GABI na. Tulog na ang kambal at dapat tulog na rin ako pero hindi ako makatulog. Maybe because I know that Valente is just outside my room, in the living room, sleeping on the sofa. Alam naming pareho na tatlong taon na ang nakalipas. Kahit napakabilis ng mga pangyayari ay hindi pa rin dapat magpadalos-dalos.
So he decided to sleep on the sofa.
Tumagilid ako at malalim na napabuntong-hininga. What now? What should I do? Segurado akong dadating bukas sina ate Annie.
Ipinikit ko ang mga mata.
Pero agad akong napadilat at napabangon nang may marinig mula sa labas.
"No, no, no..."
Like a call for help. Tila nahihirapan ito.
"No, no!"
Doon na ako napaalis sa kama at agad na lumabas ng kuwarto. Mabilis kong binuksan ang ilaw at nakita ko si Valente na nakapikit at pinagpapawisan. May sinat pa siya kanina pero kahit pilitin kong pagpahingahin ay ayaw niya.
"Val..." I kneeled and held his arm. Pero hindi siya nagigising. I shook him. "Valente, wake up. I'm here."
"No, no. Stop. Stop, p-please stop..."
He kept mumbling and shaking his head. Kahit anong pilit kong hawak sa braso niya ay gumagalaw at lumalayo siya. Bullets of sweat are on his forehead, even with his eyes closed, you can see that he's enduring something.
Tumayo ako at hinawakan ang pisngi niya.
That's when his eyes widened and he quickly sat down. Mabilis siyang lumayo sa akin. His breathing is ragged and quick. Mabilis ang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib niya.
I stepped back. "V-Val, it's okay. It's me. Aurora. You're safe. No one can harm you here..."
"A-Aurora?" Hinihingal pa rin ito.
I nodded, multiple times. Maingat akong umupo sa may paanan niya. His eyes are following me. "Y-yes, I'm here. I'm here, Valente. It is only a nightmare. Kung ano man iyon ay hindi iyon totoo. Kasi nandito ka sa amin."
Unti-unting kumalma ang paghinga niya. He swallowed hard, trying to take a deep breath while still watching me.
"Nightmare..." He mumbled.
"Yes." Tumango ako. Tumingin ako sa kamay niya. Gusto ko iyong hawakan pero natatakot ako na baka matakot siya. "It's just a nightmare. Narinig kita kanina. You sounded really scared and maybe I don't know why for now, but I understand. Nandito lang ako."
He let an audible sigh as he hugged both of his knees. Pinadaan niya ang daliri sa buhok at napayuko.
"Fuck." Napakahina no'n pero dahil napakatahimik din ng gabi ay narinig ko pa rin. "I'm sorry for cursing."
"It's fine." Bulong ko.
Katahimikan.
Pinagmamasdan ko lamang siya. He's hugging his knees with his face buried on it. Habang ako ay nakaupo lang sa tabi niya. There's a distance between us, just to make sure that he will not be scared anymore.
"Do you want water?" Tumayo ako. "Kukuha ako---" Aalis na sana ako pero bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.
He held it tight. "Don't leave me. Stay."
Hindi ako agad nakagalaw roon.
"Please, baby."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Lalo na nang iangat niya ang mukha. His eyes captured mine and they looked drowsy but longing.
"Please..." His hoarse voice whispered softly.
Wala sali-salita akong tumango at muling umupo sa tabi niya. I froze when he just casually embraced my waist sideways and rested his chin on my shoulder. Inilagay niya ang mukha sa leeg ko at nararamdaman ko sa pisngi ang malambot niyang buhok.
BINABASA MO ANG
Task Force Trilogy #1: Bullet
Storie d'amoreAurora Nadia Valencia, a simple woman who has a passion for teaching and a woman who lives in a simple home, near the woods. She's contented, comfortable, not until a conflict between two groups in the country broke out. She's been living almost wit...
