Her Heart's Desire

HER HEART'S DESIRE 14

"Mom, what's going on?" A small child felt helpless as her parents panicked in front of her. A small child laying lifeless and limp in her father's arms, pale, almost blue.

"M-Mommy?" The little girl felt her tears build up  in confusion and pain. Why are they ignoring her? Why is her sibling not moving? What is going on?

"M-Mom? Mom!"

"Mom!" I gasped for air as I woke up from my nightmare. My chest clenching in physical pain, cold sweats dripping from my forehead.

I bit my lip as my heart started to skip beats, literally. Nagmamadali kong hinanap ang inhaler ko sa side-table ng kama ko pero hindi ko mahanap.

I heaved several deep breaths, feeling suffocated in my own body.

"M-Ma!! Ma!!" I screamed my lungs out as hard as I can despite the pain in my chest.

I sobbed as the door in my room opened, revealing a very worried mom and dad.

"Viv? Vivienne!" Natatarantang inalo ni mama ang nanginginig kong katawan. Si papa naman ay halos itapon ang lahat ng bagay sa kwarto ko para makita ang inhaler ko.

"Here, here. Vivienne, breathe." saad ni dad nang binigay sa akin ang nebulizer ko. Mas mabuti na 'to kesa sa inhaler lang. Mom stroked my hair as I tried to stabilize my breathing.

"This is getting out of hand, love." I could hear my dad's muffled voice outside my room.

Nakahiga lang ako sa kama ko ngayon, nanghihina pa rin. Our family doctor stabilizing my breathing with an oxygen tank.

"Hindi ko na din alam, Ross. I'm worried about our daughter." Halata sa boses ni mama na umiiyak na siya.

Instead of listening further, I decided to close my eyes and tried to drift off to sleep.

But my mind keeps on going back to the nightmare I had. That horrible day, the limp body of my—

I bit my lip as I tried not to sob again.

"I heard what happened," panimula ni Kathleen nang maglakad kami papasok sa paaralan namin. "Are you okay? H-Hindi mo naman kailangan pumunta sa hospital, right?" bakas ang pag-aalala sa boses at mga mata niya.

I reassured her with a soft smile, "No. I'm fine, Kath. Don't worry."

"B-But tita said you were shaking na daw and that your breathing were starting to get shallow. Vivienne, nakakatakot 'yun."

"Nakakatakot ang alin?" Nagulat kami ni Kathleen sa boses na nagsalita sa likod namin. Our heads turned to see that it was Crimson, looking at us in confusion.

"H-Ha? Ah, wala!" Kathleen denied, "Ano lang, 'yung movie na pinanood ko. Sige na, bye!" Paalam niya sa akin at tumakbo na papalayo, muntik pa nga madapa dahil sa pagmamadali.

My shoulders tensed as I felt the body of Crimson get closer beside me.

"Hey. Nandito ka na pala." He greeted.

"Hi." I shortly replied, mentally slapping myself in embarrassment.

After kasi ng report namin ay hindi na ako nakikipag-usap sa kaniya dahil sa hiya. I hugged him kaya! Sa harap pa ng maraming tao. Sino'ng hindi mahihiya do'n? Tsaka isang buwan ko rin siya iniiwasan. Well, hindi naman totally iwas, I talk to him naman pero kapag tungkol sa acads lang.

An awkward silence fell upon us as we both tried to look for words.

"You left your book." He suddenly said, I looked at him with a confused face. "A-At our house." He looked down. My eyes widened in realization. Kaya pala kulang 'yung mga libro ko.

'Vivienne naman, napakaburara mo.'

"Ah, really? Did you bring it with you?" I asked, my palm now open to receive the book I had left.

"I-I forgot to bring it." Doon na ako tuluyan na napatawa sa kaniya. Napaka-cute naman kasi ng pagkasabi niya. He had his left hand on his pocket while his right hand is scratching his nape as he smiles sheepishly.

"Don't laugh." He whispered, slightly pouting. Para siyang bata na nagtatampo, nakayuko ang ulo niya habang bumubulong sa sarili niya.

I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to stifle my laughter.

I cleared my throat, "S-Sige, I'll just take the book sa bahay niyo." Napatingin siya sa akin na para bang gulat sa sinabi ko. "Kung ayos lang." I added.

Tumango naman siya at naglakad na, kaya sinundan ko na lang siya at tahimik namin na tinahak ang classroom namin.