A Hiccup Of Tea (✔)

Epilogue

C H R I S T E L L E

"Anak..."

I slowly opened my eyes. The smell of medicines and alcohol were the first things the registered through my system. I roamed my sight around, everything was white.

Where am I?

"Oh my gosh, she's awake na!" Agad akong napatingin sa gilid ko nang marinig ko bigla si Hannah. Sa tabi niya ay sina Allyza na bakas din ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya.

"Call the doctor, Tine."

Napako naman yung atensyon ko kay kuya na nakatayo sa paanan ko, ngumiti ito sa akin nang magtama yung tingin namin. Nasa tabi ko rin si mama na pinagmamasdan lang ako.

I roamed my eyes once again.

White sheets, white curtains, a food tray, medicines, and dextrose.

My eyes widened when I realized where I was. Napaupo ako bigla dahilan para magulat silang lahat at nataranta.

Nasa hospital ako.

I suddenly remembered what happened earlier. A truck almost hit me!

Sumikip yung dibdib ko, biglang bumalik yung takot na naramdaman ko kanina. Pinilit kong alalahanin yung iba pang mga nangyari kaso walang pumapasok sa isip ko, maybe because I passed out during the incident.

"Anak, take a rest muna," mama said and helped me relax for a bit. I tried to calm down but my hands are still trembling.

"A-Angel..."

My heart leaped when I suddenly remembered Brylle laying down on the road before I fainted. Imbes na pahiga na ako ay bumangon ako ulit na ikinagulat nanaman nila.

"Mama... Si Brylle?" I immediately asked.

Please, sana okay lang siya.

She was about to say something when the door suddenly opened, Brent and Sam went in.

Their eyes were puffy. I looked at my mother who is now trying her best not to tear up the moment she saw the two.

"Mama? B-bakit? Ano pong nangyari?" I asked once again but instead of answering, yumuko lang siya.

No...

"Sam, Brent, w-where... Where is Brylle?!" I almost shouted when I asked them. Nagkatinginan naman sila bago muling umiwas ng tingin.

Why aren't they answering me?!

"Hala!" Hannah exclaimed. Nataranta silang lahat nang bigla kong tinanggal yung dextrose ko't lumabas ng kwarto. Kailangan kong hanapin si Brylle! Nandito rin ba siya sa hospital?

"Christelle!" Sigaw ni mama dahilan para tumakbo ako palayo sa kanila.

"Brylle?" Ani ko habang hinahanap siya kada kuwarto. Pinagtitinginan na ako ng ibang mga tao kasi para akong batang naliligaw. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin, isa lang ang gusto kong gawin.

Ang makita't mahanap si Brylle na nasa maayos na kalagayan.

Nakarating ako sa ICU area. Iba ang aura dito, mabigat.

Napatingin ako sa gilid ko matapos makarinig ng mahihinang hikbi. There are nurses and a doctor crying silently while pushing a bed with a body covered with white blanket.

I froze when the patient's hand fell from the bed. It was pale and familiar... It made my knees tremble.

Sana mali ako ng iniisip.

"Telle..." Someone suddenly hugged me, it was Hannah. Tuluyan na akong humagulhol sa kaniya. Pinukpok ko pa yung dibdib ko para mawala yung sakit pero ayaw talaga.