YOU ARE MY HOME

Chapter 30

I woke up to the sound of people inaudibly talking near me. I looked around and everything was white from ceiling to walls and the sheet where I was lying on.

Lira, Hope and Papa were sitting on the bench, talking.

Hope looked at my direction and realized I already woke up. She quickly rushed to me. The two followed.

"Kamusta? May masakit ba sa'yo?" bungad ni Hope.

"O-okay lang ako. Bakit ako nandito?" I asked. Isa-isa ko silang tiningnan. I really wanted to know why I ended up in a hospital.

"You passed out at this afternoon. Dinala ka agad dito. Buti nalang hindi nabagok ang ulo mo sa sahig noong natumba ka at nasalo ka agad ni Marcus," paliwanag ni Hope.

Naalala ko na nang nawalan ako ng malay kanina. I remember Marcus rescued me.

"Nasaan si Kio?" natanong ko dahil namimiss ko ang anak ko.

"Doon muna pansamantala si Kio sa bahay. Don't worry Billy and Hero are taking care of your son while you're here," Lira reassured.

"Thank you sa inyo," banggit ko at humingang malalim.

"Don't overwork yourself kasi, girl. Lagi ka nalang pinapaalalahan niyan pero hindi ka talaga nakikinig," sabi ni Hope na tila naninisi.

I smiled at her. "Noted po."

"Tapos mababalitaan nalang namin na sinugod ka sa hospital. Wag ganern," dagdag ni Lira.

"Anak, sabi ng doctor over-fatigue daw ang katawan mo kaya kailangan mo ng pahinga. Hindi raw kinaya ng katawan mo ang sobrang pagod," sabi ni Papa.

"Okay po. Pero makakalabas din po ako bukas?" I asked.

Papa nodded.

The doctor and nurse entered and checked on me.

Mabuti naman at hindi naman malala ang kondisyon ko. Aminado akong medyo napapabayaan ko ang katawan dahil sa sobrang trabaho. Kailangan ko kasing pag-ipunan ang pag-aaral ni Kio habang bata pa ako. Para lang naman sa anak ko ang lahat ng pagsusumikap ko.

They went out after telling me things to do to fully recover. Nagpaalam din na lalabas si Papa at may bibilhin lang daw saglit.

"Nandito din si Marcus sa ospital. Tumindi ang sakit ng ulo niya matapos kang isugod dito. Mabuti nalang at natulungan agad ng mga nurses at doctor kaya ngayon naka-confine din siya," balita ni Lira.

Umalpas ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Ano kayang nangyari?

"Sinong kasama niya ngayon?" I asked, worried.

"Nandoon si Rico..." sagot ni Lira. She tucked the strand of hair behind my ear... "Just focus on your recovery."

"The two could pass as couple," Hope muttered... "Lagi na silang magkasama ngayon. Hindi naman sila ganoon ka-close noong high school," ani Hope. Tinutukoy nito si Marcus at Rico.

I laughed. I saw how Hope and Lira knot their foreheads when they heard me.

"You know something, do you?" Lira asked, raising her eyebrow.

"They're brothers in-law," I simply answered.

"Paano? Si Rico at Ate Noreen, mag-asawa?" ani Hope at bumalik nang upo sa bench.

I shook my head. "No, Rico and Frances, Marcus's younger sister, are married."

"Ah..." sumunod din si Lira kay Hope at umupo sa tabi nito. "May isang kapatid pa pala sila."

I smiled and bit my lower lip.

"And, why are you so happy?" Hope noticed. She crossed her arms. "You don't look sick to me."