Chapter 8

"Eli, mag hunos dili ka nga! Yung anak mo, ipapaalala ko sayo na may tahi, kaya huwag mong magagalaw masyado iyan!"

Dad disn't listen to what tita said, at basta lang niya ako kinaladkad pababa ng hagdan. Napapasinghap ako sa kait, because I can feel my stitches opening. I tried to pull my arms off of him, pero masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin.

Dad knew about my relationship between Seb, at nalaman din niya na pinapunta ni tita si Seb dito sa bahay last time. Kauuwi lang ni dad kanina from Sri Lanka, at ito ang unang ginawa niya. What do I expect from him? He doesn't care about what will I feel.

"Break up with him. Now!" Ma autoridad na sabi ni dad sa akin at padabog niyang binitawan ang braso ko.

I saw my blood cascading from my arms down to the floor, pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. I looked at directly on his eyes, "Dad, what the hell? I'm not your robot. I'm not your freaking secretary! I will not do things, just because you asked me to do it! I have my own mind, and I can decide on my own.  I know what is right from what is wrong, so you don't have the right to decide for me!" I said habang dinuduro siya sa mukha niya.

I can feel my knees trembling, at ang pamamanhid ng braso ko because of my stiches. Hindi natinag si dad at basta niya lang ako sinampal sa mukha. I can feel the numbness of my face because of that.

"Eli! What have you done?!" anang ni tita at mabilis akong dinaluhan.

I saw how dad breathe a large amount of air, while he was looking at me, "What an ungrateful child! Kanino mo natututunan iyan?! Sa boyfriend mo?!"

I put some strands of my hair at the back of my ear before looking at him, "Huwag niyong idadamy dito si Sebastian," malamig kong sagot sa kanya.

Dad let out a sarcastic laugh, at tinalikuran ako, "Umalis ka sa pamamahay ko. I can't stand seeing you," nilingon niya at pinasadahan ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa, "nandidiriri ako sayo. Hindi kita pinalaki para sagot-sagutin mo lang ako. Kung alam ko lang na magiging ganito ka pag laki, pinalaglag na sana kita," with that ay umalis siya para umakyat sa ikalawang palapag.

As soon as I heard a door being closed, agad akong bumagsak sa sahig. Tita immediately kneeled in front of me, while she was holding my hand. At some point, I was amazed na hindi ako umiyak ngayon. Maybe immune na sa mga ganitong situwasyon.

"Do you want? I can lend you my condo sa Dapitan," tita said and I immediately shook my head.

"It's okay po. I can handle myself," I answered seriously.

Pinasadahan ako ng tingin ni tita bago siya tumayo, "We should go to the hospital, right now. Bumukas yung mga tahi sa braso mo."

I stood up and we both walked towards the front door. Hindi na namin tinawag pa ang driver, dahil si tita na ang nag drive amit ang sasakyan niya. As soon as we reached the hospital, agad akong nag lakad papasok ng ER.

"Misis, pinaalalahan po namin kayo na mag ingat para hindi po bumukas ang mga tahi ng anak niyo," I heard the doctor said kay tita habang nasa loob ako ng de-kurtinang kwarto, tinatahi muli ang mga sugat ko.

We're here at the Monteferrante Medical Hospital, at si doctor Monteferrante ang naabutan kong doctor dito. Hindi na ako nag taka kung pag labas ko nitong de-kurtinang kwarto, nakita ko si Seb na nakahilig sa pader, opposite to where I'm standing.

He was wearing his black denim pants, partnered with his black and orange Fila hoodie. He was also wearing his white Nike rubber shoes. Gulo-gulo pa nga ang buhok niya, kaya nakonsensya ako bigla. He looks like, he was about to go to sleep, pero naudlot. Well, anong oras na rin naman kasi, it's already 12 midnight!

As soon as he saw me, napaayos ang tayo niya and walked towards my direction. Pinagmasdan niya ang bagong tahi kong braso at balikat. Hindi nakatakas sa akin kung paano nandilim ang mata niya, habang pinagmamasdan iyon.

"Are you okay?" He asked while he was caressing the gauze pad on my shoulder.

I shrugged, "I'm always okay. Anong bago?"

His gaze went up from my gauze pad on my shoulder, to me, "Lie," he pointed out.

I sighed before walking towards the wall, before leaning on it. I looked down at my fingers, and played with it, "Ano bang gusto mong sabihin ko?"

I felt his presend in front of me, pero hindi ko inabalang tinignan siya. Suddenly, I felt his hands on my shoulder, kaya napatinigin ako sa kanya, "Gusto ko sabihin mo kung ano ang totoong nararamdaman mo. Tanggalin mo minsan ang maskara mo, at ipakita mo sa akin ang totoon ikaw."

I sighed and looked at the side, pero hinabol niya ang tingin ko. I sighed in defeat before looking down again, "Ayoko, you might change your mind and leave me, if I will tell you, or show you the real me."

He held my chin to bring it up gently, so I can look at him, "Hindi kita iiwan. Pangako."

I sighed and nodded my head, "You already saw the real me," panimul ko at umiwas ulit ng tingin, "well, a glimpse of it."

"Love, look at me," he said in a low and serious tone.

I bit my lower lip, before bringing back my gaze on him. He was now looking at me intently and seriously. Unconsciously my tears already began falling on my cheeks. Narealize ko lang, when Seb dried my tears away with his thumb.

"I'm tried. I'm really really tired, Seb. What did I do wrong? Saan ba? Tell me Seb? Tell me!' I demanded at unti-unti akong napapadausdos pababa.

Good thing my back was leaning on the well, kaya hindi ako nahirapan magpadausdos. I'm now seating on the floor, with my hands on my knees. I can feel my hands trembling. Lumuhod sa harapan ko si Seb, para hawakan ang dalawang kamay ko.

"Bakit? Bawal ba akong sumaya? I just want to be happy, that's it. Bakit niya ako hinahadlanagan? Siya ba ako? Alam ba niya ang nararamdaman ko? Why does he have to decide for me? Why does he want to do things? I don't want his opinion, because if i want his opinion, tinanong ko siya personally. I don't need his help. I can decide on my own," nanlulumo kong sabi habang nakatingin sa gilid.

Suddenly, Seb pulled me closer to him so he could hug me. He is trying to console me, while caressing me gently on my shoulders. I don't care if the people inside this emergency room are staring at us. Nauubusan ako ng pake sa kanilang lahat. Bahala sila.

"Anak?"

Nabalik ako sa realidad when I heard tita's voice. I stood up and looked at her direction, "Yes po?" My gaze went down on the luggage she was holding. Mapait akong napangiti habang tinitignan ko iyon.

"Aalis ka sa bahay niyo?" Narinig kong tanong ni Seb na nakatingin din pala sa mga luggage na dala ni tita.

I glanced at  him before smiling, "Dad doesn't want me on his house, s be it," I casually said before walking towards tita.

"I got you some snacks na pwede nating kainin?" Tita said and handed me the paper bag of Army Navy.

I smiled at her before getting the paper bag and also the luggage. Tita was looking at me for a long time, as if she want to say something to me.

"Tita, I'll be fine, kung iyon ang inaalala mo," I said and she immediately hugged me.

I felt him caressing my back, at lihim akong napangiti dahil doon, "Where are you going to stay?" Tita said and looked at me, while she was placing some strands of my hair at the back of my ear, "hatid kita, para panatag ang loob kong makakauwi kang ligtas, anak."

I was about to answer, nang mag salita si Seb, "Sa akin po siya titra, tita."

Sabay kami ni tita napalingon kay Seb. He walked towards our direction while his hands are placed inside his pockt. He stopped walking nang mag pantay ang pwesto namin.

"Chelsy, will be staying at your house?" Agad na tanong ni tita as soon as Seb stood in front of her.

Tumango si tita before looking at me, "Only if you will allow it. Syempre po kailangan ng permisyo niyo."

Tita looked at me as if she wants me to confirm if Seb was saying the truth. I glanced at Seb's before bringing back my gaze to tita, "O-opo, tama po siya."

Tita sighed before looking at Seb again, "You will be staying in one house with my daughter, so  assmue you will not harm her," seryosong sabi ni tita kay Seb na may halong pag babanta.

Seb nodded with a smile, before glancing at me,"Of course, tita. After all, it's my duty as her boyfriend to protect her at all cost. Saka, don't worry tita, hindi ko po hahayaan na masaktan ang anak niyo. Aalagaan ko po siya, gaya ng pag alaga niyo sa kanya."

Because of what Sebastian said in fornt of tita, hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. I felt a tingling sensation inside my tummy, and it's annoying at at he same time nakakakkiliti. Pasimple kong nilagay ang kamay ko sa dibdib ko to feel my irregular heartbeat.

"Alagaan mo ang anak ko, Sebastian," paalala ni tita as soon as we arrived at Seb's own house.

Yes, he has his own house, near UST, sa may Lacson siya. It's not that big and it has only two floors. The color of the house consist of three colors, white, black and brown. 

"Makakaasa po kayo sa akin, hindi ko ho pababayaan ang anak niyo," that's the last thing I heard before tita left.

When we entered inside the house, sumalubong sa amin ang puting pusa. I was about to run away, but the cat just stayed in front of me. As if he/she was curious about me. Seb put my things at the living room, before he sat down in the sofa. Agad siyang nilapitan ng pusa, at agad ni Seb ito kinuha at pinaupo sa hita niya.

"Takot ka ba sa pusa?" Seb asked when he noticed that I'm not going near them.

Agad akong umiling at nag lakad palapit sa kanila. Naupo ako sa pang-isahan na sofa, sa harapan ni Seb. My right hand went up to caress the head of the cat.

"Nakita ko lang si Kira sa tapat ng bahay ko isang araw. Umiiyak siya, at newborn palang. Mukhang iniwan siya ng nanay niya dito."

I looked at Seb who was looking at Kira, the cat. Binalik ko ang tingin ko sa pusa na ngayon ay dinidilaan ang kamay niya. Seb looked at me, "Baka makalmot ka ni Kira."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya bago tumayo, "Where's the washroom? Gusto ko maligo."

Sa sinabi kong iyon, agad kumunot ang noo ni Seb. Binaba niya ang alaga niyang pusa sa sahig, at agad iyon umalis para uminom ng tubig. Seb walked towards me, and unconsciously I stepped backward.

"Maliligo ka? Nag bibiro ka ba?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Seb sa akin.

I stepped bakward again, at tumama nag likuran ko sa mesa. Seb put his hand on my sides, trapping me.

"W-why? is it bad?" I innocently asked.

"Hmm."

I put my hands on his chest so I could push him away from me, "Layo ka nga!"

He suddenly laughed at my reaction at agad din naman lumayo sa akin, tumatawa pa. Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng mukha ko kaya pinagsisisipa ko siya sa binti niya.

"Maliligo ka? Katatahi nga lang ng mga sugat mo. Bukas ka na maligo," he said while he was still laughing.

I rolled my hands and put my arms across my chest, "Fine, then atleast pwede mag hilamos? I smell like shit."

Tumigil siya sa pagtawa and walked towards me. Halos pigilan ko ang sarili ko huminga nang ilagay niya ang ulo ko sa leeg, smelling me.

"Hindi naman," he said in a low baritone voice before his head looked up at me.

"Seb, mag dahan-dahan ka nga, ang sakit eh," reklamo ko.

We're now here inside his room, and he is now putting some ointmentssa stiches ko.

Seb hissed, "Huwag mo kasing galawin!"

Umirap ako, "Huwag mo kasing diinan!"

Bigla siyang nanahimik kaya pinatitigan ko siya. Tapos na siyang lagyan ng ointment ang stitches ko and he's just looking at my gauze pad. Suddenly. his hands went up to caress my gauze pad gently.

"Lyric, kahit kelan hindi kita sasaktan," he looked at me with so much emotion, "itaga mo iyan sa bato."