"YOU'RE BACK!" Autumn gasped in delight when she saw Caleb enter her hospital room.
"And you're awake." Mukha itong pagod at tila maraming problemang iniisip.
Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinagkan ang kanyang noo. He sat next to her on the hospital bed. "Hinihintay talaga kita. I don't want to doze off and lose the chance to talk to you tonight. Baka kung ipabukas pa 'toh, eh, hindi ka na pumayag na kausapin ako."
"Silly girl. I made a promise, didn't I?" He pinched her cheek lightly. "Nasaan si Manang Flo at Daniel?"
"Umuwi si Manang Flo para kumuha ng things ko sa bahay. Si Daniel naman ay bumili ng fruits. According to him, I need to eat some 'sick-people foods'. He should be here anytime soon. Sina Tita at Tito?"
"Nasa bahay at nagpapahinga, sinamahan nila ako sa pinuntahan ko."
What Caleb said caught Autumn's attention. "Saan ka ba pumunta?"
"Patience, love. I'll tell you everything later. How's your head? Ano'ng sabi ng doktor? Kailan ka pwedeng madischarge?" Itinuon nito ang tingin ng ilang sandali sa nakabenda niyang ulo.
"Such a worrier, you are." Autumn smoothened Caleb's forehead. "My head's fine according to the doctor. Sabi niya baka tomorrow ay pwede na akong makalabas dito. Gosh! I can't wait to hang out and go malling with our friends. By the way, speaking of them, narito kanina sina Cielo at ang mga boys. They brought balloons and flowers," ani ni Autumn saka ininguso ang balloons at tatlong pumpon ng bulaklak sa gilid ng side table.
"So I've noticed. That's good. At least hindi ka inugat habang kasama mo si Daniel," he gave her a teasing smile.
"I nearly lost my mind. Gee! That guy doesn't have some people nerve inside his body. To think na siya ang pinakaswapang sa inyong tatlo," Autumn said and made a 'tsk' sound.
Tumawa ng magaan si Caleb. Ilang sandali pa ay natahimik ito at tila nahulog sa isang mamalim na pag-iisip. It's as if he was deeply contemplating about something important. Autumn was sure it's concerned with what he's about to tell her tonight.
Maingat na ginagap ni Autumn ang malaking kamay ni Caleb. Holding his hand often gave Caleb assurance that no matter what happens, she will always be there for him. No matter what the odds may be.
"Don't keep me hanging in here, dude. Spit it out already," Autumn made a futile attempt to lighten up his mood.
Pero tila napako na sa ganoong ekspresyon ang mukha ng binata. He was unsure. That was definitely certain to Autumn.
Pinisil niya ang kamay ni Caleb. Naagaw niya ang pansin nito. His ocean blue eyes bored unto her face. Base sa tingin na ibinibigay nito ay tila minememorya ni Caleb ang bawat kasulok-sulukan ng kanyang mukha.
Autumn gave him a reassuring smile. Tila tumalab naman iyon dahil bahagyang nawala ang lambong sa mga mata ng binata.
After a few minutes, Caleb said something.
"Let me start with our history..."
BAHAGYANG IMINULAT ni Autumn ang mga mata. Dahil sa bahagyang pagsilaw ay pinikit niya ulit ang mga iyon. The second time she made an attempt, she was able to ace opening her eyelids.
Iginala ni Autumn ang tingin sa paligid. Nasa ospital pa rin siya. She remembered that she will be discharged today. That thought gave her a different kind of rush. Alam niyang dapat ay sanay na siya sa ospital dahil iyon ang setting ng kanyang trabaho sa susunod. But working in a hospital laboratory and being confined in a hospital bed are two different stories.
Ilang sanadali pa ay naghahanda na sila ni Manang Flo para sa paglabas niya. Manang was able to fill out her discharge papers and other things that should be done.
BINABASA MO ANG
THE WATCHERS TRILOGY: Caleb (book I)
Romance"One day, he just woke up realizing that Autumn wasn't just his Mortal Half, she was his other half." Some angels are meant to walk amongst us. Some have a purpose to fulfill; a duty to uphold; and a human to protect. But what will you do if you rea...
