Under The City Lights Of Chicago

Chapter 28

"W-who's the f-father of your child K-Koleen?" Puno ng pait ang kaniyang bosses.

I shoved that thought away and sarcastically laughed. Sino daw iyong ama?

Mabilis akong lumakad paalis kinabukasan dahil night duty ako. I sighed. I've just ended a call with my child. And she was like my stress reliever. Siya ang nagbibigay lakas sakin. When I felt empty tatawag lang ako sa kaniya and I felt relieved.

"You all have to do is to carry out these to the patients." I listened to what the doctor said. 

I smiled. "Yes, doc."

At nagsimula ng asikasuhin iyong mga pinapagawa niya sakin. Ang dami pang patients na kailangan kong aasikasuhin kaya hindi ko nalaman iyong oras.

Ken fetch me in the nurse station. As I was doing the charting ang dami ko pang susulatin.

"Mauna ka na. Matagal pa 'to," But still he waited for me.

"Tulungan na kita. Ang bagal mo naman kasing magsulat." I rolled my eyes at him. Ang kapal naman ne'to!

"Grabe kanaman. Nakaka hurt, huh." I sarcastically said.

Mabilis kaming tumungo ng cafeteria para kumain. Meron namang mga nurse na naiwan sa station kaya we have a chance to eat there pero mabilisan lang kami doon.

Umupo ako sa harapan ni Ken. But only to see Zaiden's face not so far away sitting together with his friends. Madilim iyong titig niya sakin. He's mad like I did something.

What's new? I scoffed.

Ilang taon din naman iyong nakalipas pero alam kong galit pa din siya sakin. He was looking at me with an intense stare gripping his utensils tightly. But I looked away when I saw Mitch sat beside him.

"Tara na, Ken. Ayaw ko na dito. Sa Station nalang tayo kakain."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "You're so weird. Bakit ba? Kakakain ko lang eh."

Nagrereklamo pa siya. Nang napabaling ako sa mesa nila Zaiden. He stare at Ken then to me. Na kahit sa gilid niya si Mitch na naguusap ay para bang walang pakialam.

When Ken saw who I was looking. He finally nod. And held my hands!

I hissed. "Ken!"

He just looked at me lazily. "Just go with the flow. Koleen."

And we exited the cafeteria and somes gazes where on us! Even though I'm already walking away from the cafeteria the heavy gaze of Zaiden is all I can felt.

Wala na akong pakialam sa kaniya. He's already engaged right now. At ang tanging nasaisip ko lang ay iyong anak ko. And that's all.

"I heard that on her birthday you will bring her here in Chicago?" Ken asked on our way to the grocery. Gusto ko lang maglibot libot. Nagbabasakaling may mabibili. Ilang araw din naman kasi akong nasa trabaho kaya wala na akong oras para dito.

Ken continued. "Hindi ka na ba natatakot. Kapag malaman ni Zaiden?"

I stretched my body and yawned. "Hindi ko naman siya papayagan na pupunta sa trabaho ko. Ken. Besides I already told her that I am working in the hospital and only adults can be there."

Ken nodded. "Zee's pretty curious with a lot of things. Don't you think later or sooner she'll ask about her dad?"

Ken's been there for  Zee for so many years. He stood up not just like her Ninong and tito, but as her father at the same time. Ate Emma and Cha are always there for Zee too. And I'm happy that they're always been there to listen for me. Tinayuan din ni ate Emma iyong responsibilidad ng kaniyang kapatid.