Pieces of Me

Ten

"Maine? I'm back. Nag take out ako ng laksa para di ka na mag--- MENG! What happened?"

"RJ... I can't feel my legs."

"Puta. Sabi ko na nga ba I should've gone straight here. Baby, kakargahin kita paakyat ng kama, okay? Pag may masakit, let me know. Ready? Hold on to me, love. Kapit."

"RJ, I'm scared."

"I'll be brave for you. Whatever this is, I'll be brave for you. Hindi kita iiwan. Kumportable ka na? Tatawag lang ako sa doctor. Okay ka na ba sa suot mo? Gusto mo magpalit before I take you to the hospital?"

"May pasok ka pa bukas. Pahinga ka na. Hatid mo na lang ako tapos uwi ka na ulit dito and rest. Let's just call Ate Niki para may kasama ako sa room later. Love.. you can't keep putting your life on hold to take care of me."

"Maine, I know you're scared right now kaya mo nasasabi yan. Kaya rin hindi kita papatulan. Pero let's get one thing straight okay? You are my life. You. So as long as you need me, I will take care of you. End of discussion."

"No, it's not. I refuse to be a burden to you."

Ayan ka na naman. Kakasabi lang nung tao na you are his life... tama na pity party. Needing him is not a sign of weakness. You're still a strong, capable woman who can take anything on. Don't push him away. Sino magdidilig sayo, jusko?

"You. Are. Not. A. Burden. You never will be! Nobody's life will be burdened by taking care of you. It's all a matter of making the necessary adjustments. You and me, we're in this together, okay?"

"Okay."

"That's my girl."

Yan. Yang mga ganyang hirit ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakandabali bali ang likod ko! Ambigat bigat na ng herlaloo ko anuba! Teka nga...

"RJ?"

"Yes my love?"

Ay o. Lalong nadagdagan. My love, so sweet... buset.

"Can you tell me one thing you don't like about me, please?"

"Ha?"

"Isa lang. Or dalawa. Yung ayaw mo tungkol sakin."

"Tumama ba ulo mo nung nahulog ka sa sahig kanina? Ano ba yang tanong mo? Wala. Lahat gusto ko sayo. Lahat."

"Wag ka nga. Ako I don't like how your hands move a lot when we're talking. Parang konduktor ng orchestra na high sa drugs. Ang likot likot. O now it's your turn."

"Susmaryosep, Meng. Do we really have to do this now?"

"It's either this o magpanic ako. You decide."

"Fine fine. Sige. Ahm... ayoko yung pag tinitignan mo ko, tumitiklop ang tuhod ko."

"You're not doing it right! RJ naman eh!"

"Huy! Mambato daw ba ng unan. Well, at least alam nating intact pa rin yang upper body strength mo. You just have zero aim. NICOMAINE! Cellphone ko na yang ibabato mo. Wag ka kasing makulit. ARAY! Ano yun!? BINATO MO KO NG CELLPHONE CASE!?!"

"Sabi mo wag yung cellphone mo eh. Sige na kasi. Ano yung ayaw mo sakin? Two things lang naman o."

"Ang kulit. Ayoko yung wala kang pakielam na wala ka ng makain dito pero ayaw mo pa rin mag grocery. Puro ka padeliver. Mukha ka ng pizza."

"Pizza talaga?"

"Ayoko rin yung pinaglalaruan mo yung cellphone ko hanggang sa malow-batt pero hindi mo nirerecharge."

"Huy! Hindi naman lagi lagi!"

"Tapos yung camera roll ko! Ilang latag na ng selfie yung nandun! Okay lang kung puro mukha mo kahit lukot lukot pa pero hindi ko gets kung bakit pati siko, tuhod, tenga at talampakan mo kinukunan mo ng litrato."