Kryptonited ✔ (Alpha Sigma Omicron #3)

18. Mask of Deception

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

My world crumbled down when Papa was hospitalized once again. Mas kritikal ang lagay niya ngayon. Even the doctors warned us already that another cardiac arrest would lead to death. He couldn't have survived another and be revived.

Something bad happened to ate Reign. Kung hindi pa namin ito sinundo ni Zak, hindi ito makakabalik ng siyudad. She was distraught. She was lost. Hindi ko siya nakitang ganoon. I was so worried. All I knew was Zak's friend, the one who pushed me in the water was the reason of Reign's behavior. Gusto kong magalit dito.

I was the weakest in the family. Kung ako patuloy na magiging mahina, hindi ko na alam kung anong mangyayari. For once, I have to be brave. For the sake of them. Kahit si Manang, alam kong nangangamba siya at nag-aalala. Makakaapekto pa iyon sa health niya.

Suot ang hospital scrub na para sa bisita, binuksan ko ang pinto ng silid na pinaglagakan kay Papa. He was still in the ICU most of the time, pero ngayon, inilipat muna ito sa isang private room. In state of coma pa rin ito. I sighed.

Sumalubong ng mga mata ko si Reign. She was outside the room as usual. I managed to give her a weak smile. "Reign, are you okay? Ayaw mo ba talagang pumasok?" Hindi ito sumagot, bahagya akong natakot kung susungitan niya ako. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita. "Magiging okay din si Dad," I assured her if it can lessen her burden.

Hindi ako sigurado. I have doubts, too. The only thing I have is hope. Hope that everything will be okay. Papa will be okay. Kung pati pag-asa, mawawala. Wala na akong ibang makakapitan.

Tumango siya. "He will be okay. Magaling ka namang mag-alaga." Medyo na-shock ako sa huling sinabi niya. Hindi ako sanay nang naririnig iyon sa kapatid ko. Gusto ko siyang yakapin nang mahigpit.

"Thank you," I smiled gladly. Hindi ko maitago ang tuwa. "Ikaw lang naman ang hinahanap ni Papa, Reign. You should see him. Mas mapapagaling mo siya nang mabilis." winika ko.

It was the truth. Sigurado akong sa presensya ng kapatid ko, mabilis na gagaling si Papa. She is what he needed. Iniisip ko minsan, ako iyong madalas na kasama pero mas hanap niya ang kapatid ko. And it was okay.

"I'm not ready yet." Naiintindihan ko iyon. Alam kong mahirap sa kanyang harapin ang ganoong kalagayan ni Papa. Hospitals remind her of what she had been through.

"If you are ready, you can always talk to me. I will listen. I'm sorry if I neglected your pain for the last years." Huminga ako nang malalim. "I know, you hated me for that."

She nodded and left me outside Papa's room. Pinagmasdan ko ang papalayong bulto ng aking kapatid.

I sighed again.

Dumiretso ako sa cafeteria ng hospital. I haven't eaten anything since I came to visit Papa. Kailangan kong kumain, hindi pwedeng pati ako magkakasakit at magpapaalaga.

I ordered some soup and rice, and a bottle of water. Tumambay muna ako sa cafeteria ng kalahating oras para kumuha ng lakas na haraping muli ang kalagayan ni Papa. It was always stressful. Nakakakaba. Ang bawat segundo mahalaga.

My eyes wandered around the whole place. Hindi ako sigurado kung namamalik - mata ako pero may nakita akong pamilyar na mukha. A face that I shouldn't have seen in this place.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo. Binitbit ko ang bottle of water for later consumption. Mabilis akong lumabas sa exit ng cafeteria.

Malakas ang instinct ko, alam kong mayroong nakasunod sa bawat galaw ko. Tumungo ako sa elevator at pinindot ang floor ni Papa. When the door opened, I didn't get in. Nagtago ako sa pader sa kanan. My heart was pounding fast, I can't stop it.