In Between Stitches

kabanata ◽️▪ 05

05

◽️
e l o i s e

Before I could throw a speech, I gathered all the strength not to embark on my first encounter with Henrick. He planted a crook smile before shifting the eyebrows upward; fingers were crumpled tightly into a fist --- and firm-clenched shoulders.

"He-he's on t-time," ako.

I think he's going to fuel the plan I've made ahead. Hence, Rafii will not end into a train wreck this time.

"Ba't parang nagulat ka, Doktora?" si Lilac. Nagtatakang lumapit siya sa'kin, nilayo ko'ng aking paningin. Nilagpasan ko siya bago niya magawang hawakan ako sa mukha.

Tumigil ako sa harapan ni Henrick. Kagaya ko, hindi rin siya makapaniwala.

"So-sorry po," mangiyak-ngiyak ang tono ng kanyang boses. Akmang luluhod, pinigilan ko siya. Bigong-bigo na umayos ng tayo nang hindi naibangga ang mga tuhod sa sahig.

"You don't need to apologize, tapos na 'yon," ngumingiti akong tumitig sa kanya.

He knows exactly what I'm talking about. Henrick could still remember everything he did to me in the general store.

"Kailangan nating kumilos ng mabilis, I don't want those men to stay here longer," masigasig kong pagtigil sa namumuong tensyon.

Pinagtagpo ni Henrick ang kan'yang kilay, nagtatakang tumingin at umayos ng tayo. Hindi pa rin nawawala sa kanyang mukha ang hiya at gamay na gamay ang bawat kilos. He's afraid to break a glass as much as he wanted to fit like a glove.

"I know this is..." huminto ako at napatingin sa itaas. Tama ba ang ginagawa ko? Could I really get a kick out of this, couldn't I?

"..sudden. I need your help, Henrick," sinusubukan kong pakalmahin ang aking sarili, nilulubog sa limot ang nangyari that day.

"I want you to cover and serve as a sack, Henrick. I know it's hard to turn the tide without knowing how capable our opponent is. I only have this will and bravery after Rafii, even it will costs an arm and a leg, I would do it for him," nanginginig ang aking mga bibig at unti-unti nang namamanhid ang aking mga daliri.

I close my eyes to feel how my cortisol pinch and scrape against fear. Kahit hindi ko pa tinatanong si Rafii about his case, I'm ready to drop a dime just to protect him.

"Alam kong hindi mo naiintindhan ang lahat, Henrick. I wouldn't touch you with a barge pole...and I'll explain everything after this," pinipigilan ko ang panginginig ng aking boses, but he could still hear it in between words.

Napabuntong-hininga siya, dahan-dahan niyang inalis ang mga tingin sa akin at nilipat patungo kay Lilac.

Not being aware of how Henrick landed to her, she gathers her eyebrow to the center and looks to us with her eyes telling why-don't-you-ask-Rafii.

Halos malaglag ang balikat ko nang binalingan ako ni Henrick. "Bakit kailangan mo itong gawin?" pagtatanong niya sa akin.

"Because I have the right under the state's law," ako.

"Pero hindi tama na itakas siya palayo," I wonder how he got to ask me without telling him I wanted to turn the tide and shoulder the patient without any consent.

"Lilac has told me everything," he answers.

Laglag panga akong napahakbang patungo sa harap niya, kasing layo ng isang meter stick ang pagitan namin sa isa't isa.

"Say it again," ako.

"Ask her," siya.

Hindi ko kayang tumingin kay Lilac, knowing that she has started to wrap Henrick about Rafii, I think...I would use a storm to force him.