Echoing of Power and Passion

47 (Health Condition)

She arrived at 8 PM. As soon as she got to the parking lot, she immediately sprinted toward the entrance of the hospital. Gavin was in a private room on the 3rd floor, and she rushed up the hallway. She spotted Maris and the kids' nanny, who quickly came over to meet her.

"Ate, pati si Calvin nilagnat na lang bigla. Ate, si Gavin may dengue, te," Maris said, crying as she gripped her sister's hand. Alicia stood frozen in shock, struggling to process what was happening to her children.

“How about Gavin?” she asked in a cold tone, her body feeling numb from the overwhelming anxiety and fear she felt for her sons.

"He's under observation, te, pero sabi ng doctor, may dengue po," Maris answered as Alicia shook her head, tears streaming down her face, grappling with the reality of her son's condition.

"No! My son is still young, Maris!" she shouted, taking a deep breath, only for everything she had been bottling up to come crashing down. "Hindi puwede 'to, anak!" she cried, standing in front of Gavin's room, her sobs echoing in the hallway. Her body grew weak, trembling as if all her strength had been drained from her.

"Ate, tama na..." Maris pleaded, hugging her tightly while helping her to sit down on a nearby waiting chair outside the room.

"Yung mga anak ko, Maris. Tulungan niyo ang mga anak ko," Alicia sobbed, her voice cracking. Just then, the doctor emerged from the room.

"Anong nangyari sa mga anak ko? Please, pagalingin mo sila!" she begged, desperate for some good news.

"Mayor Alice, please calm down," Maris tried to comfort her, gently guiding Alicia to sit again. Slowly, Alicia began to regain some composure.

"Calvin had a normal fever, probably due to exhaustion or something similar. But Gavin is in a high-risk situation. His fever has been going on for three days now, and the dengue has worsened. At this point, we need to get him specialized treatment because if we don’t act quickly, he could—"

"Die?" Alicia whispered as her knees nearly buckled beneath her, her hand clutching her chest as her breath became shallow.

"Hindi puwede ‘to, doc. You have to do something. My son... Gavin can’t die!" Alicia screamed, pleading with the doctor, who tried to reassure her that they were doing everything they could to help.

"Mamatay?" Alicia slowly turned toward the voice that sent chills down her spine. "Sinong mamatay, Alicia?" Risa’s voice cut through the tension as she approached Alicia, her presence intensifying the fear and sorrow Alicia already felt.

"Ahhh, mga Ate, siguro mag-usap na lang kayo sa parking lot. Maraming tao dito, baka may makakilala sa inyo," Maris suggested nervously. Alicia stood up, unable to face Risa in this moment, knowing the storm of emotions that was about to come. She bolted for the parking lot, trying to escape Risa’s anger and pain.

Risa, however, wasn’t one to let things go easily. "You can’t run from me, Mayor Alice! Sabihin mo sa'kin ang lahat! Sinong mamamatay? Anong nangyari sa mga anak natin?" she demanded as Alicia fumbled with her car keys, trembling as Risa’s words echoed around her.

With tears in her eyes, Risa shouted, "Mayor Alice, nagmamakaawa ako. Sabihin mo sa'kin ang totoo—"

"Gavin... Gavin has dengue. He’s in critical condition. If we don’t get him treatment, he might die anytime," Alicia's voice cracked, her own fear overwhelming her. Upon hearing the news, Risa’s body nearly collapsed, her hand reaching for the car to steady herself.

"No... This can’t be... Why is this happening to our son, Alicia?" Risa gasped, her chest tightening with every breath.

"Theresia, I’m so sorry—" Alicia reached out to her, but Risa immediately pulled back.