That Juan Time Stopped (Introduction - To the Dreams of my Youth a Series)

Chapter XVII

diecisiete

"Pwede ba akong magtanong?" niyakap ko ang dalawang tuhod habang nakayuko sa pool. Nakaupo ako sa gilid at siya naman ay nakatayo sa pool at nagpapahinga.

"About what?" he said back.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at umiwas ng tingin. Hindi naman gano'n kaliwanag dito sa pool area pero sa puti ni Juan kitang-kita siya. Kahit sabihin kong sa ilang buwan namin itong ginagawa ay sanay na ako, ayokong titigan siya ng matagal na ganyan ang itsura niya.

"N-Noong naabutan kitang nakalubog dito sa tubig..." nagkatinginan kami. "Imposible namang nalunod ka lang bigla 'di ba? Sobrang galing mong lumangoy."

He licked his lower lip and I could hear him breathe heavily. "Hindi ako nalunod no'n, Vera. I told you may iniisip lang ako."

"Pero muntik ka nang makatulog! Alam mong nasa ilalim ka ng tubig at pwedeng walang sumalba sa'yo. K-Kung hindi kita naabutan ng gabing iyon—-"

"Maaabutan mo ako." he cut me off. "Maaabutan mo ako kasi hihintayin kita." buong loob niyang sambit.

Natigilan ako.

Water splashed all around the area when made his massive body moved towards my direction. Ilang hakbang lang niya nasa harapan ko na siya, and in a swift motion he raised himself out of the water and sat beside me. Nagdaluyan muli ang mga tubig pero hindi ko na alintana kung medyo nabasa ako.

Nakaupo na siya sa tabi ko ngayon habang sinusuklay ang buhok patalikod. Basang-basa ang katawan niya at parte ang mga labi.

I gathered my breath to recover from what he said. "W-Wala ka na ngang malay... kung hindi pa kita sinampal..." bulong ko.

He chuckled. "If you're thinking I might harm myself because of what's happening to my family, then stop worrying about it. I won't." he assured.

Pinagdikit ko ang dalawang labi. Gusto kong ngumiti pero pinigilan ko ang sarili, gusto ko makita niyang seryoso ako dahil pinag-uusapan namin ang buhay niya.

I opened my mouth to say something when he snapped his head towards me. Faces inches apart he gave me a mischievous smile. It made my heart skip a beat.

"Why are you asking about this? Do you want to hear it?"

Napatuwid ako ng upo. Tinutukoy niya ba ang problema niya sa pamilya niya?

"P-Pwede?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong. Ilang linggo na akong kating-kati na magtanong. Pero iniisip ko na hindi ako ganoon kahalagang parte ng buhay ni Juan para mag-usisa sa mga gano'ng bagay.

Akala ko ayaw niyang magsabi. Kaya hindi ko na rin siya pinilit.

His chest heaved. "I thought you had so much on your plate to take care of... Moris, school, money and such. Ayoko nang dumagdag sa mga iniisip mo..." he titled his head towards me. "I actually felt bad when you saw what happened back in the hospital, and when you saved me from almost drowning. Pakiramdam ko nagiging pabigat ako sa'yo."

I felt a sting in my chest.

Hindi. Hindi ka pabigat. Hindi ka abala.

"Hindi totoo 'yan. Makikinig ako. Kung gusto mong magsabi. Makikinig ako, Juan." seryoso kong sagot.

He nodded and looked away. Sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin. His palms were placed on the edge of the swimming pool.

"Ever since I was born, I was told that I will never inherit my Abuelo's company. Though I was trained with my cousin, Tyler, since we were young in how to be a good businessman. I only obliged because my father says so, my Abuelo says so. But I never had the desire to manage the family business."