Change of Hearts

Chapter 19

St. Lukes Medical Center, 5PM

The tension inside my room is so palpable I can almost taste it.

The moment na pumasok si manong sa kwarto, I saw how Alyssa straightened her back and gave him a tight smile. Manong sat at the farthest corner, busy with his phone. Meanwhile, Alyssa continued browsing the magazines she brought to pass the time away. I looked at manong, at her, back and forth, observing them.

I know that they're not close but I also know that they're not strangers either. I can remember manong talking about her way back. I also remember hearing him talking with her on the phone. So, what happened?

"You're friends, right? You know each other?" I asked them. I knew I caught them off-guard based on how manong looked at me, confused, and how Ly dropped the magazine she's reading.

"Ay, sorry, sorry," she said picking it up. "What's your question, Thirdy? Sorry di ko narinig masyado akong engrossed dito sa binabasa ko.."

"Kayo ni manong, friends kayo di ba?" I repeated.

"No.."

"Yes.."

They looked at each other. I don't know why I suddenly laughed. Nagulat din ako sa sarili ko because I'm supposed to feel something with the way they've been treating each other's presence here. Or the lack of treatment. But I don't know why I found them..amusing?

"You two are funny. Undecided kayo kung close kayo o hindi?" I said. They looked at me, manong obviously weirded by my comment and Ly looks so nervous.

"Well, me and Ly are not really close—

"..pero nagkasama kami sa Baguio few weeks ago so medyo okay na kami ngayon." Ly added. "Grabe ka naman Kiefer, 'di ba nanalo pa nga tayo sa Amazing Race?" she laughed and I think it's a forced one.

"Okay, sige close na tayo." manong smiled at her. Na nawala rin agad when he saw me looking at him. He continued browsing his phone.

Again, there was a long silence. I continued observing them. I really have this nagging feeling inside me that I can't make into something concrete. I closed my eyes, trying to focus. But nothing happened. It's frustrating.

I reached out to Ly, holding her hand. I waited for butterflies. For sparks.

I looked at manong, seeing him looking at us now. I waited for jealousy. For doubt. For anger.

There was nothing. I only feel this sudden emptiness.

"Thirdy, do you need something?"

"Can you buy me..milk?" I whispered.

"Ako na, ako na bibili.." manong volunteered. He's already at the door, and I felt like he's been waiting to do that for the past hours. Like the door is his escape.

"No manong, si Ly na." I said, staring at him.

"Okay, okay, ako na." nagmamadali si Ly tumayo. Manong opened the door for her. When she was gone, manong sat at the same seat, obviosly trying to act like nothing happened.

"Manong.."

"Yeah?"

"Kamusta ka na?"

———-

Mindoro, 6AM

I stared at the sun slowly peeking, and for the first time since the last few weeks, I smiled. Slowly, its warmth enveloped me, and the cold breeze of Puerto Galera suddenly didn't matter anymore.