Take Care Of My Heart

Chapter V

Yeesha's POV

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto niya. Nakatulog din sa wakas.
Tinungo ko ang kusina.
Naabutan ko si Priya na may niluluto.
"What's that?"
"It's his favorite. Beefsteak."
"Ahh."
"This will be his lunch."
Naaalala ko ang sinabi ng mommy niya. Ayaw nito ng pork at chicken.
"Ahh,Priya,this afternoon can we use your kitchen?"
Lumingon ito sa akin. Napangiti.
"What are you going to do?" Tanong nito.
"We will just cook something."
"Ahh okay. Sir Aran doesn't like to cook,Yeesha,maybe you don't know."
"But he can right?"
"Maybe. "
Matagal pa akong naglalagi sa kusina habang nagkwentuhan naming dalawa ni Priya. Tumunog na yung intercom.
"His awake already."
"I think so too."
"I can prepare his lunch now. Maybe you could bring this too."
"No we'll just come here."
"He doesn't like to come here. He always eat in his room or in his study room."
"He already ate in the garden..so maybe we can let him eat here."
"Oh..Yeesha,you're brave."
Umalis na ako. Pumanhik na ako. Binuksan ko ang silid niya. Nakapikit pa ang mga mata nito.
"Sir Aran." Tawag ko dito. Kumilos ito. Iminulat nito ang mga mata. Dahan-dahan itong bumangon. Nilapitan ko siya at inaalalayan.
"Good morning!" Bati ko dito. Tumingin ito sa akin.
"You are an ESL instructor right?"
Tumango ako.
"But it's online."
"Okay."
"Why?"
"Nothing!"
I fold his blanket. I look at his legs. Those were perfect legs. May mga balahibong tumubo don pero dahil maputi ang balat nito ay nakikita. He was wearing capripants na kulay itim.
"Yah!"
"What?" Nagising ako sa malalim na pag-iisip. Nagmistula  akong baliw siguro.
"I'm hungry" mahinang sabi nito.
Dinala ko na siya sa kusina sabay tulak sa wheelchair.
"I don't like to eat in the dining room."angil nito ng malamang patyngo kami sa kusina.
" Julyenne,you are breaking my rules."
"Aren't you feel bored,you always eat in your room. Have you been to your dining room?"
"Not yet."
"Then this is the time,you have to experience eating in the dining."
Pumasok kami sa dining room. Nandoon si Priya naghahanda sa pagkain nito. I transferred him to the chair. Nasa dulo ito ng mesa.
"The head of the house will seat in that area." sabi ko sa kanya. Nakasimangot ang mukha nito. 
Tiningnan ko si Priya. Mukha nito ay kinakabahan.
"It's ready." mahinang wika nito.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya.
"Thank you Priya. You should thank her because she prepared your food." mahina kong sabi sa binata.
"Thank you Priya." Lumingon si Priya sa amin. Nagulat ito.
"You are very welcome sir."
Nagthumb up sign ako kay Priya at umalis na ito na nakapskil pa sa mga mata ang pagkagulat.
"Tsk, I'm your boss,I pay you"
umupo siya sa kanang bahagi nito.
"I know. But it is not about being our boss,you should know how to make us happy. Being kind to us is what we make us happy. Do you understand?" Nakatitig ito sa akin."I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interfere your own decision but I just want you to know that sometimes it is not all the time,we choose to do what we want to do because we like it,sometimes we have to be sensitive for other people too." mahina kong sabi sa kanya.
"I know" matipid nitong sabi.
"Then why are you treating them like they are not people?"
"Did I ? Maybe they did something that I don't like."
"I don't know."
"You're giving me a lecture but you don't know the whole story."
"Fine,what I'm trying to say,just be kind to us."
" maybe for them I can."
"Me?"
"I'm not sure,you always treating me not like a person."
Tumawa ako. 
"Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing."
I got the fork and knife.
I cut the meat in a small piece and brought it in his mouth.
Tahimik itong kumakain.
"Can I see your hand?"
Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. His hands were soft and smooth. Magaganda ang mga daliri nito.
"You try to hold the fork."sabi ko. Nagulat ito. Kahit nahihirapan ay kinuha din nito ang tinidor.
" get the knife."
In his left hand he got the knife. Humiwa ito ng karne gamit ang dalawang kamay. Nong una ay mahina pa ito pero after a couple of minutes ay naging normal na iyon. Napangiti ako ng makita iyon.
"You can!"
"No!"
" you can do it already." Masaya kong sabi. Siya na ang pinahiwa ko sa steak. Siya rin ang kumuha ng baso.
"Congratulations!"
Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang mga gamot nito para sa sugat nito.
"We'll wash your plates."
Muntik nang maibuga ang tubig na iniinom nito sa mukha ko.
"What?"
"You will wash your plates. Come,take a little step."
Pinatayo ko siya. Dahan-dahan itong tumayo. Nasa balikat ko ang kaliwang kamay niya.
"Take it easy. One step at a time."
Wika ko sa kanya.
"I'll die early because of you."
"No,you're very strong. I believe in you. You can do it. "
Matagal kaming nakarating sa sink nito.
"Okay,hold on to the counter."
Humawak nga ito sa counter.
"I'm scared, Julyenne" mahinang wika nito. Muntik na itong maiiyak.
"I'm here."Tiningnan ko siya. Nahihirapan itong tumayo. Ang kaliwang paa nito ay namamaga dahil sa mga pasa samantalang ang kanang bahagi ay inooperahan ito.
" Priya,can you give me the wheelchair please."
Nakayakap na ito sa akin.
Kinuha ni Priya ang wheelchair nito.
"Oh here sit down."
Dahan-dahan itong umupo. I can see relief in his eyes. I kneeled down to level his face. Niyakap ko siya.
"Don't do it again please" mahina nitong sabi. Umiyak na ito sa balikat ko.
"If we won't ,you'll be stuck in that wheelchair. Do you want it to happen?"
Umiiling ito sa akin. Pinahid ko ang luha niya.
"You believe in yourself. There's nothing we can do if always have faith in ourselves."
"It's easier said than done."
Pinandilatan niya ito ng mata.
Itinulak ko na siya at tinungo namin ang living room. 
"Do you want to watch a movie?" I asked him. Tahimik ito habang nakaupo sa sofa. Nakatingin ito sa mga sariling binti.
Nilapitan ko siya.
"It's getting better." sabi ko sa kanya.
"I know."
"You should thank me."
"No, I work hard on it."
Dinampot ko ang throw pillow at hinampas ko ito ng marahan.
"Array!"
"Fine,you're my boss,you pay me".
Tumingin ito sa akin.
" why did you choose to be a caregiver?"
"I just love to take care other sick people."
"Really?"
"Yes. "
"Okay. When I am fine already, you'll go back to your country."
"Hmm no,I'll find another boss".
" what??"
"Yes. "
" then you would bathe him in the bathroom too?"
"Yes I'm a caregiver."
"What??" Nagulat ito sa sinabi ko.
"Aren't you afraid of him?"
" I'm sure his old or she's old."
"But what if just like me."
"It's my job."
"I'll give you another job. Is it possible?"
"Yes. Possible."
Huminga ito ng malalim para bang nabunutan ng tinik.
"What work are you gonna give me?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Cook"
"What?I'm not a good cook!"
"Be my caregiver forever then."
"What?"
"Yeah,"
"In the future you'll have your own family,a wife as I said. They can take care of you"
"Nah. It won't happen"
"Sos,it will happen."
Tumingin ito sa akin.