Maybe If, Maybe Then

MI 04 : Pink Sweater

•~•~•~•

Sa kasamaang palad nga naman, dalawang araw matapos silang mag-enjoy sa beach, nagkalagnat si Jas.

They visited her, again, early in the morning. Pero umalis rin dahil may importanteng gagawin ngayong araw. School stuff. Nangako naman si Abby na babalik sa lunch. Jas thanked them and they left off.

Uminom ng gamot, nagkumot, nahiga sa kama, at nanood ng movie.

"Urgent. Final at last na raw niyang ipapagawa. I'm totally pissed. Will you be fine by yourself?" Bumalik nga ng lunch si Abby at naghatid lang ng pagkain kay Jas. Aalis na rin agad.

"Mm. Thank you, Abby."

Alone time na muna ni Ms. Orbenizo. Pagdating ng hapon, mas mataas ang naging temperatura ni Jas base sa thermometer ng kunan niya ang sarili. Hindi na rin muna siya masiyadong tumatayo at naglalakad kasi sumasakit ang ulo niya. Bigla namang bumuhos ang ulan at dumagdag lang yun sa ginaw na nararamdaman ni Jas.

She surely didn't expect anyone to come. Sabi na ni Abby at ng iba na siguro'y hindi sila makakabalik pagka-hapon o gabi. Bukas na raw ulit ng umaga sila makakapunta sa dorm ni Jas. Kaya ng mag-buzz yung pinto, nagtaka siya.

Kahit na nahihilo, pinilit na tumayo ni Jas, nakabalot pa sa teddy bear designed niyang kumot, para makalapit sa pinto.

To be sure, kinausap niya muna iyon sa speaker na katabi ng pin code nilang security system.

"It's me. Loloy." Agad na pinagbuksan ni Jas ng pinto ang lalaki, pero kita pa rin na naghihina ito. Dumaan naman ang isang kulog at kidlat kaya medyo nagulat si Jas. The guy just looked at her. "You're sick." It wasn't a question. It's a statement. Alam na niyang may lagnat ang babae.

Pinapasok ni Jas ang lalaki. Lihim na napangiti dahil sa presensya nito.

"Say, are you worried about me?"

Tumango naman ito. That just earned Jas another smile despite being cold and weak.

"Humiga ka na dun. I'll cook something for you." Loloy said ng akmang susunod na naman si Jas sa kaniya papuntang kusina. Kitang nanghihina na, eh. Susunod-sunod pa. She nodded.

A few minutes after, nagsimula ng kumalat sa hangin ang amoy ng niluluto ni Loloy. It was just a simple soup but Jas felt like it's tastier than any other dishes. Sinubuan siya nito at sa kailaliman niya, kinikiliti siya.

"Thank you.." Mahinang sabi ni Jas at inalalayan naman siya ni Loloy na umayos ng higa.

"Why were you being nasty the first time we met? And I suppose.. until now?" Loloy asked and sat down on the floor, leaning his back on the sofa.

"I already told you." She giggled.

"What? That you're interested in me? That's impossible."

"So, you mean, liking and having an interest on anyone at anytime and any moment is an impossible thing? I think it's a free thing to do."

He weakly looked at her. Kita at halata ang eyebags sa ilalim ng mata. Reason? Nagpuyat kasi marami daw siyang ginagawang school stuff.

"The guys said you weren't like that before. You decided to.. be carefree for a while? Because you're graduating soon, right?"

Jas heaved a heavy sigh and stared at the ceiling. Nagkumot siya at ilang minuto bago ulit nagsalita.

"Now, will you say you're interested in me, too?"

"No."

Napasimangot lang si Jas.

In her mind: He's so being in denial! Minsan na nga lang akong gumanito, hindi pa siya kumo-cooperate.

Inalis na niya ang pagkakatabon ng kumot sa mukha ng marinig ang mahinang pagtawa ng lalaki. Nagtaka naman siya at inisip na baka baliw 'to.

"We may have the same difference."

"What? Same difference? I don't get it. Kindly elaborate."

He nodded. "They also told me you're on the list of recieving special honors. And now, you're being like that.. to do stuff you weren't able to do before. Fun, going out, and being carefree. From doing the good stuff.. to bad stuff. That maybe once you satisfy yourself in these things, you won't regret it later on from not doing any of it?"

Jas nodded even though he wasn't looking at her.

"As for me, it's the other way around. But also in the idea of if maybe I do these things now, I won't regret it not doing later on?" Jas was completely flummoxed but she didn't say a word. Ramdam niya kasing nagmo-moment pa ito. Heavy pa ang mood. Mukhang may dinaramdam pa ang lalaki.

The rain poured heavily this time, the wind blew colder and the noise of large raindrops grew more. She shivered from feeling the cold. Loloy noticed it and stared at the sweater he's wearing. A pink, loose sweater.

He stood up and began lifting it up from the hem when Jas' eyes widened and held his hand to stop him halfway of pulling his sweater.

"Wh-what are you doing?" She asked. Seems to get the wrong idea. A smile made its way to Loloy's lips and shook his head. He successfully took the sweater off of him but there's still a shirt on.

Umupo siya sa gilid ni Jas na kasalukuyang nakahiga dahil nga masakit ang ulo niya. From the sweater's collar, he slid it down her head. Inangat naman niya kaunti si Jas at tinulungang isout yun sa kanya.

That's when Jas realized it: What was I thinking? Of course ipapasuot niya lang yung sweater. Just how thoughtful.

Matapos ayusin ni Loloy ang pagkakahiga niya kay Jas, tumayo na ito.

"Baka makatulong sa ginaw na nararamdaman mo." Referring to the sweater he made her wear. "Babalik na sana ako sa dorm. Ayos ka lang bang mag-isa o kailangan mo ng kasama?"

Jas was sure she wanted him to stay. Ayaw niya itong umalis. Not now that she's not feeling well. Pero naisip rin niyang inalagaan na siya nito ng sapat, ni hindi niya inakala at unexpected pa.

"Uh.. yeah. Ayos lang. You can.. go."

He nodded and went to reach for the door, and took a glance at Jas once more.

Mag-isa na ulit si Jas. It also made her feel better that he went to check on her. Nasabi kaya ni Sky o ni Brandon o ni Tom kaya narinig ni Loloy at pinuntahan siya? Hindi niya alam. She's just happy about him being so thoughtful.

She held his pink sweater that was on her. Hindi siya makapaniwala. Pinasuot nito ang damit niya sa kaniya. Sa mga gawa-gawa niya imahinasyon, naisip niyang: By now, he's probably starting to like me, too. Maybe the next time we meet, he'll treat me just like how he did now.