Chaining Lockets

Kabanata 11

Kabanata 11

"Thanks, Deion." I smiled when I got my prescription from him.

"It's been a while since I saw you here, you stopped taking sleeping pills, right? What happened?" he asked and I sighed, sumandal ako ng maayos sa upuan at nanatili siyang nakatitig sa akin, inaabangan ang reaksyon ko.

"My insomnia stopped, right? Medyo late nga lang ako nakakatulog noon pero after ng ilang oras na scroll sa phone ay makakatulog na, I also drink a glass of milk before sleeping and it helps me a lot pero nitong mga nakaraang linggo bumalik ulit, eh."

"Nightmares?" he asked, fixing his glasses. He's wearing his doctor's coat, beneath it is a black dress shirt and brown pants. Sinuklay din niya ang buhok bago sumandal, pinagmamasdan ako.

"Hmm, just weird dreams. Maybe sa mga pinapanuod kong horror movies?" I chuckled, trying to sound cheerful and unbothered. "You know I love watching films and some are scary and weird—"

"You know you can't lie to me, right?" he asked kaya natahimik ako.

"What?" I chuckled. "Why would I lie to you?"

"You're avoiding my eyes." He said kaya tumitig ako sa mata niya. "There, happy?" I smiled cutely and he sighed and shook his head at me.

"Your anxiety might be causing your insomnia, Crest." He told me kaya suminghap na ako at sinuklay ang buhok.

"Come on, Dei, I'm not anxious or something. I am perfectly fine, I'm happy and independent!" I smiled widely. "It's just that...I have weird nightmares and it's stopping me from sleeping peacefully."

"I don't believe you but I won't force you to speak either," aniya sa akin.

"But...I'm fine." I said softly.

"No, you are not. I can see it in your eyes, Crest." He said, crossing his arms on his chest while staring at me. "I understand you can't confide and I respect it but please stop keeping your emotions to yourself. Ano pang silbi ng pagiging psychiatrist ko kung hindi kita matutulungan?"

My heart melted with my cousin's concern.

"Thanks, Deion." I said gently. "I appreciate you so much and thank you for being here kahit na...hindi ko naman talaga sinasabi pa sa'yo ang nasa isip ko. I just need something to help me sleep at night and you know..."

"Don't ever be dependent of that pills, okay?" he reminded me kaya napatango ako. "Anxiety and stress are usually the cause of insomnia and it's in the mind, Crest. If you don't help yourself and let it all out, maiipon 'yan sa puso at utak mo hanggang sa 'di mo na kayanin."

"It's not really that serious, ano ka ba..." I giggled. "Pa-tweetums lang siguro 'to."

"Nah, your mental health is not pa-tweetums, Crest." He even smiled at me. "And you know that."

Ngumuso na ako at nakita kong napangisi si Dei sa akin at umiling.

"See? I hit a nerve." He said kaya natawa na ako.

"Oo na, parehas kayo ni Tito Thorn, no'ng nakaraan, natulala lang ako, lumapit sa'kin. He's asking if I'm fine." I said.

"And? Anong sabi mo?"

"Wala, sabi ko, I'm perfectly fine and he just stared at me, tumawa tapos ginulo ang buhok ko. Sabi niya, he didn't believe me but he won't force me to open up. Basta, if I need something daw I can talk to him or you." I smiled genuinely.

"He's right tho, kaya nga kami nandito. We are doing our best to help other people, ang pamilya pa kaya?" he smiled, I saw his black eyes twinkled.