Hindi pa nakuntento si Julie sa People's Park. Nag-aya kasi ito sa Little India para kumain daw ng curry.
"Kailangang samantalahin ang libre," dahilan nito.
Cyrus made a deal with Julie. Kahit ilan at ano pa raw ang kainin nito ay ayos lang, as long as they will make Lena eat vegetables. So Julie ordered vegetable curry and was forcing her to eat a chunk of squash.
Kumakain naman siya ng kalabasa, pero ilang piraso lang. They're making her eat a plateful. That's just not going to happen. Fortunately for her, may fish at beef curry din na binili ang mga ito. There's also the catfish and mango salad that she couldn't stop eating.
They ate until their bellies ache. Her three companions seemed to be okay with eating that much food. Mukhang sanay na ang mga ito. Siya naman, nagsimula nang sumakit ang tiyan while they were taking their afternoon stroll.
Julie and Blake weren't done checking every nook and cranny of Little India. Kada souvenir shop yatang makita ng mga ito ay may binibiling pasalubong. She was tailing them when her stomach churned. Tumigil siya sandali sa paglalakad. Cyrus immediately retraced his steps. He shot her a worried look and asked what's wrong. Napangiwi lamang siya. Telling him about her stomach problem was really embarrassing, pero kung hindi naman niya sasabihin, how the hell will she feel better? She's not confident to take a taxi back to the hotel. Gusto niyang may kasama dahil kung magkaka-aberya man, hindi niya iyon kayang resolbahing mag-isa. She's that helpless. So much for independence!
Fortunately for her, hindi judgmental si Cyrus. Siguro ay naiintindihan naman nitong normal lamang ang pinagdadaanan niya. He was even sympathetic. He talked to Julie and Blake, probably made an excuse to not embarrass her, then he went back to her.
"Let's go," he said.
They flagged a taxi and asked to be taken back to their hotel. But in the middle of the ride, pakiramdam niya'y hindi na talaga niya kaya. Pakiramdam niya ay aabutin na siya sa taxi. So Cyrus asked the driver to take them to the nearest mall or any establishment na may public restroom na pwede niyang gamitin.
Thankfully, they found one na hindi restaurant o kainan. She doesn't want to further shame herself. Nakakahiya rin sa mga kumakain.
Cyrus stayed outside the toilet and even gave her a huge pile of tissue and wet wipes. She gave him the camera in return.
--
Lena spent a good half hour inside the toilet. The first fifteen minutes, she was able to release everything. The remaining 15, she spent contemplating on whether to dig a hole on the ground (which would probably be gross, given where she was) or punch a hole in the whole to get out of the place without being seen by Cyrus.
Hiyang-hiya siya sa nangyari.
But she had no escape because Cyrus knocked and asked if she's ever going to come out.
Lumabas siya ng toilet at naghugas ng kamay. She looked so flustered. Pulang-pula ang pisngi niya sa kahihiyan. Ayaw din naman niyang manatili sa loob dahil alam niyang mas kahiya-hiya naman kung may ibang gagamit at makakaamoy habang nandoon siya. So she swallowed her shame and went out.
Cyrus was waiting for her outside.
"I bought some medicine. Saka alcohol na rin," nakangiti nitong sabi.
She snatched those from his hands, with her eyes downcast. "Thanks," she muttered.
"Okay ka na ba?"
Tumango siya at naunang maglakad palabas. She poured some alcohol on her hands and rubbed them gently. Then she pop the tiny capsule in her mouth and wondered if her saliva was enough for her to swallow it. Cyrus had a better idea. He handed her the bottle of water that he also bought for her.
