OFFSTAGE (Suspire Series #2)

Kabanata 17

I felt aware of the world.

Does that mean I'm still alive?

I was convinced I was going to die.

My eyes were dry and hurting a little when I tried to open them. I blinked twice to adapt my vision due to the bright light from the ceiling chandelier.

I tried to move, but my entire body screamed pain; my head, throat, shoulder, and upper abdomen, as well as my legs, are all in horrible pain. I was totally spent. What happened?

Kahit masakit at nanghihina ang aking katawan ay sinubukan kong umupo. I realized I was in a hospital when I smelled chemicals and heard machines beeping. Sinandal ko ang aking likuran sa mga unan sa likod ko. There's an IV in my knuckles, and the machine on the other side of the bed. My other arm was immobilized in a sling. I looked underneath my hospital gown and noticed a bandage covering my middle section, which is where my ribs are located and where it pains earlier.

"Oh my god, gising kana!"

I turned my attention to the origin of the voice. Along with Claude, Aubry stood in the middle of the door wearing a long dark blue coat. I'm guessing the voice from earlier was hers. When they spotted me, they were both surprised.

Claude reported, "I'll go get Kuya," before leaving to call his brother.

Lumapit si Aubry sa akin habang namamaga at namumula ang mata. Mukhang kagagaling niya lang sa pag-iyak. Bumalik na siya galing Batanes? It's great to see her again. She took a seat next to me and stared at me with glassy eyes. Inabutan niya ako ng bottled water na galing sa plastic na dala niya.

I took a sip of the water. My throat was quite parched. I was severely dehydrated. "May masakit ba? Saan ang masakit?" naiiyak na tanong ni Aubry habang ini-inspeksyon ang katawan ko.

"Everywhere," I moaned, my voice raspy and hoarse. "Gaano katagal akong nakatulog? Kamusta 'yong driver? Ayos lang ba siya?" sunod-sunod na tanong ko kahit na gusto kong magmura sa sobrang sakit ng lalamunan ko. Uminom ulit ako ng tubig hanggang sa maubos ko iyong laman ng bottle.

"Two days kang tulog. Minor cuts and bruises ang natamo nung taxi driver, kahapon lang siya nakauwi," sagot ni Aubry. Thank God for that. Ang tagal kong nakatulog. "Gutom ka ba?" Aubry inquired as she moved to the other side of the room, near the mini-ref, to fetch something.

Umiling ako. Aubry didn't pay attention as she began to prepare my food. "Anong nangyari sa akin? Doon sa truck driver?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang nag-aayos siya ng pagkain ko.

Nagpakawala siya ng buntong-hininga. Hinintay ko si Aubry na magkwento. And as she began talking, I just sat there and listened.

The driver of the truck suffered a minor head injury. There are no fractured bones, a significant amount of blood loss, or a dislocated shoulder.

As for me, I suffered an angry gushed above my right eyebrow, my left shoulder was dislocated, two ribs were damaged, and I lost a lot of blood. My face, arms, and legs were all bruised. Apart from the two drivers and myself, no one else was involved in the accident.

I just got through all of that in two days? I should be grateful for the fact that I am still alive. Akala ko mamamatay na ako sa gabing 'yon.

Iyon lahat ang dahilan kung bakit nasa hospital ako. At the very least, those explanations would justify why I'm in so much pain right now, given everything I've been through. I'm glad it dissipated a little. However, why did a truck ram into our car?

Aubry concluded the tragic incident by saying, "The truck driver was drunk." Isn't that enough to explain everything? In disbelief, I sighed and shook my head. I swallowed the enraged fumes inside my chest.