Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Crush

Tiningnan ko ang wine glass na hawak ko at ipinaikot doon ang champagne habang inaalala ang araw na 'yon. It was horrifying for a child like I was to see those kinds of bruises. No'ng bata ako, I've always thought that adults are always right because they knew better--that they'd always do the right thing. Kaya masakit para sa akin noon na makita ang mga pasa sa kamay ni Hiel. But now that I'm trying to recall everything, it feels like a distant memory. 

Tapos na 'yon at lumipas na.

Yet every time I recall that day, I still get mad and pained. 

"What the hell?" Ani Jourdaine habang nakatingin sa akin matapos kong tumigil nang sandali sa pagku-kuwento. 

She has this short pixie-cut hair. Makinang na makinang ang eye make up n'ya, highlighting her sultry eyes more. Pula naman ang lipstick n'ya, bagay na bagay sa simpleng itim na spaghetti-strapped dress na suot para sa gabing ito.

I am wearing a white bodycon dress and I kept my make-up simple and fresh. Kumpara sa gayak ni Jourdaine, I am the complete opposite. I look like a good girl with a beautiful devil friend.

I looked at the overlooking city and sipped on my drink again. Kumikinang ang mga ilaw mula sa iba't ibang mga establisyimento ng New York at damang-dama ko ang lamig ng hangin sa balat ko. We're in one of the hotels in the city. Nasa bar kami kanina pero na-realize namin na gusto naming magpalipas na muna ng oras kung saan tahimik.

"She should be jailed! What happened to her?" Ani Jourdaine sa malinis na American accent na nakuha n'ya na sa tagal n'ya sa US. "Ang bata n'yo pa no'n!" 

Ngumiti ako at tiningnan ulit ang inumin bago napabuntong-hininga habang inaalala pa ulit ang nangyari.

"I tried to treat his bruises for him," napangiti ako at bahagyang napatawa. 

After I saw his bruises, I took some leaves from a nearby bush. Hindi gaanong malalaki ang mga dahon ng halamang 'yon at berdeng-berde ang kulay. Pinagpatong-patong ko ang mga dahon bago bumalik sa kung saan naka-upo si Hiel at ipinalahad sa kan'ya ang mga kamay n'ya. 

I saw the little bruises on his hands and I covered them with leaves. Ibinalot ko sa berdeng mga dahon ang kamay n'ya at hanggang ngayon, naaalala ko pa ang amoy ng mga dahong 'yon. It smelled earthy and strong. The young Hiel watched me as I took care of his small hands.

"Ayan!" My younger self said after. "Magaling na."

Hiel watched his hands before he sat again and started digging the ground once more. Umupo ako no'n at tinulungan din s'ya sa paghuhukay.

I don't know why we were digging but I still continued. After that, we buried some leaves. Natigil lang kami sa paglalaro sa lupa nang marinig ko ang tawag sa'kin ni Mommy.

"Rinnah!" She called and I looked at Hiel who continued patting the ground to secure the leaves we buried. 

"Uuwi na kami," I told him and he nodded, not glancing up at me. 

So I stood up and looked at where my mom was. Naabutan kong kalalabas n'ya lang mula sa loob ng bahay nina Hiel. When she saw me, she worriedly went to me and told me that she was looking for me everywhere. Pagkatapos ay nakita n'ya na ang maduming saya ng palda ko. 

Tiningnan ko 'yon at maduming-madumi na ang dulo ng palda.

"Where did you go?" Tanong n'ya at pinagpagan ang saya ng dress na suot ko pero hindi pa rin natatanggal ang ilang mantsa ng dumi ro'n.