Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 13

ONE AFTERNOON, Evron’s allergy attacked happened so suddenly that Nylah almost panicked. Kahit praktisado na niya ang pagiging kalmado pero iba pa rin kapag nakikita mo ang anak mo na nahihirapan.

At first, she thought that the boy was just joking when he started coughing after eating a slice of cake from the coffee shop’s counter. But when his lips began to swell and his face turned pale, fear shot through her chest.

“Evron? Hey, anak, what’s wrong?” Nylah asked in a trembling voice, already reaching for a glass of water.

Hindi naman makasagot ang bata at naghahabol na lamang ng hininga.

That’s when panic fully set in. Without wasting another second, Nylah called for help. “Rita! Call a cab! Fast!”

Mabilis namang tumalima ang inutusan ni Nylah.

Dinala niya si Evron sa hospital at habang nasa daan sila patungo sa hospital, maghigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ng bata.

Malapit lang ang hospital kaya agad silang nakarating.

The doctor immediately stabilized Evron’s condition.

Pero may luhang namuo sa mata ni Nylah. She felt like the worst person alive. As a mother, how could she not know about her son’s allergy?

WHEN ASHRIEL arrived at the coffee shop later that afternoon, the air inside felt strange. Normal naman ang lahat. Marami pa rin ang customer katulad ng dati, pero may kulang. Tinignan niya ang counter pero hindi si Nylah ang nakita niya doon kundi ang isa sa mga kasama nito. Si Rita.

“Where’s Nylah?” he asked, setting down the paper bag he was carrying.

Rita looked up from the register. “Dinala po niya si Evron sa hospital. Allergy po.”

“Allergy?”

“Yeah, almond daw. It was in the cake he ate.”

Hearing the kid was sick, Ashriel felt his chest tighten. He didn’t even know why. And before he could stop himself, he was already asking which hospital they went to.

Nang malaman niya kung nasaang hospital ang mag-ina, nagmamadaling lumabas ng coffee shop si Ashriel.

Hindi niya alam kung paano siya nakarating sa hospital ng ganun kabilis. Basta namalayan na lamang niya ang sarili na nasa harapan ng ward kung nasaan si Evron.

The moment he stepped into the ward, he saw Nylah sitting beside Evron’s bed, her shoulders slightly hunched as she watched the boy sleep. There was exhaustion written all over her face.

Nylah immediately looked up when she sensed someone by the door.

“Ashriel?” Bahagya pa siyang nagulat nang makita ang binata.

Itinaas naman ni Ashriel ang hawak niyang paper bag. “Brought you something to eat. You both look like you need it.”

Hindi na nagtaka si Nylah kung paano nalaman ni Ashriel na nasa hospital sila ni Evron. Rita must have told Ashriel.

“Salamat. But you didn’t have to…”

“It’s fine.” He set the food down on the small table beside Nylah. “Kumusta siya?” tanong niya at tinignan si Evron na nakahiga sa hospital bed habang may IV fluids na nakakabit sa kamay nito.

“Sabi ng doktor maayos na araw ang lagay niya. But they’re keeping him under observation for a few hours, just to be sure.” Tumingin si Nylah sa anak. “I didn’t know he was allergic to almonds.”

Ashriel leaned slightly against the wall. “Same goes to me,” he murmured.

Napakurap si Nylah. “Anong ibig mong sabihin?”

Ashriel gave a small, almost sheepish smile. “I’m allergic to almonds, too.”

For a second, silence hung between them. Napatitig na lamang si Nylah kay Ashriel. Then she let out a shaky breath. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish,” Ashriel said. “Minsan na akong na-hospital dahil sa almond. Guess I just got lucky today that I wasn’t the one eating your cake.”

Sa kabila ng pag-aalala, nakuha ni Nylah ang ngumiti. “It’s good that you didn’t,” she said. “Plano kong ipatikim pa naman sa ‘yo ‘yon sana.”

Umayos ng tayo si Ashriel saka nagtaas ng kamay. “Please, no.”

Ngumiti na lamang si Nylah.

Natigilan naman si Ashriel at napatitig kay Nylah. Ito yata ang unang beses na nakita niyang ngumiti sa kaniya ng ganun ang dalaga — her smile was quite genuine, bright and fond. Unlike the way Nylah smiled at him before — forced and always polite.

“Mr. Rios?”

Ashriel blinked. “May sinasabi ka?”

Umiling si Nylah. “Kumain ka na?” tanong niya saka kumuha ng pagkain sa dinala ni Ashriel. “Thanks for the food by the way. Libre ka ng dalawang araw sa coffee shop ko.”

That made Ashriel smile.

Nang lumabas ang resulta ng examinations ni Evron, pinayagan na rin sila ng doktor na umuwi. And they also prescribed a medicine for allergies that Evron could drink anytime he accidentally eats something against his allergies.

Nylah gathered Evron’s things. Tahimik na rin ang hospital.

Ashriel stood by the doorway, hands tucked in his pockets. Hindi pa ito umalis simula ng dumating ito. Nanatili ito kasama si Nylah at Evron sa hospital.

“Ready to go?” he asked quietly as he glanced at Evron, who was still sleeping. Pero nakapalit na ito ng damit. Hindi na ito nakasuot ng hospital gown.

Tumango si Nylah. “You don’t have to stay. It’s late. We can take a cab.”

Ashriel tilted his head. “Ihahatid ko na kayo ni Evron. Gabi na at mahirap na ang sasakyan sa ganitong oras.”

“I…” Nylah sighed. “It’s not—”

“Nylah, I’m not a bad person,” seryosong saad ni Ashriel. “Alam kong mahirap ng magtiwala lalo na sa panahon ngayon. But at least, just give a little trust.” He raised his hand and showed his three fingers. “I won’t do anything to you and your son. Gusto ko lang kayong ihatid.”

Gustong matawa ni Nylah sa sinabi ni Ashriel. It’s not about the trust. She’s a skillful mercenary. She could kill in an instant and could kill Ashriel without using any weapon. It’s just that… too much attachment will only lead to trouble.

But… she sighed and nodded. “Okay… thank you.”

Ngumiti si Ashriel. “A kid really likes to sleep,” he said, glancing at Evron.

“Yeah,” Nylah said. “The doctor said he’ll be fine, just needs rest.”

Kinuha ni Ashriel ang maliit na backpack mula kay Nylah. It was a quiet gesture but natural.

Binuhat naman ni Nylah ang anak.

Ashriel wanted to carry the boy but he hesitated. Baka magising kasi ito at magulat kapag siya ang nakita nitong nakakarga rito. Iba pa rin ang reaksiyon nito kapag ang ina ang nakahawak rito.

Naglakad sila sa hallway ng hospital at tahimik lamang sila hanggang sa makarating sila sa parking lot.

When they reached Ashriel’s car, he opened the back seat for them. Then he carefully took Evron from her arms — gentle, almost hesitant — as if afraid the child would break. He put Evron in the back seat and buckled him in.

Umupo naman si Nylah sa passenger seat.

Hindi na napigilan ni Nylah ang sarili na matawa nang makita kung paano magmaneho si Ashriel. “You drive too carefully for someone who looks like a troublemaker,” he said.

Ashriel smirked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Mr. Rios?”

“Hmm?”

Tinignan ni Nylah ang mga nadadaanan nila. “You could’ve just gone home, you know.”

Tumango si Ashriel. “Pero ayaw ko. For some reason, hindi ako panatag na basta ko na lang kayong iwan sa hospital. At least, I can give you a ride home to know you’re safe.”

“Talaga?” naninigurong tanong ni Nylah. “Wala ng ibang rason?”

Tutok ang mata ni Ashriel sa daan at tumango. Of course, may iba pang rason. But he couldn’t voice it out. Hindi naman sa naduduwag siya pero alam niya kasing hindi pa ito ang tamang oras. Baka matakot niya lamang si Nylah kung magsabi siya agad ng nararamdaman niya para rito.

When they reached Nylah’s apartment building, Ashriel parked near the entrance. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to him. Her voice is soft as she speaks, “Thanks again.”

Ashriel shrugged lightly. “Anytime.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Nylah saka bumaba ng kotse at kinuha niya si Evron sa backseat.

With her free hand, she closed the car’s door and waved at Ashriel. “Goodnight, Mr. Rios.”

Ashriel raised his hand and did a small wave. “Goodnight.”

Nang masiguro niyang nakapasok na ang mag-ina sa apartment ng mga ito, saka naman siya umalis ng may ngiti sa labi.

WHEN MORNING CAME, isang hindi inaasahang tao ang naging bisita ni Nylah. Pagbukas niya kasi ng pinto ng apartment, nakatayo sa labas si Ashriel at may ngiti ito sa labi.

Nylah, being Nylah, couldn’t help but frown. “Mr. Rios?”

Ashriel waved his hand. “Pinalayas ako ng nanay ko sa bahay namin.” Aniya. That was a lie, though, because he was already living independently.

“Then why are you here?” tanong ni Nylah.

Ashriel showed an innocent smile. “Wala akong makakainan ng breakfast.”

Nylah rolled her eyes. “What a lame reason you made, Mr. Rios,” she said. “Ang yaman mo. I’m sure naman isang tawag mo lang bubukas ang isang restaurant para ipagluto.”

Ashriel let out a sigh. “I’m miserable. I’m not like the other rich kid. My mother taught me how to be frugal.” Itinaas niya ang hawak na brown paper bag. “So, I brought some breakfast.”

Napailing na lamang si Nylah dahil hindi siya naniniwala sa lalaki. Niluwagan na lamang niya ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. “Come in.”

Doon ngumiti si Ashriel ng wagas. “Thanks, Miss Laurent.”