He Was My Cousin

Chapter 37

Chapter 37
All Yours

0227.

The door of his unit immediately opened upon the moment I entered the code Yumi sent me a couple of minutes earlier. Alam kong hindi dapat, pero hiningi ko ito sa kanya kanina dahil ayaw ko namang pabangunin pa si Paolo sa kama para lang pagbuksan ako ng pinto. He's sick. Baka ikabinat pa niya iyon. Plus, if he'd really hate the idea of me knowing his condo's passcode, then he should get up on his ass all healthy and change it himself then.

"What are you doing here?"

Napatingin ako sa harap ko habang akmang tinatanggal ang aking sapatos upang ilagay ito sa rack doon. But I immediately found myself straightening up as I look at Paolo Romualde.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned. Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin.

And I immediately regretted doing so... for it was right there that I realized he was wearing nothing but his black boxers on! I felt my blood rush to my face, causing me to look away. Shit naman, Romualde! It's December and the freaking aircon was on and that's all you decided to wear?

Nakasimangot ko siyang nilagpasan. My eyes searched the living room for the remote control. Nang makita ko iyon ay hindi na ako nag-atubuli pang patayin ang aircon. Now I know why he gets sick!

"What do you think are you doing, Aya?"

Nilingon ko siya. I laughed hysterically.

"Punta sa kwarto," I ordered him.

Namilog ang mga mata niya. He then steadied his gaze on me, his eyes judging. "Tangina? I promised your dad I won't touch you then 'til you graduate. You're twenty-five and all now, but you can't just barge in my unit and ask for it!"

I didn't care much about what he said. All I could grasp from what he said were 25, barge and unit. He was probably telling me I was old enough to get arrested for trespassing his place, but I didn't care. Ang buong atensyon ko ay nasa mukha niyang pulang-pula. I frowned.

Ayan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko, e! He's sick! Why did he get up? Mamaya niyan ay aapuyin na naman siya ng lagnat! His face was beet red already! Yumi should have called me earlier!

Ipinatong ko ang paper bag na may lamang banig ng gamot at energy drink sa kanyang lamesita. He was looking at me, wide-eyed, when I faced him. I tiptoed to reach for his forehead to assess his temperature. Hindi naman siya inaapoy ng lagnat kahit pulang-pula pa siya, pero parang may sinat pa siya. Hihipuin ko na sana ang pisngi at leeg niya upang makasigurado kung may sinat nga ba talaga siya nang bigla niyang tampalin ang kamay ko.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Ako na nga itong concerned, aangilan mo pa ako?

He shut his eyes tight, seemingly in frustration. "Please, go home."

Nag-init bigla ang ulo ko. It has been years, yes, but I'm still quite sensitive when I get told to go home, especially when I'm in a condo unit... Much more when it's said by the same person!

"Pumunta ka na sa kwarto mo," I said more firmly this time as I tried to fixed my gaze only on his face. Only on his face, Aya! Umiwas ako ng tingin. "And do wear a shirt for heaven's sake!"

Kumunot ang noo niya. He didn't say anything else. Kinuha niya lang ang plain white shirt at black shorts niya na nakapatong sa arm rest ng kanyang sofa. He didn't even bother turning around! Nagbihis siya sa harap ko! I couldn't help it but just shut my eyes in frustration.

"Now," he said, taking his seat. "What brings you here?"

Umupo na rin ako. "Tumalab na ba 'yung gamot na pina-inom ni Yumi? You feel better now?" I asked, my voice soft. Ano mang inis ko sa kanya ngayon, he's sick... I didn't want him to get worse.