The Letters of Paris

Chapter 06

"... that bone bruise pattern looks like the patient had a patellar dislocation. Many things may not be clinically evident or—"

Napatingin ako sa katabi ko dahil sa mahinang pagsiko niya.

Saglit na sumulyap. "You okay?"

I hummed in reply while nodding my head. "I'm fine."

Tumingin ako sa laptop at handa na sanang mag-type pero umawang ang bibig ko dahil walang kahit isang letrang nakalagay.

"Isa't kalahating oras kang nakatulala."

Bumaling ako sa kaniya, muling sumulyap ito saakin at mahinhing ngumiti.

"Don't worry, I took down notes. I'll email them to you," she said. Nahihiyang ngumiti ako at nagpasalamat.

I tried my best to focus pero natapos ang klase, I couldn't understand anything. Tumayo na 'ko at tumingin sa relo. Nagbuntong-hininga ako, nagmamadaling niligpit ko ang mga gamit ko dahil kailangan ko puntahan si Kuya dahil alastres na ng hapon.

Nang makalabas ako ng room, I took a quick glimpse at the post a few step away, expecting Thein leaning, wearing his usual irritated face, but he wasn't there kaya umalis na ako. Mabuti na rin 'yon, dahil walang nagbabawal sa akin pumunta kung saan saan. For heaven's sake, he treats me like my brothers.

"Paris..."

I felt someone grab my arm. I blinked twice before realizing I was spacing out again, doon ko na pag-alamang nasa parking lot na 'ko.

Lumingon ako. "Xenon..."

"Can we tal—"

I cut him. "Gusto mo sumama sa 'kin?"

Natigilan ito at tumitig lamang sa 'kin. I bit my lip inside. Well done, Paris! You just made him uncomfortable. Hindi ko hinintay ang kaniyang sagot at pilit na tumawa.

"—I'm sorry, may nangyari ba?" tanong ko.

His eyes slightly widened and made a gesture that I misunderstood. "Nothing's wrong."

Hindi ako sumagot. Nakita ko ang pagkataranta sa mukha niya habang hinihintay ko ang sasabihin niya. I was about to ask if he was alright when I saw how nervous he was pero nabaling ang atensyon ko sa pagtawa niya ng mahina.

"May pupuntahan ka ba?" he asked and gave a strained smile.

I stared at his face before answering him with a slight nod. "I uh... have to visit my broth—" I paused when I sensed his mind was elsewhere, "Okay ka lang?" paninigurado ko.

Tumungo nga ito pero pinanikitan ko ito ng mata, and he just smiled. I absentmindedly touched his neck with the back of my palm pero mabilis ko itong binawi na parang napaso dahil narinig ko ang boses ni Thein.

"Shouldn't you be home by now?"

I let out a groan before I turned to him. He was holding two lunch boxes and a small jug. I immediately walked towards him to help, pero nilayo niya ito sa akin.

"Para kanino 'yan?" I asked. Binalewala ko ang mapanuring mata niya. I thought I could escape him today.

"I asked first."

I bit my lower lip when his tone was stern. Magpaliwanag na sana ako pero biglang pumagitna saamin si Xenon kaya napaatras ako.

"You're scaring her."

My mouth slightly-opened when I noticed he was hiding me from Thein, likod na lamang ang nakikita ko pero ramdam ko ang mabigat na tensyon ng dalawa.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Ramdam ko ang gigil sa tono ni Thein.