PRETTY LITTLE DEVIL (He's Her Comfort Zone)

Chapter 21

Nakatingala si Blyther habang pinapanuod ang pagtake off ng helicopter na kinasasakyan ni Zandreaj. Mabigat ang mga hakbang na tumungo sya sa kotse ng ama na naghihintay sa carpark ng ospital.

"The doctor said we just brought her in time. I have almost lost her." Padaing na wika Blyther pagupo sa tabi ng ama.

"Lucky you both that you found her before it's too late. Why does she need to be transferred?"

"She has to undergo more tests to avoid possible complications. She has to wake up tonight or else she might be in coma due to the procedure that the doctors had done to save her."

"She will make it. Trust me with that."
Malalim na buntunghininga ang hinugot ni Blyther sa dibdib.

"I know. I just don't know how my days would be without her here."

"The hardest thing to do is to wait, but for sure it is all worth the pain."

"Yeah. I know she'll come back. Because she's mine. Can you drop me to my office dad?"

"Are you not going home? You haven't eaten yet."

"My CBR is in the parking area. I want to stay in my office tonight. Please tell Xinni to bring me my PE uniform tomorrow."

"Okay, but you have to eat first."

Nagmaniobra sa 7/11 si Brandon at nagpark. Pumasok sa loob. Paglabas nya ay may dalang pack of microwavable meal, cup noodles at mineral water.

"Thank you so much dad. Baka hindi umabot si Zandreaj sa ospital kung hindi ka dumating agad."

"I had too, I cannot afford to lose you again once you lost her. I heard you called your mom kanina."

"It felt just the same. It's like a deja vuj.  It's exactly how I was feeling when mom was catching her breath lying on my lap. I was really thinking Zandreaj will also take her last breath on me. It was devastating. I could almost lost my sanity." Humugot ng malalim na buntunghininga si Blyther.

After so many years, ngayon lang nagawang magsalita ng binata tungkol sa experience nito sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ina.

"I'm so sorry son, It must have been me who was there with your mom that time. You suffered a lot."

"It's ok dad. I have gone through it already."

Brandon pulled off his car at the gate of DonHigh. Bumaba si Blyther. Sinalubong sya ng security guard at pinagbuksan ng gate. As SSGC president Blyther can come to school anytime of the day even in the middle of the night.

Naglakad ang binata papunta ng kanyang office. Pagpasok nya ay nalanghap nya ang amoy ng buhok ni Zandreaj. He switched on the light at bumungad sa kanya ang itsura ng naiwang opisina. Nasa baba ng mesa nya ang sapatos ni Zandreaj. Nasa gilid naman ng lounging chair ang bag nito. Nakakalat sa carpet ang apat na bote ng beer.

Pabagsak na umupo sa carpet si Blyther at isa-isang pinulot ang mga bote. Hindi sya umiinom ng beer pero nagstock sya ng anim na bote nito sa kanyang ref incase maisip tumambay ng daddy nya dito. mahilig itong magsip ng beer ng paunti-unti ocassionally.

Nahagip ng tingin nya ang bag ni Zandreaj at inabot ito. Hindi ito kabigatan. binuklat nya ang bulsa at nakita ang cellphone ng dalaga. Nakalock ito. He pressed the power on at lumabas ang lock profile nito. It's her and her dad with their wacky faces. He put the phone back. He then look at the inside of the bag. Her wallet. Maraming bills. ATM cards  and ID's ng babae. Notebooks. Inilabas nya isa-isa at binuklat. Maganda ang sulat kamay ni Zandreaj. Malinis.

Pagdukot nya ulit sa bag ay hindi na notebook ang nakuha nya. Isang 12inches na bunny stuff toy. Luma na ito. May burdang hugis puso sa kaliwang dibdib nito na may naksulat na press me. Prinessed ni Blyther at may boses syang narinig. Recorded voice ng daddy ni Zandreaj saying i love you to her then she answered in her little voice iloveyoutoodaddy. Sobrang luma na ang laruan kaya malamang toddler pa si Zandreaj nito. Alaga ni Zandreaj sa pagpapalit ng battery kaya maayos pa din ang function.

Wala nang ibang laman pa ang bag kundi charger, earphone at refreshing face powder at ang nagleak na hair refreshing leave-on conditioner na lagi nyang naaamoy sa buhok ng babae. Sininghot ito ni Blyther. At tumulo na naman ang luha ng lalaki.

He should have known better. All this time it wasn't just about Januz that is breaking Zandreaj. Kaya pala nung hinabol nya ito sa parking ay she looked devastated and miserable. Hindi naman pala simple ang pinahuhugutan ng babae.

Whenever she receives bad news about Januz and his girl ay nagnanaknak ang sugat sa puso nya because of her dad. Nadodoble pa ng sakit na dulot ni Januz. Kahapon when she said "you don't know him" she wasn't referring to Januz, she means her dad. It kills her na kahit lumayo sya ay hindi nya matakasan ang pain na gusto nyang takasan, hinahabol sya nito dahil kay Januz. And then sya na takbuhan ni Zandreaj even turned his back to her.

Now that he understands every thing, Blyther felt the pain Zandreaj have had felt kanina hearing the words he told her. Sising-sisi sya na he chose to leave her though what he really wanted was to stay and keep her inside his arms. Hindi nya masisi ang babae when she look for something to ease her aching heart and forget the pain by getting drunk. Hindi nya makatwiranan ang ginawa nyang pagiwan dito kahapon. Minadali nya ang dalaga na marealize ang mga bagay-bagay which is impossible dahil mas malalim pa pala sa iniisip nya ang pinagdadaanan nito. Na sa bawat binibitiwan nyang salita patungkol kay Januz ay ang ama ang iniisip nito kaya malalim ang bawat sugat na lumalatay sa dalaga. If only he stayed.

"Mine....I'm so sorry. Daing ni Blyther. Habang iniikot ang paningin nya sa kabuuan ng maliit nyang opisina. Sa may pinto kung saan hinalikan sya ni Zandreaj. He wasn't expecting na for the second time ay hahalikan ulit sya ng babae though he was really hoping she would. At dito sa lounging chair na sinasandalan nya, kanina lang but this time it was him who kissed her.

"Mine...I missed you." Nasabunutan ni Blyther ang sarili sa frustration na nararamdaman.