Everything Has Changed

XI

It's been three days since Pippa's first day at the hospital and dra. Santiago has great news: there may be arriving new "stocks" of her blood type today. But they're not yet one hundred percent sure so Patricia better continue on finding donors (better if they're relatives). But she just doesn't know anyone who has an O type aside from Migo. But she knows she can't ask for his help. She won't ask for it. She can do this by herself. She was able to do anything for her children, alone, for nearly thirteen years and she will still be able to do that as long as she's breathing. That's what she always tells herself. But we all know that's just a big lie she's believing in. Sooner or later, she will need his help whether she likes it or not.

Meanwhile, here's Migo trying to think how to get something (like hair or something) from the twins to finally do the DNA test. First, he needs to find a good timing. And good timing means no Patricia, no David. A good idea suddenly pops in his head. He gets his phone from his pocket. "O, need your help. Asap."

•••••••

Pippa wakes up from a bad dream, a tear falling from her right eye. It usually happens to her. Every time she wakes up from a nightmare, there are always tears on her cheeks. She always gets a tight hug from her Mama after every nightmare, just to make her feel better and safe. But this time, Fina is the only person beside her. "Where's Mama?" She wipes the tear on her cheek.

Fina looks up from her phone. "Ay, gising ka na pala, guapa. Wala si Mama mo. Looking for dugo."

She frowns. "Dugo? Sino po iyun?" Her tagalog is getting better and better. But her accent is quite funny and weird.

She laughs. "Dugo is blood, guapa." She laughs again. "Ang cute cute mo talaga! Cute nyo ni pogi."

Ohh, dugo is blood. New word for me to add on my list. She thinks while nodding slowly.

"I want to have children like you, you know?" -Fina tells her "alaga". "Suerte ni Mama mo sa inyo. Guapa't guapo na, matalino pa." She winks at her.

"Only that? How about mabait? Aren't we mabait?" She smirks.

She chuckles. "Yun nga lang, sobrang kulit."

She smiles and shakes her head.

"Oo nga pala, guapa," She stands up and gets an orange from the tray on the dresser in front of the hospital bed. "asan ba daddy nyo?"

"Europe. He has to work."

She smiles. "Hindi yung daddy David nyo. Yung totoo. Yung totoo nyong daddy. Patay na ba?"

Pippa's eyes widen. "Of course not!" She stops for a moment. "Well... I hope not. Mama only told us that they're separated, that's all."

"Do you know anong hitsura nya?"

She shrugs. "Mama once told us that he's tall, dark and handsome." She watches Fina as she peels the orange. "Why are you asking pala?"

"Ha? Ah-- wala, wala.. Curious lang." She smiles awkwardly and sits on the chair beside the bed again. She gives the orange to Pippa. "Eat this. Kailangan mo lumakas."

She chuckles. "Why? Am I sick? I'm not sick. I don't even know why I'm here. If I only need blood then they could have just let me stay at home and bring me the blood there."
No, she doesn't know that she has hemophilia. Patricia insists not to tell her that. She doesn't want her to panic or to worry for herself. She'll get well very soon so she doesn't have to know anymore that she's sick.

Someone knocks on the door. Thinking that it's the doctor or the nurse, or Patricia, Fina quickly walks closer to the door and opens it. Much to her surprise, and to Pippa's, it's Migo.