Every Tick of Serendipity ( Ruler of Fate Series #3 )

KABANATA 30

Kabanata 30

The thirtieth tick

A small thud and grunts slowly reached my ears. Base sa lakas, ay parang pinipilit niyang hinaan 'yon. Unti-unting nagising ang diwa ko, at hindi na muling nakabalik pa sa pagtulog. I opened my eyes, only to be greeted by the ceiling, once again.

My forehead creased when it became unfamiliar. Nang tignan ko ang kinahihigaan ko, ay nakita ko ang kama. I'm sure I already woke up and stood up from this, so why am I here?

Si Kairos ang una kong nakita pagkabangon ko. He was sitting and bowing his head, with two of his elbows on his knees and both of his hands grasping his hair. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya ro'n, na para bang may masakit sa ulo niya.

My lips parted when he ruffled his hair and pulled it even more. Hinahampas niya rin 'yon nang paulit-ulit: gulong-gulo at pinaparusahan ang sarili. He was saying something, but it was not loud enough for me to hear from here.

I gulped, "Kairos..." mahinang tawag ko sakanya.

Hindi niya magawang lumingon, pero alam kong narinig niya ako. He was stunned and didn't pull his hair anymore; it's as if he's waiting for me to say something else aside from that.

Umalis ako sa kama at naglakad papalapit sakanya. I sat beside him, but he didn't dare even look at me. Nang akma kong hahawakan ang likod niya, ay kaagad siyang tumayo at lumayo mula sa'kin. My lips parted because of that.

He went to his kitchen and grabbed himself a glass of water from the pitcher he had taken inside his refrigerator. Ang tunog ng sinasalin niyang malamig na tubig lang ang tanging ingay sa apartment niya, at walang anuman. I'm still in shock, while he's purposely avoiding me. Ramdam ko 'yon at alam ko ang ginagawa niya base sa kaniyang kilos.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" My head tilted as I stood up.

I was about to go to him, but his head looked sideways. And it was enough for me to halt in my position, with both of my feet rooted in the ground. Ang tingin niya ay wala sa'kin, at hindi niya rin ako sinisilip mula sa gilid ng mga mata niya, pero pakiramdam ko, ay nasa akin lahat ng atensyon niya. Na para bang binabantayan niya ang bawat galaw ko at ayaw ni isang parte ng balat ko ang lumapit at madikit sakanya.

His head turned forward again. Bumalik siya sa pag-inom ng baso, hanggang sa maubos 'yon. Wala ni isa saamin ang nag-ingay o nagsalita. I'm even holding my own breath because of how serious and suffocating his presence is; nakakatakot at nakakakilabot, pero hindi sapat na dahilan para lumayo ako nang tuluyan mula sakanya. Hindi ko naramdaman ang mga 'yon, kahit alam kong normal na sakanya ang maging gano'n.

I'm observing him. And from what I can see, his every action and aura aren't the same as the persona I am with, or the vibes I was with earlier, when I'm taking care of him — ibang-iba, at mas lalong naging malalim.

"Zach..." Kasabay nang pagtawag ko sakanya ang pagharap niya sa'kin.

His lips parted a bit, with the heaviness written in his eyes. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa baso, habang tinitignan ako nang puno ng pagpipigil. Bumaba saglit ang mga mata niya sa suot kong damit, pabalik ulit sa'kin.

A small smile formed on my lips, "Zach." muli kong tawag sakanya. Hindi kagaya kanina na patanong at pabulong; ngayon ay binanggit ko 'yon nang puro kasiguraduhan.

His lips formed a straight line. "Bakit ka nandito? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Sunong-sunod ang naging tanong niya; iniiwasang ipakita ang naguguluhan niyang tono.

I gulped. "You were sick, remember?" My lips quivered. "Are you okay na ba? Hmm? Wala nang masakit sa'yo? Should I get you a medicine?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.