Pinilit ko ang sariling makapaglakad nang maayos kahit pa naging mabagal ang kilos ko. I waited at naupo muna sa kalapit na bleacher hanggang sa lumabas na ang mga nurse na tumitingin sa kalagayan ni Darlene.
As they leave, I took the opportunity to get inside the room and closed it. Habag at sakit ang naramdaman ko nang tuluyang makita nang malapitan si Darlene.
I took the chair nearby and seated on it beside Darlene's bed. She's still unconcious and I don't know when she will wake up.
"Hoy babae..." i uttered and hold her right hand, caressing it with my hand.
"Y-you're oversleeping... please wake up already..." I whispered and let her palm touch my left cheek.
Only the beeping monitor can be heard inside her room, but soon after, my faint sobs blended with it. Hindi ko na naman napigil ang mga luha ko habang pinagmamasdan siya.
"Your father is here. Y-you wanted to see him so bad, aren't you? So go on... wake up already... In place of you, si papa na ang s-sumasama sa akin sa c-chemo... h-hindi na rin ako n-nakakalabas d-dahil d-di kita kasama... I want t-to go to other places w-we haven't visited yet. G-gumising ka na... please be with me i-in my remaining days... please be with me b-bago ka kunin ng d-dad mo..." i whispered and kiss her forehead.
My tears fell on her cheek and I wipe them with my thumb. Walang naging reaksiyon ang maamo niyang mukha.
After couple of minutes of staying beside her, I already decided to go. I caressed her hand once again and kiss the back of it. Ngunit bago ko pa man mabitawan ang kamay niya ay bigla itong gumalaw, holding my hand back.
Bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko at kaagad siyang tinitigan. Now her eyes is half-open, looking at the room ceiling before her gazes went on me.
"D-darlene..." my voice cracked because she finally opened her eyes. She's staring at me blankly na para bang hindi pa pumapasok sa isip niya kung anong nangyare.
"W-wait here... I'll call the doctor!"
Binitiwan ko muna ang kamay niya at nagmamadaling lumabas. No one is in the hallway that's why I tried my best to run, yet I fell down because my knees were shaking.
"Sir! Ayos ka lang ba?!" tanong ng lalaking nakakita sa akin. I instantly grip his arm.
"G-gising na ang p-pasyente... r-room 102..." I said because he's wearing a nurse uniform.
Iniupo niya muna ako sa malapit na bleacher bago niya ako iwan roon to call for the doctor. Hindi rin nagtagal at dumating na sila kasabay na rin ng dad ni Darlene. I followed and stayed outside, just looking through the glass window habang sa loob ay abalang iniexamine ang lagay ni Darlene.
They took a while inside. The doctor is talking to Darlene and base on her father's facial expression, something isn't good might had happened.
"Anong meron?" tanong ni Theo nang sakto ay dumating ito. I didn't answer and just keep my eyes fixated to Darlene.
"I'll go inside..." paalam niya.
I think that my heart is already shattering even not knowing yet what's happening inside. I can tell already, on Darlene's reaction.
Theo looked at me and smiled faintly after talking to Darlene's dad. Kaagad rin siyang lumabas at tinabihan ako.
"She can't remember anything..." he uttered.
I clenched my fist and bow my head, closing my eyes tightly para pigilana ang mga namumuong luha. I forced myself to smile and look at her again from the glass window.
BINABASA MO ANG
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬✓
Roman pour Adolescents[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...