Lasta Sanco (A Collaborative Novel)

Chapter Thirteen

Company retreat

Ariadne

"Are you sure you don't wanna' go to the hospital?" Tila nag-aalalang tanong ni Hector pagkaupo niya sa tabi ko. Nakangiti naman akong umiling at saka ko sinubo ang gamot for pain reliever at ininom ito.

Nakaupo kami dito sa likod ng trunk ng malaking kotse ni Hector. I never knew he has a car, that's nice, I hope I'll have one too someday. "No need, I'm fine, I'm used to it."

"Seriously, Ariadne..."

"Don't worry, oh, thank you for buying this for me." Tukoy ko sa dalawang paper bag sa tabi ko. Naglalaman ng karagdagang gamot at pagkain. "Of course, anything for you." Ngumiti siya bagay na lalo ko naman ikinangiti at tumango sa kaniya, saka ko tinitigan ang hawak kong water bottle.

"So..." Panimula ko naman ulit, dahil nagkakaroon na ng nakakabinging katahimikan sa pagitan namin.

"How did you know?" I asked while smiling at him. "What?"

"You asked me earlier kung bakit ko pa ginawa 'yon.. you saw me right?"

Umusbong ang saglit na katahimikan sa'min. Nakatitig talaga siya sa'kin and I'll admit, his stare is making me anxious, it's making my heart beat a bit fast, as if my love for him is getting stronger as my heart calls his name.

Tila natawa naman din siya sa sarili niya after. "Julia told me, she's panicking after ka naming dalhin sa nurse office, she's blaming herself saying na kasalanan niya dahil hinawakan ka niya, no one believes her of course even me, I thought she just too tired and she's panicking at the moment." Taas-balikat pa niyang ani, nakangiti lamang ako nakatitig sa kaniya.

I'm actually admiring his looks and his presence while listening to him. Hope he won't notice it.

"But seeing those mysterious lights you summoned while healing that dog, I believed it now. Kung walang pinagsasabi si Julia sa'kin out of panic, I won't understand that."

"Hmm..."

"She's saying it's your curse, I understand now, I just saw how much you were suffering in pain after healing the dog."

I'm actually amazed of how calm he is despite knowing my unbelievable kind of story.

"You made me worry." lalo akong napatitig sa kaniya, bakas pa ang lungkot sa boses niya at bahagya pang napayuko.

"I'm sorry about that, I just can't leave the dog alone."

"Not just that."

"Huh?"

"Nahimatay ka kanina, I thought I'd lose y-- I mean I thought we'd lose you.. Please be careful next time."

He's seems to be really worried about me, I appreciate that, it's actually making me happy.

"Thank you, Hector, for helping out there, I appreciate it. Sorry for making you all worry."

Natawa naman siya sa'kin at agad hinaplos at ginulo-gulo ang buhok ko na medyo ikinabigla ko. My heart pounded.

"Of course! We're friends! I'll always be here for you! Always."

"Haha! Thank you."

"Ahm.. Now that I know, I just realize how totally amazing you are.. really.. c-can you tell me more about it? And.. more about you?"

Oh..

He seems really curious?

Napangiti naman ako at mahinang natawa saka tumango-tango sa kaniya. He's still staring at me, it's making me anxious, hindi niya kasi inaalis ang tingin niya sa'kin, he must be really curious.