A SILENT RESPONSE

Chapter 13

[Serene Joy]

Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa tray na bitbit ko ngayon habang paakyat sa itaas. Nagpresinta kasi akong magpapakain kay Vince since hindi pa naman magaling ang mga kamay niya. Gamit ang isang kamay, unti-unti kong pinihit ang door knob upang mabuksan ang pintuan. Napahinga ako nang malalim nang makita ko siyang nahihimbing na natutulog.

I felt pity for him.

Nilapag ko sa side table ang pagkaing dala ko at naupo sa gilid ng kama niya. How come that he became violent and hot tempered? Years ago, parati lang siyang cold at walang pakialam sa paligid niya. But now parang hindi ko na siya kilala.

Gigisingin ko ba siya?

Matagal ko siyang tinitigan bago ako nakapagdesisyon na gisingin siya dahil lumalamig na ang dala kong agahan niya.

"Vince? Vince...." I whispered while softly taping his shoulders.

"Hmmmmm"

"Wake up, I brought a breakfast for you."

"Lilac, please give me five minutes..." Kinuha niya ang usang unan at itinakip sa kanyang ulo.

"Lilac? Who's that?"

"Sino pa nga ba? Diba ikaw si Lilac?"

"But I'm Serene..."

"I'll eat breakfast later downstairs." He murmured against the pillow.

" Okay" I lost my words and leave his room with full of questions.

Who's Lilac, is she her girlfriend?

I lost my count on how many times I walk back and forth at the backyard. I stand and sit and heave a deep breath.

Rhayn was still asleep, I want to wake her up and clear some things up. I want to ask her who Lilac is.

"Hoy miss Timid!" it was Isko. He used to call me different names that corresponds to silent. His vocabulary was kinda wide,eh.

"Where's my Rhayn?"

"I think she'll fall later downstairs."

"Oh," he chuckled. "Rhaynfall"

"You got it!" I said softly like usual.

He sat beside me, we both inhaled the fresh air in the morning.

"I really like your silence today"

"Why?"

"May gusto ka bang itanong sakin? I'm free to answer those questions." -Isko

Biglang nagliwanag ang mukha ko. He seems like a psychologist that can read my mind. Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko kung sino si Lilac.

"Who's Lilac?"

"Lilac?" Hindi ko alam ngunit may gumuhit na pagkagulat sa mata ni Isko. At bigla na lamang siyang natahimik. "Hahaha" that's an awkward laugh, I can sense it.