"Goodbyes"
The day has finally come, today, we set off for Lermontov, Russia. A swirl of nervousness and fear courses through my veins, at sigurado akong ganoon din sa mga kasamahan ko. All of us were unsure what to feel at that very moment, lalo na't wala kaming kaalam-alam kung anong mangyayari sa amin doon.
But we accepted the call anyway, and we need to be ready, whether we like it or not.
We were currently settling in the reception hallway of the hospital, patiently waiting for the service that would take us to the airport. The area was quite crowded, dahil naroroon ang mga pamilya at malalapit na kaibigan ng mga kasamahan ko na ipapadala sa Russia.
Nurse Yoon Ji Ho:
"Ji Ho-ya, always call me when your shift is done, okay?"
"I will, eomma. So don't stress yourself too much,"
Dr. Ledger Santino:
"Mahal, ingat ka doon ha. Iintayin ka namin ni baby. Alam mo namang ikaw ang magpapangalan sa kanya."
"Don't worry, mahal. I'll come back safe and sound, at sisiguraduhin ko pagbalik ko, may maganda at meaningful na pangalan na si baby."
Nurse Ina Vazquez:
"Love, pagbalik ko, I'll tell you a surprise I've been keeping for a while now."
"Love naman eh, why not tell me now? Pinapatay mo ako sa excitement! Baka magsisi kang hindi mo sinabi agad sa akin 'yan."
"Wait ka lang. It'll be worth it. Hindi masasayang ang paghihintay mo, promise ko 'yan sa'yo."
Dr. Ignacio Mendez:
"Baby, mag-Disneyland tayo pagbalik ko. Promise ni Daddy 'yan sa'yo, okay?"
"I love you, my princess."
A smile crept across my face as I took in the scenes around me. I couldn't help but admire and envy them. The heartfelt goodbyes and farewells exchanged between loved ones warmed my heart. It's true what they say: hospitals bear witness to the most authentic and painful emotions and partings.
I'm not sure why but seeing moments like this gives me a sense of comfort, kahit na mag-isa lang ako dito ngayon.
Inilibot ko pa ang paningin ko sa buong lugar at doon ko nakita si Dr. Garcia, nakaupong umiidlip sa may reception bench. Mag-isa lang din siya. Ganoon rin ang kaibigan kong si Elena, nakatayo at nakasandal sa pader na nakapikit ang mga mata. Mukhang hindi lang pala ako ang mag-isa ngayon.
I approached slowly and gently nudged her to wake her up.
"Oh, Ness, nakarating ka na pala," ika nito na iminulat ang mga mata habang naghihikab.
"Oo, kanina pa."
"Ba't parang pagod na pagod ka yata? At saka nasaan sila Tito, hindi ka ba nila ihahatid?" dugtong na usisa ko.
"Medyo natagalan kasi ako kagabi sa pag-iimpake, tapos sila Papa naman masyadong busy, kaya wala nang time para ihatid ako," antok na tugon niya.
"Kaya naman pala." sagot ko.
I was about to continue when I noticed the indecipherable expression on her face.
"Oh, ba't ganiyan ang itsura mo, may problema ka ba?" tanong ko.
"Ewan ko ba, Ness, parang may masama akong kutob, parang ayokong tumuloy o ano,"
Her words struck me like a warning, parehong-pareho kaming dalawa ng nararamdaman ngayon, as if some invisible force was holding me back, urging me to stay in the Philippines. It was a powerful pull, a whisper in my mind telling me to turn away from whatever lay ahead. Simula pa lang nang ipaalam sa amin ang tungkol sa misyong ito, may kutob na talaga akong hindi maganda, na dapat hindi na talaga ako tumuloy pa.
YOU ARE READING
Heartbeats & Bullet Shells: De Ville #1
General Fiction"Once you step into my world, there's no turning back. I'm offering you a chance to leave while you still can, but know this, if you choose to stay, there will be no escape."
