Radicus insisted on letting me go to Mela alone. I told him, I'll be with Troy pero lalo lang itong hindi napanatag. I can already see Troy waiting for us sa may lobby ng hospital when Rad walked ahead of me towards Troy. I held his hand bago pa ito tuluyang makalapit.
"What?" He said with a crampled forehead. I have forgotten, I was able to tell him pala that Troy tried to lay a hand on me when I was convincing him to help me. I knew it was a wrong idea to tell Rad.
What can I do? I feel like I can never hide anything from him. He can always feel my doubts, my insecurities, my pain, just everything!
"It's not like I'm gonna punch him here. Now. Just because he tried passing on you." He said. The whole sarcasm slapping on my face. Really Rad? Really.
"I told you..." I was about to say pero pinigil ako nito. He raised his hands as if surrendering. He then interwined our fingers after.
"I can still go with you, haven't you changed your mind?." Radicus asked. I raise a brow on him. Ang kulit. He wouldn't really let me alone with Troy.
"I'm not gonna eat her Radicus. Just let her, We are wasting our time here." Troy suddenly said. Ramdam ko ang paghigpit ng hawak ni Radicus sa mga kamay ko.
"Lay a hand. I'll make sure you'll
never feel your hands shaking again." Rad said. Oh no, sumasakit na ang ulo ko sa isang ito. Ang kulit! I gave him a threatening look. He just smiled. Ugh!
Things got awkward when me and Troy were inside the elevator. I can only hear him sigh. He did not even lay an eye on me. He was silent the whole ride.
"I'm sorry, for the way Rad acted earlier. " I started saying when we're walking out of the elevator.
" He's always been like that. Nothing special." He answered.
Napahinto ako sa sinabi nito. He said "always" Oh. How can I forget that Rad was once Mela's boyfriend. Malamang kung paano ako tratuhin ni Rad ngayon ay ganoon din kay Mela. Maybe more special pa nga. They have known each other for so long.
Hindi ko namalayang malapit na kami sa kwarto ni Mela. Bigla akong napahinto. I can still remember what happened the last time I tried to visit her. Me, mom, Rad, Tita Olivia, Dad. Suddenly, I felt cold.
Nang mag-angat ako ng paningin ay nakatayo lang sa harap ko si Troy as if impatiently observing me. Parang kelan lang he's been confessing his feelings towards me, ngayon naman ay mukha ng iritado parati ito sa akin. Who says girls are way more complicated?
"Alright. I'll give you enough time to see her. Probably talk to her too if you're lucky to find her awake. Lately... she's been sleeping more often." He said. Bakas ang lungkot sa mga mata nito. I suddenly felt sad too.
"Okay." Tanging nasabi ko.
"Maya...." Troy called me again ngunit umiling lang ito. Tumalikod na ito sabay kaway. Weird.
Kabado akong pumasok sa loob ng kwarto ni Mela. I am hoping to talk to her but I am also expecting her to be asleep.
To my surprise nakita ko itong nakaupo at may hawak na photo album. I gasp upon seeing her head with bandage and a lot of straw-like stuffs on her wrist. Hindi pa ganito noong una ko siyang nakita. Hindi pa siya mukhang nahihirapan noon.
I covered my mouth to supress my tears. I failed. Napalingon sa akin si Mela. She smiled at me. She gave a weak smile pero alam ko at ramdam kong hindi iyon ang klase ng ngiti na gusto niyang ibigay sa akin. She's trying her best. I can feel how weak she is now.
"Don't... look at me like that. Come on." She said while rolling her eyes.
"Come here. Sit beside me. May gusto akong ipakita sayo." She said. I wiped off my tears habang lumalapit.
