The Medicament Remedy

Chapter 5

"Bakit?" Tanong ng kalalapit lamang na si Maru.

"Kapareho kayo ng damit ni Heidi," Sabi ni Bless. Maru looked at me and my shirt or should I say his shirt. I was silent on the side because they might figure out that we live under the same roof. Maru was silent and looked at his shirt.

"Oo nga ano, ikaw ahh, idol mo pala ako," Sabi niya sa akin na ikinatawa nang lahat ako naman ay sinubukan nalang rin makitawa pero 'di ko talaga kayang makipagsabayan gawa ng kaba.

"Potangena si Idol pala 'to ehh," Panggagatong na naman ni Lilo na mas ikinatawa ng lahat.

"De, gagi couple shirt talaga 'to. 'Di lang nagtugma kasi akala ko tuesday next week pa susuotin," Dagdag na naman ni Maru dahilan para muling magtawanan, samantalang ako, kabang-kaba na sa gilid.

"Tuesday couple pa nga," Sabi ni Cassiel.

"Linawin niyo kasi para magtugma," Sagot ni Marion at tumawa.

Natapos ang klase ng 'di ako naimik dahil sa kaba ng dibdib ko na baka manghinala sila sa amin ni Maru. Pero si Maru 'di ko alam kung magaling lang ba siyang magtago ng nararamdaman o wala lang talaga siyang pake malaman man nila na nakatira kami sa iisang bubong, dahil buong oras ng klase napakaligalig pa rin niya.

Either way, he's a man so practically it would be normal for them to reside anywhere without being judged, unlike us women who had to take the bullet from the society questioning our purity and dignity as we live under one roof with a man without the bind of marriage.

I'm on my way home, but for some reason Maru is walking with me. Di ba siya aalis gaya nung mga nakaraang araw tapos babalik nalang kinaumagahan?

"Daan muna tayo palengke," Sabi niya, 'di pa ako nasagot pero nagawa niya na akong mahila patungo roon. The smell is unpleasing to my nose that's why I had to cover it not minding the judging eyes around me.

Maru looked at me and laugh at my disposition. I just glared at him using my eyes. In the end he just let me wait at the near convenience store while he's the one roaming around the wet market. While waiting at the convenience store I bought a strawberry milk and cookie. Later I'll have instant food again for dinner.

"Tapos ka na, Madam Baby?" Natatawang tanong ng kababalik lang na si Maru at sa kamay niya ay may mga plastic na naglalaman ng mga kung ano mang binili niya sa palengke.

As soon as we got into our apartment inayos ko na ang mga damit kong pinalaundry na saktong kadarating lang rin. I had it delivered kaya naman 'di na kami napagod magbitbit nito.

I was fixing my clothes while Maru is cooking at the kitchen. Nang matapos kong ayusin ang mga damit ko ay muli akong lumabas sa kwarto dala ang ilang mga libro na aaralin ko. But for some reason I end up watching Maru moved in the kitchen.

"Di ka ba aalis?" Tanong ko.

"Aalis,"