Love On Canvas

Canvas 8 - Vibrant Colors

He cupped my face and he looked at me in the eye. "Leah!" I heard him say my name. I can hear him again.

"Leah! Tell me what's wrong!"

"Leah!" My head was aching and it's preventing me to speak. I tried to open my mouth but nothing came out.

"Leah, speak, please." I held onto him. "Leah." I tried to speak but I cannot utter a single word. All I can do is to groan. "Shh...Just...Just relax. Take deep breaths. Take deep breaths." I followed what he said but I felt like air was running out. "No...no...Leah...slowly...slowly." I nodded. My eyes felt so heavy. "Leah look at me." I managed to open my eyes and looked at him. "Just look at me, okay? Follow me. Breathe in...breathe out...breathe in." I followed what he said. "Focus on your breathing and relax." I followed what he said and breathed in and breathed out just like him.

"Med-cine" We've done it a few times before I finally uttered something. I badly need the painkiller for my headache. "Medicine."

He quickly swept me of my feet and carried me in the bedroom. He laid me down onto the bed gently and I lay there and closed my eyes. I cannot managed to open my eyes again.

"Leah...nasaan ang gamot mo?" I tried to point out the drawer with my eyes closed. I don't know whether he can find it and how I wish he can find it. This headache is killing me. "Leah, iuupo kita para mainom mo ang gamot mo. On three, okay? One...two...three." Inalalayan niya akong umupo at naramdaman ko na lang ang kamay niya sa bibig ko. "Leah, open your mouth. Ito na ang gamot." I opened my mouth and took the medicine and gulped water that he carefully assisted. I did all that without opening my eyes. Randam na ramdam ko ang sakit at pagkahilo kapag bukas ang mga mata ko. Binalik niya ako para mahiga. "Just relax. Deep breaths again. Eepekto na rin ang gamot mamaya." I tried to nod. I breathed deeply just like what he told me. I felt him took my right hand and caressed it softly and it made me feel more relaxed...secure...lulling me to sleep.

...
Nagising ako dahil sa malamig na hangin na pumasok mula sa bintana. Napatingin ako sa relos ko. Alas kwatro y media na ng umaga. Last night was a...was it a dream? Jared was here? Did he put me to sleep? Iginala ko naman ang mga mata ko sa kabuan ng kwarto ko at walang trace ni Jared doon. Panaginip ba lahat ng iyon? Pero...

Bumangon na ako sa higaan at nakita ko ang gamot sa side table at baso ng tubig. Napalunok ako. Hindi ko maalalang nilagay ko ang mga iyon kagabi. Maari bang hindi iyon panaginip. That he was here and he took care of me?

Naglakad na ako sa labas ng kwarto at walang bakas ni Jared doon. Maybe it was all a dream...but it felt so real. The pain was so real and how he held and caressed my hand felt so real. Was I hallucinating due to my headache?

Naupo ako sa may dining table at iginala ang paningin sa kabuuan ng bahay. Kung totoo ang kagabi malamang ngayon ay nandito siya ngayon at galit na galit na paalisin ako ng apartment. He might be thinking I have this kind of incurable disease and I was running away from treatment.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Tumayo na lang ako at magpapainit sana ng tubig ng may makita ako sa kalan. Kaldero. Teka, wala naman akong maalala na kaldero doon na nilagay ko kagabi. Ang natatandaan ko nga ay nilinis namin ito ni Nanay Maria.

Kaagad kong binuksan ang takip at may kaunting usok na lumabas. Lugaw at may itlog pa na nakalubog. Napahawak na lang ako sa counter. Yes, he was here and it wasn't a dream. Last night was real. Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim.

The aroma of the porridge took over my nose and was very tempting that I felt my stomach grumbled and my mouth salivated. I never thought in my life that porridge can be mouth watering. Kumuha agad ako ng lugaw at nilagay sa mangkok at sinamahan ko ng itlog. Nagpunta ulit ako sa dining table. Tinikman ko iyon. Masarap ang lugaw at hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagawa iyon. Napakalimited ng stock ko sa bahay pero nakagawa siya ng lugaw at masarap. At ngayon ko na lang naalala na pwede nga palang lagyan ng itlog ang lugaw. Hindi ko na namalayan na naubos ko ito. Tumingin ako sa paligid ko matapos ay bumaling ulit ang tingin ko sa kaldero. Napalunok ako.