Autumn of May

CHAPTER 33: An Argument

I woke up when I feel my head hurts like h*ll. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Karlo and Kris sleeping at the floor wasted. I hurriedly look for my phone and when I find it at my pocket, agad ko itong binuksan. Unluckily, lowbat ito so I reached for my charger and let my phone gain some batteries. I grab a towel and walk towards the bathroom to take a shower. I still smell like an alcohol and my head hurts so much dahil napadami ang nainom ko kagabi. I can't remember anything that happened last night, yung dinner lang ang naaalala ko and we had a drink. Afterwards, kahit konti lang wala na akong maaalala. I finished taking a bath so I hurriedly grab some clothes and change. Lahat ng tao sa room ay natutulog pa kaya I slowly reached my hand for my phone at lumabas ng silid.

I walk towards the bench outside, tahimik pa ang room nila ni Abbi and I bet they're still sleeping. I turned on my phone and was shocked when I received 12 missed call from Doctor Tan. I hurriedly dialed his number and luckily he answered. "Good morning Doctor Tan, it is to early to call you but I am sorry I didn't pick up your calls last night" I said to him. "I didn't expected that you will have a change in mind.." sabi niya sa kabilang linya. Change in mind? "What do you mean Doctor Tan?" I asked him with confusion. May ginawa ba akong kalokohan kagabi while I'm drunk? "You call off the offer yesterday" napatayo ako sa narinig ko. "I'm so sorry Doctor Tan, I bet I'm too drunk yesterday at may nagawa akong mali" I explained to him. He didn't respond for a while pero after some minutes nagsalita siya ulit, "You texted me yesterday and you said you didn't want the cardiothoracic surgeon anymore" nanlaki ang mga mata ko and then hurriedly check my messages.

"Wait for a moment Doctor Tan, I will check my messages" my hand shake while I'm tapping my phone. Did I accidentally sent him a message yesterday? Nang mabuksan ko ang messages ko, I saw a text message from Doctor Tan and it says na he will be my business partner and will offer a cardiothoracic surgeon that he knows from US. Ngunit may nagreply ng 'I'm sorry but I can't continue this deal anymore'

I sit back and sighed. I tried to remember anything that happened yesterday but my mind doesn't cooperate with me. Inilapag ko ulit ang phone sa aking tenga at kinausap si Doctor Tan. "I apologize for the inconvenience Doctor Tan, I'm afraid I didn't do that on purpose, I am on the trip with my friends and happened to get drunk. I am very sorry. Can you consider our deal again?" I asked him politely. Naghintay lang ako sa kaniyang sagot at sana he will reconsider."Sure thing. Don't worry about what happened, I'll go with the deal. I always wanted to be your business partner" napangiti ako sa narinig mula kay Doctor Tan. "Thank you for your time and consideration Doctor Tan, I will personally meet you after this trip" he responded so I ended the call.

I let out a sigh and try my best again to remember anything that happened yesterday. Bumukas ang pintuan sa room nila Abbi and I saw Abbi walking out from the room. Napatigil siya ng makita niya ako. I smiled at her but she just smiled a bit. Is there something wrong? She walked towards my direction kaya tumayo ako and wrapped my arms on her. "Good morning my wife" I whispered to her in a low voice tone. "Goodmorning" she responded. "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?" mahina siyang umiling kaya bumitaw ako ng yakap sa kaniya. "Hintayin nalang natin ang iba na magising at sabay na tayong mag-almusal" she said and walk towards the bench and take a sit.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked so she nodded. Abbi's face look a little bit tired. Umupo ako sa tabi niya at hinawakan siya sa kamay. "Are you okay? Tell me if you're not feeling well" I said with full of concern. She nodded and look me in the eyes. "Xavier, I wanted to talk to you about something" mahina niyang sabi sa akin. Suddenly my heart races a bit. Her face is so damn serious to the point na kinakabahan ako. "I don't want you to do anything about my treatment" agad niyang sabi sa akin.

Then a memory pop up in my head, after I called Doctor Tan, I saw Abbi looking at my phone yesterday. It's a bit drowsy and blurry pero naalala ko na she's holding my phone before I passed out. "You're the one who sent the message to Doctor Tan?" I asked her to confirm if it is right. She nodded. "I want to undergo treatment Xavier but I don't want that you need to risk something for me" she said. I reached for her shoulders at iniharap siya sa akin. "I will do anything for you Abbi" she slowly put down my hands and look directly on my eyes.

"Xavier, I know na hindi na ako magtatagal and it's not a hundred percent sure that I will survive from the surgery" she spoke. "Why, why are you so negative Abbi? I thought nag-usap na tayo about dito?" I never expected na medyo napataas ang boses ko kay Abbi kaya nagulat siya. I saw some tears form in her eyes kaya agad siyang napatayo. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean.." hindi ako nakapagpatuloy sa pagsasalita ng bigla niya itong pinutol.

"You always go with a plan and never consider about what I feel Xavier" she said. Tumayo ako at hinawakan siya sa kamay pero binawi niya ito. "I did it for you. I know iyon ang best para sa iyo Abbi" she slowly shake her head and speak, "Putting your business on the cliff to get my treatment? Xavier.. that's too much for you. Alam kong hindi maganda ang takbo ng Cafe ngayon and you still don't retrieve your business on the city. I know that when you go with the deal, you will be under a huge debt" she explained to me.

"I know Abbi and I can manage that" I said to her with reassurance. I want to think how to save my girl bago ako mag-isip kong paano ibabangon ang business ko. "You can manage? Xavier, you will be paying the debt for a lifetime" she said while raising her voice. Napalunok ako ng laway, she still didn't get it that I did it for her sake. "I still don't get it Abbi, we all wanted you to live and you said yourself that you wanted to survive but still you don't want us to help you" I responded to her. She put her hands on her waist and look directly to me.

"Hindi mo talaga gets yung point ko Xavier?" she said seriously. "You also didn't get my point" I said to her with authority. Nagulat ako ng tumalikod siya sa akin at lumakad palayo. I wanted to hold her hands but hindi ako agad nakagalaw. She already walk a few steps before I realized that she's too far away from me. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at pumasok sa silid. We made a fight. Napaupo nalang ako sa bench at napaisip kung ano ang gagawin kay Abbi.

Biglang bumukas ang pintuan sa silid namin and Steve walk out from it. "You're already awake bro" he said. I slowly nod as he walk towards the bench and take a sit. "May problema ba?" he asked. "Nag-away kami ni Abbi. She found out about my deal with Doctor Tan and she got angry about it" I said to Steve. Steve put his hands on my shoulder and said, "That's why sinabi ko sa iyo na you should consult Abbi first before you proceed with your plan" Steve said. I let out a sigh and speak, "I want to surprise her and not to worry about her surgery. Lahat gagawin ko for her Steve. I will do everything to save her" sabi ko sa kaniya.

Steve started to tap his hands on my back and said, "Mahal mo talaga si Abbi bro noh?" at mahina akong tumango. "I f*cking love her so much bro. I can even donate my heart to her bro if I can" after I said those words, silence covered the atmosphere at kaming dalawa ni Steve ay nakatingin lang sa pool.