White Lies

Shutdown

"Arlene... "

Arlene looked up from where she is seated to see Lea. She stood up and gave Lea a brief hug.

"Lea! I am glad you're here. Sorry I don't know how to contact you but only through your PA."

"He told you?"

"Us. The whole clan knows about you and Aga."

Lea cleared her throat, still can't digest these rush of emotions.

"W-what happened- how's he?"

Arlene pulled her and they sat beside each other.

"Still in the OR. Sabi sa police report he's driving on his way home when his car collided with an overtaking truck. I don't have any full details yet. I just received a call from them na he got into car accident. They transferred him here at St. Luke's via air ambulance from Lipa."

"Batangas?"

"Oo. Ewan ko ba anong ginagawa ng kapatid ko dun. Ang sabi naman ng road manager niya, ABS lang schedule niya kahapon eh."

Lea just nodded, only Aga can answer every questions they have right now.

The OR doors opened and a doctor in scrubs went out took off his face mask and looked at where they are seated.

They both stood as the doctor reached their spot.

"Doc, how's my brother?" Arlene asked worriedly.

The doctor opened his mouth but hesitated as he side glanced at Lea.

"Oh. Its okay Doc. She's the girlfriend. She's family." Arlene confirmed.

She's family. Hearing that phrase could be flattering only if they're on different circumstances.

The doctor nodded and gave a brief smile.

"The patient is stable as of the moment. There's too much swelling in the brain right now due to his head injury, that's why we need him to put into induced coma."

Arlene sobs as she covers her mouth. Lea reached out and held Arlene for support.

"Please understand that we need to induce him to shutdown his brain functions- reduce the amount of energy those different brain areas need. By doing that, it will make the brain heal and the swelling go down, maybe those areas that were at risk can be protected too."

"Doc, until when, hindi ba delikado yan?" Arlene sobs.

"This will be just temporary. If we see the swelling recede, then we may try to lighten up the coma to see if he can come back and see what his level of function is."

"Okay po Doc. Can we see him now?" Arlene asked.

"Yes, but you can't go in his room. We put him on ICU, you can see him through the viewing window. I am sorry but we need to lessen any contact from outside. We don't want him catching infections while in induced coma."

"I understand po Doc." Arlene nods.

"As I said, this will be temporary. Give it three to five days, once the swelling goes down, gradually we will lessen the drug and wait for him to wake up on his own."

--

Lea watched through a viewing window as a nurse in scrubs takes note of Aga's vitals.

His head is dressed with a bandage. He has a reddish, almost purple gash on his left cheek. A breathing tube is inserted on his mouth and EKG lead wires on his chest.

Not the sight she expects to see when he said he will come back for her immediately.

Lea silently weeps while Arlene rants her frustrations particularly to no one.

"Napakatanga mo talaga Ags. Pambihira ka. Kung inaantok ka sana tumabi ka man lang sa gilid ng kalsada. Ano ba kinamamadali mong umuwi at nag-drive ka pa ng madaling araw naman. Kung kailan wala dito sa Pilipinas sila Mommy, eepal ka ng ganyan." Arlene sobs.

Lea felt guilty, she knew why Aga insist to drive home even in wee hours.

Ang unfair mo Aga. Bakit mo ko pinaparusahan ng ganito.

Lea's phone rang and it was Dawn calling. She cleared her throat before answering.

"Dawn..." Lea croaked.

"Lea? My God Lea what happened, I saw it in the news. How is Aga?"

"I-ICU."

Lea can't form any words to answer Dawn.

"Lea, were on our way na. Kasama ko si Richard. Wait for me okay?"

"-kay."

--

Lea was left alone in the ICU hall for Arlene went to take care some paperworks for Aga's hospitalization.

She stood there at the viewing window, watching the patient vital sign monitor as the lines make archways.

"Lea..."

Lea looked on her left and saw it was Dawn. It only took her a second as she crashed herself to Dawn. All emotions came flooding as her tears began to flow again.

"Ssshhh.. Its okay. Andito na ko."

Lea was weeping on her shoulder. Dawn took a glance at Aga lying on the ICU bed. She didn't believe what she just heard earlier until now that she see it with his own eyes.

Richard went nearer to the viewing window as he ran his hands on his hair- still shocked that Aga really had an accident.

--

They sat on the hospital bench as Lea calm down from breaking down earlier.

Richard handed Lea a water bottle, and she takes a sip for her dry throat.

"Why is Aga comatosed? I saw the wreckage area in the news, it doesn't look that bad." Dawn asked.

"He hit his head. They had to put him in coma. There was too much swelling on his brain. Sabi ng doctor possible reason din is the past trauma he had five years ago. I didn't know he had a car accident already before this."

Dawn was surprised.

"Oh. Nothing I've heard of. Chard?"

"He did. Remember nag rest siya for showbiz. But I don't think it was that serious." Richard replied.

"What happens to him after that, wala bang side effects yang medical procedure na yan?"

"Gradually they will lessen the drugs, hopefully in a week he will wake up on his own." Lea explained.

"A week? Jusko ang tagal naman." Dawn whined.

"He has to wake up Dawn. He better wake up. Ano to? Hindi pa nga niya ko pinapakasalan, bu-byudahin niya na ko agad. Gago ba siya."

---

🙃

#WhiteLies