[Aika]
I was standing outside the door of Ryuuji's patient room. He's been in the hospital for a week. Tatlong beses lang akong nakapasok sa loob para bantayan siya. Iyon ang mga araw na hindi pa nagigising si Ryuuji, but since Ryuuji woke up I was banned from entering his room. Ang sabi ng Mommy ni Ryuuji, ayaw daw akong makita ni Ryuuji bagay na ikalungkot ko.
"I'm sorry, Aika, but Ryuuji really didn't want to see you, "his mom explained.
I smiled. "Okay lang po, gusto ko lang malaman kung kumusta na po siya ngayon?"
"He is getting stronger everyday." she grabbed my arm. "Pasensiya ka na Aika, hindi ko puwedeng ipagpilitan sa kanya ang gusto ko, dahil baka hindi inumin ni Ryuuji ang mga gamot niya." She said, and look like sad.
"Wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala sa'kin, sige po, aalis na po ako, babalik na lang ulit ako mamaya," I turned away from her.
"Aika!" she shouted.
Muli akong lumingon. "Bakit po, Tita?"
"Do you have a problem with Ryuuji, so he doesn't want to see you?" she asked.
I shook my head. "Wala naman po kaming problema."
She sighed. "Just let Ryuuji do what he wants, talk to him when he gets better though he is tough to understand."
"Maghihintay po ako, hanggang sa kausapin niya ako, ang mahalaga lang po sa'kin malaman kong gumagaling na siya. Mauna na po ako, papasok pa ako sa klase." pagkatapos umalis na ako. After I left, tears flowed down my cheeks as I walked out of the hospital.
I was hurt when Ryuuji ignored me, I wanted to ask him why he was angry, but he didn't want to talk to me.
While I was waiting for the tricycle to go to school, the maroon car stopped in front of me. The car door opens, and Aeron exits. I avoided looking at him since Ryuuji got into an accident.
"Aika." he shouted.
I didn't turn around pretending I didn't hear him. I felt him come closer until he patted my shoulder.
"Ikaw pala," I smiled.
Seryoso ang mukha niyang nakatingin sa'kin. "Nakausap mo na ba si Ryuuji?"
I shook my head. "Tulog kasi siya," alibi ko.
"Gusto mo gisingin natin para makapag-usap kayo?"
Umiling-iling ako. "Hindi na, papasok na rin ako sa klase." I stepped a little farther away from him. "Alis na ako,"
"Aika!"
I didn't turn around, but I raised my hand to let him know I was leaving,
We are the reason Ryuuji's accident. Ayoko ng madagdagan pa ito.
Pumara ako ng jeep at sumakay ko, imbes na sa school ako pupunta dadaan muna ako sa simbahan upang ipagdasal si Ryuuji ng sa ganoon gumaling siya agad.
"Aika!" someone called my name.
I smiled when I saw Manong. I approached him, and I drew some money in my skirt pocket
"Pabili po ako ng dalawa,"I gave him fifty pesos of money.
Inabot sa'kin ang dalawang ice drop at pati ang sukli. "Keep the change, sa inyo po ang isa," I smiled.
"Ang bait mo talaga Aika, palagi ka na lang nanlilibre sa'kin, baka naman tinitipid mo ang baon mo parang mabigyan ako."
We are standing on the edge of the church where a mango tree was covering us in the heat of the sun, the older man opened the ice cream stick and ate it as he wiped the body with sweat.
