Love Found Me ✔(Taglish Version)

TWO

Claudine's POV

Monday came and I'm back to work again.

I was reviewing the notes of the wedding preparation of a client when my stomach ached.

"Aah! Shit! Bakit sumasakit ka na naman!" Reklamo ko sa tyan ko.

Napapikit ako sa biglang hapdi.

I then remembered na hindi pala ako nakapag-almusal dahil ayokong malate.

"Oh, Clau. Mukhang hindi ka na naman ata nagbreakfast ah." Jessie Cruz commented and handed me a skyflakes. "Ilang beses mo ng ginawa yan at nangyari sayo yan pero hindi ka naman nadadala. Hay nako!"

Napangiti na lang ako sa concern nya.

"Takot malate eh. Thanks besh." I said and grabbed her skyflakes.

I bit on it and sipped on my coffee.

"Sarap ng kape!" I sniffed its wonderful aroma and sipped again.

I returned my focus back to my tasks on hand.

"Nga pala, Clau. Oks na ba yung sa flowers and venue nila Mr. & Mrs. Avenido?" Our boss, Hayley Salvador, asked and sat across from us.

"Eto nga po, madame. Currently out of town daw si Ms. Carpio na in-charge sa flower shop nila. I'm trying to reach her both by email and mobile phone." I said and jotted something on my notepad. "About the venue, kinonfirm na po ni Mr. Valentino na available ang place nya."

"That's good! Keep me posted na lang about kay Ms. Carpio so I can call some back-up for the flowers." Ma'am Hayley smiled at me then turned to Jessie. "How about the other set-up and decorations? What's the status?"

"Ready na din po, madame!" Jessie grinned giving her two thumbs up.

"Great! Thanks girls!" Ma'am Hayley whistled and went back to her table.

I continued noting the tasks I need to accomplish within this week when I felt another jolting pain in my stomach.

"Badtrip naman!" I complained and breathed slowly clutching my stomach.

"Besh! Namumutla ka na! Magpacheck up ka na kaya!" Jessie's worried voice reached my ears.

I did felt something weird before I passed out at my table.

I woke up facing the white ceiling of the hospital.

I turned my eyes to my right and saw dextrose stand beside me.

"Besh!" Jessie exclaimed when she saw me. Her eyes were red and brimming with tears.

"Oh, bakit nag-abala pa kayong dalin ako dito? Nalipasan lang siguro ako kanina." I said and started sitting up on the bed.

"Loka ka! Bakit hindi mo saken sinasabi! Nakakainis ka!" Jessie complained and her tears instantly fell down.

"Huh? Anong hindi sinasabi?" I frowned in confusion.

"Yang cancer mo! Kaya sumasakit tyan mo!" She wad practically yelling at me.

Right then, my jaw dropped. I blinked and stared in disbelief at her.

"Yan! Yang ganyang itsura mo! Kunwari ka pa! Bakit ba sinosolo mo lahat! Andito naman ako. Friends naman tayo diba? Bakit sinosolo mo problema mo." Jessie said, crying.

"A-ano. Wa-wag ka namang magbiro ng ganyan, besh." I started to smile yet my tears can't stop from falling.

"Muka ba akong nagbibiro!" Jessie exclaimed and started wiping her tears. "Bruha! Hindi mo alam??"

I shook my head, tears flowing nonstop.

"Shocks! Wha-what did I do?" She started to stutter frantically.

Suddenly, the doctor came in and saw us in our state.

"Kamusta, Miss Claudine? How are you feeling?" He asked and met my gaze. "You must have known the truth."

"What truth, Doc?" I asked and sniffed.

"Stomach cancer. At this state, stage 4. Why didn't you ever have a check-up? Wala ka bang nararamdaman or binabale wala mo lang ang sakit mo?" The doctor asked straightforwardly.

"I did not know. Madalas lang sumasakit ang tiyan ko. Nagkakataon pang nalilipasan ako ng gutom. Pag kumakain naman ako, busog na ako bigla. I sometimes feel nauseous but nagkakataong magkakaron din ako so everything seems natural. I did not know I am dying." I said in all honesty.

"I'm Doctor Javy Buenavista. Those things you said are all symptoms of stomach cancer already. Hindi talaga pumasok sa isip mo ang magpatingin?" Dr. Buenavista asked in disbelief.

"Wala po akong idea, Doc. And lockdown po. As much as possible, ayoko din naglalabas noon. Pareho na pong senior ang magulang ko. May babies po akong pamangkin na mga kasama sa bahay. Ayokong makakuha ng virus sa labas at mahawaan sila." I answered truthfully.

"Umiiwas ka nga sa virus, mas matindi namang sakit ang nababalewala mo." Dr. Buenavista shook his head. "I have to talk to your parents. Or guardians about your condition."

"No! Ako, ako na po ang magsasabi, Doc." I pleaded.

Ayokong dumagdag sa alalahanin nila.

Ayokong may makaalam.

Mas mabuting walang makakaalam.

"Fine. You tell your parents and decide on it. To be honest, stomach cancer is not curable. But it is treatable. Cancer cells has already spread. It is no longer confined in the stomach." Dr. Javy said.

I felt all the colors drained on my face.

I have been slapped by the truth.

"I'll see you later. Expect nurses to habitually check on your vitals. You'll be discharge tomorrow." Dr. Buenavista added before he left.

"B-besh." Jessie said in a soft voice and touched my hand.

"Pwede ba iwan mo muna ako saglit?" I asked staring into space.

"Okay. Bibili lang ako ng makakain." Jessie nodded and left me in my room.

Paano?

Paano ko sasabihan sila mama ng hindi sila masasaktan?

***

Nicholas' POV

"My condolences po." I sincerely said to the Romualdez family.

They nodded and I went outside after paying my respects.

I still have to go to my cousin's hospital to catch up about my parents.

I had a quick stop at a gas station to fill the tank and bought some snacks before enduring a long drive.

As soon as I arrived at his hospital, I rang him up.

"Javy, tol! Dito na me! San na you?" I joked over the phone and he chuckled.

"Loko! Papunta na me! Kita us sa caf!" Javy Buenavista said and hung up.

I returned my phone back to my pocket and went to the caf.

Buti na lang pala at konti lang kinain ko. Papalibre ako!