One Last Time

Kabanata XLI: WHERE I BELONG NOW...

Where I Belong Now…
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      “SNAP AT ME ALL YOU WANT, be rude to me, or even hit me, but please don't ever do it again—don't send people who will stop me from seeing you. Please don't…”

Dispassionate, I grabbed his arms that were around me and pushed them away. Sa pagkakataong ito, nagpaubaya na siya. Nang makawala, mabilis akong umatras. I even crossed my arms in front of me, and I gave him a serious look.

His shoulders dropped in defeat. Without saying anything, he sat back down.

“Umuwi ka na. Huwag mo na akong puntahan bukas o kahit sa Linggo,” I demanded firmly.

“Keira—” Sinubukan niyang umapela, pero hindi ko siya pinatapos.

“Please!” I exhaled furiously, my eyes blazing with annoyance and exhaustion as I glared at him.

Seeing how fed up I was, marahas siyang lumunok. “S-Sorry…” he muttered raspily, looking at me apologetically before he dejectedly pursed his lips and glanced down.

I tightened my expression and spoke. “You know I just had surgery. I need to rest my body. I need peace of mind. So please… respect my decision, Engr. Deogracias! Huwag mo muna akong guluhin. Kahit ngayon lang!”

Narinig ko ang marahas at hirap niyang paghinga, na para bang ang pagtataboy ko sa kanya ay tila asido na tumutunaw sa lakas niya.

Pinuno ng paghinga namin ang silid—his breaths matching my ragged ones in irritation until he finally stood up.

With my firm expression, I looked up at him and caught sight of his bloodshot, dejected eyes.

 “I-I will go home now. P-Please take care of yourself…” he said quietly, swallowing hard as he met my serious gaze.

Hindi ako umimik. I just gave him a final serious glance before I directed my gaze toward the window and watched the darkness outside.

    “He just left,” Andrei announced as he entered my room. May hawak siyang plastic bag. Iyon na yata ang in-order niya.

“I see…that's good to hear,” I said uninterestedly. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo sa kama at tiningnan si Andrei na lumalapit sa'kin.

“The thing beside his lips. Were you the one who did it?”

Natigilan si Andrei sa paglalakad sa tanong ko. Mataman siyang napatitig sa’kin bago siya nagsalita.

“Yes…” sagot niya.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa narinig. Andrei, on the other hand, grimaced.

"I don't know what got into him. He could have easily fought back, but I don't know why he didn't," aniya.

Nagbuntong-hininga lang ako sa narinig. To incite Andrei to such violence, he must have said something that really annoyed Andrei. Kung ano man ‘yon, wala na akong pakialam. Nasa ganoon akong pag-iisip nang itinuloy ni Andrei ang paglapit sa'kin.

“Here's your food.” Pagkalapit, pinatong ni Andrei sa ibabaw ng katabi kong bedside table ang dala niyang plastic bag. “If you've got any issues with the food, talk to Mom. She's the one who decided on it.”

I ignored what he said. I glanced at the plastic bag before glancing up at him.

“How ‘bout you?” I asked him, frowning.

He shrugged and took a seat on the metal chair next to my bed. “I got bored waiting for you guys to finish talking, so I just went ahead and ate," he said, giving me a blank stare.