"S-sol."
His voice sounded so obsecrating I almost sobbed. His mouth was spitting some blood and his eyes were bloodshot. It seemed like he was punched right on his stomach dahil napapangiwi na siya sa pag-inda ng sakit niyon. Not only on his stomach, but it seemed like a wholesome murder exploit!
"R-rainn."
I muttered his name and squatted in front of him. All the doors of each classroom were locked. It seemed as though he cut his classes again. I decided to reprimand him later when he's already in good hands. Alangan naman murahin ko pa siya while he seemed to be almost at the peak of his death. I may not be that good, but I am also not that evil.
"Let me help." Sambit ko at inalalayan siyang makatayo. I positioned his arm on my shoulders so as to support his balance. He's not that heavy and I'm sure I could bring him to the clinic with ease before he gets his breath cut off. It's not that distant as well.
***
"Ano ba kasing pinaggaga-gawa mo, Rain?" Iritado kong anas sa kanya. Nakahiga na siya ngayon sa clinic bed while I was wiping with a damp cloth all of his bodily injuries where blood brimmed. Sinamahan ko siya sa loob para mabantayan. I guess I could reprimand him now for letting himself get harmed dahil okay naman na siya.
"W-wala lang 'to. Nadulas lang." Aniya habang nakapikit at iniinda pa rin ang hapdi ng kanyang mga sugat.
Ay, ang tanga naman neto madulas.
"Are you dumb? Nadulas, dumudugo ang kilay at balikat?!" I implausibly asked him. Kahit super annoyed ko sa kanya, he's still my cousin after all! I'm here for all of them in times of trouble. Feeling close na kung feeling close. Mas okay na 'yun kesa may mamatay. Caring dominates not giving a damn to someone at all.
"P-pwede." Nauutal niyang tugon.
Tanga.
"Did you join another gang from the outsiders? Hell, lagot ka na kay na tita n'yan." I was perturbed. Puro mga frat na lang siya! I don't literally find the essence of brotherhood in there! Brothers? Nagbubug-bugan?! Mabuti pa sana kung wrestling ang salihan niya kung ganoon, 'e!
"Nobody cares." He bitterly chuckled.
"We care about you. Pamilya mo kami. Don't ever think like that." I anxiously told him at piniga ang tuwalya sa tabo.
"Here, drink water." Inabot ko ang baso na mula kay nurse at akmang ipapainom iyon sa kanya.
"Y-you care?" Tanong niya, na para bang hindi makapaniwala, bago pa tanggapin ang ipinapainom kong tubig.
Damn, don't ask the obvious!
"Of course, we're cousins," I told him. I care about all people. Equally. I pry. I pry a lot. But that prying just literally means how much I care for people. That they're worth it and they shouldn't belittle themselves because we all deserve so much in this life.
"Oh." Tila ba nanghihinayang niyang sambit for an uninclusive reason and then he downed the water.
"I'm sorry nga pala dahil dun sa nangyari the other day....N-nabwiset lang talaga ako sa Lance na 'yun...."
He was tensed as he uttered those words. It mirrored upon how he truly felt.
The apology may be indirect, at least it was declared.
It was enough.
I give credence to it.
"Okay lang 'yun." I let out a small laugh. I told you, magbabati rin kami. Just like cats and dogs. Away-Bati. Ngayong tila bati na kami, all I have to do is to wait for the next dispute or war to arrive. Tamang abang na lang. Although ayoko ng makipag-away sa kanya, it felt like those disputes had to happen. In order to strengthen us. In order for us to grow and mature, we have to undergo all of those.
"Bati na ulit?" He laughed at tumingala sa'kin. He showed his pinky finger at me. Nakakapanibago dahil hindi na iyon ang middle finger niya which he used to show to me.
"Bati na." I swore my pinky fingers at him at pinagdikit iyon.
"Tapos away ulit soon."
He chuckled while still holding into our fingers. Mahina ko naman siyang tinampal. I know, though, that we'll fight again. That's inevitable for the two of us. Pero magbabati rin naman kaagad a few days after. I'm sure of that. Maliban na lang if he has done something extensively dreadful or below the belt to me. I'll cut his dick once na awayin niya ako ng todo. Para na rin hindi na siya maka-iskor sa mga babae niya. I don't want to use the precise term for it, though. Ang sama kasing pakinggan. It's gruesome declaring that he's actually doing it.
"JUSMEYO MARIMAR SANTISIDAD DE MAGDALENA NAMAN RAINN NICHOLAS ANDRES SARMIENTO, ANO NA NAMANG PASABOG ITONG PINAGSISI-SIRIT NG LINTEK NA BUCHI MO-"
"Ssshhhh, kuya! May mga natutulog!" Inis na binulungan ni Louisse kay Hero dahil sa sobrang lakas ng sigaw niya. Para ngang taga-bundok!
Napalingon ako sa ibang mga natutulog at nakitang mga mulat na nga sila. Tss.
Biglang dumating ang iba naming mga pinsan. All complete. Dinaluhan nila si Rainn na ngayon ay nakangisi naman. Nasaktan na't lahat ay nakangisi pa rin. Napaka-adik. Sa marijuana yata ito pinaglihi ng nanay niya.
"Sumali ka ba dun sa fraternity nina Gino? 'Tol, bawal 'yun. Itigil mo na. Ako nang nakiki-usap sa'yo.
Delikado 'yun." Nangungumbinsi ang boses ni Hero. Lodicakes ko rin talaga minsan itong si Hero pagdating sa advices. I could actually consider him as completely 'matino' if not only for his habit of fucking girls and getting their beds warmed daily. Balita ko ay puro Tinder na lang 'yan gabi-gabi. Pati raw mga may STD ay pinapatulan at tigang na tigang na raw siya. Good thing, walang kaide-ideya sina tito and tita about dito. Kung hindi, matagal na nilang pinatalsik sa kanilang pamamahay si kuya Hero.
"I didn't. May dating kaaway lang ako. Tapos gumanti sa'kin." Naka-ngisi pa rin si Rainn.
"Sure ka, ha? Tatanungin kami nina tita tungkol d'yan." Panunuri ni Charisse.
"Oo nga." Humalakhak pa si Rainn at nginitian ako.
I smiled back as well.
Because, why not?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"YNIGO!!! KUNG SASABAY RAW KAYO?!" Sigaw ni Cassy mula sa bungad ng aming service, dismissal time ngayon.
Pinapatanong na kasi ni manong, 'e. Naiinip na yata siya sa pag-hihintay sa kanila.
"SI ULAN LANG ANG SASABAY!" Sigaw rin pabalik ni Ynigo mula sa waiting shed.
"NASAAN NA?!" Sigaw muli ni Cassy sa kanya.
"PAPARATING NA DAW!" Mas malakas na hiyaw ni Ynigo mula doon.
Umupo na ng ayos si service si Cassy. "Manong, malapit na raw ho, paki-intay na lang po. Patience is at the hospital," Aniya. Tumango naman si manong ngunit bakas pa rin ang kainipan sa kanya at pagkalito dahil roon sa huling pangungusap na sinabi ni Cassy.
Be patient, manong. Binabayaran ka naman namin ng tama. Pasensya kana ha, godbless.
Habang naghihintay sa kay Rainn, ay inabala ko ang aking sarili sa paglalaro ng ML. Ngunit natigil kaagad iyon nang may umagaw sa'king cellphone!
Jusmiyo santisima trinidad!
Inis akong humarap sa gawi ng kumuha niyon at nakita ko ang nakangising mukha ni Rainn. Naka band-aid pa ang ilang sugat niya sa mukha at compression bandage sa kanyang kaliwang braso. Kaunti na lamang ay magmumukha na siyang mummy.
"Bahala ka nga d'yan!" Pag-susungit ko at hinayaang agawin na lang niya ang aking cellphone. Bahala nga talaga siya 'pag nag-away ulit kami. Siya na ang gumagawa ng paraan para mangyari ulit 'yun, 'e. Nakakainis naman! Ang sarap niyang gulpihin tapos itapon sa kawayanan tapos ipapahanap siya sa PNP pero hindi na siya mahahanap kasi sinusunog na pala siya sa impyerno!
"Leo Domingo? Ingat ka, Sol, my one and only sunshine! Yuck, puta brad, ang corny!"
Nanlaki nang todo ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang mga pinagsasa-sabi ni Rainn at may pag-hagalpak pa siya ng tawa!
"H-hoy! Lintek ka!" Hiyaw ko at kaagad na pilit na inagaw ang aking cellphone mula sa kanya. Nabasa niya ang convo namin ni Leo!
Napatungo ako at bahagyang nanlumo. What do I do now? Baka magalit sa'kin si Charisse! I'm pretty sure she heard what Rainn said, sa sobrang lakas ba naman ng boses niya!
Charisse has a huge crush on Leo. He was one of the best friends I've ever had. Kaibigan lang naman ang turing ko sa kanya. But I think so he sees our relationship in a different way. He thinks I like him back, whereas, it's only him who feels that way. I swear to God and all the saints in heaven and on Earth, I don't like him. I don't want to make a catfight with my best girl cousin just because of a guy. Buong-buo ko pa ngang ipapaubaya si Leo sa kanya. I'd rather risk losing boys rather than my best friend. Friends are constant, meanwhile, boys only last when things are convenient.
"LAGOT KA, SOL....."
"LAGOT KA! LAGOT KA! LAGOT KA!"
"NAKU, 'PAG NAGALIT SI CHA....."
"DANDAN DAN DAN......"
Nilakasan pa ng mga pinsan ko ang hiyawan nila. My eyes began to water, shit! Kinakabahan ako. My heart beats were taking part in a race as of the moment! Anytime ay maiiyak na ako. Alam ko kung gaano katindi ang pagka-crush ni Cha kay Leo, simula grade six pa lamang namin iyon. Baka isipin niya na inaahas ko si Leo without telling her! E hindi ko naman 'yun kayang gawin sa kanya! I won't treach her! That's the last thing I'm planning to do!
No, I'm not that type of friend. I'm too loyal to do that!
Napaub-ob na ako nang tuluyan at doon inilabas ang aking mga luha. Tinakpan ko ang buo kong mukha gamit ang aking mga palad.