Breaking Free From Envy

Kabanata 12

"One. Two. Three. Four."
We swayed according to our dance instructor's counting. Wala pang 20 minutes pero pagod na ako at parang nanlalambot. I don't feel okay. And I am not in the mood to dance with optimum energy as what our DI wants.

"Five. Six. Seven. Ei- Dionne! Sumabay ka naman. Ang lamya mo. What's wrong? Sinisira mo ang choreo."

I exhaled deeply. "Sorry, I am not feeling well." Yumuko ako at ipinatong ang palad sa mga tuhod. Sumasakit ang balakang pati ang puson ko. I closed my eyes tightly to calm myself. 

Nagprapractice kami para sa presentation ng section namin for the Festival of Talents by next week. Tila naghahalo-halo na ang tinig ng mga tao sa paligid ko.

"Kaya ba?"

"You okay, Dionne?"

"Dionne!"

I was about to stand when I suddenly feel dizzy. Umikot ang paningin ko hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang pagbagsak ng  katawan ko sa malamig na tiled floor.

I blocked out. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal. But I can hear the commotion around and the panic from their voices. Dama ko din ang pagpaypay ng hangin sa mukha ko.

"Water, guys!"

"Ang putla na niya."

"Anong nangyari?"

"Hala, ang lamig ng kamay niya!"

"Dalhin natin sa clinic!"

"Bilis!"

"Teka! Mabigat."

"What happened?" I heard that familiar voice who came near me. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at pinisil-pisil ang palad ko. Hirap akong magmulat ng mata.

"Dee... Can you hear me?"

It's Sef. I felt his other hand caressing my face. Mahina niya iyong tinapik-tapik.

"Mmmhhh." Mahina kong ungol. I groaned in pain when I felt pain in my lower abdomen.

"I'm bringing you to the hospital!" Pinilit kong dumilat. I saw how worried he was. I smiled at him weakly.

"I just... need... rest..." mahina kong bulong. It's painful. It's unbearable.

"Hold on." Saad niya bago ako binuhat. Halos yakapin ko siya sa leeg, afraid that I might fell. Kahit nanghihina, I am fully aware of our proximity the moment he carried me in bridal style.

There's something in his scent that made me relax a bit. So, I just closed my eyes until we reach the Infirmary. Inilapag niya ako kaagad sa higaan. He looked at me with worry and concern. Naroon na din ang aming adviser pati ang DI namin.

"Is it that period of the month?" Tanong niya. Nang tumango ako ay kinausap na niya agad ang naka-assign na nurse. 

Kinamusta ako ni Ma'am Sheena. I told her, it wasn't serious. Mukha namang naintindihan niya lalo na nang ipaliwanag ni Nurse Micah ang kondisyon ko. Nagpaalam siya after a while to notify my parents at para masundo ako. As for our practice, sa ibang araw na lang ako makikipagparticipate.

Nurse Michelle knows about my condition well. Suki ako ng silid na ito simula pa noong Grade 9 ako. She knows how terrible my dysmenorrhea is. She knows what to do.