Kabanata 8 - Jaquelyn / [X's POV]
1497 Words
"Jackie!" I heard my sister's soprano outside.
I rolled my eyes and tried my best not to look behind me to avoid that damn Jackie.
May ilang footsteps akong naririnig. I held the books higher so that Nana will see that I'm obedient. Nakarinig ko ng tawa sa likuran ko, that damn Jackie's laughing at me.
"Woah, Mr. Manyak is kneeling." aniya at pumunta pa sa harap ko.
Sa laylayan ng t-shirt niya, nakahawak roon ang kapatid ko.
Umirap ako.
Why is she going staying here for the next three months?
"Shut up, Jackie. I'm not on the mood." I quickly shut her loud mouth and focused on my punishment.
Matapos lang talaga 'to, makikita talaga ng babaeng 'to.
Pumasok si Nana na may malaking ngiti. I pouted and looked at the wall. Tumikhim siya at tumabi na rin kina Jackie. Naramdaman ko naman na para akong hayop sa zoo na tinitingnan nila.
"Seems like Teban added more books." ani Nana.
Nanahimik ako. Ayoko nang madagdagan ang parusa ko. I felt like my hands are going to detach from my arms. Once I talk, Nana would not mind adding more books. That's how cruel she is.
"Stand up." Nana ordered so I stood up while holding the books higher.
Sinenyasan niya akong ibaba ang mga iyon kaya ginawa ko. Feeling ko, saka lang ulit dumaloy ang dugo sa aking braso. Minasahe ko naman iyon.
"Show Jackie her room, hijo. Pinaayos ko na iyon, Jackie kaya makakapagpahinga ka na." ani Nana.
Suminghap ako. Oh, I'm screwed. Her room is next to mine. Nana's house has a lot of room pero mas pinili ni Nana na malapit ang kuwarto ni Jackie sa akin. In that way, baka raw magkasundo kaming dalawa.
Me and Jaquelyn? Oh, hell no! Padabog kong kinuha mula sa kamay niya ang maleta at hinigit iyon papaakyat ng hagdan. Panay reklamo naman siya noong mawala si Nana sa paligid. This pretentious brat! Kunwari mabait, pero sugo naman ng demonyo kapag walang tao.
"Dahan dahan naman sa gamit ko, manyak!" aniya.
"Stop calling me that! Nana might hear you." asik ko.
Tumawa naman siya. Saktong nasa tapat na kami ng kuwarto niya. Sinipa ko ang maleta niya kaya bumagsak iyon sa kahoy na sahig.
"Bakit? Truth hurts ba?" pang-aasar niya. "Now that I'll be staying here, I want to have a nice stay. Alam kong hindi ko 'yun makukuha sa'yo kaya now, I am begging you." sabi niya.
Tumaas ang kilay ko.
"You are begging me? What the hell? Ikaw nga ang dapat na hingian ko ng kooperasyon. Do not ruin me while staying here." masungit kong sinabi.
I don't know why we can't be nice to each other. Sa school, napilitan pa sina Mommy na makiusap sa teacher na huwag kaming paglapitin sa upuan dahil baka magkasaksakan raw kami ng ballpen. Even our classmates, psychopaths ang tingin sa aming dalawa ni Jackie kapag nagkakalapit.
But one night, kasabay ng kidlat at kulog na dala ng bagyo may malalakas na katok akong narinig sa pintuan ko. I got up, and opened it.
There I saw, Jackie in her pink pajamas. She's holding a pillow and she covered her ears with it. May takot ang mga mata niya.
"What now?" I said sleepy.
Wala akong saplot pang itaas. Malamig ang panhon at cancelled na ang klase kaya masarap matulog.
"I.." she shrieked when a thunder stroked and roared throughout the area.
May maliliit na butil ng luha sa kaniyang mga mata.
"Are you afraid of thunder?" tanong ko.
Hindi ko akalain na sa sobrang tapang niya, may kahinaan at kinatatakutan din pala siya.
Hindi siya sumagot. I opened my door widely and pulled her in. Hindi naman ako heartless. Maybe I'm manyak like what she said but I know how to be a gentleman.
She stood beside my bed. Looking at me, puzzled.
"Just lay down and tuck yourself. Huwag ka nang matakot. The thunder will disappear before you know it." saad ko.
I am standing at the door. She slowly tucked herself and looked at my direction again. Kunot naman ang noo ko. She's still afraid? At bakit ba ang tagal naman tumigil ng kulog na ito? Truth to be told, hindi ako kumportable na nasa isang kuwarto kami ni Jackie. We're both an adolescent. And we are both on the age kung saan mapusok. It's not that I would take advantage, pero hindi naman mapipigilan once a curious male hormones take over.
"What? Do you want to cuddle?" I don't know why I said that.
I looked away trying to divert my attention like nothing happened.
"Y-Yes, please." I heard her.
Mas lalo na ata akong nahiya sa naging sagot niya. I tried to clear my throat and came to her.
"C-Can I?" tanong ko.
Tumango siya at binuksan ang comforter ng sa ganun ay makahiga rin ako. Dahan dahan akong humiga nang kumulog na naman.
She jolted in fear and hugged me. Nakasubsob ang kaniyang mukha sa dibdib ko. Malakas naman ang kabog ng dibdib ko sa ginawa niya. I put my arms around her and pat her back while murmuring things to stop her fear.
I reached for my phone and my headset. I pushed her a little and looked at her. She's really scared. Ewan ko pero dapat ay matawa na ako but I found her too cute. I inserted my headset to her ears and play my favorite band's songs.
"It will help you calm down. Focus on the lyrics, Jackie." bulong ko.
She made my arms as her pillow. I tried to hum to cover the thunder. I felt her body became loose than before. The tension was slowly deflating from her body.
She's half asleep when I heard her whisper.
"I like you."
My heart beats became wilder than before. I was out of breath and hugged her more. I felt something in my chest. It made my body hotter.
I closed my eyes before putting a soft kiss on her lips. She tasted like caramel.
"It may be fast, but I think... I'm already in love with you, Jacquelyn." I whispered back.
The moment I opened my eyes. I saw white ceiling. I shrugged my arms and I found an IV inserted behind my palm. I smiled when I saw a familiar head ducked on the edge of the bed.
I was in that dream again. I was living that memories in my head again. I tried to remember Jackie's face, but I cannot. She's blurry. Everyone's face is blurry except their voices and our conversations.
I felt scared. I don't know but feeling that I am in love with someone, I cannot remember put so much fear in my head.
I don't wanna face it. I'm not ready to leave this life. I don't wanna remember that part, I am slowly building my life here. With these people, with her. I looked at that person and felt a hot feeling arising in my chest. Parang matagal akong nawala, at ngayon ay nakabalik na.
"Bebang." I called her.
My voice is hoarse. Tuyo iyon kaya masakit kapag nagsasalita. She's still asleep. She even tilted her head to my direction. Then, suddenly. In a split second, I think I saw someone's face at the gesture.
I held my head because the pain is growing. It's spreading like a wildfire. I groaned which made her awake. Nalilito man ay agad siyang nagsisigaw para sa tulong.
"X!" Sigaw niya.
Hindi alam kung ano ang uunahin. Kung ang ulo ko ba o ang pagtawag niya sa nurse. Mukha namang nataranta rin ang nasa kabilang kama kaya siya na mismo ang tumawag sa nurse.
Mahigpit ang hawak ni Bebang sa aking kamay. I'm crying because of the pain. Binuksan ko ang mga mata at pilit na tiningnan ang mukha ni Bebang.
The face is still there. I don't know. I feel something is hurting inside my chest while looking at that specific person's face! Natatakot na nasasaktan ang unang reaksyon ko.
She tried to get a hold of me pero dahil sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan ay kumuha ako ng lakas para itulak siya.
"f**k you! Get out of my sight. I don't wanna see you! I don't need you! f**k you!" I shouted and pushed her again enough to make her stumble.
I don't wanna see that face! Whoever she is, I don't wanna see her or feel her near me.
Lumagapak siya sa sahig. Shocked din ako sa ginawa ko. Now, I can see Bebang's face. Bakas ang takot ang tanong sa mukha niya.
I looked at her, wide eyed. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko 'yon nagawa.
"I-I'm s—"
I was cut off by a group of nurse. May tinurok ang isa sa akin para pakalmahin ako. I was put again in a deep sleep.
Who is that person I keep dreaming of? Who are you Jacquelyn. Why do you keep on making me feel guilty for liking Bebang?
- Writer
