The Devotion of Damien And Augustus

TDODAA 7

Augustus' POV

I light up my cigarette as I sat down on the side bushes of the hospital. As I lit up, I saw Niño coming towards the hospital but I guess he noticed me here on the side because he went towards me instead.

I immediately asked him if he likes to light a cigarette.

"No. Leila will get mad."

I look at him unbelievably and laugh after. I blow the smoke in the air and look far from here.

"So you and Leila."

"Who knew she would actually moved on from Hector."

 I continued. He sat beside me and asked me a food he was holding but I refused but he bite on the burger he brought.

"It's not easy for her though."

Hindi ako sumagot at inubos ang sigarilyo ko.

I know how it felt to see the woman you love suffer from a heartache that you never wish to give to her. I know how to suppress my own feeling because she is getting hurt. I know. Trust me man. I saw the worst of my woman.

"Nasaan sina Hector? Bakit nag-iisa kang bumalik?"

"You know how much Haven means to Hector."

I understood Hector. I know what he was feeling right now. Imagine how I got devastated when I knew that she has a cancer and after recovering developed another one. Imagine how world fucked our lives. Just imagine.

"I know, i know how's the feeling."

I answered in a low tone almost giving myself to cry.

I hid the truth for eight years. I know I involved myself to this even if she told me that it was not necessary to. But how can I neglect her? How on earth that I will let her face her battles alone? I was so willing to catch all the pain she was feeling on those days.

I was so curious on her errands these past few days. After the incident from Zambales, she was always calling me to accompany her which I can't say no. She told me that she drink alone once but then she realize that she needs someone at least to listen to her.

"Alanganamang kausapin ko si daddy? Baka mamaya sumagot yon, matanggal ang lasing ko."

Tawa niya sabay tungga sa beer na hawak niya. Nasa may veranda kami ng bahay ko nakatambay habang siya ay nakatingin sa kalangitan habang ako ay nakatingin sa kanya. Kita at ramdam ko ang sakit na dinadala niya. Hindi ko tuloy matukoy kung tungkol pa ba to kay Damien at Paris o may iba pa.

Like what I expect, she get drunk and she fell asleep crying. She was just crying last night. No words came from her mouth expect from the words, "why me?" I tried to asked her what it could be mean but she's still smart even if  she's drunk.

I was done on doing my workout routine. I was getting water to drink when I noticed her bag she brought and a brown envelope above my island table.

Not being a chismoso, but I opened it.

I almost fell on the ground on what I read. I felt my body shaking as I read every detail of the paper. The next paper makes me more sad.

"Augustus? Augustus? Argh! Ang sakit ng ulo koooo. Where are you?"

Nang iangat ko ang tingin ko ay isang bagong gising na Haven ang sumalubong saakin. Nakapikit pa ang mata niya habang inaantok na naglalakad, hawak ang side ng noo na sa tingin ko ay hinihilot dahil sa sakit nito.

It took her seconds before she felt my presence was just around.

When she notice that I was holding her brown envelope, she quickly moved and get her papers on me. She panicky get her things and hug those.