Chasing His Precious Jewel

Chapter 8

After ng tawag na iyon ay bumalik na ako sa kwarto ni Arki. Isang liko na lang sana ang gagawin ko ng makita ko sa labas si Adan at Tita Andra. Mabilis akong nagtago. Sana lang ay huwag mo ng aalis ang isa sa kanila dahil madadaanan niya ang pwesto ko.

"I want your help right now, Chad. Calix still unconscious. Walang hahawak na kompanya. Why do you keep on looking for her? She's safe." narinig kong saad ni Tita Andra. Sinong hinahanap?

"Mom, I can still remember the exact words my brother have told me four years ago. I need to find her. I am the father of her child. What do you mean by she's safe when your contact in Hawaii said she's not there?" I gulped. Oh shit Calix! Alam kong ako ang pinag-uusapan nila. Adan wouldn't work in the company dahil busy siya sa paghahanap sa akin.

"Chad, you have been looking for her for years now. Ang tao kung ayaw magpahanap, hindi mo talaga mahahanap." sagot ni Tita. I heard the open-close sound of the door. Pumasok na ba sila. I counted one to ten bago liliko.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Fi—

"Are you still looking for Tita Val, Tito Chad? She's here. She have a patient here. We're talking earlier." mas lalong nanlaki ang mata ko. Traydor ka rin, Caspian. Nagmana ka sa tatay mo.

"What do you mean, Caspian?" I heard Adan's voice.

"She's here, Tito." ulit pa ni Caspian.

Naglakad ako paalis at halos takbuhin na upang agad na makarating sa Nurse Station. Good thing, kilala na ako rito sa hospital bilang pinsan ni Julian kahit hindi naman.

"Hola!" bati sa akin nong head nurse.

"Can I have a favor?"

"Sure, Ma'am. What is it?" she asked.

"Please tell all the nurse that works here  not to mention Arki's room when someone will ask. As well as if someone will look for me. Tell them, my patient got discharged. Never mention that it's my baby." saad ko. Tumango-tango ito at pinatawag lahat ng nurse. Hindi ko na kailangang sabihan ang mga doctor dahil alam kong si Tita na ang bahala doon.

Ilang minuto pa ang pinalipas ako bago magpasyang bumalik na sa kwarto ni Arki. Good thing wala na sila don. Juskong Caspian, nagmana talaga sa Tatay. I've got a text from Ate Jairah.

Ate Jai:
Send your address. We're leaving tonight. I'm with Ayana and Hamilton.

I send the exact address of Julian's condo. I also send the hospital's address. Napatingin ako sa anak ko ng kumilos ito ng bahagya.

"Máma." tawag nito.

"Yes, baby." I spoke as I reached the side of his bed.

"I want to go home." mahina nitong sabi. If only you can, Arki.

"You need to heal first before we go home." sagot ko.

"Máma. Please. I want to go home." pamimilit nito. I closed my eyes. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang kumot niya. Bakit?! Bakit ako pa?!

Nang dumating ang gabi ay dumating si Julian kasama ang anak na si Jillian at ang anak kong si Aki sa hospital. May dala itong gamit at pagkain. She smiled sweetly.

"Eya. I've got some good and bad news to you." mahina nitong saad. Tulog si Arki at busy naman sa tablet si Aki at Jillian.

"What is it?" I asked her. She shifted on her seat at bahagya ng humarap sa akin.

"The good news is, I've met someone na pwedeng maging donor ni Arki. Bad news is, he's related to Arki's father. She's Adan's cousin." sagot nito.

Agad akong umiling. No way! Hindi pwede.

"Eya, this is only our last resort. She's living here for how many years now. Naglayas siya sa kanila. She's not close with Adan and the brother. Can we give it a try? This is for Arki. And I told here about your situation and she understands." pagkukumbinse nito. My tears started to flow. I don't it's a blessing. But if it is, it's a blessing in disguise.

"Can I met her?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"She's going here, anyway. I'm sorry." aniya. Tumango lang ako. Naiintindihan ko naman. I know how she loves Arki.

"I heard about the patient next door. He's uncle?" tanong nito matapos ang isang mahabang katahimikan.

"Yeah. Adan's here too. I saw him earlier." sagot ko.

"Small world." tanging sagot lang nito.

Nahinto lang ang pag-uusap namin ng may kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto. Julian volunteered to open the door.

"Hey, Tami!" excited nitong saad at iginiya papasok ang isang babae. This must be Adan's cousin. No wonder, medyo hawig sila.

"Hi!" bati nito sa akin.

"Uhm. Hello." sagot ko.

"Tam, she's Eya. Your nephew's mother." pagpapakilala ni Julian. I nodded at her.

She bowed down and went to Arki. I can feel her heavy breathing. Unti-unti nitong hinawakan ang mukha ng anak ko.

"He looks like Kuya Chad." mahina nitong usal. "When can we do the operation, Juls. Eya?" tanong agad nito.

"We still have to check if he matches your bone marrow." sagot ko. She nodded.

"So Tami, how long have you been staying here in Barcelona?" Julian asked her.

"Almost seven years. They want me to marry someone I don't like." sagot niya.

"Wew! That was hell." sagot ni Julian.

"Do you still have contact with them?" I asked. Naninigurado lang.

"Only Ate Kitty. I helped her hide when she broke up with Kuya Calix. I think it's my nature. I helped Ate Kitty and now I'm helping you. How did you met Kuya Chad?" pangchichismis nito. Julian laughed.

"Bar. It was my friend's birthday party that time. He's with my cousin's fiancee. My cousin got a cat fight that time and we're involve. We had a drink and then we do that thing. Then I got my twins." sagot ko.

"I think it's run in the blood. Parehong pinagtataguan ng babae." tugon ni Tami. I laughed. Talaga lang ha.