White Lies

Frustrating

A glass came shattering as Arlene ran from the bathroom to see Aga kneeling on fours on the floor.

"Aga! Ano ba yan?! Jusko!"

"Ah.. Ow.. Kukuha lang sana ko ng tubig."

Aga winced as Arlene helped him to get up.

"Oh my! What happened?!" Says Lea who just came together with Dawn.

"Hi! Oh, careful!" Aga warned her.

Lea rushed to Aga's side, careful not to step on the shattered glass on the floor.

"Ito kasing si Aga eh, tumayo mag-isa kukuha daw ng tubig, eh nag banyo lang naman ako saglit." Arlene explained.

Lea helped Aga to move back a few steps from the bed to sit.

"Tatawag lang ako ng utility. Dawn, maupo muna kayo." Arlene said.

"Ano ka ba, huwag mo kami alalahanin." Dawn smiled.

Arlene nodded as she left the room.

"Ags, you are bleeding." Lea gasped.

Aga's hand is trickling with blood. Lea was fast to get few paper towels on the bedside table and pressed it on his bleeding hand.

"Must be the broken glasses." Aga replied.

"Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo?! Alam mo namang hindi mo pa kaya mag-isa!" Lea snapped.

Aga agaped at Lea's sudden outburst.

"Lea." Dawn warned.

"Sorry... Sinubukan ko lang naman eh. " Aga whispered.

Lea hates it how Aga looks fragile right now. He doesn't even argue with her like he always does in the past.

"I'll just get a nurse." Lea said.

"No. Ano ka ba maliit lang na sugat to. Malayo to sa bitu-"

"Will you stop acting macho, we need to check that. You can't have getting infection at your condition right now." Lea insist as she left the room.

Dawn knew Lea needed a bit of space right now, the nurse thing was just an excuse for her to get away.

Aga gazed at Lea as she left the room and diverted back to the other woman in the room.

"You- you are sweating." Dawn went closer to Aga and grabbed some tissue to wipe off Aga's forehead.

"Dawn.. right?" Aga was looking at her intently.

Dawn agaped and stop wiping his forehead.

"You know me?"

"Sa picture. You are best of friends with Lea- she told me."

Dawn nodded in realization.

"You are my friend too. We belong in the same circle." Dawn chuckled.

Aga's smile faltered as she look at Dawn.

"Pustahan tayo pagbalik niya, mugto na naman mata niya. "

"Hmm? I'm sorry?" Dawn asked in confusion.

"Lea- ganun ba siya lagi? Tuwing nakikita niya ko lagi na lang siyang umiiyak. May nagawa ba ako sa nakaraan na kinasama ng loob niya? Nasaktan ko ba siya? Pakiramdam ko kasi may galit siya sa akin."

"Ano ka ba, ganyan lang talaga yan si Lea. At tsaka, halos three weeks kang comatosed. Walang kasiguraduhan kung makakabalik ka pa. Hayaan mo na siya kung minsan eh may pagka OA na siya pagdating sayo. Don't worry too much na okay, baka pagod lang din yan, busy ng schedule niya masyado these past few days."

"Kung pagod pala siya, bakit pa rin siya bumibisita dito? Hindi ko naman sinabi na puntahan niya ko araw-araw."

"Well, you know the answer to that Ags." Dawn smiled.

Aga put a hand on his head.

"Oh, you okay?" Dawn asked worriedly.

"Just headache. Nakakafrustate Dawn, kahit anong pilit ko, I can't remember falling in love with her."

Dawn face faltered. She reached out and rubbed her hands on Aga's both arms, hoping the friction would lessen Aga's tension.

"Don't rush Ags. Take your time okay?"

Aga looked at Dawn and smiled.

Lea cleared her throat as she went closer to Aga's bed. Dawn moved away to give the space for Lea.

"A nurse is on the way. Kumain ka na ba? What do you want to eat?"

--

Dawn was driving Lea home and was worried that her friend was quiet since they left the hospital.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Dawn asked.

"Hmm? Nothing, may naisip lang ako." Lea dismissed.

"Okay, what's bothering you? Spill."

"Dawn. Its nothi-"

"Kilala kita. Ano yun Lea?"

Lea sighed and closed her eyes for a second.

"It's Aga. His actions. The way he speaks. Is it bad that I find him weird? I mean, para siyang ibang tao."

"I think that's completely normal naman, he lost his memories. Kumbaga sa newly born, he is still trying to find himself. Bakit may ginawa ba siya sayo na hindi mo nagustuhan?"

"Wala naman Dawn. It's just.."

Silence.

"Tapusin mo."

"Nevermind."

"Tapusin mo yan Lea, hindi ako manghuhula."

"Natatakot ako Dawn. What if he falls in love with somebody else?"

"Ano bang sinasabi mo Lea?"

"I saw how he looks at you Dawn."

"My God naman Lei. You know I get that alot of attention. Atleast di ba we know, he got no brain damage, he still appreciates beauty."

"He could do that too, with other women you know."

"Will you stop it. Lea you are the most familiar person to him right now. He felt safer with you. Please don't give up on him."

"I am not. It's just too frustrating."

"Nafu-frustrate ka kasi namimiss mo yung preskong Aga na gwapong-gwapo sa sarili niya? Yung Aga na laging siya ang huling salita kapag nagbabangayan kayo? Yung Aga na kahit gaano ka gago eh mahal na mahal mo? Lea.. He is still your Aga naman okay, well less the memories. Give it some time."

---

🙃

#WhiteLies