MAGIC SHOP

Chapter V

Chapter V

“Lei!” he heard a familiar voice calling his name while he's jogging his way to his friends at the Valdez's. He immediately halted his run and turned around to see Aire sprinting towards him. She was gasping for air when she stopped. “Please,” she said almost losing air, “Help my grandfather, he passed out—” she didn't get to finish her words because she fell onto her knees, still breathing heavily so she just pointed to the house at the end of the road. It was Mr. Fajardo’s.

Lei tapped her shoulder, “Wait here.” He ran back to the isolated house near the grassy field. It felt heavy as he stepped on the porch. There still were the two cups of coffee that have gone cold and inside is Mr. Fajardo lying down the floor, near him is a slice of pie with an army of ants gathered around it.

As he lift the old man, Aire came in and helped. “I told you to wait outside,” Lei said.

“I'm sorry.” Aire replied. “I couldn't just watch you carry him alone.”

Maybe it was luck that a taxi was passing by, kaya kaagad silang nakasakay. Hindi na nakatawag si Lei sa mga kaibigan niya dahil maging siya ay nagpapanic. He really didn't know the man. Mr. Fajardo wasn't close to anyone. He was always grumpy, always so irascible like everything in town angered him. He was, however, generous. He loved opening his small farm for everyone to get something when it's time for harvest.

He looked at Aire, she was playing with her fingers and shaking her leg. She would also bite her nails or tuck her already tucked hair behind her ears from time to time. Her tears also wouldn't stop no matter how much she tried to wipe it away with the cuff on her worn out oversized hoodie.

He couldn't say anything, he didn't know what to tell her. For the entire trip, aside from Lei telling the driver where to take them, they were all silent.

When they arrived at the hospital, the personnel immediately came to their aid. They placed Mr. Fajardo on a stretcher while one of the nurses asked them. “Ano pong pangalan ng pasyente at ilang taon na po siya?”

“He's Romualdo Fajardo, he's 67.” Aire answered. “What happened to him?” Shiela, the nurse asked again. Her name is largely printed on the silver plated name tag pinned on her left. “He passed out, it was around 5.” Aire wiped her eyes as she answered.

“Does he have any medical conditions?” Shiela asked again.

“No, not that I know of.” The nurse nodded and smiled before leaving them in the waiting area. Silence engulfed them for what feels like forever to Lei. It was the only thing he heard like there were no other people sitting around them. “You should call your mom.” He put his arm on her, gently caressing her back when she started crying again. “I don't have my phone with me.” Her sobs are getting louder but she immediately wiped her tears and got up. “Do you want coffee? There's a coffee shop near here, I can buy you one too.” She offered.

Lei stood up, “I'll come with you.” He dragged her out of the hospital and she just let him do it. The coffee was just an excuse to leave for a few minutes because she could not bear not knowing what was going on with her grandfather.

“Your lolo is going to be fine, Aire.” She snapped back to her senses when Lei spoke. She looked at him, only to see his back and broad shoulders then switched her gaze to his hands holding her wrist. “You know, you somehow remind me of my brother.” Aire blurted out what was supposed to stay on her mind. Liningon siya ni Lei at ngumiti. “Sino si kuya Hanzo?” tanong niya na ikinatakha ni Aire. “You know him?” Lei nodded as a response. “You call him Josh though for whatever reason.” Lalong nagtaka si Aire sa tinuran ni Lei. “Iniistalk mo ba ako?” birong tanong niya dito na tinawanan ng binata. “No, nabanggit kasi ni Ethan na nanay mo si Doc Aixza. We just happened to meet her son once or twice and when your mom introduced him to us, she mentioned that.” Lei explained but Aire just got a lot more confused. “You know my mom too? And you're close?” she asked.

“Yes, we met your mom just last year. Siya ang attending doctor ng ate ni Ethan.” Paliwanag niya. “Yeah but I thought bawal ang bisita kay ate Elezandra?”

“Used to be, pwede na kami ngayon.” Sagot niya at hinila si Aire sa coffee shop. There wasn't a line so they immediately went to the counter to order. “Ano po sa kanila?” tanong ng bantay. “Caramel Macchiato with extra shot of espresso please.” Sabay nilang sagot na ikinangiti ng barista.

“Should we call Lei? It's already past 8 and he's still not here.” Yves fished his phone from his pocket. Harrix just woke up from his nap, Ethan and Rashed are playing 8 balls, Grey's outside arguing with his dad on the phone and Jedric painting in the corner. “Quit worrying about him, he's probably running a hundred miles.” Pabirong sagot ni Jedric at inayos ang gamit niya.

“You're done? Sino naman yang subject mo, si June Lee?” Pang-aasar ni Harrix na hindi pinansin ni Jedric at umupo sa tabi ni Yves.

Nabaling ang atensyon nila kay Grey na kakapasok lang at mukhang masama na naman ang timpla ng mukha niya. “What happened?” Harrix asked. “Nothing, don't worry about it. Have you called Lei?” he asked back. “Just about to.” Yves dialed Lei's number and after a few seconds of ringing, he picked up. “What?” he asked.

“Lei? Lei! Lei nasaan ka na?” Ethan answered.

“Are you dead?” Rashed cut in.

“Sure, I'm answering through heaven's communication system.” Sarkastikong sagot ni Lei.

“Nasaan ka na nga?” it was Harrix.

“Asotheiea, why? You kids miss me already?”

“Mandiri ka nga sa sinasabi mo, Lei.” It was Jedric.

“Ginagawa mo diyan?” Yves asked, genuinely worried.

“I'm with Aire, I—” Lei was cut off when Yves hung up the call and all of them stood up, ready to go. “Sa dami ng pupuntahan nila para mag-date, sa hospital pa talaga.” Komento ni Jedric habang nagmamaneho papunta sa hospital.

“I told you they're good at that. Teasing, I mean.” Lei told Aire. Natawa ang dalaga at napailing. “But you know even if they act like that, like never taking anything seriously most of the time, they actually care a lot and would drop everything once someone they love is going through something.” Lei said that with a sense of pride, like a father telling how good his child is. “I guess that's just the kind of person you guys are.” Aire looked at him and smiled, “Thank you, Lei. For helping me today.”

“Anytime.” Lei smiled. For some reason, helping Aire today feels good for Lei, like there's some kind of responsibility he has fulfilled by helping her. “Do you want me to stay?” Lei asked, making sure Aire is fine on her own if he leaves. “Uhm is it okay if you stay? Just until my mom's shift is over.” She said, feeling slightly shy. “Of course, I can stay as long as you want. I've got nothing to do anyway.” He smiled to assure her he's fine staying the night with them at the hospital if she needs him to.

Their attention diverted to the door when someone opened it and they were greeted with Aixza with Lei's friends. “Hey, I found your friends lost inside the building, I think they're looking for you.” The doctor smiled and let the guys in. “Thank you doc!”

“Hey, Aire. How are you?” tanong kaagad ni Ethan sa dating kaibigan. “Your mom told us about Mr. Fajardo.” Aire smiled at them, “I'm fine now, thanks for asking.” It was awkward for Aire to have Lei's circle with her but she wasn't threatened by their presence. Perhaps when people reveal themselves through their actions towards other people, it gets easier to know who to trust.

It was past 9 when Annie came home. Trisha's brother, Matt, dropped her off. As soon as she was inside, she heard her father from the kitchen laughing. Nakaramdam siya ng inis. She wanted to throw her stuff but instead composed herself and went to see what her family was so happy about. Napalitan ng kirot ang inis niya nang marinig niya ang pamilyar na boses ng isang bata at mas lumala pa ang nararamdaman niya nang tawagin niyang daddy ang kanyang ama.

“Ate Isabel!” Jamaica, the kid, greeted her with a sweet smile as soon as she set foot in the kitchen. Everything in her calm down, she couldn't stay mad. Hearing someone call her 'ate' again feels like she didn't lose her sister. She also has a soft spot for kids like Jamaica, her cousin, who just lost her parents. Lumapit siya sa bata at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. “Hey there, champ.” Ilang segundo ang itinigal ng yakap nila nang magsalita ang kanyang ama. “Isabel, I need to talk to you.” With full authority in his voice, he said.

Isabel didn't even look at him nor her mom. She held Jamaica's tiny hands and smiled, “You go to your room muna okay? Papa needs to talk to ate.” She gently caressed the kid's hair before her nanny took her to her room.

“You didn't tell me you're adopting Jamaica.” Annie crossed her arms.

“Your say in that matter have no weight, so there's no point telling you.” Arthur, her father, didn't even lie nor tried to sugarcoat his words.

“Fair. None of us mattered to you anyway.” Annie grabbed her stuff and stood up.

“You're a fine one to talk when it's you who doesn't even care about this family ever since Yza died.”

Natigilan si Annie sa sinabi ng kanyang ama. “Yzally is not dead.” She said almost whispering. Ramdam niya ang luhang namumuo sa mga mata niya. “You couldn't bear the guilt of being the reason why she's dead so you made yourself believe she's still alive and take your anger out on us for not finding her.” Every word her father said weighed so heavy on her.

“Arthur!” her mother, Felice slammed the table. “That is way too much.”

Annie ran to her room as fast as she could, while her father stood there realizing how awful he was for saying that to his daughter.

Annie buried her face in the pillow so no one would hear her screams. Her body felt numb, like every strength of her fiber is transmitted to her heart. A slap from her dad would've been easier to deal with but what he said just now are daggers that keep on piercing through her heart over and over again. Everyday feels like the day she lost Yzally—heavy and dying while breathing.