Sachiko was already next to me when I woke up. She was typing something on her laptop. Nang mapansing gising na ako ay saka lang ito tumigil.

"Nagpupumilit si kuya kanina na pumasok dito, buti nalang at napigilan namin ni mommy. Swerteng kumag."

Inayos ko ang unan bago nagtanong.

"Bakit daw?"

Sachiko shrugged and continued with what she's doing.

"Are you hungry, Ate? Eleven na kasi. Far too late for your dinner. We didn't wanna wake you kasi parang pagod na pagod ka."

Speaking of... gutom nga ako. Hindi ba naman ako nakakain ng maayos.

"Samahan mo ako?" tanong ko.

"Oo naman! Let's go."

Sachiko was the one who opened the door. Natigil siya kaya napatingin ako sa labas. Zane was waiting there, in his wheelchair, with food in hand. Mukhang kani-kanina pa ito naghihintay. At sa magkabilang gilid ay bodyguards at ang kaniyang personal butler.

"Kuya! What are you doing here?" sorpresang tanong ni Sachiko.

"Dinner? I'll have this... reheated." Tukoy niya sa akin.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Sachiko. She flashed a smile and I instantly knew what's in her mind.

"Ang effort ha," tuya niya. "Kay Ate Pomme agad, hindi man lang ako pinansin."

"Ako na magre-reheat. Thank you?" ani ko.

"You're welcome." Pormal at may pinalidad niyang sagot.

Akala ko hindi na bababa pero sumabay siya sa amin pababa. At sa elevator, hindi sa hagdanan. We were silent while going down. Nagmamadali papunta sa kusina si Javi, ang kaniyang assistant na siya ring panganay na anak ni Mr. Von, para i-reheat ang pagkain kahit na sinabi kong ako nalang ang gagawa.

"I can do that though..." I trailed.

"Kaya niya na 'yan, Ate Pomme, at baka ma-comatose ulit si kuya kapag nasaktan ka." Natatawang sabi ni Sachiko.

Peke akong tumawa. Pati pagkain ay nakamasid ang lahat sa akin. Muntik ko pang hindi malunok ang unang subo ko.

"Pwedeng huwag niyo akong titigan habang kumakain? Parang nakakalimutan ko kasi paano kumain ng maayos."

Ano 'to? The Hawthorne Effect?

Zane moved his hand to dismiss the others. Naiwan kaming tatlo kasama si Sachiko.

"Hindi ka aalis, kuya?" inosenteng tanong ni Sachiko.

Agad itong binigyan ng masamang tingin ng lalaki.

"Ako nalang pala ang aalis. I'll be in your room, Ate Pomme."

"Hm. I don't have an extra quilt though..." I said.

"Tatabi naman ako sa 'yo!"

"Sachiko!" Zane said in a warning tone.

Bumalik si Sachiko. I gave Zane a questioning look.

He cleared his throat and gave me a look. Mukha siyang kabado at mukhang naghahanda rin sa susunod na gustong sabihin. His eyes moved from my face down to the table.

"Hindi naman ikaw ang asawa..." he murmured.

Hindi ko masyadong narinig iyon. Sachiko's eyes widened and her mouth formed an O. Tuliro ko silang tiningnan ng paulit-ulit.

"Oh my God, kuya. I can't believe it..."

"Ano? Anong meron?" tanong ko.

Umiwas ng tingin si Zane. His expression was strict yet his neck and ears were red. It was quite visible because he is pale, hindi pa talaga naaarawan ng matagal.

Now that I think about it, should I still do my duties as his personal nurse? O hindi na? He's recovering pretty well. Kahit na minsan nga raw ay sumasakit pa rin ang ulo at hindi pa masyadong nakakaalala ng mga bagay-bagay. Him waking up is truly a miracle. Kung hindi miracle 'yon, ewan ko nalang kung anong tawag do'n.

"He's going to be having a therapy. It'll take a long long time siguro before he can manage to do things all by himself." Si Sachiko.

Zane has gone back to his room. Hindi dapat iyon gising ng ganitong oras. He's supposed to sleep way earlier than we normally do to avoid worsening his condition. They bickered awhile ago for i don't know reason and Sachiko ended winning.

"Hm. He's going to be in a lot of confusion during this stage. At dadalas ang pagsakit ng ulo niya. I'm kinda surprised that he can speak very well. Kasi most of the cases na ganiyan, nagkakaroon ng memory gaps and challenges in speech..." litanya ko.

Nakatitig lang ako sa kisame, ganoon din si Sachiko.

I can be his personal nurse during rehabilitation. Hindi ako ang magp-perform, hindi naman ako gano'n ka powerful. I'll be the one assisting him, parang repayment na rin sa tulong ng family niya sa akin.

"Ilang araw din iyan siya na bedrest kasi hindi makagalaw. He opened his eyes first but he wasn't able to speak. Days after, he began speaking vividly. Parang sound lang na unclear. Tapos overtime, it became clear enough for all of us to understand."

"We'll tak about more of it tomorrow. Matulog na muna tayo, Sachi, at baka hindi ako magising bukas."

The first thing Sachiko and I did the next day is making more scented candles for her. Nakamasid lang ito sa akin at paminsan-minsan ay inaabot kung ano ang kailangan ko.

"Ayon na nga, ate, I can't do anything at all without my friends. I feel so dependent on them."

"Wala namang masama do'n. But you also have to have boundaries."

"I hope we stay as good friends as long as we live. I don't really know what to do if I lose any one of them."

Binigyan ko siya ng ngiti. I used to say and hope that way too. To be honest, hanggang ngayon din naman. But along the way, I realize friendship is much better than a crowd. Sa akin lang naman 'yon, paniniwala ko 'yon. Others have a say on their view too, and it's okay because we have different experiences to make our beliefs and opinions plausible.

"You know, ate, even if I'm like this, I lost a lot of friends during my high school days too! They start to drift away when I start to say no to them. Bakit kaya gano'n?" dagdag niya. "Dapat ba palagi ko silang pagbibigyan? Should I say yes to everything they say?"

"That's why you need to have boundaries. Know when to distance yourself when you feel like what they do doesn't align with yours. Kung naf-feel mo na parang tine-take for granted ka na ng isang tao, learn to walk away on your own."

Itinabi ko ang mga kandila na hinuhulma. Sachiko was staring at the candles intently, maybe trying to absorb everything that I'll say.

I'm not good at giving advices but I am confident to say that I am a good listener.

"You know, at some point, you have to disappoint others in order to live a life that is true to you." I added. "You are allowed to disappoint others and still be a good person."

"I wish you and my kuya will have a happy ending," she muttered.

Ewan. Baka. Siguro.

After finishing two batches of candles, Sachiko and I left the room. Wala na naman ang mommy at daddy dahil may nilakad. Si Zane naman ay nagbabasa ng magazine sa sala mula sa kompanya. It was the latest magazine produced by his company.

"I'll go get something to eat and drink, Ate," paalam ni Sachiko.

"Magluluto ka? Baka sumabog ang kusina. Ako nalang ang gagawa."

"You're bullying me, Ate Pomme. I know how to prito and it doesn't get burn like before. Perfect na ngayon. And I'm not going to cook, yaya will do that."

"Sige, balik ka agad."

Nang umalis ito ay umupo ako sa couch, hindi masyadong malapit ngunit hindi rin ganoon ka layo mula sa pang-isahang sofa kung saan nakaupo si Zane.

"Uh.. are you busy?" I asked.

Napatigalgal ako sa sunod na ginawa nito. He closed the magazine quickly and tossed it over. Sumandal siya sa upuan at binalingan ako ng tingin na parang walang nangyari.

"It's not important. What do you want?"