PHANTASMAGORIA

CHAPTER 40

Every step I was taking was big and fast. I was panting while on my way to the hospital's corridor. Sina Manang Freya naman ay nakasunod pa rin sa akin. 

I tried to remain calm and composed, but the knots in my stomach just refused to dissipate. When I arrived in the ICU, I saw my Mom sitting outside. Her face was worried and nervous.

Nang makita niya ako ay agad siyang tumayo para yakapin ako. I couldn't help but to cry.

“What happened?” I asked, wiping some tears away from my eyes. Sina Manang Freya naman at Ate Millet ay nilagay sa upuan ang mga gamit na inutos sa kanila ni Mommy. We couldn't get inside the ICU. I was just able to see Dad through the transparent glass.

“Your Dad had a heart attack...” pagbalita sa akin ni Mom at kumalas sa yakap.

“What? Anong nangyari? Bakit inatake siya sa puso?! I don't even know he has this condition!” I exclaimed. Napasapo ako sa noo ko habang nakapamaywang.

“Your Dad has coronary artery disease, sweetheart. He was triggered by an unfortunate event at work,” Mom explained.

“Kailan pa 'to? Bakit wala kayong sinasabi?!” Tanong ko ulit sa kaniya. Napa-upo ako sa waiting chair. Umupo naman katabi ko si Mom.

Ang dalawang housekeepers naman namin ay nagpaalam na kaya kami na lang dalawa ni Mom ang naiwan.

“We don't want you to worry, Delancy...” Mom trailed off.

Napabuntong-hininga ako, “Anong balita tungkol kay Di? Is everything still okay?” I worriedly asked. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Mommy habang nakatingin nang diretso sa mga mata niya.

Mom's eyes pooled with tears. She was really worried and scared for Dad's life.
“He will undergo angioplasty surgery...” she confided.

My heart skipped a beat from what I heard. My worry just transform into a sense of urgency. Was Dad going to be okay?

“Can his body still be able to handle the surgery? I am worried for him, Mi... Paano kung hindi successful ang surgery? I can't lose another family...” I trailed off, tears began to form again in my eyes.

“Don't worry, his medical tests are fine. Kaya pa ng katawan niya ang surgery...” Mom explained before squeezing my hand to ease me.

I heaved a sigh, “What happened? May problema ba sa kompanya?”

“Someone from the team leaked some  sensitive informations to the rival company about our next project to be launched next month...” Pagsusumbong ni Mom. Napahilot siya sa sentido niya. “He seemed to be our competition's spy...”

I gasped. It was totally a big scandal! Uso pa pala ang ganiyan ngayon sa mga rival companies. Ganoon na ba sila ka-intimidated sa amin at kailangan pa nilang nakawin ang information about our new project just to keep up with us? God, they were losing their professional ethics!

My Mom continued, “Your Dad got stressed and furious about it. Mabuti nga at hindi siya na-cardiac arrest. It's still a relief,” she smiled a little.

“Alam niyo ba kung sino ang nag-leak? What about those who invested in the project?!” I stressfully closed my eyes firmly, trying to compose myself. Ang dami namang problema. I took some deep breaths to calm myself down.

“We are still investigating. Hindi rin muna namin ipinaalam sa mga investors. Mas lalong lalaki ang problema kapag nawala sila,” malungkot na sagot ni Mom.