VERONICA (Montero Series # 4)

Chapter 10: Blue

Veronica

"You can leave, Nic. Samahan mo nalang sila Bebang manood," sabi niya and went to the kitchen. Kakatapos lang naming mag lunch. Nilagay niya sa ref yung ulam na niluto ni Manang para dinner niya just in case he wants to eat it.

I pouted my lips at sinundan siya doon. It's hard to be always pushed by him but I have to always be persistent just so he knows that I can take care of him and that he needed to rest too. Kahit medyo intimidating siya, medyo sanay naman na ako.

And he looks really tired. I'm worried.

"Dito lang muna ako just to make sure na magpapahinga ka talaga at hindi magtatrabaho,"lumunok muna ako at bahagyang nilaro ang kamay ko. "A-and I can give you a head massage."

"I don't need that, Nic. I'm perfectly fine. Don't use your hand when you still have burns, mas lalo yang mamamaga," he looked at me sternly.

Umiling ako. "It's not swollen,"tinaas ko ang kamay ko. " It's not that red, naagapan naman agad. I'll stay." Tinatagan ko ang boses ko.

"You have nothing to do. Magpapahinga talaga ako. You can rest too. You've been up early."

"I can't rest if you won't. Samahan lang kita. Hindi kita guguluhin..." pagpupumilit ko parin.

He heaved out and looked at me. I can't read if it's frustration or resignation that was in his chinky eyes or maybe both. Parang wala kasing energy yung mga mata niya. Parang masyado siyang puyat at maraming iniisip.

"Manood ka nalang ng movie sa kwarto para hindi ka mabagot. I'm going to lie on the floor sa kama kana mahiga."

"Can you sleep na naka bukas ang TV?"

He nodded.

"Okay,"I nodded and smiled.

Sinundan ko siya sa kwarto. He opened the TV at walang sabing binigay sa'kin ang remote then he went to get the extra beddings for the floor at nilatag iyon doon.

I was holding my breath kasi amoy na amoy ko yung bango niya. He had changed from a blue t-shirt to a cotton pajamas, too. But still smells really nice.

"I can take that. Dito kana sa bed para mas comportable."

"No, diyan kana."He said nang akma akong uupo doon. Inayos lang niya yung unan at humiga na.

Napalunok ako nang tumingin siya sa'kin. "Go on watch. Matutulog na ako."

"Okay ka lang talaga diyan?"

"Yeah..."he said and lied supine. Pumwesto narin ako ng maayos. His bed felt so comfortable. I felt like sleeping too pero kailangan ko siyang bantayan.

I turned to check if nakapikit na siya pero hindi. Nakaunan ang isa niyang braso sa ulo, nasa dibdib ang isang kamay at nakatitig siya sa kisame na parang may malalim na iniisip.

I waited until he was willing to close his eyes but he didn't. It worries me kasi baka masyado siyang na overworked now that dad made him the chairman.

Jill always tells me na naabutan talaga siya ng hating gabi sa opisina. That's when I stop worrying that he was seeing that girl. Busy lang talaga siya.

I wanted to let him be but I can't watch him anymore. Bumangon ako at saka bumaba.

"Don't scold me please..." sabi ko nang tingnan niya ako, his eyes were already talking to me to just stay where I was.

"How am I going to rest with what you're doing?"naningkit agad ang mata niya.

"Hindi ka pumipikit."

Kinuha ko yung dalawang unan sa bed saka inayos yun sa tabi niya. I settled to lean on the pillows and faced him.