Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Fifty: Even

Chapter Fifty
Even

"I'm asking why the guards didn't dote on anyone suspicious!"

"Helena, calm down!"

"It was a big occasion, Anton. How did the security become so lenient they didn't notice any suspicious entering the restrooms? Naghihintay sa anak kong mapag-isa para masunggaban siya? Kailan pa naging pabaya ang mga tao natin? They should've learned their lesson after this threat happened to our daughter months ago!"

It hurts everywhere. Hirap kong idilat ang mga mata ko kahit naalimpungatan sa naririnig na pag-aaway nila Mamá. I want to haul myself to sit up but the weakness is more dominating.

"We're still gathering reports for this. Hintayin natin ang resulta at kopya ng CCTV. Ginagawa na ni Eros ang lahat para mapabilis ang paghahanap-"

"That too! Weren't anyone monitoring the cameras near the area? Why did Eros leave our daughter unattended when she's pregnant? See? I can't really trust this man! He is careless!"

"Stop blaming anyone but the one who did this," kalmado sabi ni Papa, pinipilit hinaan ang boses. "Do you think your daughter would like to hear you insulting her fiancé? Galit at nag-alala rin siya katulad natin. Ayun nga't siya na ang pinapunta natin para makipag-usap sa mga pulis. Pag nagising si Clementine dahil wala siya rito at pinaalis mo-"

"Papá," I tried to call on my father, attempting to sit down. Isang matinding pamamanhid ang naramdaman ko sa kamay at tiyan kaya't bumagsak muli ang likod ko sa kama. Tumakbo ang mga magulang ko papalapit sa'kin dahil sa pagdaing ko.

"Clementine, do you hear me? What do you feel? Mamá asked, unsure where to hold me. Nang hawakan ako sa braso, I flinched away.

Hinawakan siya ni Papá sa braso para palayuin sa akin. "Calm down. She's okay."

Once I caught a glimpse of the white ceiling and light brown walls around me, the realization hit me. Agad akong nahirapang huminga habang nagsimulang umikot ang paningin.

"Clementine-"

"My baby?"

I fought the urge to sit down but Papá caught left arm and carefully pushed me to lie on the bed again. "You should lie-"

Umiling ako, mabilis ang pagtibok ng puso. I couldn't think. Nang ibaba ko ang tingin ko sa tiyan ko, I saw the bandage enveloping my stomach. My world spun again and I felt dizzy. Noong ihawak ko ang kamay ko roon, wala akong maramdaman.

"How was my baby?"

Umiling agad si Mamá. "Don't think about the baby and go thinking about yourself! You could've died-"

"This isn't the time to think about me!" I shouted, stunning Mamá from her place. Maski ang pagsigaw ko, nagdulot ng sakit sa katawan ko. "My baby, please! Just tell me how is-"

"The baby is safe," Papa said. "The cut didn't cross deep your stomach. Walang ibang nasaktang iba kung hindi ikaw." While my breath loosened, his jaw clenched. "Ang kamay mo ang napuruhan. The stab hit a nerve. You just went under surgery kaya huwag mong masyadong igalaw."

Nilandas ako ang tingin sa kamay ko. Sinubukan kong ihawak sa tiyan ko para makumpirmang ang kamay ko ang namamanhid. At napauruhan. Hindi ko naramdaman ang nahahawakan. When I try to close my fist, a sharp pain made me hitch my breath.