A Happily Ever After

Chapter Fifteen

JESSA

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Bago pa tuluyang nagdilim ang kalangitan ay nakahanap na kami ng lugar na pwede naming tulugan.

It is a place not too low but not very high. Inakyat lang namin ang ilang mga malalaking bato para makapunta roon. We are almost at the same level as the trees, so the night sky is spreading above us.

May naramdaman ako kung anong hapdi sa wrist ko. Pagtingin ko ay may mahabang hiwa pala ako doon. A cut deep enough to slash my sleeves. Buti nalang ay hindi ito malalim masyado para matamaan ang mga ugat ko, pero nanlamig naman ang ulo ko sa biglang panic.

Buti nalang ay agad na kumilos si Stefan. Kumuha siya ng kung anong gamit mula kay Castillo, narinig ko pa ang maikling bangayan nila, at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Kalmahan mo lang." Nagsilaglagan ang mga hawak niya pagkaupo niya. "I'm fine."

"Let me." He offers his hand to me, and I can't help but to see the resemblance to our dance back in the castle. I realize how far we have come in this world.

A soft, gushy life feeling melts in my guts. I smile at him and give him my blood soaked wrist.

Una niya munang binuhusan ang maliit na tuwalya ng tubig at dahan dahan na nilinisan ang sugat ko. I wince in pain at every dab he does.

"Saan mo ba ito nakuha?" He asks.

"Hindi ko na rin alam," sagot ko. "Everything's happening so quickly when we're on the scene. Para 'bang nakakain ng takot 'yung senses ko." Pinanood ko ang dahan dahan na pagpahid ni Stefan ng gamot sa sugat ko. And, I just want to melt into a pink puddle right in the spot. "Kaya siguro ganon nalang halos mabaliw si Castillo kanina. Imagine feeling everything in detail?"

"Mhmm," he agrees. His eyes are pinning on my wrist, his hand on my skin burns in careful fondness. "I'm glad you're okay."

Para 'bang sabay sabay na sumigaw ang mga boses ng iba't ibang personalities ko sa utak. Wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ngumiti. "Me too. I'm glad na wala masyadong napuruhan sa atin."

Comfortable silence falls between us. Numerous clattering can be heard from where the rest of the group are setting down their own belongings. I swear I just heard a few small giggling from the girls, but I do not have the energy to know.

Kumuha na ng para 'bang mahabang band aid at dahan dahan na itong tinakpan ang sugat. But instead of focusing on Stefan's work, my eyes got distracted and found its way towards his face.

Ang gwapo gwapo talaga nito.

Kahit na medyo may bahid ng dumi ang mukha niya, kahit na may maliliit na gasgas sa pisngi niya, he is still the most handsome guy in my eyes.

I slowly lift a hand and use my finger to carefully push his face towards me and meet my gaze. "May sugat ka rin." Sakto naman na tapos na niya sa wrist ko kaya ako naman ang inabot ang mga gamit na dala niya. "Pulang pula 'yang gasgas oh. Ang hapdi nyan."

"It's fine." Sabi niya pero kumikilos na ako para linisin ito. There's still thin lines of pain coming from my cut, but it's bearable. Marahan akong lumapit sa kanya at nilinis ang gasgas.

"Let me clean it para hindi na rin lumala pa." I carefully dab the cloth to the wound. Stefan heaves a heavy, yet relaxed sigh.

There's a shiny liquid thing that he had put in my wound, so I assumed na gamot ito. So nilagay ko ito sa towel kong hawak at marahang pinahid sa gasgas.

"I like this.."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I put down my cloth to look at him. "Ha? Like what? Being half way injured?"