Wreaking Havoc

vīgintī quīnque

It was a seemingly ordinary day. Isang buwan na rin simula no'ng huli kong nakita si Eli na bumisita ng ospital dahil na-discharge na rin si Daniela Quizon after Ansel was finally convicted guilty with three counts of rape. I haven't talked to Eli, but I did try to reach out, but whenever I'd see him at the hospital, he'd just pretend that I wasn't there. 

But I shouldn't be mad... I wasn't in the position to get mad at him. I left for probably the most fucked up reason and I understand how that affected Eli. 

I just... didn't want him to think that Mary's my daughter from another man. Even just thinking about it hurts me already. 

Yet knowing Eli and this rift between us... he's probably thought of it already.

I sighed.

"You've been sighing for like an hour already. Mahirap ba 'yung new case mo?" Astrid said as she walks towards me, putting down her paper regarding her ongoing research for Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Tumango ako at ipinakita sa kaniya 'yung MRI no'ng bata, "Midbrain tumor. Has been undergoing treatment pero hindi gumagaling. Mas lumalala pa 'yung kondisyon niya kaya we opted to perform a combined approach," I uttered. Astrid nodded.

"Most likely with this kind of brain stem tumor... 'yung tumor will reach the pia two centimeters from the midline," she uttered, looking at the MRI. Napatango naman ako.

"So I suggested to the team na mas efficient if combined supracerebellar infratentorial sa left side, tapos telovelartransventricular approach para ma-access 'yung pons?" Astrid nodded and snapped her fingers.

"My god, bakit ka ipinagdamot sa'min nila Keith?" Natawa naman ako at kinuha na 'yung MRI results no'ng bata.

"Parang baliw," sambit ko at saglit na napatahimik bago tumingin kay Astrid.

"Ano'ng tingin 'yan?"

I forced a smile, "Do you... know how I can talk to Eli? Isang buwan na kami rito ni Mary pero hindi ko pa rin sinasabi. Ayaw ko namang magsisi ako."

Astrid sighed.

"You do know how that guy doesn't just accept apologies," Astrid uttered. "It's hard to convince him."

Napa-buntonghininga ako, "I know... I just want him to know about Mary. I don't want to force connections now. Kahit ipa-DNA test pa niya 'yung bata. Ayaw ko lang na nandito na nga kami sa Pilipinas, pero hindi pa rin alam ni Mary na ilang beses na niyang nakasalubong 'yung papa niya."

"Fine," Astrid uttered. "I'll ask Christian if he can do something."

Ngumiti ako.

I've always known how stubbornly uptight Eli could be, but I knew I had no way out but just to deal with it. If he doesn't accept Mary (which I doubt he'd do), I know I'll just have to accept the consequences of my actions and deal with it accordingly para naman hindi masaktan 'yung bata. 

For Mary, I'd do anything in a heartbeat.

"Therese," Astrid called pagkatapos niyang tawagan si Christian. "Unfortunately, hindi rin alam ni Christian kung pa'no pipilitin si Eli... but, it'd be their lunch time in an hour and Eli doesn't normally leaves the firm. You can probably just give him a visit... and hope for the best."

Bahagya akong natawa habang tinatanggal 'yung white coat ko bago isinabit 'yun sa coat rack, "Thank you," I uttered, grabbing my phone and an envelope I've always had with me.

"You're going?"

I nodded.

"I can't keep Mary away from him forever," I uttered before stepping out of the office... and hoping Eli would hear me out this time.