Lullabies in December (Behind The Month #2)

4

4, Right

"Olga, kahit 'di mo na ako dalhin sa ospital." mariin kong sabi habang nasa byahe na kami.

Inulit niya pa kasi iyon at ayaw ko namang gawin pa namin dahil useless lang. Binalingan niya ako saglit bago muling humarap sa daan.

"We just need to make sure-"

"Come on... I'm not sick." I said with a huff.

She sighed. "Ace... what I mean is, mentally. You know, mental health."

"Oh..." sabay mahinang tawa ko. "Olga, you've got to be kidding me..."

"Sorry. Well..." she trailed off. "Maybe you should rest first. We can go there next time..."

Huminga ako nang may kabigatan at sinandal ang ulo sa bintana. Sa labas ang tingin ko at pumikit na.

The words exhausted and tired will never be enough to describe what my body feels.

"No need but... thanks..." sambit ko kalaunan. "But Olga, you know what? The psychiatrist who'll evaluate my mental health and would help me can be possibly one of those people who have satisfied themselves with my video."

"Ace..."

"What?" I forced a dry laugh. "It's true. But seriously, I don't need that kind of shit. I'd just waste money for that useless crap. Hindi naman nila 'ko matutulungan."

"Ace, they're here in this world because they're needed. May propesyong ganoon kasi kailangan din iyon sa buhay ng tao." she uttered clearly as if lecturing me.

I groaned a bit. "Oh, come on... Stop educating me. Siguro mas kailangan ko ng witch kung may mahahanap man ako. I'd tell her to make a potion that would help me solve all these things... Too bad, you're not a witch. You're just a bitch, like me."

"Yeah..." she whispered.

Tumawa ako at pagod na binuksan ang mga mata upang makita siya. She glanced at me quickly too with a soft expression on her face.

"Thanks for picking me up... Salamat sa pagsundo sa'kin doon..." I uttered in a hoarse voice.

"Stop thanking me. I'm still mad because you don't trust me. You think hindi ko alam, huh? Why didn't you call me?" ngayon ay may talim na ang kanyang tinig.

Hindi ako nagsalita at pumikit na lang ulit. I shifted my position on the shotgun seat.

"Ace, I know we've been friends for only about six months but I already know so much about you! Well, of course except that... scandal of yours. I'd be honest right here. But seriously, you can trust me! I even left my old circle 'cuz I heard them judging you..."

"What?" napamulat ako.

She gave out an intense exhale. "They're all acting like innocents! I mean... the hell? As if they're not having premarital sex as well. A lot of people are into that, including me, hindi lang na-videohan pero kahit na. Okay na rin 'yon, na iwanan ko sila. I'm fully aware that they're just open for a friendship with me because I know a lot of people. Alam mo na... mga mayayamang gwapo."

"So your friends judged me?" ulit ko sa natutuyong boses.

I badly need water. My throat tells me how dehydrated I am. Olga noticed that so she grabbed something from the backseat and handed it to me.

"Thanks," sabay tanggap ko ng bottled water at uminom.

"Welcome.... well, anyway. Yeah, they did." tumango-tango siya.

"And you didn't?"

Bumalik ang mga mata niya sa'kin nang mabilis. "I judged you for your lack of trust in me. Medyo galit pa rin ako nang kaunti pero naiintindihan naman kita. Oo nga pala, can you further explain how'd you lost your bag?"