Chapter 42
Dea Siennen, what the hell are you doing?
Tiningnan ko ang lab manuals na nasa front seat. Damn it. I should be doing this right now! What the hell am I doing here? Bakit pa ako bumalik dito? Muli akong napapikit ng mariin.
I looked at my wristwatch and saw that it's been an hour since I got back here, and still, there's no sign of Gianna leaving the building. Ang daming naglalaro sa utak ko. Sa sobrang dami no'n ay hindi ko na alam ang uunahin.
I must be crazy. Umuwi ako pagkatapos namin mag-usap ni Axev. I was suffocated and I vowed not to come back here again. However, I could not help but remember how Axev looked like. How his skin burned under my touch.
Hindi ko na dapat iniisip 'yon dahil naro'n na si Gianna. Someone who seems more than willing to take care of him. I should not worry any more but... damn it! I am worried!
Maybe... it was because of the guilt. He took care of me and I feel obliged to take care of him too. Yeah, perhaps it was because of that. So it should be fine... right?
Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro ang paghakot ko sa mga lab manuals at iba pang gamit. Nilagay na lang sa bag at mabilis kinuha ang susi ng sasakyan para muling makabalik dito. Kaso, hindi ako agad pumasok sa gusali dahil hindi ko alam kung naro'n pa ba si Gianna.
While waiting, I tried to review some of my answers inside the car. I can't concentrate because I keep on looking back at the entrance of the building. I have grown weary and tired of it. I am already on the verge of giving up.
I was again starting to feel stupid because of what I'm doing. Someone is there to take care of him, Sien! Hindi ka na kailangan do'n! Baka nga hindi na umalis si Gianna do'n. You're just wasting your damn precious time!
I swallowed hard and looked at the time again and whispered to myself. "Last. Sampung minuto pa... kung wala pang Gianna na lalabas, aalis na ako."
I sighed heavily and bit my lip. Itinigil ko na ang pagbabasa sa mga manuals kasi parang wala rin namang kwenta 'yon. I gritted my teeth when it was already seven minutes but there was still no Gianna coming out of the building.
Umuwi na ba ito no'ng umalis ako? No, it can't be. Wala pang dalawampung minuto akong nawala bago bumalik. She's still there...
I started the engine. Sien, you are really so stupid. I was about to maneuver the car out of the compound when I saw Gianna coming out of the building. Napakurap ako at agad itinigil ang sasakyan. I watched her as a car stopped in front of her and she went in. Umalis kaagad ang sasakyan.
My mind was blank for a minute. Muli kong tiningnan ang mga gamit ko sabay baling sa gusali. Inuntog ko ng marahan ng ilang ulit ang ulo sa manibela bago nagdesisyon.
Malamig ang kamay ko habang nasa elevator. I brought my bag because of my things and then my medkit. Nang makarating ako sa 17th floor ay nanatili akong nakatayo sa hallway ng ilang minuto. I stood in front of Axev's door for another few minutes before having the courage to press the bell.
Tatlong beses ko 'yong pinindot. Hindi ako tumapat sa camera, nasa gilid ko at panay ang pindot sa bell. It took five minutes before the door opened.
Bumungad sa akin si Axev na pinagpapawisan at salubong ang kilay. He's still wearing his clothes and his eyes were a bit bloodshot. It's droopy too which means he's really sick. And he's still pale.
Napakurap siya nang makita ako at bahagyang umawang ang labi niya nang tumayo ako sa kaniyang harap. My heart was pounding heart and my hands felt cold. Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin at napakurap ulit na para bang hindi siya makapaniwalang nasa harap niya ako ngayon.
