She's the Real Challenge

45: Recovery

It had been more than a month since Ken got discharged from the hospital. Though her grandmother offered to let her stay at their ancestral home, Ken didn't really feel like she deserved it and it would surely create tension between her grandmother and the other members of their extended family.

She stayed in her unit at Aerist tower instead. Her recovery was going well and her wound hurt less and less as the days went by. Parang nasosobrahan na nga siya sa pahinga pero hindi siya pinayagan ni Lily na bumalik sa trabaho dahil sa recommendation ng doktor na magpahinga pa siya.

Araw-araw naman siyang binibisita ni Lily o ng mga kasamahan niya sa team para kamustahin o tulungan sa chores but she was usually so bored na matutuwa pa siya kung may makikipag-away sa kanya.

Today wasn't the day for arguments though. Meron kasi siyang dysmenorrhea. Last piece na ng sanitary pad ang gamit niya pero hindi siya makalabas dahil sa sobrang sakit ng cramps. Ken texted Lily to ask if she could buy her some pads pero 'di nag-reply ang kaibigan niya, busy siguro sa trabaho.

Ken wriggled in bed in her Hello Kitty pajamas, trying to find a position that would lessen the pain when she heard the doorbell ring. She ignored it, imposible kasing si Lily, Heidi or Matt 'yon dahil alam nila ang passcode ng electronic lock at pinapayagan niya namang basta lang na pumasok ang mga kaibigan niya.

To her annoyance, the unwelcome guest kept on ringing the doorbell. "Sino ba kasi 'yon?" she grumbled as she grudgingly stood up to get the door.

She was too pissed to check the peephole so she was quite surprised when she saw the person on the other side. Mahigit isang buwan niya ring 'di nakita o narinig ang lalaking iyon. But here he was, outside her door, in a designer tracksuit and carrying three paper bags.

Napalitan ang pagkainis niya ng pagkagulat, pagtataka at isa pang emotion na nagpataas ng heart rate niya. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Lily said you needed these," sagot ni Sage at saka inabot sa kanya ang isang paper bag. "Sorry, 'di ko alam kung anong specs ng ginagamit mo."

Nag-aalangang tinanggap ni Ken ang paper bag at sinilip ang mga laman nito. There were a total of twelve packs of sanitary pads, four different brands and each brand had a regular, long, and overnight variant.

She was blushing when she looked back at the guy. Wasn't it deathly embarrassing for guys to purchase feminine hygiene products? Yet Sage seemed so cool and collected when he handed those to her.

"Ka-kailangan ko nga, thank you," sabi ni Ken.

"Baka kailangan mo rin nito." Muling nag-abot ng paper bag si Sage. "Sorry, 'di ko rin alam kung may allergies ka."

Ken peeked inside and saw seven boxes of different brands of pain relievers. Bago pa siya magsalita, inabot rin sa kanya ni Sage ang huling paper bag. "You look pale, I hope these make you feel better."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Ken sa mga laman ng huling paper bag. Halos tumulo ang laway niya nang makita ang paborito niyang Royce' kasama ang isang box ng Ferrero Rocher.

"Wow." 'Di pa rin makapaniwala si Ken sa mga binigay ni Sage na sakto sa mga pangangailangan niya. "Maraming salamat."

"Get well soon. Una na 'ko. You still probably don't want to see me anyway," sagot ni Sage. Tumalikod na ito para umalis pero hinawakan ni Ken ang jacket ng binata.

"Wait," she said, then clicked her tongue. "I still need to pay for these."

He turned to face her. "Hindi na, okay na 'yan."

"Mukha ba akong walang pambayad?"

"Mukha bang kailangan ko ng pera mo?"

"Mukha bang may balak akong magkaro'n ng utang sa'yo?"