Played Without Rules

38. Indirect Kiss

Bakit pa kaya tayo nasasaktan?
If love is such a wonderful thing then why am I hurting?

-Jed

Dedicated to xenaviolette

*************************************************************************************

Liam Ford Fortalejo

"Ate, paglaki ko gusto kong maging kagaya mo. Ang tapang niyo po kayo ni ate Chlarjille at ang ganda pa."

Boses bata. Parang ambigat ng mga mata ko.

"Ayaw mong maging kagaya ko?"

Si Darren? Huh? Ano ba ang nangyari? The last thing I remembered, I lost control of the car.

With an effort, I was able to open my eyes. All I can see is blurry image of the people infront of me. Unti-unti itong lumilinaw and there I saw Xyriel na nakaupo together with Chlarjille na may kalong na bata. Beside them is Darren.

"Hey, relax man. You need to rest," ani Darren at inalalayan akong umupo.

Where are we?

It looks like a small room made of bamboo. Medyo sumasakit ang likod ko, I wasn't sleeping on a matress but on a mat. The bed was made of wood at pinatungan lang ng banig.

Unconsciously, I touched my head and felt something tied around it.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Tela 'yan Liam, na may kung anong dahon sa loob. Nasugatan kasi ang ulo mo," Darren answered. He has some bruise in his left arm and foot. Si Xyriel naman ay may tela na nakabigkis sa kamay patungo sa leeg. It was made to support her swollen arm.

"Medyo may bali 'yong kamay niya pero di naman daw masyadong malala sabi ni Aling Me-an. Si Chlarjille naman ay nasugatan ang kaliwang paa nang malaglag mula sa kotse," explained Darren when he saw me looking at the two ladies.

"Me-an?" I inquired a bit confused. I was on that state when the door made of plywood swung open. Inilabas no'n ang babaeng nasa edad kwarenta pataas.

"Oh gising ka na pala iho," aniya. May dala siyang tasa. "Ito, salabat para mainitan 'yang tiyan mo."

I smiled and accepted the cup.

"Siya si Aleng Me-an Liam. Ang may-ari ng bahay na ito," pagpapakilala ni Darren.

"Salamat po Aleng Me-an. If you had not seen us, maybe until now we are still there lying unconsciously," I stated.

"Walang ano man iho, maari mo nang tanggalin 'yang nasa ulo mo. O siya magluluto na ako ng pananghalian niyo," and sabi niya bago lumabas ng kwarto.

"How long was I out?" I inquired. I begun removing the thing on my head.

"A day and a half," Darren replied.

"You mean, last day 'to ng camping?" Ang sabi ko. I was looking at the tiny girl sitted at Chlarjille's lap. She was staring intently at me.

"Ate Xyriel? Sino siya? Gwapo po. Bagay kayong dalawa," ang sabi nito habang nakaturo sa akin.

Did she just say that me and Xyriel are..

Tsk, nevermind it Liam.

But no one reacted. Walang sumagot sa sinabi ng bata.

Me and her being an item is too far from reality.

"Tara, Mary tulungan natin si Nanay Me-an sa pagluto," Chlarjille said into the silence that laid between us. Sumama na din si Xyriel sa kanila.