Purposely

Chapter 16. Purposely

IMBIS na umalis ay bumalik sa silid si Sinned kung saan naka-admit si Rellie. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit siya pumayag na mag-stay roon. He rarely rescheduled his meetings, nor stayed with someone who would not even benefit him...

Nakatayo siya sa paanan ng kama nang dumating ang nurse para sabihan sana ang pasyente na magpapa-X-Ray ito, subali't sinabi niyang pagkagising na lamang nito. Nakaalis na ang nurse ay nanatili lang siyang nakatayo; bahagyang lumapit. Hindi niya maalis ang titig sa nahihimbing na babae.

She was calming to look at. Napakaamo ng mukha, na sa tuwing nakikita niya ay ayaw niyang alisin ang mga titig dito. She sometimes looked so innocent, but most of the time, he's seeing her as an empowered young woman. Palaban.

Habang tinititigan ay napansin niyang bahagyang napamaang ang bibig nito. After a few, he heard her low snoring. Namumungay na napako ang tingin niya sa labi nitong mamula-mula. He suddenly had the urge to feel them—to kiss her—which made him step back a bit immediately.

"What are you doing?"

He almost jumped out when he heard that. Her brother, Arc, was standing in front of the door, narrowing his gazes towards him. Nang mas bumaling siya rito ay nakaloloko itong ngumisi pero hindi siya nagpatinag. "Nandito ka na pala. Akala ko ba, abala ka pa?"

"Hindi ko naman pababayaan ang kapatid ko, Ash," nakangising bulalas nito. Matapos ng tawag kanina ay nasabihan na siyang bantayan na muna ang babae. Pumayag naman siya dahil sinabihan siyang babayaran sa serbisyo niya ngayon.

Are you certain that's the reason?

"Wala ka sa sarili? Inaantok ka na ba?" pukaw ni Arc sa atensiyon niya, kapansin-pansin pa rin ang pagngisi.

"Nandito ka na rin naman, aalis na ako," kaswal na bulalas niya.

"No, no. You stay here until tomorrow. I have a photography session today."

Naningkit ang mga mata niya. "Today?" He checked on his wristwatch. It's already evening.

"Don't ask, man. Bayad ka naman na."

"Ikaw pa ang bayaran ko—"

"Nah, you're a man of your words. Herrera told me so."

Instead of talking more, he kept still. May nagtutulak sa kaniya na pumayag sa pagbabantay kay Rellie.

Timikhim si Arc. "About my sister, how did you meet her?"

"You should know that already."

"I only know she's following your first case and she has a huge crush towards you."

"Why do you keep on saying that?"

"Because that's true? So, how did you two first meet?"

"I invoke my right to remain silent." Walang emosyong sumagot siya kahit biro naman ang sinabi niya.

"Come on, man!" Lumapit ito at bahagyang tinapik ang balikat niya.

Since when did the two of them become this close? He stiffened. He glanced at Rellie when she groaned. Akala niya'y nagising ito. Mukhang naingayan lang sa kanila ng kuya nito.

Arc only chuckled before leaving him alone with his sister. Babalik na lang daw ito bukas. Saktong pagkaalis nito ay bahagyang nagmulat si Rellie. Nalingat na pala.

"Kuya?" namamaos ang tinig nito. Napalunok siya bago inayos ang sarili at bahagyang lumapit dito. "Oh!" Mabilis na natutop nito ang bibig. She was so adorable when she tried to wipe her drool. Kahit wala naman. "Ikaw pala, Sinned. Akala ko, narinig ko si Kuya."

He was taken aback when he heard her utter his name so softly. Then, she yawned and tried to sit down, but eventually, she winced. Maybe, her back hurt.

"Just lay down for a while. I'll call the nurse. I was told that you should have your X-ray," pagbibigay-alam niya at pilit na binalewala ang kakatwang naramdaman.

"Can I have a glass of water first? I'm thirsty."

Kaagad na tumalima siya para maibigay rito ang inumin.

PARANG pumalakpak ang tainga ni Rellie nang mapagtantong hindi nga siya iniwan ni Sinned. What made her heart go frenzy was when she noticed he's still wearing the same dress shirt he was wearing few hours ago; he only removed his coat.

As she drank the water, she could not remove her gazes towards him. Baka mamaya pala kasi ay nananaginip lamang siya ng gising, pero hindi. He's really there!

"K-kumain ka na ba?"

Instead of answering her, he only got the glass of water and said, "About what happened yesterday, I would like to apologize on behalf of my client."

Napangiwi siya nang hindi maintindihan ang biglaang coldness nito sa kaniya. Hindi ba, kaswal na silang nakapag-usap? Komportable na nga?

"Gusto ko sanang makipag-areglo para huwag ka nang magsampa pa ng kaso. My client will cover all the hospital expenses and—"

"Shut the bloody hell up!"

Ni hindi man lang ito natinag sa pagtaas ng boses niya. Lumayo ito saglit at ibinaba ang baso sa bedside table, pagkuwa'y dumiretso sa may sofa kung saan nakapatong ang coat nito. May kinuha sa inner pocket. It's another calling card.

Inismiran niya ito nang lumapit ulit sa kaniya para maibigay ang maliit na card.

"Accept it. I'm guessing you lost the first one since you kept on coming back to the firm."

"Pinunit ko."

Inilagay lang nito iyon sa katabi ng baso. "I'll leave it here, just call me when you're ready to talk about i—"

"Fuck you!"

Bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata nito nang salubungin ang naiinis niyang mga titig dito. Pero umayos din naman kaagad—kung saan ang maayos ay malalamig na naman ang mga titig nito. "I'll just call the nurse. I have to go now."

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi upang pigilang magsalita pa ng kung ano-ano. Bakit ba siya nagagalit ngayon? Eh, ginagawa lamang nito ang trabaho.

"Get well soon, Ms. Prietto."

"Is that the reason why you acted so kind to me? You brought me here, you even stayed when I asked you to..."

Hindi ito kumibo kaya mas lalo siyang nainis.

"So, I'm right, huh?" patuya niyang saad. "You're so heartless. I thought you were truly concerned that's why you didn't leave me. Iyon pala, may hidden agenda ka. Gusto mo lang pala na makipag-areglo ako imbis na dalhin pa ito sa korte."

Tumiim lang ang bagang nito. Napatunayan tuloy ng pananahimik nito ang hinala niya.

"Get out of here. Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi ako magsasampa ng kaso. That's just a waste of time."

Bahagya itong tumango bago pormal na nagpaalam at iniwan na siya sa kwarto. Idinagdag pa nitong tawagan niya kung handa na siyang pag-usapan ang tungkol doon. Wala ba itong tiwala sa sinabi niyang hindi naman niya ikakalat ang nangyari? Na hindi siya magsasampa ng kaso?

Her tears fell because of irritation. Wait, now, she's not even sure if was she just irritated or disappointed of the fact he purposely indulged himself and stayed with her only because of his client...