Skin Deep

Chapter 24

Luna's POV

Kinabukasan, hindi ako pumunta sa bahay nila Zander para turuan si Debbie.I used fever as my excuse and I think she bought it.Not unless she ask her brother.Pero sa totoo lang, masama sa pakiramdam.I felt empty, guilty, sad, every worst possible emotion combined.

The day after that weren't any better.Hindi ako pumasok sa school knowing I'm unwell.People will stare, they will ask and try to bring back happiness in me.I don't want to go back to being well, yet.This pain, it's different.It's something I deserve.I deserve for being gullible.

Ngayon din ang balik ng mga magulang ko at sa totoo lang mas gugustuhin ko pang huwag na silang bumalik.They will just bombard me with questions I am not willing to answer.Saktong pagkababa ko ng hagdanan, pinapasok ng mga yaya ang mga maleta.Then two people with black coats on entered.

"Luna what happened?!You look terrible!" Sabi ni Mama.Wala namang sinabi si Papa at dumiretso siya sa office niya.

"Sleep deprived." I lied.Dumiretso ako sa kusina para kumuha ng makakain.Sumunod naman saakin ang mama ko.

"Atsaka hindi ba dapat nasa school ka ngayon?" Her tone changed.Hindi ko siya pinansin at ginawa ko ang sarili ko ng ham and cheese sandwich.I took a bite into it and it's the most bland food I've ever eaten. Or maybe because i just don't have any appetite.

"Please Luna.Tell me.What's wrong?" She said in a softer tone.I stopped then looked at her.Hindi ko alam kung sasabihin ko ang totoo sakanya. But knowing her, huwag nalang.

"I told you.Sleep deprived." Sabi ko sakanya at nilampasan ko siya.Bumalik na ako sa taas at kinain ang sandwich ko.Pagkatapos kong kumain nagpasya akong manuod nalang sa TV, trying to distract myself.

I was bored and all when a knock echoed.

"I'm coming in Luna." Rinig kong sabi ni Mama.Hindi ko siya sinagot o kaya pinagbuksan.I'm to busy being bored for me to open the door for her.

"Luna papasukin mo ako.Kung hindi sisipain ko itong pintuan mo!" Umirap ako at tumayo.Binuksan ko ang pintuan at nakita kong may dala dala siyang tray na may pagkain at inumin.Along with some medicines.

Pumasok siya at nilapag sa kama ko ang tray.Sumandal ako sa pader at pinagkrus ang bisig ko.She smiled at me then gestured me to sit beside her.Bumuntong hininga ako at umupo sa tabi niya.

"This is my specialty soup.Naalala ko noong kami ni Papa mo.We would get wasted and have sick hangovers the next day." She said, with nostalgia evident in her voice.As if she is daydreaming.

"Hindi ako uminom." Depensa ko sakanya.

"I know that.Hindi lang naman pang hangover ito, anak." Anak. Hindi ako kumibo o sumagot.Binuksan niya ang mga gamot at nilapag sa tray at tumayo na din siya.

"Alam kong kahit anong pilit ko hindi mo sasabihin saakin. But I want you to know that as a mother, it pains me to see you like this.So please, cheer yourself up.If you can't do that for you, try doing it for me." Sabi niya at umalis na.Narinig ko ang pagsarado ng pinto.I stared at the soup in my bed.Then eventually, I found myself sipping this warm soup.Nang maubos ko na iyon, ininom ko ang gamot.I placed the tray on my desk and went to take a shower.

I wore comfortable clothes and fuzzy socks.Bumalik ako sa kama ko at kinuha ang cellphone.I finally opened it.Pinatay ko kasi ang phone ko.To avoid people. And my phone just buzzed and buzzed.

From: Frida

8:00 am : Are you okay?

8:30 am : Luna???