Bruised (A Thomas Torres Fanfiction)

Thirteen

I can clearly remember Tina's pale face when they told her when her surgery was going to take place. Everyone knew how nervous she was even if we kept on assuring her that it was going to be okay. I guess she wasn't that scared about the procedure rather, she was afraid of the probability that the surgery would fail. I remember how I along with her dad, Aly, Von, and Kiefer had to calm her down just before the surgery. Then after that, she was full of smiles again. It was as if the nervous Tina never existed. Von and Kiefer were teasing her the moment she woke up while I was just watching them with an amused smile.

It wasn't long until Tina started walking without her crutches. Those were a pain and I'm sure she was glad to have gotten rid of them. Her rehabilitation sessions started as well and from what I've heard, she's been recovering faster than expected. I remember smirking and shaking my head. Of course, that's Tina Salvador, stubborn and tends to defy the universe.

I guess after all of that, what stuck to me the most was how her dad seemed to be studying my movements whenever I was at the hospital with Tina.

"Oh, dad!" Tina beamed when her father entered her hospital room. The smile on his face dropped when he saw me. He looked at Tina, as if asking who I was. "Wala ka po bang work today? Si Thomas po pala, friend ko galing La Salle,"

Friend... Ouch? I threw that thought away. I know I like her but maybe she doesn't feel the same way.

"Good afternoon po, sir," I politely greeted.

He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Sir is too formal. You can call me Tito George na lang. Magkaibigan naman kayo ni Tina,"

Magka-ibigan na lang sana. Ugh. Stop it, Thomas.

I nodded as I smiled at him.

That was the first time I met him and after that, I kept on running into him at the hospital. I guess the first time it happened was when he caught me holding Tina's hand.

I was slightly smiling as I watched Tina sleep. Her expression was so peaceful. She looked like a good kid whenever she sleeps. I scolded myself but I couldn't stop watching her. I moved to brush away the strands of hair that fell on her face. Her lips pulled up into a small smile before she snuggled deeper into the bed. She was probably having a good dream.

My eyes darted to her hand that was resting on the bed. Without thinking much of it, I gently held it in mine and softly kissed the back of her hand.

I chuckled to myself as I realized what I just did. I studied her features once again and asked, "What will you do if I told you how I feel about you?"

It wasn't long until someone else entered the room. I didn't even notice. I guess I was too deep in my thoughts.

"Oh, Thomas," Tito George greeted. "Naandito ka nanaman pala," he smiled but I noticed that his eyes zoomed into my hand that was holding Tina's. For a moment, his gaze narrowed before he slightly tilted his head, as if he was thinking about something. "Uh... Wala ka bang klase?"

"Good afternoon po," I responded. "Tapos na po. Morning class lang po ako ngayon,"

He nodded. "Uh... I hope you don't mind me asking but..." He started as he kept on glancing from me, to my hand, to Tina, then back to me. Just before he got to continue what he was saying, Tina stirred awake.

That moment, I felt like I was saved. I had a hunch that he was going to ask what my relationship with her daughter was. I didn't have my answer then nor do I have it now.

I chuckled as I remember Tina asking her dad why he seemed like he was studying us. Tito George stuttered that he wasn't and that Tina was just seeing things. I guess it's normal for a father to be that way.