Zavira Vaudelaire
"..zav.."
"Ate zav.."
Inaantok kung minulat ang mata dahil sa pagyugyog sa akin ng kong sino.
"Ate z-zav" Napabangon ako dahil sa umiiyak nito boses.
"Ally?"
"Buddy, why are you crying..?"
"S-si a-ate po" she stammered. I immediately looked were at alca's lying on hospital bed.
I rushed over to her side.
I pushed the emergency nurse call button on the side of the bed.
My heart pounding so hard in my chest. She had been sleeping for weeks, and seeing her awake was a mix of relief and anxiety.
"Sweetie, calm down" Pinipilit niyang bumangon sa hospital bed kahit hindi pa nito kaya.
"Z-za-v.." she weakly said.
I held her hand to make her feel at ease and I'm just right beside her. Dumudugo na ang dibdib niya ngayon. Ganon din kamay niya where the IV had been dislodged.
"It's alright, sweetie, calm down please. you're safe here" Paulit ulit kong hinalikan ang sintido niya to make her feel calm.
"P-p-pain.." she said almost a whispered.
Agad akong napalingon ng pumasok si Dwyer. Agad itong lumapit sa amin.
"Dwy.."
My cousin face is serious as she checked the monitors and Alca's vitals. "She's stable," she said, offering a reassuring smile.
May itinurok si Dwyer sa kanya para kumalman ito.
"Z-za-v.."
"It's alright, sweetie, I'm right here" I said softly. Inabot ko ang kamay nito and kissed it. Tuluyan na nitong naipikit ang mga mata niya.
"Is she going to be okay, Dwy?"
"She’s alright, Zav, but I need to monitor her closely," she said.
I stopped her hand when she started unbuttoning Alca's hospital gown. Matagal niya akong tiningnan kaya binitawan ko ang kamay niya.
"Her wound still isn't closed, and she needs to be more careful not to move around," she said habang nililinis ang sugat nito sa dibdib.
"..and please, stop murdering me in your mind." Nakataas na ang kilay niya at nakatingin sa akin ngayon. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya and pretended na hindi ko siya narinig.
"I-'m not." Patay-malisya kong sagot.
"Yeah, right. For God's sake, I was just cleaning her wound," I heard her murmur. I didn’t say anything.
Tapos na siya sa ginagawa niya nang tumingin ako sa kanya.
Tumayo siya when she finished examining Alca.
"I'm your cousin. Stop your stupid jealousy." Napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya.
"Hindi nga."
"Tell that to yourself." Lumapit siya sa mga bata na nakatingin sa pwesto namin ngayon. May binigay siya rito, that I'm guessing pasalubong na naman. She’s spoiling them again.
"I'll check back in on her shortly. In the meantime..." matagal niya akong tinitigan.
"...try to get some rest yourselves," she said bago siya umalis.
