The Ex-Marine

6

PTSD

"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" she whispered.

PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

...People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.

anti depressants...

That's the medicine he was taking, sinabi niya lang na vitamins iyon.

Rexes clicked more articles about PTSD. She spent the night reading about it.

Mahigit isang buwan na din siyang pumupunta sa bahay ni Uno, and she hasn't witnessed any 'episodes' from him.

Episodes make a person with PTSD hysterical, and out of control... and aside from coldness, he looks normal.

And lately he smiles more!

Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya.

"Is there any problem?" she heard his husky, sexy voice.

Aside from being with someone who has PTSD? Wala naman. She wanted to retort. "Wala naman. Why, should there be a problem?"

"Do you want to sleep? Mukhang inaantok ka. I haven't seen those dark circle under your eyes before." Puna ni Uno sa kanya.

How the hell would he know the dark circle under my eyes, ni hindi nga siya tumitingin sa akin!

Must be because she's been yawning a few times already...

"What time did you sleep last night?" Medyo nagulat pa siya sa tanong na iyon ni Uno. "Mukhang napuyat ka."

"Around 2:00, nag aral lang."

"Hmm. So you want to sleep?" Pinasadahan siya ng tingin ni Rexes. Boy, he looked so fine in his white muscle sleeves and ripped jeans. Dahil sa kanyang damit ay naka flaunt ang kanyang biceps, ang mga ugat sa kanyang kamay. She can see the hairs on his underarms.

Uno's a hairy man. He's got stubbles on his cheek na tumutubo na naman. She have seen his torso and he's got chest hair. She bets na makapal din ang buhok nito sa binti, but she haven't seen his legs yet. She'd never seen him in shorts...

"Siguro nga kailangan kong matulog muna." Mahinang tawa ni Rexes. "I'll be on the couch---"

"No. Sa kwarto ka na. May aircon doon. mas komportable." She was stunned. Kahit kailan ay hindi niya pa nakita ang kwarto nito. And she knows he's a private person and keeps alot of things to himself, pero gusto nitong doon siya matulog sa kwarto niya!

She gathered herself. Kapag ganito si Uno ay bigla siyang nawawala sa huwisyo. "It's okay, I'll on the couch."

He sighed. "I insist. Doon ka na. Gigisingin nalang kita kapag manananghalian na."

There was nothing much inside Uno's room. Isang cabinet, maliit na radyo, bed side table at malambot na kama lang ang nandoon. Ang kwarto niya ay parang personality niya rin, masyadong minimal kaya ganoon nalang iyon ka spacious.

Ang kwarto nito ay amoy Uno. Siguro ay dahil sa pabango o shampoo. Inamoy amoy pa nga ni Rexes ang unan at niyakap ng makahiga na siya. Natatawang umiling si Rexes. She likes him too much, she's never really liked anyone like this before.