Under the Stars

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 : After a week

A week had passed, they continued to meet at the hospital. Marga told her parents everything that they did, she was so happy that her parents still allowed her to visit after that.

She hanged out with Rai and her friends almost every day, since wala naman ng pasok. Day by day she finally enjoys the atmosphere built in the hospital by these people whom she barely knew at first but now, they are one of those important people to Marga, especially Rai. She happily assisted her through her therapies sa neurologist nito.

"Okay, Rai. Upo ka na ng maayos then take a deep breathe, I'll just prepare the tubes, para masimulan na natin yung chemo." utos ng oncologist ni Rai na si Ms. Pia. Mabait siyang tao and she really do extra careful para masure na hindi masasaktan si Rai. "Oh ayan na, don't be scared ha, dito lang ako..." Marga reminded her.

Rai sat down on the chair given by her oncologist, she placed her right arm on the near table. "I did this things for years, kaya sanay na ako. But, thanks, Marga. For being here."

"Maliit na bagay, sige dito lang ako sa may labas ha, intayin kita matapos." paalam ni Marga and she went outside of the room. It took a lot of minutes before the chemo therapy finished. She saw Rai with Ms. Pia heading out of the room. "Kamusta, ano nangyari?" bungad na tanong agad ni Marga.

"Ayos lang naman. Wala akong naramdaman na sakit." Rai answered. It improves Marga's mood. "That's great! So it means you're getting better? Isn't she, Doc?"

"Marga, dear. We have to make sure na magchemo parin si Rai and she has to seek her neurologist to before we can make any statement regarding about her condition. For now, I suggest to let her rest for a while." Ms. Pia explained. "Thank you po." Rai and Marga both said in unison. "No problem, maiwan ko na muna kayo ha."

"Ayan, sa neurologist ka naman next. Magpahinga ka na muna." Banta ni Marga kay Rai. "Kaya ko pa naman di pa ako nanghihina, 'no!" masiglang sagot naman niya kay Marga.

"Kahit na!"

"Edi wow! Ble!"

Aside from Rai and Marga's therapy session. All of them had also bonded with the other patients, they even raced using wheelchairs! But the only problem is, after that, they got scolded by the nurses. "Ayan kasi Rob ang bagal mo! Nasermunan tuloy tayo. Kaasar." Reklamo ni Isie.

"Ha, bakit ako? E sila Rai 'yun e! Sila ang mabagal, magkasabay pa sila ni Marga, nagtutulakan!"

Marga held Rai's hands and placed it on her shoulders. "Pigilan mo'ko pigilan mo'ko papatulan ko 'to!"

"Sige lang patulan mo! Haha!" sabi ni Rai sabay tawa ng malakas. "Go, ate Marga, go go!" Isie and Iza cheered for her when she pinched Rob's nose. "Aray, uy masakit!" buti nga, ayan kasi! Then they all laughed. They still did a lot of fun memories to keep, they bought foods and had a food wars, they tell each other's creepiest experiences when it is almost night time, Marga stayed in her uncle's room so she can sleep there. Then the other mornings they've walked in the hospital garden full of flowers and green grass.

All of those things are enjoyable, but she noticed something, Rai is always bringing a camera whenever they go and she will took a pic of them. "Guys, lapit lapit tayo bili picture!" utos ni Rai ng nasa bench sila ng garden. Sinunod naman nila ito at sabay sabay na nag pose. "Ayos! Ganda ng kuha oh..."

"Bakit ka ba nagpipicture? Para saan?" she asked her when the other three is busy playing catch around the garden. "Wala lang, maayos kaya ito para may remembrance, diba?"

"Sabagay..." she answered.

They stayed there for a few minutes. "Alam mo ba, paborito ko tong lugar, lalo na pag gabi. Kapag gusto ko mapag isa, dito ako pumupunta."

"Talaga? Bakit naman? Ano ba meron dito?"

"Pag gabi kasi, makikita mo lahat ng stars sa langit..." Rai stood up and raised her arms like she was reaching the sky. "Lahat sila sabay sabay na nakinang, maganda sila tignan! Lalo na kapag nakahiga ka rito sa damuhan," Rai layed her body down on the grass. "Huy tumayo ka nga dyan baka makita ka nila."

"Ano naman edi hayaan mo sila." Rai laughed. "Sa isang gabi, bukas. Punta tayo rito, pakita ko sayo yung mga bituin, ayos ba?" Rai offered. Marga smiled. "Weh, talaga ba? Ipapakita mo sa akin?"

"Oo naman."

"Sige, bukas! Dito ako magpapalipas ng gabi, may mga gamit naman na akong dala."

"Oh sige ha, asahan ko 'yan. T-teka wait..."

Rai held her head, "Bakit? Ano nararamdaman mo?" nagaalalang tanong sa kaniya ni Marga. Makikita kasi sa mukha ni Rai na nasasaktan ito at nangingiwi. "Ang sakit ng ulo ko, tara pasok na tayo, asan na sila?"

"Teka wait hala..." Marga roam her gaze around to look if where is Rob, sakto naman dumating sila na may dala dalang ice cream. "Hello kakagaling naming sa cafeteria bumili lang---- Rai! Ayos ka lang ba?" madaling punta nila Rob, Iza at Isie kay Rai na nakaupo sa damuhan. "Oo, ayos lang, tara pasok na tayo."

"Sige, tara na bili baka kailangan na magpahinga ni Rai." Marga stated, she stared at the four of them assisting Rai while walking. Base on their looks, they are bothered. Sumakit lang naman ulo ni Rai, bakit kaya ganun na sila makatingin? Malala na ba yun? Ay, baka nag aalala lang ng sobra. Aniya sa kaniyang sarili.

Rai and her friends already arrived on their perspective rooms, Marga also gave them a good bye because it's her time go home. Her parents might be worried, but she assured them that she'll come back tomorrow and she will spend her night with them, with Rai.

"A-aah! Aray! Ang s-sakit, tama na, mamaya na ulit..."

"Sige, iha. Babalik ako ulit mamaya, magpahinga kana muna, Rob, please look after her. Tutal magkalapit lang naman kayo ng kwarto, okay?"

Rob nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

The neurologist left the room. It was past 7 in the evening, Rob calmed Rai. "Masakit parin ba? Magpahinga ka na muna..."

Rai stared at him, you can see the hopeless in her eyes. "Bakit... Bakit kasi ganito, nakakainis! The theraphy won't work anymore, mas lalo lang siyang sumasakit!" Rai punched her head for multiple times. She hopes that the pain will be gone when she does this. "Bakit di parin nawawala! Puro nalang sakit!" Rai got teary up, it's useless. Mas lalo lang sumasakit ang ulo niya.

"Rai, tama na... walang magagawa 'yan..." paghihinahon sa kaniya ni Rob. This is what Rai is experiencing for the past days. She couldn't help but to cry every night thinking of another way to survive this kind of pain. Although her neurologist didn't gave a word, she knew that her therapies will not work anymore, her body is shutting down. She's weak. Getting weaker day by day.

But she is still hoping, even though it's a small chance for her to survive. She stayed in this hospital for years, for once, a person who came from outside of these prison cares for her and it was Marga. She doesn't have her parents anymore, hindi niya alam kung nakalimutan ba nitong bumisita o kinalimutan na talaga nila na may anak pa silang nakaratay dito sa maliit na kwarto na 'to. That's why she almost forget the feeling of being cared for, pero pinaramdam yon ni Marga sa kaniya. Even in a short period of time, Marga makes her happy. She made her feel alive again.

And she wants to survive for her, she couldn't take it if she'll be one of the reasons why Marga would hate the hospital more than before. Ayaw niya ng ganoon. Pero anong magagawa niya?

"Kailangan kong gumaling... Kailangan Rob..." she began to cry, again.