Gunshot Wound
AWKWARNESS filled the atmosphere between us. We won the game, but we also won the main topic for the next gossip in the academy. Maraming tao ang nakakita sa kung anong nangyari sa pagitan namin ni Asherah. We kissed accidentally. Hindi ko ginusto at mas lalong hindi ko sinadya 'yon.
Rara didn't say anything. She was silently battling her dysmenorrhea.
Dumaan kami saglit sa botika at kako may bibilhin ako. Ako na lang ang bumaba dahil mabilis lang naman.
"Good afternoon po, sir," bati ng pharmacist na nasa counter.
"Good afternoon. Hey, do you have any pain relievers? The most effective, please," I asked.
"Mayroon po, sir. Ilan po ba? Para sa girlfriend niyo po?" ngiting sagot niya habang inaabot ang nasa likuran niyang estante.
I bit my lips and shamelessly nodded, "Yeah. For my girlfriend,"
Nang-aasar itong lumingon sa akin.
"Ito po ang ibuprofen, siyam po 'to. Tatlong beses sa isang araw, every four hours, as needed." He handed me the brown paper bag. "63 php po lahat,"
I took the brown bag and paid for the bill. "Thank you,"
Bumalik ako sa sasakyan at nagulat nang makitang kumakain sila roon. They were eating banana cue and turon. Thunder was eating the nutella biscuits I told Asherah to brought.
"Where did you buy that? Lumabas kayo?"
Rara shook her head. "I didn't. I am too weak to walk there. Asherah bought these," Itinaas niya ang hawak na banana cue.
I turned to Asherah, "You bought this?" she nodded. "You didn't informed me. I'm your boss. Paano kung may mangyaring masama sa anak ko? You knew that Rara was in pain and she can't focus on taking good care of my son. Saka kabisado mo ba ang lugar dito? Sa itsura mo, parang hindi."
"Bakit, sir? May paa naman ako. . . Kayang-kaya ko ang maglakad. Marunong naman ako tumawid ng kalsada. Maayos si Miss Rara nang umalis ako para bumili ng meryenda. Walang napahamak sa amin," mahinahon nguni't sarkastikong sagot niya.
Natahimik ako.
"Tin, there's nothing wrong naman, 'di ba? Hindi naman kami napahawak," Rara butted in.
I remained quiet. After two minutes, I turned around and held the steering wheel, driving. Rara did everything to make the atmosphere light. But the tension was still elevated. Una ko siyang hinatid pauwi, inaya pa niya ako sa loob pero tumanggi ako dahil alam kong kailangan niya mag pahinga.
The next morning, I was too tired to get up from bed because of what happened last night. I was drained because of too much partying. My whole bar was rented for the birthday party of an actor.
My hair was still messy, and I still smelled stunk, but I drank coffee first to wake up the sleeping demon inside me. Lumabas ako ng kitchen papunta sa garden. I really need this—fresh air.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I blurted out.
Huminto siya mula sa pagsuntok at pag sipa sa puting punching bag. She has half-finger boxing gloves slide on both of her hands. This punching bag is Dad's. Whenever he's in a rough state, he always uses this bag to subside his stress.
"Uh. . . Exercise lang," pagdadahilan niya.
I shrugged, "Okay."
I was about to pass by when I remembered something. Humarap ulit ako sa sa kaniya. She was doing that 'Exercise thing' again.
BINABASA MO ANG
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