Sheena's POV
It's my second day in the hospital as a staff/ alalay/ or whatever my friends want to call it. Colet, Mikha, and Maloi won't be here today despite their lies na kasama nila ako sa kalokohan para magrounded din sila just to be with me. My parents knew that they were just covering me up. My friends promised to visit me, though.
I set an alarm earlier para maaga akong makapunta dito. I noticed yesterday kasi na Gweneth is early too, so, I decided na uunahan ko siya palagi. I wanted to talk to her more before the program starts. I don't know, sobrang interesado ako sa kanya at pakiramdam ko, behind those cold stares of her, may nakatagong soft spot. She cares about the patients here, akala mo lumaki dito sa hospital eh.
Upon entering the hospital, I greeted the guards and the receptionist. Today will be a great day, I can feel it.
Pero bumagsak ang balikat ko nang makita ko si Gweneth sa loob ng venue while seriously reading a book. Bakit ang aga niya? Seriously, we have like two hours pa before the activity.
I approached Gweneth without her noticing. Mukha siyang natutuwa sa binabasa niya kaya minsan napapangiti siya. She's so pretty!
"Intense ah!" I started.
She looked up and when she saw me, her aura suddenly changed. Literally from a heart-eyed emoji into an irritated one. I can sense na gusto niya talaga akong makita today.
"A Hue of Blu ..." I read the cover of the book that she's reading. "Can you tell me about it?" I asked.
She stiffed and turned to me after a few seconds. "I still have a few pages left. But this is a romance, all about toxicity and healing." she answered at bumalik sa pagbabasa.
I get my phone inside my pocket and silently searched for the book. It directed me to the book ratings and reviews. Kahit na wala akong tiyaga magbasa ng mga ganito, I patiently read the reviews of the book.
"Oh, hindi pala endgame eh. The guy left the girl kahit na the girl told him about her traumas and all." I told her.
"Asshole! I told you I STILL HAVE FEW PAGES LEFT! Why did you spoil me!?" she frustratedly asked.
"What? I'm just trying to have a conversation with you." I honestly answered.
She shook her head and walked away. Lumipat siya ng upuan sa malapit sa stage, pinatong niya yong bag niya sa chair on her left side while her tumbler on her right side. She made sure na hindi ako makakatabi. But me being me, I carried a chair and placed it in front of her.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I won't bother you na. Magbasa ka nalang diyan." I apologized pero hindi na siya sumagot.
I was just staring at her for 30 minutes now. Observing how she changes her expressions from time to time. Surprisingly, hindi naman ako nabored just by looking at her. I was shock when she suddenly turned to me, our eyes met and I quickly diverted my gaze. Pinagtuonan ko ng pansin 'yong plain na stage at kunwari abala akong tinititigan ito.
I heard her soft chuckle kaya napatingin ako sa kanya pero nagbabasa lang siya ng libro kaya baka hindi niya napansin na titig na titig ako sa kanya.
"Paano mo natatagalang magbasa ng libro?" I asked her.
"I love reading books ever since. And my type is someone who can stay long just by reading books. Gusto ko ng matalino and soft person so I can study with him or her in the library." Napakamot ako ng ulo sa sagot niya. Ang hirap naman ng gusto niya.
"Ayaw mo sa dancer?" I asked.
"Pwede, dancer na may pake sa acads at hindi bulakbol." she replied.
Ayon lang, doon ako natalo.
After more than 20 minutes, the patients started arriving. Iyong iba ay binabati pa si Gweneth sa tabi ko. The organizers and some hospital staffs have finally arrived too. As usual, short prayer, briefing and some speech muna before they let me pick patients na pwedeng i-assist at tulungan in reading and doing the prepared activities.
I was to hide kasi wala na agad akong social battery but a kid bumped into me. He looked up and rolled his eyes.
"Sakit." he mumbled while caressing his head.
"You should say sorry, kid." I told him.
"Ikaw nga dapat eh! Ang laki laki mo tapos di ka marunong umiwas!" he protested. "Hindi ba dapat may kasama kang kid? Sabi kanina ni Doc tuturuan niyo raw kami." he added.
Paano ko ba sasabihing tatakas ako? At bakit andaming sinasabi ng batang 'to? I scanned the kid, sobrang payat niya and he's pale. Mukha siyang palaging pagod but it won't change a fact na mukha rin siyang may kaya. I read his name tag, it says 'Miggy'.
"Look Miggy, your Ate Sheena here will hide in the comfort room. Huwag mo akong isusumbong ha? Lagot ka sakin!" I was about to walk away but he cling into my thigh.
"Sama ako, Sheena." he said.
"No. Bahala ka diyan!" I told him but he started yelling, getting the attention of everyone including Gweneth. She's with a beautiful small girl and she's teaching the kid how to color the book properly. Ang cute!
"Everyone, someone's trying to escap----" I immediately covered Miggy's mouth and smiled at everyone. Pambihira! Hindi lang isasama, nagtantrums na.
"What were you saying, Miggy?" One of the organizers approached us.
"It's nothing, Ma'am. Sabi ko naman kasi sa'yo magdraw na tayo eh." I told Miggy and smiled at the organizer sheepishly.
"Okay, Sheena and Miggy, start doing your activities na." at naiwan ako kasama ni Miggy. The organizer made sure to keep an eye to the both of us kaya wala na akong nagawa.
"I hate you." Miggy started.
"Quit that, kid. You'll finish this entire program with me kaya wala kang magagawa. Anyways, saan tayo magsisimula?" I asked, iniwan niya ako at naglakad sa station namin. Kinuha niya 'yong coloring stuffs niya and gave it to me.
We both sat down and started coloring. "Bakit yellow yang mango mo?" I asked Miggy.
"Duh! Mangoes are yellow naman eh." he retorted.
"Color it black." I told him.
"Why black, Sheena?" he asked.
"Black kasi pag bulok na diba?" I laugh at my own joke but he's just looking at me. When I calmed down, we continued coloring.
I was about to tease Miggy again but I saw him looking at the pretty little girl beside Gwen. Oh God! This little boy is blushing.
"Crush mo no?" I teased.
"No! Ang dungis niya lang kaya ko tinitingnan. Papansin ka naman!" he said.
"Hindi naman madungis eh. Crush mo no?" I asked again. "Don't worry, crush ko rin 'yong kasama niya." I told him.
"You know Ate Gwen? She's the kindest and smartest here. She always visits us tapos she's baking banana bread pa para sa amin." wow! he became talkative because of Gweneth and now I'm starting to think na hindi 'yong bata ang crush nitong lokong batang 'to.
"Makakaagaw pa ata kita kay Gweneth eh." I shook my head.
"Si Brianna crush ko hindi si Ate Gwen. Wala kang pag-asa sa kanya." Miggy said, emphasizing 'wala kang pag-asa' to make it more believable.
"Edi wala ka ring pag-asa kay Brianna! Ayaw niya sa batang salbahe!" I replied and stuck out my tongue.
"Ayaw din ni Ate Gwen sa matandang salbahe!" he stuck out his tongue too.
I shook my head. Salbahe na nga, natawag pang matanda.
After 3 hours, we're finally done with the activity today. Hinihintay nalang namin ang mommy ni Colet for the closing remarks for today's activity. Miggy is just playing in his Nintendo switch so I decided to check my phone too. As usual, marami na namang messages sa group chat naming magkakaibigan.
Colet: Shee, are you there? Kamusta ka diyan?
Mikha: She's probably hiding somewhere before the activity starts.
Maloi: Probably! When will she ever learn?
Sheena: excuse me? I attended the activity and finished it pa. Nagbabagong buhay na ako. Plus, tatambay na tayo sa library sa pasukan. I replied and sent a picture of Miggy, coloring his book.
Colet: Natagalan mo lang yan because of Gweneth, no? Down bad.
Sheena: Shut up! I need you to do me a favor.
Mikha: I'm busy.
Maloi: May gagawin din ako.
Colet: Pass.
Sheena: Ililibre ko kayo next week.
Maloi: Sure, anything for our bebe Shee. Ano ba 'yon?
Colet: Hindi naman mabiro si Shee. Ano ba kasi 'yon?
Mikha: Still a no. I'll treat you nalang next week, Shee. Dodoblehin ko pa.
At dahil buraot si Maloi at Colet, I asked them to do something for me. Sakto naman siguro bago matapos ang activity namin for today.
After minutes of waiting, agad silang bumungad na hingal nang hingal. Dala-dala ang pinabili ko.
"You owe us a buffet treat next week." Maloi said.
"Sure, whatever! Asan na?" I asked.
Inabot ni Colet sa akin 'yong plastic kaya kinuha ko agad. Umalis naman sila pagkatapos nilang i-abot sa akin dahil may mga sarili raw silang buhay. Napapailing nalang ako.
I bit my lower lip and started walking towards Gweneth. She's with the other teenager volunteers. Masaya silang nagkukwentuhan nang makalapit ako.
"Hey." I greeted her.
"What's that? Hindi ako madadaan sa suhol." she replied.
I smiled shyly, "Miggy said Binangkal is your favorite so I asked my friends to buy one while we were busy doing the activities. The milk is for Brianna and Miggy, share it to them."
I handed her the plastic. Surprisingly, kinuha niya naman. "I'll give it to them nalang. Baka mamaya may gayuma pa 'to."
I laughed, "Paano pag may gayuma nga? Edi 'yong mga bata ang na in love sa akin? Maawa ka naman sa mga 'yan oh? I'm not a groomer."
She shook her head. "T-thanks."
"Anything for you, Gweneth."