Sundered by Time (Manila Series #1)

Chapter 29

Waking up and looking for antihistamine in the morning is not new to me, but my body pain is. Still, I opt to go for a walk around my room while my parents are preparing my food. Papa gave me a glass of lime juice then commented on how weak my immune system is.

Kumain kami sa hapag matapos kong maghilamos at palit ng nightgown kahit kakatapos lang ng bukang liwayway. Hindi ako nag hohospital gown dahil hindi ako makagalaw ng maayos. Nag-uusap silang dalawa nang tignan ako ni Papa kaya napatigil ako sa pag kain.

"Pumunta na dito si Levi diba?"

Why is he not calling him 'Atty'?

After nodding, he gave me an assuring smile which I didn't mind. He told us that he'll just go somewhere for a while and the very same man will visit me again anytime from now. I really don't know what got into Levi and accepted this case. He could've rejected it for the sake of our past but whenever I see him, he appears to be a better one.. I can see a better version of himself.

Maybe it's because I am so proud of him.

Everything between us is consumed with formality. Hints of affection from him aren't visible and like I said, it's just him being professional then vice versa. Hours passed and that's just what's been running in my small mind, I function in that way.

Mama cleaned the room and when Levi entered, she immediately got out. Really, I don't know the purpose of giving us privacy when we'll do nothing but oppose the idea of another. I ask what I did to deserve the shit that happened, the same way I ask myself why it felt like I deserve this man for once, though I don't.

"How are you?"

Nagdadalawang isip siya nang tanungin iyon. Tumango lang ako bilang sagot, alam naman niya iyon. Tinignan ko ang dala niya at mabilis niyang tinago iyon bago inikot ang tingin sa buong kuwarto.

"Are you going to interrogate me?" diretsahan kong tanong.

Mabilis siyang umiling at umupo sa kung saan niya iyon madalas ginagawa. "Not now."

"Why not? Doon din naman ang punta, you're just wasting your time if you won't."

Facing me with a stern face, alam kong bibigay din siya. "This is not the right time, Ma'am."

"Then when?"

He heaved a deep sigh. "I want to make sure that you're in a healthy state.. physically and mentally before triggering the memory about that."

He's still considerate, he remained the same though I'm not sure what changed with his love. It surely does bother me and it should be something that's my least concern. After asking him to hand me the tissue because of my allergies, we continued to talk even though I am thinking of other issues between us. After all, worrying him doesn't give me anything, but worrying about him somehow does.

"I am, don't worry."

Maybe my last statement did trigger him to look pissed but he washed that emotion of. "Puwede ka namang humindi. Ayokong pilitin ka, it would be hard for you," he gently uttered.

"Akin na."

Wala na siyang nagawa nang hiningi ko ang files na dala niya. Tinignan pa niya ulit ang mga iyon bago ko kinuha ang mga larawan sa kamay niya. Isa isa ko itong tinignan at nabitawan nang napagtanto kung ano ang naalala ko tungkol sa nakita.

Ramdam ko ang paghawak niya sa aking kamay. "Huwag na-"

"Give it to me!" I shouted when he stopped me from seeing those and literally was about to put it back in the envelope.

"Lura.."

Kinuha ko iyon mula sa kaniya at muling tinignan. "I saw him."

Hitting my head with my wrist as it suddenly hurt because of my cold, sumakit na din ang ulo ko nang pilit kong inaalala kung ano ang ginagawa niya noong nagkita kami. Natigilan siya at taimtim na nakatitig sa akin, mukha na siyang galit.