before he lowered himself, almost kneeling to match my vision.

"I know, but you should." masuyong sabi niya.

Iniisip ko pa lang ang pagkain, parang nasusuka muli ako. Marahan akong tumango at pinaglaruan na lamang ang mga daliri.

Of course, I have to eat. It's not just for my own sake.

"Okay," I said silently.

He sighed heavily. Nag-angat ako ng tingin para tignan siya. For some reason, he looked pained. It was like he wanted to give me what I wanted, but he couldn't.