Chapter 29 – Don’t care too much.

"The GM is too early today. He's looking for you. Bakit wala ka pa raw, eh d'yan ka lang sa baba nakatira," natatawang salubong ni Sarah kay Hannah kinabukasan.

"He's here already?" Hindi siya makapaniwala gayong isang oras pa siyang mas maaga sa official time niya.

"Yup. At mukhang bad mood. What did you do to him yesterday huh? Hindi na kayo bumalik pareho."

"We went to your sister's house," she told her.

"I know. Naikwento na sa akin ni ate. Geez, that boy. I don't know why he's not declaring his love to you yet. Such a torpe. Tsk!"

"Sarah, maybe there's really nothing to confess," she proceeded to make Nate's coffee habang nakasunod pa rin ang kausap sa likod niya. "Besides, I'm not his type."

"And what do you know about his type?"

"Come on, the likes of Olive of course. Matangkad, maputi, sexy, maganda at–"

"Manloloko?" Putol nitong iniikot ang mga mata.

"They love each other."

"Ikaw lang ang nagpipilit niyan."

"May anak sila. They're happy."

"It's either Nate is such a shy lover boy or you're so dense, Hannah," Sarah giggled and she rolled her eyes.

Why did everyone keep telling her that Nate was into her when she couldn't see the hints herself?

'He kissed you, Hannah,' her mind told her and the memory of it almost sent her blushing.

"He's not in love with me, period," sabi niya bago kumuha ng tasa para sa kape ni Nate.

"What about you, Hannah?"

"What about me?"

"Are you in love with him?" Diretsong tanong nito.

"I- I'm not," kaila niya.

"Really huh?" Nasa likod niya ito pero nagulat pa rin siya nang bigla nitong pigilin ang kamay niyang naglalagay ng asukal sa kape ni Nate. "Hep!"

"What?"

"Are you planning to make Nate diabetic?" kunot noong tanong nito na itinapon sa sink ang kapeng tinimpla niya. "You put three teaspoons of sugar in already. Didn't I tell you he wants his coffee strong?" she poured another into the cup. "Here, leave it this way."

"But yesterday—" gusto niyang sabihin na ganoon din ang ginawa niya kahapon at ininom naman iyon ni Nate nang walang sinasabi.

"He drank it?" hula nitong tumatango-tango.

"Yes."

"I told you and you have to believe me now, he's in love with you," Sarah teased tapos tinulak na siya paakyat sa penthouse. "Go, don't let him wait too long."

"Sarah!" she protested at tinawanan lang siya nito.

-----

Mula sa glass wall, nakita niyang wala sa office nito si Nate kaya naupo muna siya sa couch at ipinatong sa center table ang kape. She couldn't understand why hindi na lang sa penthouse gawin mismo ang kape nito since may kusina naman doon. Siguro ayaw lang pa-invade masyado ni Nate ang space nito.

Five minutes na at wala pa ring sign na nandoon ang binata. Lumalamig na ang kape nito kaya nagpasya siyang bumalik sa baba para gawan ito ng bago. Papalabas na lang siya nang lumabas ito galing sa isang silid.

"Ms. Rodriguez, please get ready. We're leaving in fifteen minutes," sabi nito bago nagawi ang tingin sa kapeng hawak niya. "Never mind the coffee."

Base sa pagtingin nito sa hawak niyang tasa, he might be thinking na maling timpla na naman ang dala niya. She could almost see horror in his handsome face.

"I got it right this time," she offered with an unsure smile.

Tumango ito and gestured to her to follow him in his office.

Hannah observed na parang matamlay si Nate. Hindi ito masyadong suplado at malamlam din ang mga mata nito.

"Are you alright?" she dared to ask habang inilalapag ang kape nito.

"Of course. Maghanda ka na. Dadaanan kita sa baba," dismissive nitong sagot.

"Okay." She looked at him one more time bago siya tumalikod. Hindi nakaligtas sa kanya ang bahagya nitong pag-ubo bago siya tuluyang makalabas ng opisina nito.

'Is he sick?' tanong niya sa isip. Kaya pagbalik niya sa desk niya, tinanong agad niya si Sarah kung may mga gamot ba sila.

"May sakit ka ba?" Sarah asked pero itinuro rin sa kanya kung nasaan ang mga gamot.

"Thanks."

Pagbalik niya ay naroon na si Nate at kausap si Sarah for last minute instructions. Bago sila umalis ng binata ay binigyan muna siya ni Sarah ng makahulugang tingin. She knew, she also noticed. Tumango na lang siya rito.

Gloomy ang panahon paglabas nila. Parang uulan pa nga. Pero mukhang wala namang makapipigil kay Nate.

His meeting was with a young businessman. Probably a little older than Nate. Gwapo ito, matangkad at walang ginawa sa kabuuan ng meeting kundi mag-flirt sa kanya.

She will just offer him a courteous smile at hindi nagpapa-distract sa pagmi-minutes niya. Mas distracted pa nga siya sa nakikitang lamlam ng mga mata ni Nate. Minsan kinakakitaan niya iyon ng inis sa behavior ng kausap nito pero hindi ito nagre-react. In the end, Nate still got what he wanted.

"He's already married with three kids." Narinig niyang sabi nito nang pabalik na sila sa kotse.

"He looks young," she commented para lang may masabi.

"Learn how to discern a sincere man, Ms. Rodriguez," patuloy nito. "Or else you would end up being played with."

"Well thanks for your concern, Mr. Sarmiento." Tiningala niya ang kasabay na naglalakad na binata to find him also looking at her. "M-much appreciated," she added, pulling her gaze away.

Umuulan na nang malakas ng makalabas na ulit sila.

"Sarah called to inform na nag-cancel na ng appointment ang next meeting mo. Stranded daw siya," sabi niya kay Nate after taking a call from Sarah.

"Let's go back to the hotel," he answered.

Sa kamalas-malasan, tumirik sila when Nate attempted to pass a road na bahagya ng mataas ang tubig.

'Seriously? Gano'n ba kalakas ang ulan?' she thought.

"D*mn it,” napahampas ito sa manibela. Alam ni Hannah na hindi lang iyon dala ng frustration. Masama ang pakiramdam ni Nate. Hindi lang ito nagsasabi.

"Where are you going?!" worried niyang tanong nang lumabas ito ng kotse gayong napakalakas ng ulan.

"I'm gonna check the tires!" halos pasigaw nitong sabi.

"It's raining!" on instinct ay bumaba rin siya na may dalang payong para payungan ito which was useless dahil nga sobrang lakas ng ulan.

"What are you doing?! Get back inside!" he shouted at her.

"No! Unless you get inside too," matigas niyang sabi.

He just sighed in frustration bago napipilitang pumasok sa loob ng kotse. Pero siya muna ang pinapasok nito bago ito sumakay ng sasakyan.

Asar na muli itong napahampas sa manibela. Basang-basa sila pero mas lalo ito.

"Why don't you just call your bodyguards?" malumanay niyang suhestiyon. Kahit na nagtataka siya kung bakit wala pang tumutulong sa kanila. His bodyguards do not stay too far away from him. Dapat nandoon na sila.

"They're not with us." Napasabunot ito sa basa nitong buhok.

"Hindi ba lagi silang nakasunod?"

"I stopped having bodyguards, okay?" frustrated nitong sagot sa kanya bago hinagilap ang cellphone nito.

Natahimik naman siya habang kausap nito sa phone nito si Paul. Why would Nate stop having his bodyguards?

They stayed inside his car for an hour bago dumating sina Paul. He offered her a secret teasing smile and she just rolled her eyes at him. Binigyan sila nito ng towel na iti-next niya rito pagkatapos itong tawagan ni Nate kanina. Lumipat sila ng sasakyan na si Paul na ang nagda-drive.

They were quiet. Too quiet that Hannah didn't miss the way Nate was chilling on his seat. Pagdating sa hotel, nagpa-assist siya para dumiretso sa penthouse ang elevator.

Nate could barely stand at nag-aapoy na ito sa lagnat but he's still adamant not to ask for help. Pero hindi naman papayag si Hannah na pabayaan na lang ito. Nate Sarmiento was sick. Sa ayaw at sa gusto nito, she'll be staying beside him.

"Go away, Hannah," he said barely above whisper, nadala na niya ito sa kama nito and he refused to move further.

At kahit hinang-hina ito, Hannah didn't miss the way he called her by her first name. He hasn't been calling her Hannah, lagi na lang Ms. Rodriguez which was too formal to set a barrier between them.

"Nate, you have to change your clothes," kausap niya sa binatang halos 'di na nakadilat. "Basang-basa ka."

Umiling ito para sabihin marahil na hindi na nito kaya pang gumalaw.

"Do you have clothes here?" naghanap siya sa mga cabinet and get him something to change. "Nate," bumalik siya sa tabi nito at sinubukan itong patayuin. "Nate, come on. You need to change," he didn't stir kaya napilitan siyang siya na ang magbibihis sa binata. Nakaalis na kasi si Paul at hindi na niya ito gustong pabalikin. "Nate, I'm going to change your clothes, okay?"

'Maliit na bagay, Hannah. You can do it!'

Ina-unbutton na niya ang polo nito nang mapansin niyang nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay. Hindi kaya siya pagalitan ni Nate sa gagawin niya? Pero hindi niya rin ito pwedeng pabayaan. Mas cruel kung iiwanan niya ito mag-isa.

Napalunok siya nang tumambad sa paningin niya ang bare chest ni Nate. Parang gusto niyang pumikit habang inaalis ang pang-itaas nito. But he was getting hotter each second, and by hotter she meant it literally. Napapaso na siya sa sobrang init nito and she knew she needed to be quick.

"Nate," sambit niya sa pangalan nito para warningan ito na bahagya niya itong ibabangon para maalis nang tuluyan ang polo nito.

Nate just groaned and didn't open his eyes. Mabilis nya itong pinalitan ng t-shirt. Now, she had to change his pants as well. This time, aminado siya sa sarili niya na hindi na niya kayang hubaran sa bahaging iyon ang binata. Saglit siyang nag-isip ng gagawin. Hinila niya ang kumot at itinakip sa katawan nito while attempting to unzip his pants.

Wala. Hindi talaga niya kaya. Hindi naman siguro ikakamatay ni Nate ang basang pantalon. Pumunta siya CR at kumuha ng pambimpo sa binata. Pagbalik niya ay nanginginig na ito.

"Nate? Nate?" He was chilling. "Nate, open your eyes. Listen to me, kailangan mong magpalit ng pantalon at underwear. But I cannot do it. Please."

Sa nanginginig na kalagayan ay pinilit nitong bumangon.

"T-turn around," mahina nitong saad.

"What?"

"I said turn around!" impatient na ulit nito. "I can't go to the bathroom to change," nanghihina nitong dagdag.

"Okay, fine, Heto pamalit mo," sabi niya sabay talikod muna. "Tell me when you're done," pwede siyang lumabas pero ayaw niya itong iwan. Two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, five. "Are you done yet?" tanong niya but she didn't get any response.

"Nate?" worried niyang tawag bago inipon ang lakas ng loob at nilingon ito. "Nate!" nakita niya itong nakalugmok sa kama nito, hindi pa nakapantalon pero mukhang bihis na ng underwear. Okay. Madali na lang solusyunan ang problema niya. She grabbed the blanket at itinakip iyon sa binata bago ito iniayos ng higa. "Nate, you're heavy!" bulong niya.

He groaned again nang aksidente niya itong madaganan.

"I'm sorry," hinging dispensa niya bago ito inumpisahang bimpuhan. Napakataas ng lagnat nito. She should be calling for a doctor pero sigurado naman siyang ordinaryong flu lang iyon and he just needed some rest.

Nanay siya ng apat na taon. Sanay siyang inaalagaan noon si Elisha kapag nagkakasakit. During those times, it never occurred to Hannah that she would be taking care of Eli's father as well.

Lastly, naglagay siya ng basang bimpo sa noo nito in lieu of cold compress.

"Take a rest for now. I'll go get you something to eat so you can take medicine," she told the sleeping Nate.

So she was surprised when he grabbed her arm.

"D-don't care too much, Hannah," nakapikit at nanghihina nitong sabi. "D-don't pretend you're honestly concerned about me. D-don't make me believe you really care- W-hen you do n-not have a p-plan to stay in the f-first place."

That caught her off guard. Napatitig na lang siya sa binata.

"Y-you're leaving me again, d-don't you? W-when you no longer h-have a reason to stay? W-what can I give you so you will not d-disappear like t-that again? What can I h-hold against you so you'd be forced to stay? huh? Hannah?"

Tears welled her eyes as realization hit her hard in the face. Did Nate think she left because she no longer had a reason to stay?

She could give him one hundred and one reasons why she would love to stay by his and Eli's side but none of it would be right. They deserved to be a family. And their family did not include her. She left not because she wanted to. She left because she had to. To give them a chance to be together.

"I'll be back, Nate. I promise," she whispered and freed her arm. All the while ay nakapikit lang si Nate which made Hannah think that he didn't mean to say the words he just said. If he were fine, hindi nito sasabihin ang totoong nararamdaman nito. He's sick and he just spilled his feelings out.

"Y-you don't have to."

"No. Let me decide on that," mabilis siyang lumabas at bumaba sa restaurant. She couldn't cook anymore. Nate needs to eat.