Mind Set

Chapter 21

Second Choice

The traffic that had occured was now moderately moving, the flowing of vehicles travelling through EDSA road was better than it had always been, it was something Aga was grateful for as his journey to the given place was faster and smoother. It took him less than 20 minutes to arrive in a hurry-harrowing feeling.

As soon as he got out of his car, Aga started dialing Charlene's number. She picked up on the 3rd ring, however, it wasn't the voice he prognosticated it to be.

"Hello?"

"Who are you? Why do you have her phone?"

"I'm nurse Kevin — "

"What hospital?" He just got out of the hospital, now he needs to come back.

"I've been trying to contact someone but her phone is locked, sir. St. Lukes, room 999."

"Okay. Thank you."

It didn't take him, not even a minute, to marathon his path out the restaurant and into his car. He felt sudden rush of regret, he didn't know what happened, but he felt as if it was his fault that she was in some kind of jeopardy right now.

"Room 999?"
"12th floor, Sir." The voice of the lobby staff descended before she could even finish when Aga ran off to the elevator.

Numbers on the plated silver, stamped on the door; increases one by one. Aga's shoes tapped the floor like it was made of wood, he was panting in contemporaneous concern and tiredness.

999. Finally.

"Cha?" He called softly. He didn't intercept any move nor received an energy from a woman who's awoken. He sat down on the provided chair for guests and held her hand.

"I'm sorry."

"Paano tayo uuwi, ate? Alam mo ba address niyo?" They've been walking and doing nothing for almost
2 hours now. It's still mysterious for them why Aga would leave in such a hurry that he didn't even manage to inform them how they could go home.

Was he planning to abandon them?

"Hihintayin natin si Aga. May gusto ba kayong bilhin?" They shook their head, if Lea doesn't insist on remitting any substances, then no... they don't need to acquire whatever it is they might like.

The act of taking them to Manila where life sells more expensive than it is on their province is already the utmost blessing they could claim. Their expenses at Siargao wasn't that affluency needed. Fishes can be catched by their tiyo, their rice are from the government. Canned foods and other preserved edibles are still not counted yet it was like they're chasing pavement just to even think of having a better life in a place different than their habitat.

"Aray naman!" Lea whined when her shoulders were bumped.

"Shit. I'm sorry miss, are you oka — Lea?" "Ian?" The guy looked more agitated when he recognized who it was that he fortuitously bumped to.

"I wasn't looking. Sorry. I didn't hit your tummy nor hurt you, did I?" His voice was full of concern. "Hindi naman. Okay lang 'yun." She provoked his worried thoughts with her smile.

"Are you alone? Where's Aga? Don't tell me pinabayaan ka niyang umalis mag-isa?" He asked in disbelief. His cousin is not that kind of man, or is he?

"Kasama ko sina Bingbing at Lito. Pinsan ko sila. Si Aga naman — bayaan mo na siya!" She tried inverting the topic. About Aga should be outs for now, he's someone she doesn't want to ramble upon her mind at the current moment.