The Kiss of the Sun and The Lake

Chapter 15: The Unexpected Apprehension of Feelings

LINDON STRUGGLED TO open his eyes. Para iyong may pabigat para hindi niya maimulat ang mga mata.  When he succeeded, he was blinded by the glimmer of the light. Puro puti ang nakikita niya. Was he in heaven? Was he dead already? When his iris had adjusted to the glistening light, Lindon realized that he wasn’t dead yet; he was in a hospital.

Napuna ni Lindon ang mga aparato na nakakabit sa kanya. May nakabalot na parang foil sa kanyang katawan. Heating ang tawag sa proseso na iyon, isang treatment sa nakaranas ng Hypothermia. He was feeling better, but his body was sore, as if tortured by a group of gangsters. Buong akala ni Lindon ay hindi na sila makakatakas sa bangungot na iyon. He was afraid, not for himself but for Jacel.

Pagkaalala sa babae, agad na iginala ni Lindon ang paningin. Nasa may kaliwa niya ang babae. Gaya niya, may nakabalot ding foil dito. Lindon sighed in relief. Akala niya kung ano na ang nangyari sa babae.

“Hayop ka! Sabi ko na nga ba’t naglalaway ka sa maganda kong katawan!”

Lindon chuckled at the thought of her. Sometimes, she could be imperious. She defied him. She was the only person who could matched his uncontrollable attitude for she was uncontainable too. She’s not that physically beautiful. Not the model or beauty queen type. But there’s something in her that made him swoon to her. He was like a vampire smithen to her neck, waiting to be bitten.

Napansin ni Llindon na gumalaw ang mga talukap ng mga mata nito. Gumaralgal ang boses nito, ‘di mawari kung napo-possess o nanaginip na pinutol ang dila.

“Huwag, Lindon, huwag! Huwag mo akong tignan ng ganyan,” usal ni Jacel sa panaginip nito.

‘Pati ba naman sa panaginip niya, naroon ako. ‘Langya, ang lakas talaga ng appeal ko. Whew!’

“Sige pagbibigyan kita, pero isang yakap lang. Oohh, Lindon, yakapin mo ako. Gusto kong madama ang yakap mong napaka-init,” paglalandi ng babae kahit medyo husky pa ang boses.

Hindi napigilan ni Lindon ang mapahalakhak sa tinuran ni Jacel. Lindon was amazed how could this girl brought the worst in him... and the best in him as well.  Dahil sa lakas ng tawa niya, biglang napamulat ng mata si Jacel na at napalingon ito sa kanya.

“Nasaan ako? Nasaan tayo?” garalgal na tanong ni Jacel.

‘Nasa isip ko. Kanina pa tumatakbo. Kaya siguro pagod na pagod ka.’

Nakangisi niya itong tinignan, her I-am-mighty expression was back again, her camouflage. Luminga-linga ito sa paligid. Realizing that she was in a hospital, her nerves relaxed.

“Nagagawa mo pa ring tumawa kahit ganito na ang kalagayan natin? Kahit ang daming kapalpakang nangyari sa atin?” tanong nito.

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything should be perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections. Happy?” Lindon mocked.

She grimaced. “Bakit ka ba kasi tumatawa?”