The Lost Helianthus (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty

"Ate Sol, subukan mo ito. This is delicious." Gusto ko sanang tawagin niya ako bilang Solanna at hindi Sol dahil hindi naman kami malapit sa isa't isa pero pinili ko na lang na tumahimik at ngumiti sa kanya.

I was going to take the plate from her when Alek snatched it away from me, causing me to flinch.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin ngunit nakakuha rin ako ng masamang tingin sa kanya. What the hell is his problem right now?

"That's rude," pagsaway ni Alesya sa kaniya.

"You're ruder."

"What did I do?!" She hissed.

Pinanood ko silang dalawa. I took a sip from my water while waiting for them to punch each other. Namiss ko bigla ang mga bardagulan namin ni Ate Loreen.

"Hindi puwede sa kanya ito, yet you are offering her."

"At bakit hindi?! Sinabi ba niya? Paladesisyon ka!" Palihim akong natawa nang ituro pa niya si Alek. She's lucky I'm not her sister. Kung nagkataon, pinutol ko na ang daliri niya. That's rude.

"May type 1 diabetes siya."

Natigilan ako. I think I was stupid to forget about my condition. Bakit ko nga ba akmang tatanggapin ang inaalok ni Alesya na cake?

Marahas na lumingon sa akin si Alek at tumalas ang paningin nang mahuli akong natigilan. I just smiled goofily like he caught me doing a heinous crime.

What?

It's not my fault that I want to please her sister.

Imbes na mag-sorry ay parang kuminang pa ang mata niya sa narinig. "Oh? You are a type 1 diabetic? You don't look like one!"

Isinara ko ang kamao ko sa ilalim ng mesa dahil sa narinig sa kanya. I put an effort for her to like me, puwede bang gawin niya rin iyon sa akin? I faked a smile. "What does a type 1 diabetic looks like in your mind?"

I tried hard to be back in shape since I went through the stages of grief. I lose weight and color because I cannot accept I have diabetes before, not because of diabetes directly. Kaya ipinagtataka ko kung anong nasa isip niya ngayon, o nasa isip ng karamihan. Kailangan bang maging maputla, sobrang payat, o matanda ng mga diabetic para matawag silang diabetic?

To be honest, I'm getting tired of witnessing the same reaction whenever I tell people that I'm a diabetic. How are they surprised that I'm a diabetic at a young age? Hindi ka ba puwedeng tamaan ng sakit sa edad na ito? Then they're gonna blame you of your unhealthy habits... which kinda sucks and tiring.

Natigilan siya nang marinig iyon sa akin at biglang nawala ang ngiti niya. "Sorry. Did I offend you?" Nakita ko ang pag-aalala sa mga mata niya. Napangiti ako nang makita iyon. I'm glad she's someone who won't brush an issue off easily, especially when she knew she wronged someone.

At least, she's aware. "It's fine. I don't mind." Of course, I mind. Kung ibang tao siguro, I will definitely throw a fit. Masuwerte lang siya na kapatid siya ni Alek kaya nagtitimpi ako. Ayaw ko pang makita niya ang mga pangit na side ko. Siguro after three years. Or maybe, I already changed my bad habits that time.

"Some reactions were even worse, sanay na ako." I'm not. "Mabuti nga hindi mo sinabing lack of exercise at pagkain nang sobra ang dahilan."

I wish that someone can change the name of type 1 diabetes. They are interchanging everything between T1D and T2D.

"So, bawal kang kumain ng matamis? Milktea? Ice cream?" Ibinaba ko muna ang kubyertos na hawak ko nang magbato ulit siya ng panibagong tanong. Mukhang nakalimutan niya na nasa dining table kami at ang purpose nito ay kumain. It seems like she has gotten interest on my illness.