Everything Has Changed

XVI

Patricia arrives at the hospital, praying on her mind for Pippa's health. She doesn't know what to do anymore. Every time there's a phone call from her children's school, it always has to be about Pippa getting hurt or something like it.
And there she is, in front of Pippa's room. She breathes heavily before getting in. Surprisingly, Migo is sitting on a chair beside Pippa's hospital bed, holding her hand while she's sleeping. She clears her throat.

Migo looks at her. "Andyan ka pala."

She stares at him then walks closer and she reaches the other side of the bed. She caresses her daughter's face and kisses her forehead. A very long kiss. Then caresses her face again after and smiles lightly.

He takes the blanket off Pippa gently, being very careful not to wake their daughter up.

Her eyebrows meet and she gets curious at first. But gets why he did it when she sees Pippa's knees internally bleeding, including some parts of her thighs. She looks lower and notices that her right ankle is bleeding a bit too. She looks up at Migo.

He puts the blanket back on his daughter and looks back at Patricia. He shakes his head.

Her eyebrows meet again. Her body is shaking and her heart beats slower. She suddenly can't breathe well. She can't help but to sit on the couch centimeters away from the bed. She puts her elbows on her lap and sustains her forehead with her palms. She starts to cry. She covers her mouth to not make any sound. She doesn't want Pippa to see her like that. Her daughter is a strong girl. She can always, ALWAYS maintain her smile even at tough times. Pippa has always believed that she got it from her Mama; her strength, her kindness, her pretty face, and even her stubbornness.

Migo stands up and goes to the other side. He sits beside Patricia and puts his arm around her, on her shoulders. He makes her lean on him and he hugs her tightly. "Shh..." He tries to calm her. "Tama na.. Baka marinig ka ng anak mo."

But she just can't. It's the first time she's seen her like that. What if she can't walk anymore? What if the situation worsens sooner or later? What if... So many questions are running on her mind, negative ones.
After minutes of crying and being calmed by Migo, she finally manages to stop her tears.

He caresses her back. "Water?"

She shakes her head. She sniffs. She looks down and plays with her fingers. "What happened?"

He sighs and crosses his arms and sits properly. He looks at his daughter, lying on the bed, sleeping like a beautiful angel. "Ang sabi ni Fina, sabi daw nung teacher nila bigla na lang nag reklamo 'tong si Trixie na may masakit daw sa bandang legs."

She waits for him to go on.

"So the teacher checked it and pag taas nung palda nya, ayun. Doon nakita na parang dumudugo nga."

"Where's Fina?" She sniffs again. "Bakit ikaw ang nandito?"

He looks at her. "Pippa needs clothes. Matatagalan daw sabi ni doctora. Much longer than the last time she stayed here."

She looks up then frowns at him. "What... A-- ano, ganon ba kalala?" -she stutters. Not really wanting to ask that question because she's scared of what the answer might be.

He takes a deep breath. Then nods. "Unfortunately, oo." He looks back at Pippa. "Nasa moderate stage na sya."

Moderate stage?

"The doctor explained to me what moderate stage is. It's like the stages of cancer. May stage one, stage two... Hanggang four. Ang hemophilia meron rin. The mild stage, the moderate, and the severe."

She sighs. She buries her face in her hands and tries hard not to cry again.

He sighs too, then hugs her again. "Don't worry..." -he whispers. "Trixie will be okay." He hugs her tighter. "I know she'll be okay because I know she's strong." He smirks a bit. "Ikaw ang nanay eh."

Pippa wakes up, but she doesn't make any sound or movement. She doesn't fully open her eyes either, not wanting to ruin this bittersweet moment of her parents. It's the first time she has ever seen them like this. Together. Hugging and comforting each other. She smiles and closes her eyes. A tear falls from her right eye. Thank You Papa God. She talks to Him on her mind. If being sick and unhealthy is the only way so that I can see my Mama and Papa this sweet, then so be it.

•••••••

Migo is in his office, sitting on his office chair, facing the big window, watching the cars passing by. Someone knocks on the door. He doesn't even turn to see who it is. "Come in." The door creaks open.

"Javi?"

He recognizes her voice, of course, she's his best friend. He knows who's voice that is.

Olive walks closer to him and sits on the chair in front of his table. "Javi, is everything okay?"

He turns to her then shakes his head.

"What's wrong?" She places her bag on the table. "Sorry kung ngayon lang ako nagka-oras. Super busy schedule these days eh."

He breathes heavily. "It's Trixie.."

"What happened to her? Akala ko ba okay na sya?"

He shakes his head again. "The other day tinakbo ulit sa ospital." He sighs and tries hard not to give in and cry. "She's worse, O, and I don't know what to do."

She stares at him for a moment. She's never seen him this sad and upset after a long time. The first time she saw him like this was when she first met him, and that was because of his past relationship with Patricia. "Javi..."

He massages his temple. "I don't want to lose her... Natatakot ako. Hindi ko kaya." He closes his eyes to stop his tears. "Iba na 'to eh. It's not like before na takot akong mawala si Patricia sa akin. No.. Anak ko na ang pinag-uusapan dito."

She holds his hand above the table then shakes her head. "Don't say that, Javi. Hindi mawawala si Trixie, okay? I don't know her that much pero I can see naman that she has a strong personality." She pats his hand. "I'm sure matapang din yun katulad nyo ni Patricia."

"I want to make her happy, O. I want to spend more time with my daughter. I want her to be happy na hindi nya maaalalang may sakit sya." He holds her hands. "Help me do that, please? If every time na pinagsasama tayong dalawa sa isang project laging maganda ang feedback ng clients, I'm sure mapapasaya rin natin yung sarili kong anak, right?"

She smiles. "There you are. The Javi that I know. Laging positive." She nods. "Of course I'll help. Sino pa nga ba ang best dynamic duo?"

He smiles lightly. "Just one thing."

She frowns.

"I don't know how to do that. I don't know how to make her happy. I mean I know masaya na sya sa simpleng gestures lang, pero ayoko ng simple. I want something different. Unique."

Olive squints her eyes and looks away. She thinks for a moment. She gasps. "I know! I know na! I'm definitely sure na makakalimutan talaga ng anak mo that she's sick pag ginawa natin 'to." She grins and winks at him who only frowns at her.

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