Chapter Nine
Panic
I woke up in an unfamiliar room, alone. I'm not on a hospital bed, so that's good news. The last thing I want is getting admitted for having a panic attack.
I've been there and it's one of the most embarrasing moments in my entire life.
When I looked around, I noticed a photo of me and Rian on the bedside table. Noon ko napagtantong nasa kwarto nya ako.
Matagal bago rumehistro sa akin ang mga nangyari. I created a scene. Malamang ay nakita iyon ng lahat ng kasama namin. I shouldn't have let myself collapsed, not that I have control of that, but still.
Mariin akong pumikit at nag-isip kung ano ang dapat kong gawin.
Okay, think Rafa, think!
I started on not worrying about the things that I couldn't control. Kung sino man ang nakakita ay wala na akong magagawa. Sana lang ay hindi na iyon makarating sa mga magulang ko. I never want to worry them. What I can control though, ay ang mga susunod kong gagawin.
I have to go out of this room keeping my cool. Rian did his part on not making this a big deal by taking me here and not in a hospital, now I have to do mine.
Lumabas ako ng kwarto at inabutan ko ang magpinsan sa kitchen counter na nag-uusap. Naputol iyon nang malingunan ako ni Rian. Umahon ito mula sa pagkakasandal sa counter at pumormal ng ayos.
Third looked at me. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay now. Let's eat?" aya ko nang makita ang hapunan na nakahanda na sa mesa.
They both nodded and we sat on our usual seats. Kaya ko naman sigurong umarte na parang walang nangyari.
"So, tell me, why are we keeping this a secret?" tanong ni Third, nakatagilid ang ulo at matamang nakatingin sakin.
I didn't expect that that is going to be his first question.
"What secret?" nagmamaang-maangang tanong ko.
"It's not a secret," kalmanteng sagot ni Rian habang ipinaglalagay ako ng pagkain.
Palagay ko ay sya ulit ang nagluto. Mayroong pritong tilapia at sinabawang gulay sa hapag. Nakaramdam akong bigla ng gutom.
"Well, we're not alerting her parents, are we? Sounds like a secret to me..."
Bumuntong hininga ako. I'm not keeping it a secret. I just don't want my parents worrying about me.
"With your little tank in there, Rian. I'm not dumb, I know this isn't the first time," Third said without tearing his deadly gaze on me.
"Don't look at me like that, it's my first time to see that tank too..." I said and started eating.
And I'm not lying. When it first happened to me, Rian brought me to the emergency room.
Tinaasan ni Third ng kilay si Rian, nanghihingi ng sagot pero hindi sya pinansin ng pinsan.
"You fainted, Rafaella..." Third said, as if I didn't know what happened.
I can't believe he'll dig this much. Para bang ayaw palagpasin na lang ang nangyari. Si Rian ay tahimik na ipinagpapatuloy ang pagkain, hindi mo makikitaan ng reaksyon ang mukha nito.
"Third, sa tanang buhay ko, it only happened thrice. Don't be a pain about it..."
Mabilis ang naging paglingon ni Rian sa akin. His brows furrrowed.
"Oh, yeah? Then tell us about the first time it did," Third said before he started eating.
I can't believe it. Sana ay si Rian na lang ang nagsabi sa kanya kanina habang natutulog pa ako.
