26. ONLY 2

ICE

I gently opened my eyes and saw Hope sleeping beside me. I felt numbness in my upper left arm due to lack of movement because she was making it her pillow.

I close-open my left hand for blood circulation. Ayokong maistorbo ang tulog ni Hope. Okay lang mamanhid ang braso ko basta makatulog siya ng maayos.

Hinila ko siya palapit pa sa akin at kusa namang yumakap ang kaliwang braso niya sa dibdib ko at isiniksik niya pa ang mukha sa leeg ko. That gave my left arm muscle a time to relax. Gamit ko ang kaliwa kong braso na niyakap ko siya. Napangiwi pa ako dahil sa pamamanhid niyon.

I hugged Hope until I fell asleep again. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal na nakatulog when I was awaken by her sobs. She was crying and mumbling some words. I raised my head to check if she was pranking me but she didn’t. Umiiyak siyang tulog. Umiiyak siya at may kausap na kaaway sa panaginip niya

“Ho—Mayumi…” I called her name gently.

No reaction from her. Still sobbing and talking words I need