How to Avoid Heartbreaks

12

"I'm not going back to that meeting, okay?" naiinis na sabi ni Orion.

Kanina pa kami nagtatalo dahil ayaw niyang makinig at nagpupumilit talaga na alagaan ako.

"Importante 'yon diba? Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko," I said, trying to convince him.

He sighed and gave me a humorless look, "You're more important than that meeting."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig ngunit agad namang naisip na baka nagi-guilty lang siya kaya gusto niyang siya ang mag-alaga sa akin.

Pumasok siya sa banyo at lumabas na may dalang palanggana at bimpo. He placed the small basin on the bedside table and soaked the towel in it. He then sat at edge of the bad ang wiped my whole face and neck. After that, he fished a small carton from his pocket and took a patch of... kool fever?

Seryoso ba siya? Ano ako? Baby?

"I bought this on my way here," aniya nang napansin ang pagtitig ko sa hinahawakan.

He gently placed a patch of kool fever on my forehead before taking the basin and towel back to the bathroom.

"Is it okay to sleep here? I want to make sure you're okay?" he asked, pointing at the couch.

"Huh? Uhm... I mean... I never slept with other people aside from my parents, siblings, and friends in the same room. But uh..."

"Okay, I'll sleep outside, then—"

"Wait!" pigil ko sa kaniya nang umamba siyang lumabas. "Dito ka nalang—" I paused midway when I saw him smirk. "—Hoy! Maliit ang sofa sa labas kaya hindi ka kakasya roon. Wala ring kama sa guest room kaya hindi ka rin puwede roon."

He chuckled, an amused look on his face. "Don't worry about me."

Lumapit siya sa kama at inayos ang comforter. Ngunit dahil nilalamig ako, hinila ko iyon hanggang sa natabunan pati ang buong mukha ko.

"Are you cold?" he asked but I didn't answer.

Of course, I'm cold! But I'm not telling him that since I don't want to ask any more favor from him. Tinatamad na rin akong bumangon para kumuha ng medyas at sweatshirt kaya huwag na lang.

Narinig ko ang papalayong yabag niya at ang pagsara ng pinto. Mukhang sa labas nga siya matutulog.

"Sorry, I ransacked your closet."

Dali-dali kong inalis ang tabon sa mukha. Akala ko lumabas na siya, yun pala, pumunta sa closet at kumuha ng medyas at sweatshirt.

Umupo siya tabi ko at tinulungan akong suotin ang sweatshirt. Lumipat siya sa paanan ng kama at sinuotan ako ng medyas.

I couldn't help but smile and feel a tug in my heart at his thoughtful gestures. Who would've thought that this intimidating guy is actually caring?

Now this is what I'm avoiding. He's just taking care of me but I'm starting to give meaning to it. My parents take care of me when I'm sick but I never gave meaning to it. But then, they're my parents. They're supposed to take care of me.

But... friends take good care of each other too, right? I mean... My friends and I take care of each when one of us is sick. I guess, this could be counted as a friend taking care of his friend.

"You took your medicine, right?"

Tumango ako sa kaniya at umayos ng higa. He fixed my comforter again and dimmed the lamp.

Lumapit siya akin at ginulo ang aking buhok habang may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi, "Sleep tight, London."