Excruciating Love

EIGHTH PART

Eighth Part

"We will still monitor him for the next 24 hours before we run some tests to make sure he's okay."

My eyes remained staring at him from our distance, nakabukas ang pinto dahil ayaw kong kahit ilang sandali ay mawala siya sa paningin ko. We were outside, talking about his case while he was still laying on the bed, gaining his stable health and recovering from the coma.

His fingers were playing with the extension tube of his dextrose. Ang mga mata ko ay diretsong nakatitig sa kaniya samantalang ang mga tainga ko naman ay nakabukas para makinig sa mga doctor na nasa harapan ko, beside me is Zion, he was also staring at our son from afar, in dazed.

"Also, we need to observe him for the next 24 hours to notice any changes to his actions... Might as well, it was some of the symptoms of the disorder caused by his head injury." Doc Blanchet stated, mula sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay nakita ko siyang napalingon din sa anak ko.

"He's strong, huh." A small smile plastered on his lips, kaagad na bumaling ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Napangiti siya lalo nang magtama ang aming mga paningin. "His condition is critical especially that he's a kid, 4 years old, right?" Tumango ako.

"Inside the operation, his vital organs almost dropped." Bigla ay sabi niya, hindi ko na naramdaman pa ang kung anumang pagkahabag dahil siguro ay nakita ko nang mayroong malay ang anak ko. "But along with us working for it, I could feel that he fought with us."

"Seems like he can't afford seeing his mom mourning for him," Si Doc Villegas iyon kaya sa kaniya naman bumaling ang tingin ko. His arms were crossed just above his chest, his eyes were aimed at my son. "You know, they said coma patients can hear us."

"Studies indicate that hearing is the always last of the senses we lost..." Doc Blanchet said as the matter of fact. "You mentioned that when he woke up he started crying... Then he called you. That's one of the possible evident that he heard you crying."

Muling bumaling ang paningin ko sa anak ko at nahuling nakatingin na siya sa akin. I felt how hot liquid starts to form on the corner of my eyes when he gave me a sweet smile like he was assuring me of something but when his gaze flew to the man beside me, his smile vanished.

Napalingon kaagad ako kay Zion at nakitang tahimik lang siyang nakatitig sa anak namin. He was silently tearing up, refraining himself from crying, wanting to be strong at this moment but he's slowly failing. Palagi namang gano'n, palagi na lang siyang nagpipigil kahit hindi dapat.

"We'll go ahead, Doc Gonzales." Doc Villegas said.

"Thank you," I gave them my most sincere smile. Inihatid pa sila ng tingin ko hanggang sa tuluyan na silang makalayo sa amin.

"Can I leave for a while?" Suddenly, Zion spoke beside me. Kaagad na lumipat ang paningin ko sa kaniya upang tanungin siya gamit ang mga mata ko pero wala sa akin ang paningin niya kundi na kay Cole. "I will be back later, m-mabilis lang ako." Halos masamid siya.

"Saan ka pupunta?" I asked, touching his arm.

Umiling siya bago nag-iwas ng tingin, my mouth fell a little when I saw how tears rolled down on his cheeks. Napalingon ako sa anak namin at nang makitang hindi siya sa amin nakatingin ay marahan kong hinila ang ama niya upang yakapin.

He let out a small sobs, resting his chin on my shoulder as I held his back, rubbing it to console him. Humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin, ang mga hikbi niya lang ang tangi kong naririnig. And it hurts. Hindi pa din talaga ako masasanay na makita siyang ganito, ang hirap niyang marinig na humihikbi dahil para akong sinasakal.

"H-Hindi ko pa puwedeng sabihin kay Cole..." Hindi siya umimik pero naging sanhi iyon upang mas lalo lang humigpit ang yakap niya. "I'm sorry, hm? B-Baka puwedeng kaunting oras pa... Hintayin muna natin siyang gumaling, ha? Baka kasi magulat."