The Other 'I'

16 : The other 'I'

"Stephanie's dead. Her body was found behind the campus, stark naked. Natagalan sa pag-identify dahil walang kahit anong gamit na nakita-at dahil tinanggalan ng balat ang mukha niya at hindi na makilala."

Pagkagising ay tila bumaligtad agad ang sikmura ko. Aside from the body pain, I feel sick. Isang pasada ng tingin at natagpuan ko ang sarili sa loob ng isang puting kwarto habang nakahiga sa isang puti ring kama. The room was quiet with the silent voices talking somewhere.

I was probably in the hospital because there was an IV connected on my left hand. May ilang bandage rin akong nakita sa sariling braso.

Pagkasapo ng ulo dahil sa kirot na nadama ay nakapa kong pati iyon ay may benda rin. I might've had hit my head... but from what?

What happened? Why am I here?

Lito at nanghihina, dahan-dahan kong hinawi ang kumot at kumapit sa bakal na pinagsasabitan ng IV ko upang gawing gabay sa pagtayo. Binalewala ko ang agad pag-atake ng hilo, bigat at sakit ng katawan nang dali-dali akong nagtungo sa C.R. para dumuwal.

"Eunice?"

"I'll call her doctor."

Kneeling in front of the toilet bowl, I felt terrible. Tanging likido ang naisuka ko dahil walang laman ang sikmura ko. Masakit iyon at parang pinipilipit.

"Here."

Tinanggap ko ang inabot na tissue sa akin at agad pinunasan niyon ang bibig. Sinubukan kong tumayo ngunit nagsisirko ang paningin ko. Naramdaman ko na lang na may sumapo sa akin at maingat na tumulong sa pagbalik ko sa higaan.

Eyes shut, my breathing was ragged when I lie back on it.

"How are you feeling?" anang pamilyar na boses.

Ilang sandali ko pang ginagap ang sarili bago sa wakas ay maorganisa ang gulo-gulong isip. But despite the pounding of my head, I will my eyes to open.

Una kong nakita ang puno ng pag-aalalang mukha ni Terrence na nakaupo sa gilid ng hospital bed. His eyes were bloodshot and the black circles under it made him look tired. I felt a force on my palm and realized that he was holding it.

"Thank God you're awake. You've been unconscious for the last twenty four hours. Inaayos lang nina Tita ang ilang dokumento para mailipat ka sa malapit na ospital sa inyo..."

Ramdam ang panunuyo ng lalamunan, hindi ako nakapagsalita. Suddenly, I was reminded of the night at Varitas. When I caught him kissing other girl. Cedric aiming the knife at him... I, trying to shove the latter away... and ended up rolling down the stairs...

Oh, God.

Napapikit ako nang mariin kasabay ng malalim na pagbuntonghininga sa nadamang relief. He wasn't hurt... he's safe... pero... si Cedric... nasaan si Cedric? What happened after that? Did they caught him?

Susubukan ko pa lamang sanang magsalita nang pumasok ang doctor at ilang nurse para kunsultahin ako. Terrence and Mike was standing at the corner all the while. The doctor talked to them right after he was done checking me.

Nakaramdam ako ng antok mula sa sakit at pagod ng katawan. And before I knew it, I drifted back into a deep slumber.

"He's not the one for you."

"You did the right thing, Eunice."

"Sabihin mo sa 'kin... 'di ba pareho lang tayo ng gusto?"

"Stephanie's dead..."

Pagkadilat ay sinalubong ako ng puting kisame at dingding pati nang nakabibinging katahimikan. All I could hear was my steady breathing.