I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, even though my eyes were a little bit blurry. The wall was painted with white and I can smell the alcohol. Ah. I'm in the hospital. Napatingin ako sa aking gilid at napangiti. "Dave."
He smiled at me and I averted my gaze on my wrist when I felt pain. Did I just cut my wrist? Napailing nalang ako at tumayo. I am totally fine, this is no big deal.
I bet my mom will come later, siya na ang bahala rito sa bills. I stood up and forcefully removed the dextrose. "Hey. Anong ginagawa mo?"
Hindi ko pinansin si Dave at hinanap ang mga damit ko. Asan na ba iyon? Hindi ko iyon mahanap kaya humarap nalang ako kay Dave na nakatayo lang at nakatingin at may pagtataka sa mga mata.
I took my phone and car keys that was placed on the side table. "Tara, labas. Si Mom na ang bahala dito."
I excitedly sneak out of the private room while giggling and I heard him laugh. Tumakbo kami papalabas ng hospital. Some were even looking at us weirdly.
Sino ang hindi? May pasyenteng nakalabas sa private room niya.
Tinakasan rin naming ang mga guwardiya sa may exit ng hospital. I saw my car in the parking lot so we immediately entered. I asked Dave to drive but he shook his head.
He noticed that I was feeling cold so he gave me his favorite jacket kaya agad ko itong sinuot. "Alam mo, namiss ko pumunta sa El Casa."
"Me too. Punta tayo duon?" Tumango ako at excited na pinatakbo ang sasakyan.
Sa biyahe ay nagkwentuhan lang kami at nag soundtrip. El Casa is a place, far from the city, pollution, definitely a province. The place was so peaceful.
I was running out of gas so we stopped at a nearby gasoline station. Mabuti nalang at nasa likod ng sasakyan ang bag kong may tinta pa ng dugo mula siguro sa kamay ko kanina.
Why did I even cut my own wrist? Naalala ko na. Nagdrive pa ako papuntang hospital bago ko sinaktan ang sarili ko, sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. Bakit ba hindi nalang ako pumunta sa Rehab? Pati ako ay hindi ko na rin alam ang nangyayari sa sarili ko.
Since we needed some things as we travel, we stopped at a nearby convenience store. "Hey. Ang ganda ng dreamcatcher na ito, ano?"
"Yeah. Do you like it?"
He asked me. I just smiled at him and continued walking. My eyes were looking around for the liquor and when I saw it, I immediately took four bottles and took some foods.
"Pahinga muna tayo sa tambayan natin tuwing gabi?" I asked Dave. He was just behind me smiling all the time. Good mood na good mood lang? Hindi kasi siya masyadong palangiti eh kaya nakakapanibago.
"Sure. I miss those times na sinasayawan mo ako habang nabo bonfire tayo." Natawa kami pareho. Sinapak ko nga ang braso niya kasi nakangisi ang loko.
Napaharap ako sa counter. At hindi ko alam kung natatawa ba itong cashier or nawi weirduhan sa amin. He even looked at me from head to toe before shaking his head. "Ayos lang po kayo?"
I giggled and nodded my head. Nagbayad ako at pagkaabot niya sa bayad ay bumuka ang bibig niya na parang may gusto pang sabihin pero mas pinili nalang niya manahimik. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at hinila na si Dave palabas, papasok sa sasakyan.
While driving, napansin kong ikinabit ni Dave ang dreamcatcher sa rearview mirror ng sasakyan ko.
"Huyyyyy! Hindi mo iyan binayaran haaa!?" He laughed hard and I shook my head in disbelief. Walang hiyang ito. Kailan pa siya natutong magnakaw? Sinapak ko nalang ulit ang braso niya habang siya ay tumatawa parin.
"I love you. Kapag wala ako, isipin mo nalang na ako ang dreamcatcher na ito. Na palagi kitang sasamahan at sinasamahan sa mga roadtrip at lahat ng pupuntahan mo."
Napangiti ako. He's so sweet. I slowed down the car and leaned in to give him a peck. "I love you too!"
I'm really thankful that I met him. He is like my safe place whom I can always turn to.
