35. Because I Love You

                                    

                                          
Chapter 35: Because I Love You
Prism
Although there is the pain in my stomach making it difficult for me to walk, I managed to arrive home safely. That was actually the first time when someone beat me up. Hindi ko inakalang uuwi akong sira ang mukha at hawak-hawak ang tiyan. Tahimik pa rin ang buong bahay. Ang pinoproblema ko ngayon ay kung paano ko maitatago kina Mama at Tita Betty 'tong sugat na natamo ko sa gilid ng labi ko, I'm sure they will ask me a lot of question about it.
Before going to bed, I cured the area on the side of my lips where it was received a punch. Sakto naman na nakatanggap din ako ng text message galing kay Ayara.
Ayara:
Prism, I'm really sorry.
Prism:
No worries.
Ayara:
Nakauwi ka na ba?
Prism:
Yep.
Was about to sleep na.
Ikaw ba? Nakauwi ka na?
Ayara:
Pauwi pa lang.
Masakit pa ba tiyan mo?
Prism:
Oo pero hindi na gaano kasakit, unlike kanina.
Ayara:
Mabuti naman.
Sige, pahinga ka na.
Sleep well, Prism.
Sorry talaga. : (
Prism:
Ingat ka sa daan. Sorry rin.
Good night.
Ayara:
Good night din.
Prism:
Huwag ka na rin umiyak.
Ayara:
Paano mo nalaman?
Prism:
Ako pa ba, I know you're crying right now.
Ayara:
Hindi ko mapigilan. Grabe nangyari sa iyo, nakokosensya ako : (
Prism:
I'm fine : )
-
"What was that?" ayan agad ang salubong sa akin ni Mama noong lumabas ako ng kuwarto ko kinaumagahan. Kitang-kita agad sa mukha niya ang labis na pag-aalala.
"Alin po?" patay-malisya kong tanong.
Lumapit siya sa akin para hawakan ang gilid ng labi ko. "Sugat ba 'yan? It seems painful."
I tried to suppress a grimace as she touched the bruise, I let out a small scream of pain. "Ma, medyo masakit!"
"Oh, so sorry. Does it hurt that much?"
I breathe heavily. "Opo, it really does."
"Ano ba talaga nangyari, anak? Saan mo napala 'yan? Who did that to you?" she asked concernedly.
Pumunta ako sa harap ng salamin upang makita ang hitsura nito. With the force of Alfred's punch, the side of my lips remained its wound and bruises. Samantalang humupa na rin ang pananakit ng tiyan ko kaya nakakalakad na ako nang ayos kaso hindi naging maayos pagtulog ko. "Hala. Seryoso ba 'to?" I acted innocently. "Hindi po ako sigurado, 'Ma. Maybe I accidentally hit my face when I was sleeping. Nanaginip po kasi ako kagabi na nag-swap kami ng buhay ni Manny Pacquiao," I reasoned out and I barely laughed. Hanga rin ako sa sarili ko sa naisip kong pagpapalusot.
Napasinghap siya. She's not convinced. "Are you sure? Violence is never okay, son. It looks like someone punched you. Please, tell me the truth."
"That's the truth, Ma. Things happened. Mukha po ba akong nagbibiro at mukha po ba ako nakikipagbasag-ulo? It's not a big deal. Nakita niyo naman po akong pumasok sa kuwarto ko kagabi nang walang pasa kaya technically, ako po mismo sumapak sa sarili ko," pagpapatibay ko sa palusot ko.