TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

S3: SETTLE

CHLOE

I heard voices, and that disturbed me from my slumber. Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at ang buhok ni Trace na mas magulo ngayon ang unang napansin ko. And why is Trace here? My eyes grew more prominent as the realization of what happened made me wanna rose to bed, but the pain in my tummy stopped me. The anesthesia was no more working on me. Napatingin ako sa mga nakakabit sa akin. IV fluid is normal, but why am I into blood transfusion?

"H-Hey..." I said in my sleepy voice. That stopped Trace and Zeno from talking. Both of them looked at me. Trace immediately gets into me and holds my hand. He held my hand tightly, but I pulled it from his grasp.

"Chloe..." Trace kissed my forehead and held my hand again. "I'm sorry, roxo..."

Sorry? Is that all he thinks that can fix everything?

"Where's my baby, Zeno?" I asked. I don't wanna talk to Trace. I can't. Ang nasa isip ko ay ang naabutan ko sa hotel room. Ang panloloko niya sa akin. Ang mga hubȃd na katawan nila ng mga babae niya.

Nagtinginan naman sina Trace at Zeno. I know that kind of look. Zeno doesn't want to answer me because he doesn't want to meddle between me and Trace.

"The baby is fine, Chloe..." Trace answered me, but still my eyes are not even glancing at him. Ayoko siya tingnan. I love him so much that even he betrayed me, the love's still in my heart. Nasasaktan ako pero kaya nga ako nasasaktan kasi mahal ko siya.

"Zeno, please call Rogelio." Ayoko talagang makipag-usap kay Trace. Ayoko. Kay Zeno lang ako makikipag-usap at sa iba pero kay Trace ay hindi. Hindi talaga. I sniffed to control my cry. "Please..." ulit ko kay Zeno dahil muli ay tiningnan niya lang si Trace.

Tumango naman si Zeno. He leave us at naiwan kaming dalawa na lang ni Trace sa kuwarto.

"I said I'm sorry..." Trace whispered as he sat beside the bed and held my hand and kissed its back. "I'm sorry, roxo... Hindi ko alam if maniniwala ka na wala akong ginawa na ikakasama ng loob mo, but... but I am hoping, begging... Please..."

I didn't say anything. Silence is my better response to him. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat kung paniwalaan. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang hayaan na unawain na lang siya. Forgiving him could make him fool me over and over again.

"I said I'm sorry. Alam ko na kung sino ang may gawa ng kalokohan. Inuna lang muna kita rito intindihin kaysa tapusin ang mga may gawa ng kagaguhan na 'yon sa akin, sa atin... Aayusin ko ang nangyari. I promise you, CJ."

Aayusin? Once the glass cracks, it cannot return to its original form. It could be shattered, not fixed.

I gulped. Ayaw ko siyang tingnan at lalong ayaw ko siyang kausap. Salamat na lang at may biglang pumasok na nurse at nilapitan ako. The nurse asked me what I was feeling and asked me random questions that I knew she needed to ask, to make sure I am fine after the CS operation.

Nagpaalam na ang nurse pagkatapos niya akong kausapin, at after niyang i-check ang pagpatak ng dugo mula sa blood bag na sinasalin sa akin at same sa IV fluid. Sinabi pa nito na mamaya lang ay magra-rounds ang doctor na nag-CS sa akin at para na rin sa dressing ng sugat ko. Tumango lang ako and murmured my thanks.

When the nurse totally left the room ay saka naman pumasok si Rogelio, kasunod ni Zeno. I told Rogelio to make sure that I won't let anyone visiting me. Ayokong may ibang sisilip sa akin dito sa hospital room aside kay Willow. Si Willow lang ang request ko at ayokong ma-stress makita ang mukha ni Trace.

"Parating mamaya si Boss Alguien," Rogelio told me

.

"Even Alguien, just Willow..." I said at saka tiningnan sina Zeno at Trace. "Thank you, Zeno, for helping me and my baby." I sighed before I looked at my husband. "Let me have my peace of mind, Trace. I don't wanna see you. I need to regain my strength and you are not helping."