Aurora Borealis

Chapter 49 - Today and Yesterday

>> • WENDY • <<

Room 512.

"Tita Esperanza!" siya agad ang una kong hinanap nang mabuksan ko ang pinto. Kasunod ko sina East.

Tumatangis siya sa tabi ni Lauren na nakaratay sa hospital bed. Walang malay.

Bandages are wrapped around the upper part of her head. There are some blood stain markings on those.

"Ano pong nangyari?" tanong naman ni Tohru.

"A-A huge chunk of metal pole hit her head..." she wailed. "The doctor said that it might be f-fatal since she's in critical condition."

I sat beside her. "We'll pray that she won't."

"I don't want to lose my daughter. She's the only one that I have. Hindi ko kakayanin kapag pati siya nawala pa sa 'kin." she grabbed a tissue on her bag and wiped her tears on it.

Napalingon naman kaming lahat sa may pintuan nang humahangos na dumating si Baldo, nakasuot pa rin ng uniform.

"What happened to her?"

"How dare you show up here?" tumayo sa kaniyang kinauupuan si Tita ngunit hinawakan namin ito sa balikat.

"You're supposed to be looking after my daughter when you took her to that place!" she's more fueled with aggravation. "Nanood ka lang ba noong napahamak siya?"

Napayuko na lamang si Baldo. "I wasn't there when it happened, Ma'am. I'm sorry."

Natulos sa kaniyang kinatatayuan si Tita. It took her moments before she could recover.

"You... you left my daughter?"

Her resistance became much more stronger that she managed to threw us all off. Tinangka ko siyang habulin ngunit nakalapit na ito kay Baldo.

Walang anu-ano'y isinampal nito sa kaniya ang handbag. Baldo's face just remained looking at the direction where he was slapped.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry lang ba ang alam mong sabihin, ha?" sinampal siya nitong muli gamit ang handbag. Hindi pa ito nakuntento at ihahampas pa ito sa kaniya ngunit nahablot ni Aero ang handbag.

"Please stop, Ma'am. You won't want to make a mess in the hospital."

"Let go, young man. To hurt this boy isn't even enough to ease the pain I'm feeling now." she looked at Aero bitterly.

"It's fine, Aero. I deserve it."

No one dared to utter a word. It just made the room more gloomy than ever.

"How about you leave?" sambit ni Tita sa kaniya. "Huwag ka nang lumapit sa anak ko. Malalagay lamang sa peligro ang buhay niya sa t'wing sayo siya sasama."

"I apologize for this, but I'm afraid I can't do that."

Tita Esperanza scoffed. "Kulang pa ba 'tong nangyari sa kaniya? Ano pa bang gusto mo, makita siyang inililibing sa lupa?"

"Your daughter means a lot to me, Ma'am. Just like you, I don't want to lose her either—"

"I've had enough of your depthless words. This happened because I gave you a chance." tinulak nito si Baldo patungo sa pintuan ngunit hindi ito natinag.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong nakita ng anak ko sa 'yo at pinayagan ka niyang manligaw. Pero utang na loob, lumayo ka na at kalimutan mo na siya." nakikiusap nang saad sa kaniya ni Tita Esperanza.

"Tita!" biglaang tawag ni East. "L-L...Lauren's hand moved."

Agad kaming lumapit dito ngunit bigla na lamang kaming sinalubong ng mga mata nitong unti-unting nagdilat.