Photograph Of Yesterday

16

"She's in the hospital now, Sab. She needs you... We need you."

Hindi ko kaagad maproseso sa utak ko 'yong sinasabi ni Andrius. Bakit? Bakit nasa hospital si Hira? Kanina lang nandito pa siya. Kumirot bigla ang puso ko nang maalala ang nangyari kanina na kung paano akong nagmatigas sa kanila.

"Cassandra, are you okay?" Zak asked me. He held my shoulders to guide me. I clutched my chest because of the pain then I saw Andrius near us.

"Sabrina!" Andrius shouted.

"Cassandra!" Zak shouted.

I am physically weak. I get tired easily. And sometimes there is this pain in my chest that I can't explain. But I can't let my weak body stop me from seeing Hira. I needed to see her so I forced myself to stand straight and face Zak who already looked worried. I need to show him that I am fine and it was all just because I was shocked or else he won't let me see her.

"We need to see her, Zak," I begged.

"You look pale Cassandra," he argued.

"I am fine! We need to see her!" I shouted out of frustration.

"Sab—" it was Andrius. I faced him.

"Let's go see her," I begged.

"We will see her," Zak responded instead. Andrius is still looking at me with his bloodshot eyes and sagged shoulders telling me that he already had too much for today. Slowly... he nodded.

Fortunately, there were no heated arguments between Zak and Andrius on the way to the hospital. I can sense that Zak is also worried about Hira. But he maintained his stoic and unbothered look while driving following Andrius' car. We are in convoys. Andrius' car is in front, next is ours, and the other 2 cars behind us, Zak's bodyguards.

Pag parada ng sasakyan sa parking area hindi na namin magawang mag lakad lang kaya lakad-takbo na ang ginawa namin para makarating agad sa elevator. Nasa pinakamataas ang kwarto ni Hira base sa button na pinindot ni Andrius. Nandoon siguro 'yong VIP room. Sa estado nila sa buhay imposibleng sa ordinaryong kwarto niya lang hahayaan manatili si Hira. At pagkarating namin sa tamang palapag, lumapit kaagad ang mga tauhan ni Andrius sa kaniya na nakakalat sa bawat sulok ng palapag para magbigay galang sa pagdating niya. Diretso ang lakad namin papunta sa pinto ng nag iisang kwarto sa palapag na 'to nang may lalaking Doctor na lumabas mula roon. Siguro private doctor nila.

"How's she?" Andrius asked in his baritone voice.

"She's okay now," the doctor answered, then his eyes went to us looking so dumbfounded.

"Sa—Sab,"

"Can I see her?" I asked, still in a panic. He didn't answer. He was shockingly looking at me and when his eyes landed on the man behind me, Zak, he almost stumbled. But that is the least of my concerns now. I don't know why this doctor is reacting that way but one thing is for sure. He couldn't answer my question so I neared Andrius instead and tugged his shirt, he looked at it, then in my eyes.

"I want to see her," I begged.

"We will see her," he calmly said.

"Andrius," the doctor called Andrius.

"Not now," he coldly responded.

"We are here to see Hira. How's she?" Zak asked.

"She is resting," the Doctor replied to Zak before looking at Andrius. "Mr. Velarde, there are documents that you need to sign. Please come this way," the doctor motioned to Andrius.