BORROWED TIME

4

"Who's Jia?"

*Ringgg*

Bigla naman kaming nakarinig ng tunog ng cellphone and it is tita Det's phone.

"Excuse me iha, I will just answer this call."

I nodded at her before she walks away.

Who's Jia?

I just shrugged the thought off and went upstairs to check Bea on her room.

I tried to open the door but it is locked. Buti na lang talaga at binigay na ni Nay Tere sa akin yung spare key ni Bea.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pintuan and quietly entered the room.

There I saw a Bea still sleeping like when I left her here this morning.

"Please Bea? Let's get you back to your bed. At pangako hindi kita kukulitin. Trust me. Kahit ngayon lang." pumiyok pa ako habang sinasabi yun dahil pilit ko pa ring pinipigilan ang sarili kong umiyak sa harapan niya.

Her sobs slowly subsided and she wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks.

She looked at me and for the first time in two days, I saw the most delicate look I could ever see in her brown eyes.

I tried to hold her arms slowly and this time she did not protest, but she just let me.

And the electrifying sensation I have felt when I finally touched her, came back. Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing malapit ako sa kanya o nakikita ko siya.

Dala na rin siguro ng awa ko sa sitwasyon niya. Oo nga. Yun lang yun.

"Nay Tere! Patulong naman po!"

Agad namang lumapit si Nay Tere sa amin and helped me carry Bea towards the side of her bed. We made her sit and I carried her left leg in a careful motion and slowly put it on her bed. Same to her right leg.

She is just hugging the frame without any emotions while she has tear stains on her face.

This is the first time I came really close to her. And now I admire her facial features. Her chinky brown eyes, pointed nose, her prominent jawline and her red lips.

I immediately looked away when I saw her lips twitched. We just helped her lay on her bed and I put her blanket in top of her.

I was about to wipe her face but I suddenly hesitated dahil nakakahiya namang hawakan siya sa mukha kung makikita niya pa lang ako, ayaw na niya.

"Sleep now Bea, get some rest. We'll just clean this mess and I promise, hindi ka na namin kukulitin."

I smiled hesitantly at her but she just looked at me.

I sighed as I help Nanay Tere clean the debris and I checked Bea before we go out of her room. Para malaman ko kung nasugatan ba siya ng bubog sa kahit anong part ng katawan niya. And fortunately, wala naman siyang natamong sugat.

She is sleeping peacefully. I saw her very angelic face, kabaligtaran sa galit niyang mukha kapag gising siya.

Lumabas na rin ako ng room niya at bumaba na lang para tawagan sina Tita Det para ipaalam ang tungkol sa nangyari.

Hay Bea de Leon, you really look so tough, but you are so vulnerable at the same time.

Bigla naman akong napaayos ng tayo ng makitang gumalaw ng bahagya si Bea. Akala ko magigising na siya pero buti na lang at hindi. Kaso nabitawan niya yung frame na kanina niya pa yakap yakap at tumambad sa akin ang mukha ng isang maputi at singkit na babae.