Bewildered 🌸 (kja)

This Ends Today

Liza's bleary eyelids opened slowly. She looked up and saw a blank white ceiling.

Just where am I?

"Liza, darling." anang nagmamadaling boses ng kanyang mommy. "Finally, gising kana. You're in the hospital." She sounded pretty anxious. Softly, she ran her hands over her face. Sinenyasan ang nurse na naroon na ipaalam sa doctor na gising na siya.

Liza closed and opened her eyes several times. Then she had a moment of clarity of sorts. In shock, she let out a gasp. Like a camera film replaying all the most important and memorable moments in her life, all of her memories flood her brain at once.

Oh, Gracious heaven!

Her memory, long lost, had been fully restored!

And then she remembered Gerald at ang ginawa nitong pagdukot sa kanya.

Oh crap!

Marahas siyang napabangon.

"Oh God, Liza. Be careful baka mabinat ka—" Agad na inalalayan siya ng Mommy niya na maupo.

"My baby?" Agad na tanong ni Liza sa ina. "I-I'm pregnant, Mom... A-and I was... I-I was bleeding... A-and—"

"Hush. Hush. Calm down. Calm down." Her Mom squeezed her arms gently and smiled at her. "You're six weeks pregnant, and the baby is fine. Relax, anak."

She let out a breath of relief, only to feel renewed anxiety upon thinking of Harry. Nabaril si Harry! He saves her by dodging the gunshot.

Oh my, Harry!

"W-Wait, h-how about H-Harry? H-he was shot. Where is he?"

Biglang natigilan ang mommy niya. Worried flooded her face. Naiiling na napabuntong hininga ito. "A-anak..."

"W-where is Harry? I want to see him." Nagtangka siyang bumaba ng kama ngunit pinigilan siya ng ina.

"Anak, you need to rest—"

"No!" she yelled, breaking down in tears. "I'd like to know if he's okay!"

Mula sa pinto ay pumasok ang daddy niya na biglang napabuga ng hangin nang makitang gising na siya.

"Princess—"

"Dad, I need to see Harry. Please!" Her tears fell. "Please let me see him," she pleaded.

Nag-aalala na nagtinginan ang mag-asawa pagkuway malungkot na tinitigan siya.

"Harry is in critical condition. "He was rushed into ICU, anak," her father informed her.

There was a look of shock and fear on her face. "Noooo!" she screamed.

********

Tulak-tulak ng Daddy niya ang wheelchair habang patungo sila sa ICU. Agad na namataan ni Liza ang mag-asawang Fortaleza na nagyayakapan. Pilit inaalo ni Sixto ang umiiyak na si Marian. May nakita rin siyang mga kabinataan. The famous TBB. Mababakas sa mukha ng mga ito ang labis na pag-aalala.

"Hija?" bulalas ni Marianne nang makita siya. Agad na lumapit ito sa kanya. "What are you doing here? You should rest makakasama iyan sa baby—"

"I want to go inside, Mom." aniya at hindi napigilan ang maiyak. "Please, I want to see Harry..."

Tila maiiyak na nagkatinginan sina Sixto, Marianne, Ronwel, at Karen. Pagkuway , tumango-tango ang mga ito.

"Sasamahan ko kayo sa loob." maluha-luha na wika ni Marriane at iginiya sila sa loob. Nagpaiwan sa labas si Ronwel na agad kinausap ang kaibigang si Sixto who was trying to be strong for his wife and son.