Love and War
I guess it was an instinctive action. I ran for the dress I threw kanina and pressed it on what was bleeding. The short while between him removing his hands so that I could put the dress gave me enough time to see a deep cut around four inches long.
Mabilis na tumakbo si kuya Alas papasok sa loob para siguro magtawag ng driver. Kuya Enzo naman came closer at iniikot ang kanang kamay ni Ross sa kaniyang balikat upang maakay niya ito while asking if he's okay. Sa kabilang tabi naman ako habang nakapulupot ang kanang kamay ko sa kaniyang katawan at parehas naming hawak ang damit.
Ang magkakapatid na lalaki kasama si Tati ay pareparehas na estatwa na sa mga pwesto nila. Nalampasan na namin sila tsaka lang sila sumunod.
"I'll have to call Lola," natauhang saad ni Lio at tumakbo na din.
"Chill guys. Buhay pa ako, I'm not dying," contrary to his words, pabulong niya itong sinabi. Tila ba nanghihina.
"So the curse is true," takot na usal ni Nico sa aming likuran.
"Shut up!" sabay na utal ni Matt at Ross.
Narinig ko naman ang panguusyoso ni Tati sa likod tungkol sa sinabi ni Nico pero hindi ko na magawang pakinggan pa ito.
"What happened dude?" tanong ni kuya Enzo.
"I knew there was this big stone on one side of the shore. That was why I didn't want anyone to swim at night. You're sister was following something in the water and was walking nearer the rocks as I remember where they are. I warned her but she didn't listen so I followed her in the water and tried to lift her away from it. Unfortunately I took a weak step when I lifted her so I got scratched."
Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni kuya Enzo. He rarely gets seriously angry and if it happens, I know I'm dead.
"Don't blame her. It was my decision to lift her up. I could've just pulled her or what," mabilis na dinagdag ni Ross.
Hindi nito nabawasan ang intensidad ng bawat tingin na ginagawad sa akin ni kuya Enzo. Pagdating namin sa parking, buhay na ang sasakyan at nakaharap na palabas. Mabilis kaming nagsakayan. Magkakatabi pa din kami nina Enzo at Ross. Huling sumakay si Lio na madaming dalang shirts. Kinuha ko ang isa at sinuot bago bumalik sa pagtuon ng kamay sa dress.
Walang nagsasalita sa byahe and everyone is anxiously checking the road wishing the hospital appears quickly.
Tumunog ang telepono ni Lio na mabilis niya ring sinagot. Si Lola ata ito kasi tinanong niya pa si Ross kung anong nangyari bago dumiretso sa paguulit ng sinagot ni Ross.
This time Ross excluded the part where I wasn't listening to his warnings and that he lifted me up. All he said was he accidentally got scratched while "swimming".
Pagdating sa hospital ay mabilis kaming naasikaso. There was a group of medical staff waiting outside with a hospital bed as if they were expecting us. Nang naihiga doon si Ross ay tsaka ko lang siya nabitawan.
Nakasunod lang ako pero pinigilan ako ni kuya Enzo.
"What was that?"
"I didn't know that was gonna happen. Hindi ko ginusto yung nangyari sa don't blame me."
"He told us over dinner not to swim! He said he warned you pa rin but you didn't listen. What was that Natasha?!" he hissed in gritted teeth.
Galit na galit siya.
Tinulak siya sa dibdib ni kuya Alas.
"If you're gonna play the blaming game then blame yourself Enzo. You were too preoccupied by the movie you didn't even realize your sister was out of the house. She's your responsibility, may I remind you. She's our responsibility."
