Ideal Men 1: Russo Mancini (On Hold)

11

Icy found herself standing in front of the hospital she called. Ayaw niya makita si Russo doon. If Russo will be there, it means he's harmed. Natatakot si Icy na madamay ang binata sa gulo ng pamilya nila. If that happens, she can't blame anyone but herself.

Pero mapagkait ang tadhana. The ambulance came after, and she recognized it immediately. Russo was being carried on the stretcher.

With a heart that was beating fast and cold hands, she went near him.

"Miss tabi!" one of the medics shouted to her.

Hindi maihakbang ni Icy ang mga paa niya. Nanatili itong nakatayo sa kinaroroonan niya habang nakasunod ang kaniyang mata sa stretcher na kinahihigaan ng binata.

If she saw it right, he looked extremely pale. Dahil sa sobrang pagkabigla nito sa nakita, hindi niya namalayan na kanina pa siya kinakausap at inaalog ni Jilliana.

"Icy!! Bakit ka nandito?! Okay ka lang ba?! Hello! May kausap ba ako?!"

Nang hindi niya na makita si Russo, lumingon ito sa kaibigan niya. She held her hand and smiled.

"Okay lang ako." Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at ngumiti. "What happened to Russo?"

"Nadatnan ko siya na nasa sahig at walang malay. He lost too much blood, so he passed out. Okay ka lang ba talaga?"

Ayaw ni Icy na mag-alala ito sa kaniya. "Okay na okay."

Jill wasn't convinced at all. "You're scaring me. Don't do anything foolish."

The two went inside the hospital. They waited for more than thirty minutes outside the operating room. The doctor went out after.

"He'll use crutches for a week. The bullet damaged his bone, but gladly it's just minimal."

Nakahinga ng maluwag ang dalawa. They thanked the doctor and followed the men who'd been pushing the hospital bed. Icy was silent the whole time. Lumapit ito sa binata ng makarating sila sa room, pero hindi pa rin ito nagsasalita. Nanatili itong nakamasid sa maamong mukha ng binata.

"Labas lang ako." paalam ni Jill.

After the door closed, Icy's tears fell down. She looked at his leg. It was covered with bandages. She felt bad leaving him alone. From any viewpoint, her decision was so selfish. There are better decisions, but she sticks to her selfishness. Pwede naman na magkasama silang tumakas, pero iniwan niya ito. She fooled herself into thinking that Russo would be fine if she left, but it just got worse. Ayaw niyang idamay ang binata pero sa huli nadamay at nasaktan lang ito. The fact that she can leave him alone during hard times makes her more angry at herself and afraid of what she can do to make him suffer.

"Kasalanan ko 'to wala akong karapatan na umiyak." bulong nito sa sarili saka pinunasan ang kaniyang luha.

Nang makabalik si Jill ay pinabantayan niya muna si Russo. Tumungo ang dalaga sa banyo para maghilamos. Tinitigan nito ang sarili sa salamin at napagtanto niya kung gaano kasama ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya. Akala nito hindi halata na nag-aalala siya pero sobrang lungkot ng nakikita niya sa repleksyon sa salamin. Her eyes look swollen and reddish. Her hair looks messy. And her make-up was smudged all over her face. Mukha siyang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Agad itong naghilamos saka nagretouch bago bumalik sa silid na kinaroroonan ni Russo.

"Tesorina! Are you alright? You're not hurt, right?" bungad na saad ng binata.

Nakahilig si Russo sa ulunan ng kama. Pansin nito na may mali sa reaksyon ng dalaga. Lumapit ito sa kaniya ng nakangiti, pero alam niya na hindi iyon totoo. Habang ang mga kamay nito ay nanatiling nakapatong sa hita nito.