Among All Nightmares

Chapter 8

I took the risk of either getting even more wrecked than I already was, or finding comfort in him.

Hindi ko alam, pero kahit masama ang loob ko sa kaniya, gusto ko siyang makita ulit. 'Yun nga lang, may takot din akong nararamdaman. Scared of what I might hear from him. Scared that our friendship would officially end.

Still, I sent him my current location. We decided to meet at the hospital's cafeteria since visiting hours are over.

I was wearing my matching blue silk pajamas when I went down to see him. Habang hinihintay siya sa cafeteria, naghulog ako ng coin sa coffee vendo machine. I chose white coffee just as how I like my coffee. Umupo ako sa isang sulok.

Bilang na lamang ang tao na naririto kaya naman sobrang tahimik na ng paligid. If my sister Anaya was here, she'd be terrified of the creepy vibes around. That girl is a scaredy-cat.

Hindi pa man ako nakakahigop sa kape ko ay dumating na si Dayne, wearing casual white t-shirt and black sweatpants. May hawak din siyang plastic sa isang kamay niya. I can't deny that he looked really attractive even with a casual wear.

Unlike his usual expression, his eyebrows were furrowed this time. Nang maupo sa harapan ko, mas naging halata ang pag-aalala na ngayo'y mababasa sa mga mata niya.

"Stop frowning," ngumiwi ako, "hindi bagay sa 'yo," kaswal kong sinabi.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if he's trying to calm himself down. He looked at me and asked, "Ano bang nangyari? Sino ang naka-confine?"

Saglit akong napatitig sa kaniya bago sumagot. "Si Lola," I informed him, "She had a hard time breathing earlier. Kailangan pa raw siyang i-observe kaya baka mga ilang araw pa kami rito."

I took a sip from my coffee. Its pleasant aroma drifted through my nose. It tasted sweet with a little hint of bitterness.

"How is she now?" pangungumusta pa niya. Nilapag niya ang plastic na hawak niya sa ibabaw ng mesa kasabay ng paglapag ko sa cup ng kape ko.

"My lola is strong, as always," tugon ko. Tinulak niya sa direksyon ko ang plastic. I checked what was inside, and they were a bunch of fruits, "Para kay lola?" Tanong ko.

Tumango siya, "Yeah."

Muli na naman akong nakaramdam ng tuwa sa kaniya. He's way too thoughtful. I'm not sure if that's a normal for boys since I don't encounter much of them.

"Coffee?" pang-aalok ko sa kaniya.

"Later," tipid niyang sagot.

I cleared my throat before throwing the question that's been bothering me for hours now, "Were you avoiding me?" My voice slipped out in a soft; almost an inaudible tone.

Saglit siyang natigilan sa tanong ko hanggang sa tumango na lamang siya. Umiwas siya ng tingin at tila nahihiya sa sasabihin.

"Just tell me," I encouraged him.

He sighed, "I'm sorry, Carmeline," he suddenly apologized, "Hindi ko alam na nagiging uncomfortable ka na pala sa 'kin. You should have told me para na-limitahan ko 'yung pagigi--"

I was surprised by what he said that I cut him off with a question, "What do you mean uncomfortable?"

Nagtataka siyang tumingin sa akin, "Kung tama ang naaalala kong pangalan... 'Yung kaklase mong si Soraya, she went up to me a while ago, at morning and informed me about how you told her that I'm making you feel really uncomfortable... And that I'm too touchy a--"

I interrupted him again, "I never said that," I denied. Where did that girl get that information from?

"Pero--"