Men Behind Boys [Completed]

Chapter Thirteen

JIRO’S POV

Monday 

Hindi ako mapakali habang patingin-tingin sa cellphone. I am expecting a call anytime from now. I sighed. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba na hindi ko ipaalam sa mga taong involved kung ano ang nalalaman ko. 

Ilang araw na rin akong hindi makatulog na maayos. Hindi pa kami nagkikita ni Charles since last Wednesday. Good for me because I can't still decide kung sasabihin ko ba sa kanya kung ano ang nalaman ko.

FLASHBACK

Wednesday Night

“Are you sure you’re okay?”, I asked while looking inside the ICU Cubicle. A while ago, the doctors declared that Karl’s condition is already stable.

“Yeah”, I heard Charles answered. I nodded while still looking inside the cubicle, “make sure that she already ate before you bring her home”.

“What?”, I frowned and looked at him. Hindi agad rumehistro sa utak ko kung ano ang sinasabi niya. The last time I checked, we are discussing about his brother’s condition.

He sighed and gave me a faint smile, “I was talking about Jem, pakainin mo siya bago mo ihatid”.

Hindi ako agad nakasagot at napatitig lang sa kanya. He looked so tired but there is a glint of happiness on the way he talked. He even smiled! I found it very unusual, considering that these things are happening right now.

Charles is known for saying, “that guy” or “that woman”, he doesn’t usually state the person's name. But I heard it loud and clear,she mentioned 'her'  name. 

Marami akong gustong itanong sa kanya pero hindi ko alam kung ito ba ang tamang pagkakataon. At wala akong idea kung darating pa ba ang tamang pagkakataon na ‘yun.

“What?”, he asked nang mapansin niyang nakatitig lang ako sa kanya.

I sighed, “I know this is not the right time to ask, pero nagtataka ako kung bakit kayo magkasama ni Jem…”,

Saglit siyang natigilan at sinalubong ang tingin ko, “Do I need to explain myself?”, he grinned. Napatitig ako ulit sa kanya…this is Charles, but he is different.

I sighed and shook my head,  “I am not comfortable with what you are doing”, I said.  Charles shifted his gazed from ame and to his brother. He didn’t say a word.

Napatingin ako sa tinitingnan niya and I saw Karl, still fighting for his life. It's been seven years. 

“If your intention is to use her in your plans, then I will tell you to stop this nonsense”, sabi ko habang nakatitig pa rin kay Karl, “she’s out of the story”.

Charles looked at me again, “what do you know about my intentions?” he said in a sarcastic tone, “I almost forgot about the plan”, bulong niya at napayuko, “but should I permit myself to forget everything?” He smirked and looked at Karl.

“Charles---“,

“Take her home”, he said and tapped my shoulder, “be sure na kumain siya”, sabi niya bago pumasok sa loob ng cubicle.

Gusto kong matawa sa sinabi niya pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Charles is right, what do I know about his intentions? Kahit kaibigan ko siya, hindi ko masasabi na kilala ko na siya at alam ko kung ano ang iniisip niya. I should give him a benefit of doubt.

I opened the exit door and frowed when I saw Jem sitting on the Waiting Area. Ngayon ko lang siya natitigan  dahil nagmamadali akong makapasok kanina. Parang tulala ito habang nakatingin sa Nurse Station. She’s even wearing Charles’ coat. ‘What happened?’