White Lies

Black

Lea traipsed her way to Aga's private room. She stopped at the doorway when the door to his room is open.

There must be doctor's inside.

She peeked in to check before hastly steps in. She saw Arlene in the corner of the room talking on the phone.

A woman's sobs can be heard, she walks in slowly and went into her view the woman she met few days ago.

Emilia.

She was crying beside Aga's hospital bed. Lea is not sure if she should make her presence known.

"Ags, gumising ka na, hinihintay ka na ni Emily." Emilia said in between sobs.

Lea bit her lip, containing the rage she feels from what she just heard. She needs to get away.

She steps back as she turned and walked outside the door. Arlene saw Lea left and immediately dropped the phone call and followed.

"Lea? Lea."

Lea stopped and composed herself before facing Arlene and smiled.

Arlene saw her eyes were red.

"Bakit hindi ka pumasok sa loob?"

"Okay lang, nakita ko kasi may bisita pa si Aga."

"Oh. Si Emilia."

Lea nodded as she bit her lip again.

"I don't want to intrude-" Lea's voice cracked.

"-Lea.. you must are reading it wrong. Emilia is a friend. She's the wife of Marco."

Lea was surprised, she didn't knew Marco and Emilia are somehow connected.

"Iyan nga kanina pa iyak ng iyak, sobrang nag break down na siya. Eh halos kamamatay lang din kasi ng anak niyang si Emily."

Lea was shocked when realization hits her.

"A-nak niya si Emily?" Lea stuttered.

"Oo. Anak nila ni Marco. Namatay siya nung gabi bago naaksidente si Aga."

Lea's thoughts clouded about needing to sit or lie down. She felt the blood draining from her head and the heat left in its place, the narrowing vision and dizziness and giving up after her legs fold.

Arlene was fast enough to catch her.

"Lea! Lea okay lang ba?! Namumutla ka! Nurse! Nurse!"

Emilia heard the commotion outside and ran to check. She saw Arlene with Lea on her arms.

"Oh my. What happened?!" Emilia ran and sat in front of a very pale Lea Salonga.

Arlene was shouting for help as she fans her hands on Lea for air.

"Lea are you okay? Look at me!" Emilia told Lea as she touch her cold face.

Hearing seems to be the last thing Lea sensed, voices echoes as people cram around her. She tend to be conscious for a little while perfectly aware that she collapsed on the floor, although she can’t move or see anything, very nauseous and aware of how heavy her chest is and how hard her heart is working to get her blood around.

"I'm sorry." Lea managed to faintly rasped before her hearing gaves up and eveything turns into black.

--

Lea opened her eyes and squints as the ceiling light of the emergency room hurts her eyes. She tried to sat up as a pair of hands came to assist her.

"Dahan-dahan."

She looked at the person to see Emilia's worried face.

"I am okay." Lea whispered.

Emilia removed her trembling hands on Lea and carefully sat on the bed with her.

"Oh. Sorry for being grabby. Ewan ko ba, pakiramdam ko may phobia na talaga ako. Last time kasi na may nawalan ng malay sa harap ko, hindi na siya kailanman nagising."

Emilia opened a water bottle for Lea to drink. She gladly accepted it and took a sip.

"Its my daughter, Emily, she passed out too and was in coma for days before the doctors declared her as brain dead."

"I am sorry."

Emilia shooks her head for assurance.

"H-how old was she?"

"Eight. She was diagnosed with pediatric leukemia when she was just three. As she ages it metastasized to her brain. Nung namatay sa aksidente yung asawa ko, hindi kami pinabayaan ni Aga. Tumayo siyang ama for Emily. Kahit paulit-ulit kong sinasabi na wala siyang kasalanan at hindi niya kailangang gawin yun. Palagi pa rin siyang nandiyan para kay Emily. Nung gabi bago siya maaksidente, pinuntahan niya si Emily sa hospital noon. Yun yung gabi na nagdesisyon ako na alisin na sa life support yung anak ko dahil wala na talaga."

"Oh my Emilia, I feel awful. I thought Emily was-"

"You thought Emily was Aga's other woman? Ohh.. Now I know why you kinda snobbed me the first time we met in the ICU." Emilia chuckled.

"I -am sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay Lea. It's not like your fault that you didn't know."

"Lea? Jusko buti nagkamalay ka na." Arlene gasped as she came rushing at Lea on the hospital bed.

"I am fine now. Don't worry Arlene." Lea assured.

"Tinawagan ko na yung PA mo, on the way na siya."

"Thank you. But I am okay na, lets go back. I want to check on Aga."

Lea took off the blanket as she sat straighter ready to go off the bed.

"Wait are you sure Lea? Magpahinga ka kaya muna. Namumutla ka pa."

"Please. I need to see Aga." Lea pleaded as tears glisten her eyes.

--

A doctor was checking on Aga when they arrived on his room.

"Doc, kamusta na po ang kapatid ko? Bakit hindi pa din siya nagigising?"

"We are still mapping his brain activities, its a good news that there are faint impulses happening. So maybe he needs more external stimuli. Maybe talk to him, play some music he is familiar with. Reflex massages could help too."

"Umm.. Doc kanina nung kinakausap ko siya, tumulo yung luha niya." Emily butted in.

"That's completely normal for coma patient to shed a tear, sometimes others smile too. The tear must be caused by eye irritation. But if you observe something odd don't hesitate to call the nurses."

"Noted po Doc. Thank you po."

Lea walked slowly on Aga's bed. She sat on the bedside chair as she enveloped Aga's hand on her own. His hands are cold, different from the warm hands she remembers when Aga held hers and stayed at the hospital when she had the flu.

It feels like de javu, but this time its her who is holding his.

She has a lot to say.

A lot to say sorry for.

A sob escaped from her lips as she brought his hand on her cheeks.

"Babes. Gising na. Please gumising ka na. Hindi na ako galit."

---

🥲

#WhiteLies