Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

011

EUNICE

"How was London?"

I laughed at Kuya Luke's question. Grabe. Kakauwi ko lang, iyon na kaagad ang tanong niya? Can't he at least ask me how I'm doing first?

It's been, what, seven years? Seven full years since I left this country for London. And now... I'm back.

I still vividly remember my last moments here. Nakakalungkot lang na ang pinakamasakit na mga alaala ang huli ko rito sa Pilipinas. It was the day after I got into a car accident. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari noon, but I woke up on a hospital bed.

I heard the steady beating of the monitor beside me. Sinubukan kong gumalaw, but my whole body was aching. I sighed before looking around. I was surprised when I saw my four, girl friends sleeping inside the room with me.

Sina Hailey, Bella, at Sky ay naka-upo isang couch at puro tulog. Nasa gitna si Bella at sa magkabilang balikat niya nakasandal ang ulo ng dalawa. Then I looked to my left side and saw Indigo sitting on a monobloc chair habang naka-ubob sa kama ko. She was sleeping, too.

Napangiti ako. How sweet. They really decided to stay here with me?

"Hey," mahinang panggigising ko kay Indigo. I moved my hand, wincing in pain, as I slightly nudge her.

Pero dahil tulog mantika si Indigo ay hindi siya nagising, but someone else heard my voice. Bella slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Nang magtama ang paningin namin ay nanlaki ang mata niya sa gulat. Looks like she's a light sleeper dahil nagising kaagad siya sa tawag ko.

"Eunice, kumusta k—ay, teka," napatigil mula sa pagtayo si Bella nang mapansing nakasandal pa sa kaniya 'yung dalawa. I laughed quietly dahil mukhang mahihirapan pa siya.

She gestured "wait" to me using her palm, tapos dahan-dahan niyang inalis ang pagkakasandal ni Hailey sa kaniya at sinandal ito sa upuan. She did the same thing to Sky before she finally stood up and walked towards me.

"How are you? May masakit ba sa'yo?" she asked softy, caressing my arm.

"I'm okay. Medyo... masakit lang ang katawan." paos kong sagot, but I still smiled at her.

Before she could say anything, the door of the room slowly opened. Nakita kong pumasok mula roon 'yung apat. They all looked at me with surprise. Is it really that surprising to see me awake?

Nang lumapit sila ay puro pangangamusta ang narinig ko. I only kept nodding and saying I was okay. Nang matapos sila sa pagtatanong ay ako naman ang nanguwestiyon.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked curiously.

Nagkatinginan sila. They look at each other with hesitation, but a few moments later, muli nilang ibinaling ang paningin sa'kin.

"Mag-iisang linggo na. Anim na araw." Clyde asked, then he cleared his throath.

Nagparte ang mga labi ko. I've been asleep for... that long? Was it really that worse?

My lips formed a bitter smile. "He never visited, did he?"

Walang sumagot sa kanila. I took that as an answer and averted my gaze. Right. Why would he visit, anyway? He wouldn't care. He shouldn't care.

"Here," sabi ni Kuya Luke at inilapit ang kutsarang may sabaw sa bibig ko. I opened my mouth and ate it. "You should eat a lot. Ilang araw kang walang kain."