See You Tomorrow, Yuki (EDITING)

SEVEN

Hanz has finally underwent the surgery. Ilang oras ang hinintay ni Aciel bago siya hinarap ni Thea. Siya noon ang neurosurgeon na nag-lead ng operasyon ni Hanz.

"Kumusta po si... dad?"

"It's a successful operation," puno ng ngiting balita ni Thea.

Aciel's day started with Thea's good news. Walang paglagyan ang kasiyahan niya. Wala ng kaba. Wala ng takot. Halos magtatatalon siya sa tuwa.

"We'll transfer him to the recovery room. Imo-monitor pa namin ang vital functions niya once na magising na siya. Ipatatawag agad kita kapag pwede mo na siyang bisitahin," dagdag ni Thea.

"Salamat po, Doc... Sobrang salamat po!"

"Wlang anuman. Ah, mag-usap tayo mamaya."

- - -

Yuki's sitting on her bed, head down, cold face. She breathed heavily a lot of times before grabbing her phone from the bedside table on her right.

[Yuki? Anong problema?]

"Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"

In no time, Hakim came rushing to her room. Kahit gano'n, blangko rin naman ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya. Yuki put the phone down. He stood beside her.

"These past few days, kaunti na lang ang iniihi ko. No, erase that. Hindi na ako makaihi. Nagsusuka ako nang madalas. Pakiramdam ko namamaga ang mga braso at binti ko. My skin's dry and itchy. I even bruise easily," Yuki explained with heavy breathing in each sentence.

"And your bones are weak. Aciel told me you even fell last time. Nauuhaw ka nang sobra, tama? Mas nahihirapan ka pa lalong matulog. You feel numbness in your hands and legs. Yuki—"

Yuki lifted her head. Nagdurugo ang ilong niya. Mahigpit ang kapit ng mga kamay sa kumot niya, nakapikit. Hakim used the tip of his white coat's sleeve to wipe the blood.

After letting out another deep sigh, she said, "Tito. Tito Hakim."

Naupo si Hakim sa harap ni Yuki. He hugged her tightly, and she leaned her chin on his left shoulder.

"It's finally happening, isn't it?" she asked.

"Hmm. End-Stage Renal Disease." He hugged her even tighter. "'Wag mong sabihin sa'kin na buo na ang desisyon mo. We won't let you go like this, Yuki."

"Please save me..." She opened her eyes. "I want to live..."

Pumiglas sa pagkakayakap si Hakim. He flashed a wide smile on his face, tears falling. Did he just hear Yuki admit that she needs help?

Suddenly sounding creepy, Yuki said, "THAT'S EXACTLY THE SMILE I LOATHE."

Dahan-dahang napabitaw si Hakim mula sa pagkakahawak niya sa balikat ni Yuki. He was confused.

Crying, Yuki explained, "That's the way you smiled... when mom passed away shortly after dad took his life. You smiled widely... kasi ibig-sabihin no'n sa'yo na 'tong ospital, diba? IT'S YOUR GREED AFTER ALL."

Thea dropped the tray she was holding. Nagkalat ang mga bubog sa loob ng kwarto mula sa mga nabasag na baso at pinggan. 'Yun ang naabutan niyang usapan ng asawa at pamangkin. She's frozen.