Celestine And Helios | A Novelette By Arki Aaron

Chapter 3

Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw, bukas na ang operasyon ni mama at sa susunod na linggo naman ay ang kasal ni Helios. Gaganapin ito sa isang beach na malapit lang din sa amin. Mayaman naman si Helios pero hindi ko mawari kung bakit ayaw niya na sa simbahan kami magpakasal. Maybe it’s his choice of his not just a church guy.

Umakyat ako ng hagdan para puntahan ang kwarto ni helios. I wanna invite him to visit my mother, para na rin makilala ni mama ang taong dahilan ng paggaling niya, at ang taong mapapangasawa ng nag-iisa niyang anak. 

As we made our way to the hospital, I couldn't shake the nervous fluttering in my stomach. It had been a while since I'd seen my mother, and the thought of seeing her in her current state filled me with a mix of dread and longing. Beside me, Helios walked with a quiet strength, his presence a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

As we entered the hospital, the antiseptic scent of cleanliness enveloped us, mingling with the hushed tones of doctors and nurses as they bustled about their duties. Sa totoo lang, ayaw ko talaga ng amoy ng hospital, dahil para sa akin ay amoy ito ng kalungkutan at pagluluksa.

My heart hammered in my chest as we approached my mother's room, the sound of beeping machines growing louder with each step.

Pushing open the door, I was greeted by the sight of my mother lying in bed, her face pale and drawn with pain. Tears welled up in my eyes as I rushed to her side, taking her frail hand in mine.
Ayokong nakikita ni mama na mahina ako, but seeing her condition really makes me cry. Ang layo ns ng itsura niya noong bata pa ako.

"Mama," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.

“Pasensya na Ma, natagalan ang anak niyo. H'wag kayo mag-alala Ma, gagaling na po kayo.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and a weak smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Celestine, anak ko," she said, her voice barely a whisper. Tatlong salita lang ang binanggit niya pero sapat na ito para sabihin sa akin na mahal niya ako. Her voice were both melody of happiness and pain in me.

As I sat by her bedside, Helios stood silently beside me, his presence a silent source of support.

“Ma, si Helios po. Boyfriend ko po,’ ssad ko saka tinuro di Helios na tahimik na nakatayo.

“Good afternoon po tita,” aniya at yumuko. Hindi ko na muna sinabi kay mama na magpapakasal kami, tsaka na kapag magaling na siya. Mahirap kasi na kapag sinabi ko ngayon at hindi niya in-e-expect ay makasama pa ito sa kaniya.

“Magandang hapon hijo,” pagbati ni mama atsaka ngumiti.

“May dala po pala akong prutas, gusto niyo po bang ipagbalat ko po kayo?” Agad akong napalingon kay Helios matapos niya itong sabihin.

Takhang tumingin ako sa kaniya. Hibdi kalaunan ay pumasok ang isang butler mula sa mansion, habang bitbit ang issng basket ng prutas. Halo halo ang laman nito, apples, oranges, mangoes, and some other fruits that I'm not familiar with.

Ang hight na ipinagtataka ko ay ang pag-o-offer ni Helios na pagbabalat ng prutas. In his mansion, he doesn't go out of his office. Nakakulong lang siya rito, hinahatidan ng pagkain at mga kailangan niya. Pati nga mga prutas na dinadala sa kwarto niya ay nabalatan at nahiwa na. He's a complete sloth.

Pero ngayon, siya pa talaga ang nag prisinta? Ano kayang nakain nito?

“Salamat hijo…” sagot ni mams habang nakangiti.

Kumuha si Helios ng maliit na kutsilyo at nagbalat ng mansanas, wala pang ilang segundo ay dumulas ito sa kaniyang kamay, dahilan para magkaroon siya ng hiwa sa daliri.

“Ako na nga, halatang hindi ka nagbabalat ng prutas sa inyo e!” sabi ko, saka kinuha ang kutsilyo at mansanas sa kaniya.

“At least I tried though, it's the thought that counts, right tita?” sagot niya saka tumingin kay mama.

“Oo nga naman,” ani mama at sabay silang tumawa.

Napatigil ako sa pagbabalat ng mansanas nang makita ko si Helios. He is laughing and smiling. This is the first time that I saw him genuinely smiled. Hindi iyong ngiti na nakakaloko o kaya naman may masamang balak na lagi kong nakikita sa kaniya. Right now, his smile looks natural. Para bang ngayon na lang siya ulit ngumiti at tumawa nang ganyan.

Hindi ko na ito pinuna dahil baka mahiya siya. I just let him talk to my mother. And as the minutes ticked by, I found myself drawn to him in a way I hadn't expected. There was something about the quiet strength in his eyes, the gentle way he comforted me, that stirred something deep within me.

In that moment, amidst the beeping machines and sterile hospital walls, I realized that I was beginning to like Helios more than I had ever imagined. And as I stole a glance at him, a small spark of hope ignited within me – hope for a future where we could face whatever challenges came our way, together.

Papalabas na kami ng room ni mama dahil tapos na ang visiting hours. Dala ko ang bag ko habang si Helios naman ay naglalakad habang may katawagan siya sa cellphone. Napakaganda rin ng mga dakiri niya, it's soft and slender, so manly.
Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang bigla akong may maalala. When I stopped walking, Helios’ call were done. Lumapit siya sa akin at nagtanong. “What's the matter? May naiwan ka ba?’

I took his left hand and looked at it. Nagtataka na ako noong mga oras na iyon. Kinuha ko ang kanan niyang kamay at tinignan din ito. When I saw nothing, that's when something off kicks in.

“Where's your wound?” kalmadong tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Wound? What are you talking about?” takhang tanong niya.

“Don't answer me with a question. Nakita ko kanina, nasugatan ka ng kutsilyo habang nagbabalat ng prutas. It bled, and it's impossible na walang sugat o maski natuyo g dugo sa daliri mo,” saad ko na may halong pang-uusisa.

He remained silent while he looked at me. Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon ng kaniyang mukha. I don't know if he's nervous, mad, or what. He stares at me blankly.

“You shouldn't worry about things that doesn't affect you,” he said coldly.
I was left there standing. Sa isang iglap, bumalik ang dating Helios na kilala ko.