Embers of Love (Isla de Vista Series #5)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Blood, Sweat, & Tears

I woke up in a hospital room, already having the intravenous shot in my left hand. No one was inside when I woke up from slumber. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako dinala rito.

Umupo ako nang dahan dahan sa higaan. Napakatahimik ng paligid, animo'y nasa isang isolation room ako. I waited until someone came in.

The door slid open and it was Alexa. She beamed a bright smile but at the same time a worried smile when she saw me wide awake.

"Miss Cresia!" naiiyak niyang tawag habang lumapit sa akin. "Natakot po ako, Miss! Bigla ka lang nahimatay. Nagpapanic ako kung ano ang gagawin kaya dinala nalang kita sa hospital. Sobrang gaan mo lang pala, Miss Cresia! Grabe! Hindi ako nahirapan! Natakot ako sa sobrang gaan ng timbang mo."

"Thank you, Alexa..." mahina kong sinabi.

Suminghot siya at nagpunas ng luha. It did not take long when someone came in from the same door. It was a doctor with an intern beside her. She sighed when she got near me.

"How are you, Cresia?" Dr. Mylene Ebora asked.

"Quite fine."

She sighed deeply. "You are not. Where is Nieve and Emilio, Alexa? They should have been here by now."

"Tinawagan ko na po kanina, Doc. Pupunta raw po si Ma'am Nieve pero hindi sinabi kung kailan."

Bumaling muli si Dr. Ebora sa akin. She is my Aunt. The elder sister of my father. She's a Dela Cuesta in her maiden time.

"Do you know why I had to put you into Ringer's lactate?" aniya. "Are you even aware of what is happening with your body?"

"I'm malnourished."

"Yes, and you are over fatigued. Do you know what that means?"

Tumango ako. "Excessive fatigue carried beyond my recuperative capacity."

"Good. I need to talk with your parents about this situation, Cresia. I can't believe that they are still treating you like a puppet at their own disposal."

Walang akong kibo. Dr. Ebora is the only sister of my father having the same mother and father. They had one stepbrother but he has moved to the United States ever since.

"Alright, for the meantime, Alexa, get her some food in the cafeteria. It is better if you can find soup first."

"Okay po, Doc." si Alexa at mabilis na gumalaw paalis. "Ay! Ma'am Nieve,"

I moved my gaze to the doorway. Mom is there.  She appears to be dressed all in black, with shades and a visor. When she entered the room, she removed her glasses. She merely gave me a sidelong glance before proceeding to Dr. Ebora.

"Can you leave us for a moment?" baling ni Dr. Ebora sa intern niya na agad naman sumunod sa utos.

"She seems fine." komento ni Mom sa akin.

Kinakabahan ako bigla. It traveled me back to my childhood. I was not supposed to become sick. If I'm feeling poorly, it is obligatory to keep it bottled up until I start to feel better. I can count the number of times I've spent at a hospital for a diagnostic procedure—less than five.

When I'm sick, I get chastised. When I am exhausted, I am reprimanded. When I am hungry, I am penalized. Nothing ever appears to change. I vividly recall being shivering cold with a fever and no one came by my bedroom to check on me.

It was a bleak time of my life. I awoke with the same fever and didn't have the courage to speak with them. They knew I was ill, they noticed, but they lack the capacity to show a little gesture of solicitude. Despite the fact that I was sick, they still decided to leave on holiday, leaving me alone in the house yet again.