The Ruins of Winter

Chapter 41

TW: Death.

Chapter 41

"I will do my best, as always, Erys." Dr. Ivo said, tapping my shoulders before going inside the premises of the operating rooms. Isaiah is on room 1. Tandaan mo, Erys. Tandaan mo lahat. Hindi ka pwedeng kumurap ngayon.

Nanlambot ang tuhod ko at agad na napaupo sa malamig na tiles ng ospital nang mawala si Dr. Vazquez sa paningin. Umakyat kami kanina, ilang minuto pagkatapos ng first aid sa emergency room. Dr. Ivo confirmed it to me: he's having heart problems right now. Tears started streaming down my face. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari. Nag-uusap lang kami, nagtatawanan. Bigla na lang. Bigla na lang sumakit ang puso ni Ice. Bigla na lang nawalan ng malay.

"Erys, he will be fine. I'm sure of it." si Papa. Sumunod sila dito pagkatapos itext ni Tito Elian tungkol sa nangyari. Tita Taline and Bless went home first. This must also be so traumatizing for Bless, silang dalawa lang ni Ice ang magkasama nang mawalan ng malay ang anak ko at nahulog. It is already so admirable that she gathered all the courage she has to run and tell us what happened.

Tumango tango ako at hinawi ang buhok na nakaharang sa mukha. Inalalayan ako ni Papa upang umupo sa pinakamalapit na upuan sa amin. His hands are cold and shaking, but I chose not to point that out.

Tumabi si Yuri sa akin at umakbay, I looked at him, ngayon ko pa lang siya natitigan pagkatapos ng mga nangyari, "Maayos na siya. The transplant is a success. Ano na naman ito? Bakit na naman ito nangyayari? Hindi ko maintindihan..."

Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi iyon dahil hindi ko talaga maintindihan. He is stable. It's been months. We are still consistently going to his check ups. Nothing has been diagnosed wrong since he went home from the hospital. Kaya bakit ito nangyayari ngayon?

"Elian, nasaan ba ang anak mo?" narinig kong tanong ni Tita Given.

"I've been texting and calling him since earlier!" Tito hissed, hawak niya pa ang cellphone at kanina pa may sinusubukang tawagan. Tito Elian is agitated, "Kuya Romeo, pakitawagan naman si Hera, pakisabi na tawagan ang Kuya niya at papuntahin agad dito."

"Okay po, Sir."

"Isaiah will most likely be confined after this," Yuri held my hand, "Is it okay if I go home and get us clothes first? Mabilis lang. Babalik agad ako. I'll get food too."

"Just get clothes. Hindi ako gutom..." sabi ko.

"Pero magugutom ka mamaya." Savannah said, kasama pa rin namin sila ni Tito River ngayon, "You should go and get the things you both need, Yuri. Kami na muna ang bahala kay Erys."

I am desperate to have someone beside me. I still don't trust her. I don't think that we will ever be friends. But I appreciate that she's here with her father. Wala na akong lakas para magtanong pa sa kanila. I feel like I need all the help that I could get, all the support that can be offered, all the hand that can be lended as I cannot stand on my own right now.

"Get toiletries, clothes, food, money," pinapalista ni Tito Yeshua ang mga kailangan kay Yuri, "You have a funds account that you are not using at all dahil sinasabi mong hindi mo pera iyon kahit inipon namin iyon ng Mama mo para sayo so use that for Isaiah instead."

"Dad–"

"Alam ko na ayaw mo. But that will be my help. Let me help, son. Withdraw a good amount of it for extra things that you need." Tito Yeshua explained, "You have always been so independent, Nicholas. I am proud of you for that. But when the situation calls for you to ask for help, do not hesitate. Dahil para saan pa at ako ang naging tatay mo kung hindi kita matutulungan?"