Nikki and Chance were acting so weird lately. They’ve been talking in hushed tones and I’m catching both of them stealing glimpses of me from afar. I don’t pay much attention to them because it’s Guji I was worried about the past days. He hasn’t called me for three nights straight and I’m having insomnia already.
“Please write your names on the sheets provided,” the facilitator announced through a megaphone. “Remember the numbers next to your names. That’ll serve your contest numbers,”
While waiting for the sheets of paper to arrive to me, I kept clenching, unclenching my fists. I transfer my weight from my left foot to my right foot every now and then, and my mind’s elsewhere. Something’s happening. I could feel it on my fingertips.
“Maj!”
“WHAT?” I shouted. I regretted it as soon as I did it. “I’m sorry,”
“I’ve been calling you but you never look back,” I wiped the sweat on my forehead with the back of my hand and asked what was it he wanted. “Where’s your camera? Where are your things? You went here with absolutely nothing?”
“Shit.” When I realized that, indeed, I brought nothing for my contest, I hurried to the street and hailed a tricycle. I must get back. Fast. “Maj, I’ll go with you.”
“No it’s okay.” The tricycle stopped in front of me and I got in. Nikki and the others must be at the quarters since they’re done with their categories and I expect them to laugh at my stupidity. But what I expected was wrong.
“Last Monday, Fred noticed that Guji was a little off, weak, unfocused. He became worse the following days and they told him to rest. But he didn’t want to,” I strained my ears to keep Nikki’s words clearer. I knew something was happening. I knew. “And yesterday, his nose bled and got unconscious. They rushed him to the hospital –”
“What’s that?” I decided that I need to walk closer, ask questions, and be answered. “What happened to Guji?”
One, one two, two three.
“Ah uhm… Maj,” Nikki can’t even look at me. I swallowed hard. “Nikki, Chance? What is it?”
One, one two, two three.
“You see… Guji has dengue. Grade 3.”
When I got back to the plaza, I don’t know what to do. A camera was on my hand but I can’t work with my blank mind. I can’t think straight. And my eyes were blurry with tears.
“Maj,” I heard Yvan saying. “You only have 30 minutes to work on the theme. Are you done?”
I faced him and let my eyes cry. Harder.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asked wiping my tears away.
“Can I hug you?” When he said sure, I wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back. “Why now? Why does it have to happen now? When I’m not there beside him? Guji’s sick and I’m not there to watch over him. Yvan please… take me home. Take me home now,”
“What happened to him?”
“Just take me home… take me home please. He needs me now,”
“Okay. I will take you home,”
We got home by dark. We went straight to the hospital, to Guji’s room. I slammed the door and went directly to the bed. Where he lies. I threw my arms around him and cried. I felt his arms fall on my back.
It’s good to be home.
“Why are you here? You’re supposed to be competing –”
“Shut up.” I pushed him to the side to make room for myself. He complained. I didn’t mind. I jumped into the bed beside him and turned on the T.V. I made myself home.
I scanned the room for familiar faces but found none. Yvan left, so as Klein and the other two. I forgot to thank Yvan and say hi to Fred.
“I’m sleepy, Janella.” He whispered near my ear. “I’ll close my eyes for a minute –”
“NO. Don’t sleep yet! I still have stories about my adventures in Lucena,”
“Okay, I’ll listen. Come here,” he motioned for me to come closer. I placed my head on top of his chest and listened to his breathing, his pulse. I closed my eyes. I’ve never seen Guji this weak. It pains me. “Don’t leave me, okay? I want to wake up with the warmth of your breath around me,”