Find Your Way

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Althea's POV

Our ride to my townhouse was awkwardly quiet. None of us dared to open a conversation. She checked on me once and that's it. Hindi na nasundan dahil ang tipid ng sagutan naming dalawa. I would glance at her secretly and I know she's doing the same as I caught her reflection on the window. I mentally smiled with the thought.

Kagaya ng sabi niya, dumaan kami sa drugstore. She didn't even talk to me. Basta-basta na lang siyang bumaba ng sasakyan. I don't know if she's still pissed off or ayaw niya akong kausapin dahil pakiramdam niya, ayoko din siyang kausap. I know, I'm complicated. Well, we all girls are, aren't we?

Pagbalik niya, meron na siyang dalang isang plastic bag. She handed me a bottle of pain reliever and a mineral water. After I took one tablet, I muttered a simple 'thank you' at her but she just nodded at me as a response. You see, I would never win against Jade on this silent-slash-cold treatment. Kung may madaling bumigay, ako na yun.

"Althea, wake up. We're here." I heard Jade's voice and the next thing I knew, my face is close to hers and I can smell her sweet candy-like breath, trying to wake me up.

I wasn't aware that I fell asleep. Marahil dala rin siguro ng pagod at tama ng alak. And I can already feel the pain reliever's effect. Medyo gumaan yung sakit na nararamdaman ko, especially on my left torso.

Agad namang inilayo ni Jade yung mukha niya sakin ng makita niyang gising na ako. Hindi naman nakalampas sakin ang pag-iba ng hinga niya noong magkalapit ang mga mukha namin. I purposely didn't pull away immediately because I'm still enjoying our close distance. Her warm breath is giving me ecstasy. Mas malakas pa yung tama nito kesa dun sa gamot na ininom ko.

What the hell, Thea? Ito ba epekto ng pain reliever?

I shook my head to straighten up my thoughts and swiftly got off my car. I still felt quite pang of pain but it's much more tolerable compared earlier. Jade walked beside me and placed her hand at my back. Iaabot ko sana yung susi sa kanya pero nagulat ako nung kinuha niya yung duplicate sa pouch niya na ibinigay ko sa kanya dati. Hindi ko naman kasi inakala na nasa kanya pa pala niya yun simula noong 'confrontation incident' naming tatlo nila David.

I didn't know I was watching her every move when I heard her spoke. "I always have your keys with me, Althea. At wala akong balak itapon 'to kahit anong mangyari, if that's what your thinking." After niya sabihin yun, dire-diretso na siyang pumasok sa loob. Naiwan naman akong nakatayo at pailing-iling habang nakangiti.

I was stupefied.

At bago pa man niya ako maabutan sa ganoong kalagayan, I instantly gather my shit together and act cool as I walk inside my house.

"Sit here." She ordered, tapping the space beside her on the couch. You know, Jade's really comfortable trying to boss me around and I'm so in love enough to willingly obey her orders. Sabi nga ni Batchi, I'm whipped. Like totally.

After plopping myself down, she immediately grabbed my wounded hand and unwrapped her handkerchief. She took the alcohol resting on the table that made me retreat my hand instantly. This shit is going to hurt like hell, you know.

"K-Kailangan pa ba niyan? Wala b-bang betadine?" I blabbered. I mentally whack myself from stammering. Idiot.

She just looked at me straight face and quickly grabbed my right hand once again. When she started tilting the fucking disinfectant, I harshly close my eyes and wait for the stinging pain. And when it did, I gripped the throw pillow beside me and shout quietly.

I didn't dare open my eyes because I don't want to see Jade's reaction. Kahit hindi niya ipahalata, alam 'kong pinagtatawanan na 'ko sa utak nito. But I slowly open my eyes when I felt a warm air fanning my palm. She was seriously blowing on the cuts, just like what a mother would do to her wounded daughter/son, to somehow reduce the pain.