Saving Harper

Nothing Can Ruin Christmas

My pulse raced. I stared at Xavier, as he waited for my answer. I opened my mouth but biglang nag ring yung phone ko. It was my dad. I held my index finger up kay Xavier who couldn't believe that I was torturing him this much by answering the phone in the middle of his second proposal. If you call it one. It was a condition. Parehong hindi proposal yon! I didn't want flowers or anything fancy, I just don't want him blurting it out of the blue.

"Dad?" I answered.

"Harper, we're here sa hospital. Your mom collapsed a while ago while checking on a patient." I know my dad was trying too hard to hide the fear in his voice. Probably because I was pregnant and he doesn't want me to worry. "Because of fatigue and her medication. Nothing to worry about."

Anong nothing to worry about? She collapsed! "What?! We're on our way." I said quickly and ended the call, kasi yun lang yung kaya kong sabihin. Natataranta akong tumayo, Xavier shared my panic when he saw my reaction. "What happened babe?"

"It's mom." Naluluha kong sinabi sa kanya and he quickly got my things and his car keys. Umiiyak nako nasa kotse pa lang and Xavier tried his best na pakalmahin ako. "Love, please stop crying, the stress won't be good for our baby." He was pleading. That finally subdued my OA thoughts. Pag dating namin, Xavier did everything, tumawag sya kay Hilda to find out where mom's room is and he held my hand telling me na it's going to be okay. If wala sya dito, I'll probably be in pieces already, baka di pa ko makapunta sa ospital or Jem would need to pick me up.

Xavier hugged me bago pumasok sa hospital room. "I'm here love. We'll do this together." He kissed me and like always, it instantly calmed me down. It gave me the feeling that I can do and face anything because I have him. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Mom was lying on the bed sleeping and my dad was seated beside her, holding her hand. While si ate Holly, Hilda and Nick were at the couch, talking in whispers. Tumuloy ako kay dad and I hugged him. "What happened? Is it serious?"

Holly was the one who spoke up. "She'll be fine. Matigas lang yung ulo. We already said she shouldn't be working anymore since she's on a much stronger medication. Same thing her doctor said. Doctors really are the worst patients."

"Dad overreacted." Hilda controlled her face para hindi simangutan si daddy. "I told you she'll panic!"

"I said 'nothing to worry about' when I called her." My dad looked guilty. I sighed with overwhelming relief. Kahit itago ng tatay ko, I knew he was really panicking kanina. I guess I got it from him. I'm just glad my mom is okay. "I'm sorry anak if I scared you." He apologized. "It's okay dad." I was finally able to smile though I was still a little worried. I don't want to lose my mom just yet.

I wanted to stay with dad for the night to look after mom so Xavier also stayed with me while my sisters left to go home. Alam din ni Xavier that I was still a little bit shaken up so he never left my side. Hindi pa nagigising si mommy but my dad said it's normal so I just waited. Nakatulog na si Xavier sa tabi ko and my dad was reading some book when my mom finally stirred awake. I got up to go to her other side.

"Hey mom. Are you okay?" I smiled as I sat down sa matching armchair sa tabi ng kama nya opposite my dad.

"Yes better." She smiled back. It was only at this minute that I wished I was a doctor. Para alam ko at maintindihan ko what's really going on with her illness, hindi yung ako lang yung natataranta. Or I was the soft one they have to look out for because I was pregnant. But I guess, the panic won't ease no matter how much you already know about what's going on. Look at my dad.