"I have already prescribed him the medicine he needed. For now he's fine. Just call me when something happens," ani Dr. Valdez.
"Thank you, Doc." Ngumiti ako.
"You're welcome, Doc."
We both chuckled.
As soon as Dr. Valdez walked out of the room, I sat down near him and held his hand.
"How are you feeling, Papà?"
"Better than yesterdays?" Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya.
"That's good to hear. I'll stay here for the mean time to look after you. Is it okay if I use my old room?"
The old man smiled gently.
"I'm sure your room misses you too."
I smiled.
Days went by and I spend it with him. Nagpaalam ako sa mga kaibigan na dito muna ako pansamantala mananatili habang inaalagan ko si Papa. Naintindihan naman nila.
"It's a good thing that you have decided to stay here for a while. Akala ko hindi ka na magsasawa sa pag ko-commute ng pabalik balik." Si Yohan nang minsang dumalaw sa mansyon.
"My friends went home anyway. Ano pa bang aatupagin ko sa resort?"
"Hindi ano. Sino." He smirked.
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.
"What? Are you confused now?"
"Confused of what, Yohan?"
"Between the two." He shrugged.
Hindi ako nagsalita.
"Whoever you choose, I won't approved. They're both assholes."
Tamad ko siyang binalingan.
"Who asks for your approval?"
Hinampas niya ako ng throw pillow kaya natawa ako nang bahagya.
Lumipas pa ang mga araw na lagi akong nand'yan para kay Papà. He has a private nurse then but I chose to take care of him myself. Isinantabi ko muna ang pagpapatayo ko ng clinic na nakaproyekto kay Axton. Yes, he insisted to do it for me. He's now working on it while I'm still busy.
"Papà, it's time to take your medicine." Inilapag ko ang maliit na tray sa bedside table.
Ganoon palagi ang sitwasyon namin sa bahay hanggang sa may mapansin ako. I'm a doctor so I would know if the patient isn't feeling well or not even if he denies it.
"Are you okay, Papà? How are you feeling?" tanong ko nang pumasok ako sa silid niya.
He's breathing difficulty when I saw him but when he saw me he smiled and relaxed himself.
"I'm fine, hija. But... would you mind knocking before you enter?"
"Oh! Sorry po."
I understood his privacy. Noon pa man ganoon na siya dito sa bahay. No one is allowed to enter without knocking first. Ang akala ko ay normal lang 'yon. That he only wanted to implement that rule even if he's sick. But the following days, I confirmed that it isn't about it anymore. He's trying to hide something and as days go by, he became weaker.
"Papà! Are you okay?!" nag aalalang tanong ko nang maabutan ko siyang nahihirapang huminga.
Itinaas niya ang kamay niyang nasa dibdib at tumango. Inalalayan ko siyang makaupo. Binigyan ko siya ng gamot na agad niyang ininom. Bahagya na siyang kumalma pagkatapos no'n.
"Can you get me a glass of milk?" he asked.
Tumango ako at agad lumabas. Halos ganoon ang nangyayari na minsan ko nang ipinagtaka dahil hindi naman niya inuubos ang gatas na ibinibigay ko. Kung hindi kalahati ay bahagya lamang itong nabawasan.
BINABASA MO ANG
An Inconvenient Attachment
Storie d'amoreUntil when are you going to say that you've had enough? Feeling unwanted, unloved and being deprived of having a family. Xiomara Evanthia Zarate is the plutocrat Governor's illegitimate daughter. She was the fruit of a sinful affair between her fath...
