Alluring Javis Leoniro

Chapter 24

"Mom... Dad... hang in there." 

Kahit may sakit pa ay nag pumilit ako na ihatid nila ako sa hospital nang may tumawag sa amin na natamaan ng isang truck yung sinasakyan ng parents ko.

My body is literally shaking because of fever and fear at the same time.

Nasa tabi ko si nanay Linda na binalutan ako ng jacket na dala niya. I looked at her with my eyes begging. 

Habang nasa byahe ay hindi siya nag salita at sinandal ang aking ulo sa balikat niya. 

"Magiging maayos din ang lahat," I heard her whisper after. 

Nang makarating sa hospital ay hindi na ako nag salita pa at basta na lang binuksan ang pintuan ng sasakyan sa gilid ko saka tumakbo papasok. 

Everyone who got to witnessed the accident explained it to me. My father died before he got to the hospital because he protected my mother by hugging her to lessen the impact... but that wasn't enough. My mom is in the emergency room right now, fighting for her life. 

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang una kong pupuntahan. Litong-lito na ako. 

But they lead me to my father first. It's like a deja vu. A room, a white fabric covering a body... but now it's my father who's lying in the bed. 

Hindi muli ako nag dalawang isip at niyakap ang may kalakihang katawan niya na nababalot ng puting tela. 

I remembered what he spoke yesterday. 

"Dad, bakit? Why do I need to suffer like this? Am I a bad daughter? A bad friend? A bad person? But dad, huwag naman pati si mom... please, hindi ko na kakayanin kung dalawa kayong sabay na mawawala sakin. I'm t-terrified." I asked him even though he will never answer me.

But for no apparent reason, my eyes couldn't let out a single tear. 

I want to scream for help... but I couldn't find my voice now. 

Sobrang sakit, na hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ba ang dapat kong maramdaman. 

Now I am in front of my mother's operating room, waiting for her to survive.

"Shantal, gabi na, umuwi ka na muna at nilalagnat ka pa," sabi ni nanay Linda na lumapit sakin kani-kanina lang.

At first, I decline her, but mang Rogie also told me to rest for this day. I can't decline anymore because it's like they're my second parents who will scold me for being stubborn.

"Ako na muna magbabantay rito, pangako at agad akong tatawag kapag may balita na, pahatid ka na lang muna kay Rogie pauwi."

"Ako na lang po, bantayan niyo po si mom. And I want to be alone. Pakibalita po kaagad sakin kapag tapos na ang operation ni mom." They both look at me with worry in their eyes, but I gave them a small smile, assuring them that I'll be fine alone.

Lumabas ako ng hospital at agad na sumalubong sa akin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin kaya napakapit ang pagkakasuot ko sa jacket na binigay sa akin ni nanay Linda.

I walked slowly to head in the waiting shed. I sat there while waiting for a taxi since I don't have my phone with me to book a grab.

I just sat there alone when I heard the sound of raindrops on the ground.

Mas lalong lumamig ang paghampas ng hangin. It's already raining.

But now it doesn't scare me. I'm alone in this dark place while raining. It's like the dark sky is being with me, knowing what I'm going through.

The rain falls harder from the sky. There's no taxi that will stop for me too. 

I stood from my seat and closed my eyes as I received the rain, hoping that the pain I'm feeling right now will wash away by the rain.