FALLING SLOWLY

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

ESTELLA

Nanlalata akong bumangon at tinutop ang aking noo. Sobrang init ko pa rin. Mukhang tinamaan talaga ako ng lagnat. Dahil kaya nahamugan ako kagabi or sa pagkakabasa ko? Hindi ko tuloy maalagaan nang maayos si Raffy.

"I will take care of you, Mom. Don't worry."

Ngumuso ako at malagkit na tumitig dito. Sobrang sweet ng anak ko.

"If you're hungry, just tell me, okay? I will order it for you."

"No worries, Mom. I could do that. Just lay there and rest."

Tumango ako. Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko talaga magawang kumilos nang maayos dahil nananakit ang kasu-kasuan ko. Mukhang trangkaso pa yata ito. Nakaplano pa naman kaming bumalik na sa condo at mamasyal kasama si Ayen.

"You need to stay away from Mom, okay? You might get sick, too. I don't want you to get sick," mahigpit na bilin ko habang nakatakip ang bibig.

"There's no way that I could avoid you. We're staying at one room," katwiran pa niya.

"I already call your Aunt Ayen. You can stay with her for the meantime."

"But Mom, who's gonna take care of you. I don't want you to die," malungkot pang aniya.

Hindi ko napigil ang mangiti bago umiling-iling. "I am not dying, baby. I am just sick."

Magsasalita pa sana siya nang biglang tumunog ang doorbell.

"Are you expecting any visitor, Mom?" kuryosong tanong ni Raffy.

Halos 10 AM pa lang noon.

"I think it's your Dad."

"Yey!" Tuwang-tuwa pa siyang tumakbo palabas ng kwarto.

He's obviously excited to see his Dad again.

Pinilit kong umayos kahit pa sobrang bigat ng katawan ko. Nakahihiya naman kay Raphael. Paniguradong sobrang daming kalat ni Raffy sa sala.

"Are you really sick?" kunot-noong bungad ni Raphael.

"Slight fever lang..." pagsisinungaling ko pa.

Agad na gumuhit ang guilt sa mukha nito. "It's my fault, right?"

"No!" maagap na tanggi ko. "Nahamugan siguro ako kagabi."

"Mom is pitiful, isn't she?" sabi pa ni Raffy sa Dad niya.

"You can't go near Mom, okay? You might get sick, too," paalala ni Raphael sa baby namin.

"That's what she keeps on telling me, so I am staying here at the door."

"I'll call Aunt Ayen to fetch you, okay?"

"He can stay with me," singit ni Raphael.

"W-with you?"

Tumango siya. "Yeah. I don't have schedule on the next few days. I can take care of Raffy."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," tumangong sagot niya.

"But Dad, no one's gonna take care of Mom."

I tried not to roll my eyes. I knew my son too well. Pinagpapares na namin kami ng Dad niya.

"I'll call Aunt Ayen to take care of me, baby," maagap na singit ko. "And Dad will take care of you. Will you be all right with that?"

"But Mom!" maktol pa ni Raffy. Alam niyang na-gets ko na rin ang gusto niyang mangyari.