Best for Us (GU #3)

fifty-one

Fifty-One: Vanessa Gerleen

Dumaing na naman sa si Tyler sa sakit. Bahagya niyang inilayo ang mukha ngunit maagap ang kabila kong kamay at agad na ibinalik ito palapit doon sa hawak kong pang-gamot ng sugat niya.

"Konti na lang 'to," saad ko. "Tiisin mo na lang."

Nang makita ko siyang tumango ay lihim akong napangiti. "Bakit kasi hindi ka umiwas kay Kuya Miles?"

"I was not expecting it," mahina niyang sagot. "Nabigla na lang ako."

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at tinapos ang ginagawa. Sa huli'y tinakpan ko ng benda yung sugat niya at saka tumayo na para ayusin yung mga ginamit ko.

Nang bumalik ako kanina ay walang humpay niyang sinabing mag-usap daw kami. Pero sinabi kong gamutin muna namin iyong sugat niya at inaya siya dito sa loob ng unit ko. Because I doubted if he has even a first aid kit in his place.

Ngunit natigilan ako sa ginagawa nang maramdaman ko ang pagyakap ng mga kamay sa bewang ko. Then I felt Tyler's chin on my shoulder.

Sinubukan kong alisin ang kamay niya sa akin. "Who said you can hug me?"

"One minute," agad niyang sagot at nadama kong mas hinigpitan pa ang yakap sa akin. I actually felt it in my back when he inhaled deeply. "Promise, just a minute and I'll let go. I just need some energy. I feel like shit ever since I woke up. No, I feel like that since yesterday."

I feel the same way too, I wanted to say back. Pero pinili ko na lang manahimik at dinama na lang ang yakap ni Tyler. Because even I how I hated to admit it right now, his embrace was giving me energy also.

Nang matapos ang isang minuto ay kusa nang lumayo si Tyler. He found his way back to the sofa samantalang doon naman ako sa inupuan ko kanina.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago magsalita. "I'm all ears now. Let me hear what you're going to say."

Walang sinayang na segundo si Tyler at agad na nagpaliwanag. He started his story, starting from what happened in the groundbreaking. Kung paano rin siya nagulat sa sinabi ni Senator Guzman at sa pagdating doon ni Olivia. The same thing I have witnessed on our TV, kasama pa ang pamilya ko.

But I didn't prepare myself on the next things that I heard.

"I really want to know what's going on kaya sumama ako sa kanila nung sinabi ni Senator Guzman na kakausapin daw ako. Then he suddenly told me that Olivia's pregnant and they claiming me to be the father—"

"What? She's pregnant?"

"But it's not with me. I swear. You believe me, right?" puno ng desperasyon ang boses niya.

Nang hindi agad ako nakasagot ay nakita ko ang pagkadismaya sa mukha niya. But still, he was determined to prove himself. "I promise, wala talaga akong kinalaman doon. I've been with her this one time two years ago and you know about it. Pagkatapos noon, wala na talaga. Kahit pa nagpakita siya ulit ng motibo, hindi ko na siya pinatulan ulit."

This time, pinili ko nang magsalita. "I believe you, okay? Kaya nga ako bumalik para pakinggan ka. I was just confused since yesterday. I was just as shocked as you I guess. I am until now, lalo na ngayong narinig ko ang tungkol kay Olivia. But of all people, bakit niya sayo pinaako yung pinagdadala niya?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Tyler. "Hindi ko rin talaga alam. And you know how I hate her so much for that. Yesterday, if I wasn't able to control myself, I almost hit her. Pareho naming alam ni Olivia na hindi sa akin 'yun. But then, her father seems to believe whatever lies she told him. Pinagbantaan pa ako ng tatay niya na kailangan ko raw panagutan yung ginawa ko kay Olivia."