HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 22

ANGELA'S POV

"J-jaiden..." Sabi ko habang humihikbi, yakap niya ako kaya lalo akong napahagulgol. Parang buong mundo ko na ang gumuho bigla, e-hindi ko talaga kayang isipin na mangyari ito sa kanya.

"N-no, n-not A-Althea... sobrang bata pa niya, hindi pwede..." Patuloy pa rin akong umiiyak, habang pinapakalma ako ni Jaiden gamit ang paghalik sa ulo ko. Nang hawakan niya ako ng mahigpit, parang may konting lakas na pumapasok sa katawan ko pero hindi pa rin sapat para mapakalma ako.

But f*ck, how can I even think about calming down? Ito ay anak ko-she's my whole world, my reason for waking up every single day.

Just then, Catherine and James arrived, their faces pale the moment they saw me sitting there covered in blood.

"S-si Althea?" James asked, his voice shaky as his eyes darted from me to the glowing red sign above the Operating Room door ng makita niyang hindi ako makasagot, he already knew what was happening.

"T-that's my baby..." I whispered, barely able to get the words out. My eyes were fixed on the OR-nang subukan kong lumapit, my legs felt like jelly, and I couldn't take even one more step forward. All I could do was stare, pray, and hope that somehow, my eyes could reach her inside that room.

"Oh my goodness..." Sabi ni Catherine, natigilan lang siya at hindi makapaniwala.

Napatingin ako sa kamay ko-puro dugo, lahat ng iyon ay galing kay Althea. Ngayon ko lang napansin na puno na rin ng dugo ang damit ko, parang bumabalot ito sa akin ng guilt kasi hindi ko siya naprotektahan.

James kept glancing at the OR door, muttering curses under his breath over and over again. Nang makita niyang muntik na akong mabuwal, he reached out to steady me-but Jaiden was already there, his arm wrapped firmly around my waist to keep me on my feet.

"Shh, don't cry... she'll get better, I know she will. Althea is strong-parang ikaw din, you know that, right?" Jaiden said softly, but his words only made me cry harder. I buried my face in his chest, soaking his shirt with my tears.

"Althea can handle this, my dear..." I heard Daddy's voice behind me. Nang lumingon ako, nakita ko na kasama na rin niya si Mommy at mga kuya ko.

"Yes, our princess-magtiwala ka lang, she's tougher than you think," my older brother added, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Freus is right, anak..." Mommy said, her own voice thick with emotion. Nang hawakan niya ako sa kamay, I felt a little bit of strength coming back-but not enough to stop the tears from flowing.

I stood up slowly, my legs still shaking, and started walking toward the exit. Jaiden followed right behind me, his hand never leaving my back.

"Saan ka pupunta, nak?" Daddy called out, but I didn't look back.

"Sa simbahan po..." I said, wiping my tears with the back of my hand-though it was useless, since more just kept coming. Hindi ko na alam kung ano na ang itsura ko ngayon-I probably looked like a mess, like some kind of clown with mascara running down my cheeks and my hair all over the place. Pero wala na akong paki alam-the only thing that mattered was my daughter.

Hindi ko na hinintay na buksan pa ni Jaiden ang pintuan ng kotse, ako na mismo ang nagbukas at pumasok.

"You need to rest, love..." Sabi ni Jaiden pagkatapos niyang pumasok sa driver's seat.

"Pahinga?" Tanong ko, nang bigla naman akong muli pang mapaluha. Paano ako makakapagpahinga nang alam kong nasa ganitong sitwasyon ang anak ko.

"Siya yung pahinga ko... she's the one who makes everything okay, who makes all the hard days worth it," I sobbed, clutching my chest like the pain there was too much to bear. Kaya hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ang gagawin ko kung mawawala siya. F*ck, I swear I'd die if I lost her-hindi ko kakayanin na mawalan ng anak.