Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

33 Salem

Our anniversary would be uneventful. I was stressing this for quite a while. We haven't talked about it and I wasn't even sure if he was aware that we were dating for a year now. When we started dating, I strictly mentioned that I didn't want to celebrate monthsaries. I'd be stressed every month.

Caius was sick for three days now. His body just gave up because of fatigue. Humupa naman na 'yung lagnat n'ya pero hanggang ngayon ay inaatake s'ya ng asthma. Kapag ganitong nagkakasakit s'ya, hindi talaga ako makapag-concentrate sa klase. Atat akong matapos sa school para makapunta ako sa kanila. It was Saturday and tomorrow would be our free day.

Nadatnan ko si tita Wena at aling Ros sa sala. They were watching the evening news. Agad akong lumapit sa kanila at nagmano.

"Oh, Salem. Hindi pa nakakauwi si Caius." bungad sa akin ni tita. Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Umalis po s'ya?" I asked and peeked at the wall clock. It was 7:45 PM. Malakas ang ulan sa labas.

"Oo. Pinipigilan ko nga pero importante daw. Kaninang alas kwatro pa s'ya umalis. Hindi ba s'ya tumawag sa'yo?" saad ni aling Ros. It was probably school stuff. Importante nga siguro dahil nagawa pa n'yang lumabas kahit na maulan kanina pa. Last night, he was still damn sick.

"Okay na po ba s'ya?" nag-aalala kong tanong.

"Hindi pa nga, eh. Ang sabi ko ay mag-utos nalang s'ya sa kailangan n'yang gawin pero hindi s'ya nagpapigil." tugon muli ni aling Ros.

"Matigas ang ulo ng batang 'yun. Tinext ko nga na maagang umuwi dahil baka tumaas nanaman 'yung lagnat n'ya."

I just nodded. I handed them the food that I brought with me. I mentioned that it was our anniversary. Lubos ang tuwa nila dahil sa binalita ko. I also brought my gift for him. It was the computer keyboard just like what I planned.

Nagpaalam ako na maghihintay ako sa kwarto ni Caius para isurpresa s'ya kahit papaano. Wala talaga akong maisip na kahit anong pakulo kaya ganito lang nahanda ko. I also wrote him a letter. It was really simple but I knew he'd appreciate it.

Kung sakaling hindi n'ya alam na anniversary namin ngayon, hindi naman ako magagalit. Just like what I said, we didn't talk about it. Hindi ko naman gagawing big deal.

When he walked inside his room, wet and looking sick as fuck, I knew then he really didn't know what was the occasion today. Nakaupo ako sa kama n'ya pero tinapunan n'ya lang ako ng isang tingin bago s'ya dumiretso sa cabinet at kumuha ng damit. Pagkatapos ay pumasok na s'ya sa banyo n'ya at iniwan ako ng hindi man lang kinausap.

Something was wrong and he's been hiding something from me for a quite a while now. I couldn't pinpoint what it was about but I could feel it. Napatingin ako sa paper bag na nasa tabi ko. I hope this gift would make him feel better. I wouldn't mention the anniversary because I didn't want him to feel bad.

It took fifteen minutes for him to be done bathing. He went out of the bathroom wearing sweatpants and sweatshirt. He must be feeling cold.

"Saan ka galing?" malumanay kong tanong. I had to measure his mood. I didn't want this day to end badly. Kahit para sa akin lang. It was still special for me.

"Sa kaibigan ko." tipid n'yang sagot atsaka naupo sa dulo ng kama n'ya.

"You're sick, Caius." He doesn't smell alcohol and he looked sober. Mukhang hindi naman s'ya nakipag-inuman.

"Okay lang ako." aniya. I went closer to him and held his neck. Pagkadampi ng kamay ko, agad s'yang umiwas. He was burning.

"Bakit ka nagpaulan? You should've called me to pick you up."