In the Midst of the War

Kabanata 5

KABANATA 5.

Roar of the Crowd.

DAHIL SA pagkapahiya, hindi na ako nagsalita sa buong biyahe namin pauwi sa condo ko. Since sinabi ko naman sakaniya ang address ko kanina, hindi na siya nahirapang ihatid ako. Nang makarating kami ay ipinark niya ang sasakyan ko at inalalayan akong bumaba.

Hindi na rin ako umangal dahil nahihilo parin ako. Naalimpungatan lang talaga ako kanina dahil sa boses ni Vale. His voice was like a thunder of consciousness to me. I can’t believe that I’m with him! The last thing I remember is that, I was pinching James’ cute cheeks. And the next thing I knew, I was puking my heart out in the side of the road!

“Which floor?” I turned to Vale when he spoke. We’re already inside the elevator. I looked at his face, nakatingin rin siya saakin. Nilamon agad ako ng hiya dahil nakita niya akong nagsusuka na parang wala ng bukas sa gilid ng highway. I smiled sweetly at him to cover up my embarrassment pero kinunutan niya lang ako ng noo.

“Don’t tell me you feel nauseous again,” mahinang sambit niya na ikinangiwi ko. Do I look like I’m going to puke anytime now?! Masama ko siyang tinignan pero nginisihan niya ako kaya kumalas ako sa hawak niya at ako na mismo nagpindot ng sixth floor. He chuckled and held me again.

Pinilit ko namang huwag nang tumingin sakaniya. Naiilang kasi ako sa tingin niya. At saka nahihiya rin. I don’t even know why he’s with me. The last time I checked, I was with James tapos ngayon si Vale na kasama ko? What the hell happened?

“Room 55,” sambit ko nang makalabas kami sa elevator. Agad niya namang nahanap agad ang unit ko dahil malapit lang iyon sa elevator. I unlocked my door at sabay rin kaming pumasok.

“Where’s your room?” he asked.

“You can just leave me in the sala. I can manage,” but he didn’t listen. Inalalayan niya ako hanggang sa kwarto ko. Iisa lang naman kasi ang kwarto rito kasi mag-isa lang naman ako. He placed me on my bed. For a second, I was really comfortable laying on my bed but I was awaken again because I felt a hand on my foot.

Nang bumaba ang tignin ko ay nakita ko si Vale na tinatanggal ang stiletto ko. A smile appeared on my lips when I saw a blanket covering my lower body. Talagang nilagyan niya muna ako ng kumot bago niya tanggalin ang sapatos ko. I’m wearing a shorts but it’s not like masisilip niya ang hindi dapat masilip kung hindi niya ako kukumutan. But it softens me that he thought of covering me before removing my shoes.

Pumikit ulit ako. I heard a door opened and closed. Hindi ako sanay na may ibang tao sa condo ko maliban sa mga kaibigan ko but for some unknown reason, it doesn’t matter to me if Vale is here. I just know that he won’t take advantage of my state. I don’t know anything about him aside from he’s Vale Sison and he’s a vocalist and guitarist of a band called The Poison. I just feel like he’s not harmful.

Never mind his tattoos, cold voice and blank face, I know he’s not a bad person. He just look like it but he’s not. Don’t judge the book by its cover. I was awaken again because a cold thing was placed on my face. I opened my eyes only to see Vale just a few inches from me!

“Wala akong mahanap na make up remover so I’ll just use clean cloth, okay? Stay still.” Gaya nang sinabi niya, hindi nalang ako gumalaw at hinayaan siyang punasan ang mukha ko. Ang kumot na kanina ay hanggang bewang ko lang ay hanggang leeg ko na ngayon. I chuckled at the thought of it. Ingat na ingat siyang hindi ako masilipan.

“Okay na. ‘Wag ka na ulit pupunta sa Underground para uminom. I thought you’re just going there because of our gigs.” Walang emosyong sabi niya. Iminulat ko ang mata ko at nakita ko siyang nakatayo sa gilid ng kama ko. I just smiled at him.