I hear people mumbling something inaudible. I stay still and feel myself. I'm laying down onto something soft. This familiar smell…
Am I in the hospital?
I try to open my eyes but everything is black.
I'm not in the hospital? If I'm not in the hospital, then… am I dead? It's black.
But the inaudible sounds are becoming audible. There's no way dead people make their way to the afterlife by group.
"It's okay, I got things here. You can all rest,"
Evander?
"Tawagan mo na lang kami kung ano man,"
"I will. I will. Take care of her,"
"You got it."
I stay still until I hear a door open and close. What. Nakatawid na sila sa afterlife? Kumurap-kurap ulit ako. There's nothing but blackness.
Sinubukan kong gumalaw. Nakakagalaw ako. May pakiramdam ako although ramdam ko rin ang panghihina. Sinubukan kong kapain ang mga mata ko. Nahawakan ko ang eyeballs ko.
I'm awake, but why is everything's black?
"Daciana?"
Si Evander ulit?
I try to find him using my hand, but he reaches for me instead. He holds my hand.
"S-Saan…"
My throat's dry.
"You're in the hospital. May masakit ba sa 'yo? Nagugutom ka ba? Let me call a doctor,"
Akma siyang aalis kaya agad ko siyang pinigilan. Hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa kamay niya.
"A-Am I a-alive?" Tanong ko.
"Of course. I'll never let you die."
If I'm alive then why is everything pitch black…
Some realisations strike me like a voltage of electricity. Muli kong hinawakan ang mga mata ko. It's open. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at sinubukang pakalmahin ang sarili.
"G-Gaano na ako k-katagal dito?" Tanong ko.
"Two days. Three days in some minutes,"
Too long.
"S-Si Kuya Gio? G-Gusto kong kausapin si Kuya Gio."
"Tatawag muna ako ng doctor-"
Winagwag ko ang kamay niya. "Si K-Kuya Gio muna, p-please. Kailangan kong m-maka-usap si Kuya Gio."
"Okay, I'll call him,"
Naghintay ako na may ibigay siya sa akin na cellphone. Wala pa ay gusto ko nang umiyak. Kahit anong kurap ko, kahit anong kusot ko sa mga mata ko, puro itim pa rin ang piligid ko.
Wala akong makita. Kahit anong liwanag. Kahit aninag lang.
"Here," aniya.
"Where?" Tanong ko.
"Here. Do you want me to put it on a loudspeaker?"
Binitawan ko ang kamay niya.
"N-No. Give me the phone. I-Ilagay mo sa kamay ko,"
Ilang sandali akong naghintay bago makaramdam ng cellphone sa palad ko.
"Here, Daciana," aniya.
YOU ARE READING
Weather the Storm (LOTUS SERIES 1)
Romance"I want something clear. I'm not asking you for something to ponder on again at night when I lay in bed to sleep." TW!!! Violence. R#pe topic.