In His Kiss

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Laure Ri Daza's Point of View

Life is giving me punches to my guts lately. I stared down at my old clothes that had been sitting in my closet for years. Napapikit na lang ako at napailing. What am I even doing with my life? It's been a while since I stayed here longer than two days.

"Is that all you need?" I pretend not to be startled when Creed casually entered my room. I've finished packing my parents' clothes and other things to use in the hospital. Mukhang tapos na si Creed ilagay ito sa kanyang kotse. Habang pinapasok niya ang mga gamit sa loob kanina ay sinabi kong may aayusin lang ako sa aking kwarto. Buong akala ko ay hihintayin lang ako ni Creed sa loob ng kotse. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na pupuntahin niya ako dito.

"Yes, we could go now," I said without looking at Creed. Hindi ko pa rin lubos na maisip na kasama ko si Creed ngayon. It's been a week since the accident happened. It's been a week since my brother Kuhn was hospitalized. And it's been a week since I stopped showing my face in the company. I should think about the aftermath later. Sa ngayon ay dapat kay Kuhn ako mag focus.

And also, it's been a week since the last time I saw Hiro. When he left me here in my hometown, I saw how hesitant he was. Na parang ayaw niya akong iwan dito magisa. Yet, he doesn't have a choice. Lalo na at marami pa siyang trabaho na naiwan sa siyudad. Even though he turned off his phone, I know how many people are trying to reach him. After all, he is included in this mess. When he left, he told me he would sort everything out. He held my hand tightly as if silently telling me to trust him. But Hiro might not know this but I do trust him. He never back down on his words.

The following day, Creed arrived. Hindi ko ineexpect na makikita ko si Creed dito. Sinabi niya sa akin na tinawagan siya ni Mama at sinabi sa kanya ang naging kalagayan ni Kuhn. I don't know why my mother called Creed and why Creed is being here with me the whole time. Ang isa ko pang pinagtataka ay kung bakit hindi man lang binibring up ni Creed ang nangyari. The fact that Cassidy and Mirage know about the photo without me telling them means that it spreads like a wildfire. I am betting all my money in the bank, I know Creed has seen the photo as well.

"Where's your favorite plushie?" Doon na ako napatingin kay Creed at napansin na nakaupo na ito sa aking kama. Kinunotan ko siya ng aking noo na parang sinasabi na hindi ko naiintindihan ang tinutukoy niya.

"Your favorite plushie." Ulit nito at tinuro ang katabi niya na puno ng iba't ibang plushie na inipon ko noong ako ay teenager pa.

"Yung plushie na ayaw mong madumihan. Kaya pati yun ay ayaw mong ipahawak sa akin." He laughed lightly, trying to remember the past. Sinamahan pa niya ito ng pagiling ng kanyang ulo.

"The grasshopper plushie with eyeglasses and wearing an orange vest. That's your favorite plushie, right? Yung pinakiusapan mo yung tindera na ireserve sa'yo yung plushie dahil pinagiipunan mo pa rin ito para mabili. And you didn't leave the store until the shopkeeper removed the plushie from the shelf." He pauses and laughs again.

"I remembered the last time I held the plushie to put it on the side of the bed and you hit me with a pillow. Dahil mas gusto mo makatabi matulog yung plushie kesa sa akin. And when you are no longer a teenager, your mother asked you if she can give your plushies and clothes to your younger cousins, you said yes but you also told her not to give that particular plushie away."

"I remember it, too. It was immature of me, I get it. What are you trying to say, Creed? Why are you bringing it up now?"

"I don't know. Maybe I am trying to understand how you easily gave your favorite toy away to a stranger. You cling to it for years or maybe your whole life. And then suddenly it was gone. Gone." I bit the insides of my cheeks. The grasshopper plushie he was referring to was the one I gave to Hiro. That was because he told me he was a fan of Yu Jae Suk. And I know if I gave it to him he would appreciate it even more because he knows its value— even if it was just a toy. That's when I realized Creed saw me getting out of the house in the middle of the night holding that grasshopper plushie. He must have been inside his house earlier than I expected.