Fragile Hearts [HEARTS TRILOGY #1]

Chapter 02

TW: medical terminologies and mention of death or disease.
note: all of the information mentioned below is based on medical research or articles posted online—please understand that there may be inaccuracies, you can kindly correct and educate us all in the comment section. Thank you :))

I jolted awake due to shortness of breath, ramdam ko rin ang paninikip ng dibdib ko. I gasped for air while trying to call for anyone but no voice would come out.

Don't panic! Don't panic! Stay calm! Focus! Try to breathe! Try to breathe, Dominic! Inhale! Exhale!

Pero walang hangin ang pumapasok sa baga ko!

Gumapang ako sa kama hanggang maabot ang intercom sa bedside table ko. It's connected to everyone's room, I pressed it and let out a very weak and very forced—"T..tul..ong!"

Few seconds later malakas na bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ko, it was Manang Solis, our family helper.

"Dios ko! Lileth! Tawagan mo ang Sir Ares at ihanda ang sasakyan! Inaatake kamo si Dominic!"

I tried to cough and gasp for more air, pero paninikip ng dibdib lang ang nararamdaman ko. I started panicking when I saw spots on my vision.

I only have one thought every time I experience this—I don't want to die.
At least not yet. I still have lots of things to live for.

Manang Solis and Tito's driver managed to get me out of my room. Ang bilis ng mga nangyayari pero pakiramdam ko naka-stuck ang mundo ko; I'm hearing everything but muffled, I'm awake but my eyes are blurry.

Ito na ba?
Hanggang dito nalang ba talaga ako?
But I'm only twenty-one...

Please, I still want to live...

"HCM is a serious non-curable heart disease, Mr. Kartejo, as much as we want you to live a normal life, in your condition, it is simply not possible"

I fidget with my fingers while listening to Tito Ares' colleague, Dra. Luciano, isa sa mga doktor na humahawak sa case ko.
Seryoso at tahimik lang si Tito habang nakatayo sa may pintuan, letting the other doctor read to me my medical results.

Huminga ng malalim si Doc. Luciano and shake her head, "Dominic, hijo, your HCM is on the obstructive type, and at this point, the wall between your left and right ventricle has already thickens, this can result to blockage of blood flow from the left ventricle to your aorta; we can't risk you going on and about outside the hospital anymore.
I'm sorry, hijo, but you have to limit your activities or more situations like this will happen"

I did not respond. Times like these where when I realized how serious the situation is, na kahit anong takbo ko palayo, kahit anong deny ko, kahit anong hirap ko para mamuhay nang normal—I will never be able to break free from my medical complications. That at the end of the day, I can't always play pretend to live a normal life. Puso ko na yung napapagod.

"I want to go home" I told my uncle pagkalabas ni Dra. Luciano. Tito Ares turned to me and sighed.
"Tito, ayaw ko dito, gusto ko na umuwi. I can rest naman sa bahay diba? May gamit naman tayo doon"

Tito Ares made his way to the side of my bed, naupo siya paharap sa akin at mataman akong tinitigan.

"Sa haba ng sinabi ni Dra. Luciano, wala kang naintindihan? Kakasabi lang na need ka pa obserbahan, Dee" He said.