My school days went smoothly. There were no annoying reporters since Mister Clasiso and I had talked that afternoon. It did me a great favor. At least I wouldn’t encounter those cunning reporters. There were plenty of them, and without Dad’s reputation and, yeah… protection, I might not have stood a chance. Besides, they were workers from ten of the most respectable entertainment companies.
I also noticed a significant change in Japen’s health lately. He was always tired and sleep-deprived. It worried me so much that I took the initiative to visit him on that Saturday morning. I flew from Naga down to San Fernando.
The first thing I noticed was that he was burning hot in his cold and hard bed. He didn’t open his eyes either, so I called our family doctor to come over to San Fernando. It took him almost an hour before he stood in front of him.
“Miss, is there anything you need?” he asked.
I nodded. “My friend’s burning. Please attend to him, Doc.”
He nodded and approached Japen. I just sat down in a bamboo chair and watched as Doctor Nelsen did his work. After some time, he walked closer to me.
“I gave him the treatment he needed, Miss. I checked his vitals and there are no complications that require immediate medical attention. He just needs rest.”
“Alright. Thanks, Doc.” I smiled sheepishly. “Please don’t tell Dad about this.”
Doctor Nelsen was stunned for a moment. Maybe he thought I had Dad’s permission to summon our family’s doctor. Besides, he was instructed not to accept any invitation from other people except our family.
“Your Dad doesn’t know about this?” His forehead creased slightly. “Who is this man, Miss?”
“He’s a family friend.”
He sighed, in fact, a breath of relief. He smiled at me. “I won’t tell your Dad. But please, next time, inform me so I can prepare myself.”
“No problem!”
I escorted Doc Nelsen outside the house. I stood there, at the entrance of the little gate, and waved goodbye to him. He just smiled at me and drove his car away. I also noticed some of Japen’s neighbors gossiping nearby while looking in my direction. I ignored them, locked the gate, and headed inside the house. To be sure, I also locked the door in case someone was insane enough to break in. Well, Japen was still weak, so he couldn’t protect me at that time.
I hurried to Japen’s room. There, I saw him sitting on the bed, and when I entered the room, he quickly looked in my direction.
“You’re awake,” I said and smiled at him.
He had a confused look on his face which I found astonishing. Nobody told me that Japen was handsome with his morning face.
“Did anyone come into the house earlier?” he asked.
When Doc Nelsen came inside earlier, Japen did not wake up. He was even asleep when Doc Nelsen treated him.
I nodded. “There was me. I entered your house. Look.” I stood in front of him and smiled from ear to ear.
He frowned, so I laughed. It was true. I entered his house earlier. I just wanted to tease the man in his morning grumpiness.
“No. Did anyone else come in here besides you?”
“Uhuh.” I nodded again with a grin. “I called Doc Nelsen to treat you.”
His forehead creased even more at what I said, then his shoulders relaxed. “Thank you,” he said.
He got out of bed, so I immediately approached Japen. “Do you feel dizzy?”
“Mmm…”
With that, I put his arm around my shoulders and helped him walk around the room.
My forehead creased when I felt his body vibrate, like he was suppressing his chuckles. I glanced at him and frowned. “Why are you laughing?”
He peeked at me, and our eyes met for a moment. “Are you sure about what you’re doing, Azora? You might get tired,” he teased with a smile.
I then realized what he meant by those words. I was helping him get through, but he was way taller and heavier than me. At that moment, I felt the sudden pressure on my shoulder because of how heavy Japen’s arms were!
My eyes widened. I was about to remove his arm from my shoulder, but then I felt them lighten. Japen held my shoulder in the most delicate way.
“I’m fine, Azora.” He smiled at me. “You don’t need to worry.”
I rolled my eyes. “As if,” I whispered. But his words were true. I did worry about him yesterday because after eating his ordered food at the fast food stop last Wednesday, he fell asleep! Then yesterday, I could not contact him. So I decided to give him a visit in San Fernando. After all, it had been a while since I last stepped foot in Japen’s house. And still up to that day, Mang Selyo was still in Bohol.
I helped him to the kitchen. I checked on his stored food and grimaced when I saw two cans of sardines inside a wooden cabinet. I sighed. I should treat him somewhere often.
I took one of the sardines. I tried to look for a can opener but to no avail. I hastily walked closer to Japen to inquire. “Do you have an opener for this?” I raised the can of sardines.
His eyebrow rose at my question. “Can you do it?” he asked, a small grin crossing his lips.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you insulting me?”
He shook his head. He gestured to close his mouth and smiled at me. I rolled my eyes. “Where’s the can opener?” I demanded.
Japen stared at me, amusement in his eyes. “I use a knife.”
Then I remembered him using a knife to open the can when I was still staying at his home. “Where is it then?”
His forehead knotted. “I’ll open it,” he said and stood up. He snatched the can from my hand.
I grimaced again. I snatched back the can of sardines and stepped back from Japen. “I’ll do it. Just sit down there!” I pointed to the chair he was sitting on earlier.
But Japen did not follow me; instead, he tried to snatch the can from me. I slapped his hands away. “No!” I ordered. “You’re sick, so I will do it. Besides, I want to give it a try.”
“You haven’t done that before.”
“Exactly! That’s why I want to give it a try!”
In the end, Japen was back in his chair. A grimace lingered on his face as he watched me prepare the can and the knife.
I still remembered how Japen opened the can using a knife, so I tried to mimic it. I smiled when I accomplished getting the tip of the knife through the can. Then I started to move it, but it wouldn’t budge. I tried harder but failed to do so.
So I applied more force, and I was stunned when the knife slipped and cut across my finger. Not long after, I saw blood coming from my open wound.
“Azora!”
I was left dumbfounded as I watched the blood flow from my finger.
When Japen held my hand, he dragged me near the faucet. He opened it and placed my wounded finger under the running water.
That was when I released the air that I had been holding for too long