The Fortunate

54

THIRD PERSON

He woke up, feeling the weight on his body. Hindi ito makagalaw dahil sa nakadagan sa kaniya.

Sula is on his lap, leaning her body into his, and burying her head on the crook of his neck.

He gulped after being familiarized with the position. But he just cleared his throat and held her waist for support. His wife is peacefully sleeping, again.

"Gigising ka pa, right?" He asked.

He sighed as he took out his phone. His wife can't just sleep here forever. They need to go home.

He mentally cursed after seeing that he wasn't able to press the send button on his phone kanina. Kaya pala hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring dumarating na driver para sunduin silang dalawa.

Joaquin suddenly remembered her request, to eat outside with their daughter. Can he do it right now?

He dialled Derick's phone number. "Hello, may you give me the address to where you guys live?"

["Ang straight forward mo naman, sir!"] Sambit nito.

"I have a present for my daughter. How was her? Is she alright?" He asked.

["Ayos na ayos, sir. Pero, nasa bahay kami ngayon ni Wendell,"] nababahala nitong sambit.

"I don't care, then give me his address," he told him.

["Sigurado ka po? Okay lang sa'yong magkita kayo ulit?"] Derick asked.

"I am not scared of him, bakit ba parang alalang-alala ka," he chuckled.

["E-eh sir, baka paghinalaan na naman nila akong tinutulungan kita,"] he worriedly told Joaquin about his concern.

He sighed before responding. "I will handle it. I just have to see my daughter, right now,"

["Okay, ise-send ko nalang ang address,"]

Matapos ang tawag ay agad na nagsend ng address si Derick kay Joaquin. Kasabay rin nito ang pagdating ng driver na tumakbo pa galing sa pinanggalingan.

"Pasensya na po sa paghihintay, boss--" he stopped talking after seeing a lady.

"S-si Ma'am Sula!?" Joaquin hushed him after raising his voice.

"Tinakas niyo po siya sa hospital?! Sir! Hindi po maganda 'yan para sa kaniya!" Pabulong nitong sigaw. Alalang-alala ito't baka mapahamak pa lalo ang asawa ng amo.

"She just fell asleep, okay na si Sula," he reassured.

He sighed in relief, "Mabuti naman po,"

He took a glance on the people at the back, he saw Joaquin caressing her back while she is sleeping. His hand on her waist slightly squeezes her skin, he looks at her dearly, the driver wasn't even sure if he looked at the other things but his wife.

"Mukhang namiss ka po ni madam ah," komento nito.

"It's the other way around, ako ang nakamiss sa kaniya,"

The driver laughed, that's what he wants to say, pero gusto nitong sa bibig mismo ng kaniyang boss manggagaling.

"I'm anxious, what if she will not wake up again?" He suddenly muttered.

"Akala ko po ba ay magaling na?" His driver asked.

"I am still worried. Okay lang na matulog siya, pero paano kung umabot na naman ng taon bago siya gumising ulit?" He asked.

"Malakas si madam, at saka sir hindi na ulit 'yan mangyayari," pagpapagaan ng loob nito.

"Saan po ba sya napadpad? Bakit biglang nawala si Madam Sula sa bahay niyo?" Pagtatanong ng driver. Though hindi pa siya empleyado noong kasagsagan ng pagtira ni Sula sa kanilang bahay, nagtataka pa rin ito kung bakit hindi umuuwi ang asawa ni Joaquin.