Let's Play Pretend

Guarded

There was something odd that morning. The sun was strong against his eyes and the different colors inside the room proved to be too much. He closed his eyes momentarily, he shaked his head lightly all the while trying his best to keep his thoughts straight. Napakapit sya ng mahigpit sa armrest ng wheelchair, nadala ng takot dahil baka mahulog sya dito. Bakit sya nakasakay sa wheelchair? Anong nangyari? Nahimatay nanaman ba sya habang nag-tataping?

Gusto nyang tumayo mag-isa at umuwi dahil sobrang nalilito sya sa nangyayari pero napatigil sya ng may makita syang babaeng papalapit sa kanya.

"Ready ka na ba?" Tanong ng isang unfamiliar na babae sa kanya. "Don't be scared. Ako si Mariza. I've met you a few times already... Ewan ko lang kung tanda mo ako."

Met a few times already? Napakunot ang noo nya dahil hindi nya maalala ang mukha ni pangalan ng dalaga. Who was she? Why is he here? Bakit nakasuot sya ng hospital gown at ang dalaga naman eh nakasuot ng uniporme na hindi pamilyar sa kanyang mata. Anong araw na ngayon, baka ma-Late sya sa trabaho baka mapagalitan muli sya ni Direk. "Aless... A-alis..." Napahinga sya ng malalim dahil hirap na hirap syang magsalita.

What's wrong with me? Tanong nya muli sa sarili habang minamata ang babaeng nasa harap nya na may inihahanda na Black leathered pads. Isn't this used for stroke patients?! Ano ba talagang nangyayari?! He started to panic at the thought of him fainting due to a stroke, is this for real?

"Madali lang to, kuya--- ay mali! Ate, Vice pala." Mariza squeezed a blue colored tube hanggang may lumabas na gel-like material dito at hinayaan nya tong lumapat sa isa sa mga Black pads. She rubbed two, four and six together until it was all placed at the correct points in her patients body.

Vice winced at the cold feeling, Mariza on the other hand noticed it and sincerely apologized to him. Muntik na nyang malimutan na hindi araw-araw maganda ang Brain activity ng binata. "Physical Therapy session mo nga pala ngayon. Isa-shock natin nerves mo para mapabilis ang pag-galing mo, at para makalakad ka na."

Nang laki ang mata ni Vice, mas tumindi ang sakit ng ulo nya sa kanyang mga narinig. What the hell happened?! What's going on?! Nagsisipa sya at nagpumiglas pero konti lang talaga ang lakas sa katawan nya.

"Mejo matigas ulo mo ngayon ah. That's a good sign daw, sabi ni Doc. Salazar, sana nga makatayo ka na." Mariza noted with a smile and began to secure the shock-pads on him. "Don't worry, papalabasan kita ng T.V. Mamaya eh speech therapy mo na, behave ha?"

Nakaramdam sya ng saglit na kirot sa katawan nya, para syang kinukuryente pero nawala agad ito. "A--at, a-ate... Na--nasaan... Saan... A-ako." Pautal-utal nyang tanong, once again Vice frowned upon hearing his voice. Parang iba, parang hindi nya ito narinig ng napaka-tagal na panahon.

Humarap lang sa kanya si Mariza at binigyan sya ng isang maharot na kindat at mapag-larong ngiti. "Bawal magtanong, hindi ko pwedeng sagutin yang mga tanong mo. Bawal daw kami mag-speak about your condition. Sorry pogs. Quiet lang kami. Kay Miss. Kendeng mo nalang itanong."

*****

Ilang araw ang lumipas at yun lang ang napansin nyang routine nya. Kain, therapy, exercise, kain, speech therapy, kain ulit at tulog. It's been days and he still feel the same. Sometimes he feels a bit sharper, his mind remembering things from yesterday and a day before yesterday, but sometimes he feels like a limp vegetable sa sobrang hina ng katawan nya.

Something must've been really wrong with him. Cancer? No... A cancer patient may be weak but not this much. Fatigue? He had those before but it's not as bad as this. Hindi na nga sya makatayo ng kanya, he needs assistance of two nurses whenever he wants to go to the bathroom, eat or even sleep. Pinaka-nakakahiya dito tuwing maliligo sya at maglalabas... ng sama ng loob.