CHAPTER 12

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KNOX SANDOVAL

AFTER some time alone and realizations, I decided to take a look at what the results would be. Bawat hakbang ko ay mabigat, at kinakabahan din ako. Mine or not, that baby is innocent. 

    Wala na si Mama nang makarating ako sa tapat ng emergency room. Kaya pumunta ako sa front desk ng hospital. 

    “Excuse me,” I called the receptionistʼs attention. “What room is Devon Garcia?”

    Magalang na tanong nito, “Can I ask how you are related to the patient?”

    “Why do you need to know?” I asked him back.

    “Gabi na po kasi, Sir, and we have a curfew for visiting hours,” tugon nito. “Hindi na po kami magpapapasok ng mga bisita kapag ganitong oras na.”

    Saglit akong natigilan sa eksplenasyon niya. Hindi ako makakapasok kapag sasabihin kong kaibigan lang ako. The only trustworthy and reasonable way out and is…

    “I am the father of her baby,” I stated, proud and serious. 

    “Let me check it, Sir” he responded with a smile and entered the name I said into his computer.

    After a minute, he said, “She is in room 110.”

    I made my way to her room. I feel like my  mind is floating, that I am just staring blankly at the girl whom I bumped into. I knew she was talking—probably asking me questions—because I could see her mouth moving.

    “Knox, are you listening?” She snapped her fingers right on my sight that brought me back to my senses. ʼTsaka ko lang na-realize na si Cess, matalik na kaibigan ni Elise, pala ang babaeng nasa harap ko.

    “I am sorry for spacing out. What was it again?” 

    Bahagya siyang tumango sa sinabi ko. “What are you doing here?”

    I was startled by the question. Shit! I canʼt tell her what had happened. Sheʼll tell Elise for sure! Hindi sa ayaw kong ipaalam kay Elise. Ayaw ko lang na sa iba niya pa mismo malalaman. Iʼll tell her for sure but I needed time and courage for that.

    “U-uhm… I stopped by to check on my Mom,” I lied. “Sheʼs the one whoʼs taking care of her closest friend who was admitted a couple of hours ago.”

    “Are you going back to your Momʼs friend's hospital room?” She pointed in the direction I was facing.

    Bahagya naman akong tumango sa kanʼya. “I was, but then I realized that visiting hours will end soon. I might not be able to go home when I stay until curfew starts.”

    “Then we gotta get out of—”

    “Iʼll see you around,” I said to cut her off. Mabilis din akong naglakad pabalik sa parking lot. Bukas ko na lang dadalawin si Devon. 

    Before I started the engine of my car, I sent my Mom a text message saying, “Mom, howʼs the thing going on there? I bumped into Cess on my way there. Iʼm afraid she will tell Elise so I decided to go home. Iʼll visit her tomorrow.”

    Hindi ako mapakali kaya hinintay ko talagang makapag-reply si Mama. I immediately read her message after my phone vibrated.

    “Thankfully, both of them are fine. I will knock you out if you donʼt go visit her tomorrow.”

    Suddenly, all of the loaded emotions were pulled out of my head. Iʼll get a good rest first, and will visit them tomorrow morning.

THE NEXT day I woke up earlier than I usually did and prepared to visit Devon. Surely Mom doesnʼt have enough rest last night. She should go home now and Iʼll replace her—taking care of the patient.

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