Before Descended Afternoons

17

I walked on my way back to the bungalow house with Cooper after that little kind of dance session with Gi, feeling the cold breeze of the night while the dog's leading me. I wasn't going to say that I'm in a trance, but if I'm going to deny it, then I would be lying.

I was wondering if it was really that man's first time dancing with someone, because the stare he gave me almost made me forget that I was the one teaching him. He knew the right way to move, to sway, or where to step.

The next morning, I was coughing, and I could feel my sore throat. It made my whole sleep the past night uncomfortable. May sipon ako. It's the first time since I came here. I didn't know I would catch a cold easily. Was it because I didn't change my wet clothes quickly yesterday?

I decided to just stay in the house the whole day. Nothing much happened; pumunta lang saglit si manang Doris para kausapin 'yong ibang mga helper. They continued the renovation of the treehouse but only spent half of the day on it. Hindi rin naman ako lumabas buong araw at nagkulong na lang, iniisip na sana wala na akong sipon bukas.

I was wrong because the next day, I got up from bed and felt the heaviness I'm feeling all over my body. I could also feel something throbbing in my head. My nostrils feel so warm, and my breathing is hitched. When a wind came from nowhere and hit me, I immediately trembled. Damn. I got it bad. I think I'll be sick.

I hugged myself and warmed my shoulders by rubbing my hands on each side. Nilalamig talaga ako, pero bumangon na ako para pakainin si Cooper.

It was only six in the morning. It has been a routine to feed the dog, so I went outside my room to get the dog food. Nag-ayos muna ako ng sarili sa cr bago lumabas. Manang Doris won't be here today since she informed me yesterday that she has to go somewhere with her child. Naiintindihan ko naman at kaya ko naman ang sarili ko kaya ayos lang. She didn't really have to go here frequently because I knew I could manage. Nasanay na rin ako. Hindi naman ako bata.

A smile crept on my lips as I remembered someone through the mention of that word. He's really insane. I still find it annoying, but at the same time, natatawa na lang ako.

"Good morning, Mr. Cooper." I greeted the dog, which was wagging his tail at me. Umikot-ikot pa ito. I crouched, hugging my legs, while watching the dog eat the food I gave him.

"You should eat a lot. So you won't get sick easily." I patted its head. "Don't be like me. 'Wag kang pasaway, okay?" I laughed when it created a sound like he disagreed with what I said.

I was just watching the dog eat when my sight caught a person's feet walking towards the bungalow house. I turned my head up, and my eyes were greeted by a familiar masculine figure of a man wearing a black sando and jersey shorts. He was staring in my direction, his tan skin getting hit by the early morning sun rays.

"Good morning." Ngumiti ako nang makalapit siya.

He nodded at me and didn't say anything. His gaze flew to the dog in front of me, his hand going to its head, patting it.

"Maganda umaga sa amo mo,"

Natawa ako sa narinig. I stood up, my hand touching my nape and feeling the warmth there. Saglit rin akong nahilo pero umiling lang ako para mawala 'yon.

"You're here early. What brought you here?" I coughed. I also sniffed.

When I looked at him, his default stare is displayed again. He was gazing at me deeply, tinititigan ako na parang gustong malaman kung anong meron sa'kin.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "May sakit ka?"

I knew he's gonna ask that. I shook my head.

"Nah. It's only a cold. I'll be fine later." Isinawalang-bahala ko 'yon. I've gotten this a lot of times before and it didn't stayed on me for long. It will just take a few hours until the throbbing on my head disappear.

He just looked at me like I'm lying. "Hindi ka lumabas kahapon."

Hindi ako nakaatras nang bigla siyang lumapit at sinalat ang leeg ko. His brows were furrowed, feeling the temperature there.