The Waiting Game

28.

            EVERY time Exequiel sees Blaire hurting, he is also hurting. Parang doble ang sakit na nararamdaman niya pero alam niyang pakiramdam lang niya iyon because nothing can compare to the pain that Blaire's feeling. He's in no place to compare his pain to Blaire's pain.

            He's patiently waiting for Blaire to finish her therapy session. Nasa labas lang siya ng office ng psychologist ni Blaire at nakaupo sa couch. Tanging siya lang at ang sekretarya ng psychologist ni Blaire ang nasa labas ng kuwarto.

            It's quiet. Very quiet.

            "So, this is her last?" biglang dinig ni Exequiel na tanong sa kanya ni Kristine, ang sekretarya ng doktor ni Blaire.

            "Her doctor told her that it's time for her to deal with her past on her own and she knows that Blaire's ready," sagot ni Exequiel.

            Sa totoo lang, nag-aalala pa rin siya. He was there when Blaire broke down after seeing Xavier visit her in her own restaurant. Blaire's friends—Carlo, Reneth, and Zandro—and her staff saw her broke down as well.

            Exequiel looked at Blaire with worry in his eyes nang makapasok ulit ito sa kusina. Kasama ni Exequiel ang mga kaibigan ni Blaire, ang kitchen crew nito, at ang mga staff ng restaurant nito na mga nag-aalala rin para kay Blaire.

            "Devan?" banggit niya sa pangalan ng dalaga, but she didn't budge.

            Napahawak naman si Reneth, na kasalukuyang buntis sa anak nito kay Zandro, sa braso niya. Ramdam ni Exequiel ang takot kay Reneth dahil sa nakikita nila sa kanilang harapan. He also knows that everyone who's looking at Blaire is scared and worried.

            Who wouldn't be scared and worried when she looks as if she's almost dead?

            "Everyone, out," maawtoridad niyang utos sa lahat habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga mata ni Blaire. There was not a second that he took his eyes off Blaire.

            He knows that Blaire needs time for herself alone. He knows that the only way for her to come back and not have those cold, dead, and blank eyes again is for her to be alone.

            Sinunod ng lahat ang kanyang utos. Nakita pa ni Exequiel na tumigil muna saglit sila Reneth, Zandro, at Carlo sa tabi ni Blaire bago tuluyang lumabas. But Blaire didn't do anything, she was only looking at Exequiel's eyes.

            And then, there were only the two of them left inside the huge kitchen.

            Fuck, isip ni Exequiel.

            Silence enveloped them pero nanatiling magkatinginan lang sila—mata sa mata. Exequiel's brave enough to stare at those cold, blank, and dead eyes of the woman he loves. He's not scared, he's worried. And he can feel the pain crawling inside of him because the woman he loves is hurting so much inside.

            Exequiel walked closely to Blaire. He grabbed both sides of her arms.

            "I'll come back," sabi ni Exequiel kay Blaire.

            Wala siyang narinig na sagot mula kay Blaire, but he let go and left her alone inside the kitchen.

            "E-Exequiel," tawag ni Reneth sa kanya pagkalabas na pagkalabas niya ng kusina.

            "It's better to leave her alone," sagot ni Exequiel. "She's going to be fine. She has to be fine," dagdag ni Exequiel.

            Naiiyak na tumango-tango si Reneth. Naiiyak ito dahil nahihirapan at nasasaktan ang kaibigan nito at mas pinili ng kaibigan nitong sarilihin ang lahat. How can someone be so selfish and so stupid at the same time? A person doesn't deserve to experience all of that pain alone.