AMACon 3: Oikos (30 Day Drabble Challenge)

Day 9 - Turning Point

"Dad, anong nangyari?" RJ asked between breaths, flopping into the chair next to his father in the hospital's waiting room. "Bakit biglang sinugod si Ma sa hospital?"

"Pneumonia, 'Nak," his father said in a tired voice. "Ang lakas kasing manigarilyo ng Nanay mo 'di ba? Hindi na kinaya ng katawan niya kaya dinala ko na siya dito..."

Suddenly, a doctor entered the room and approached them.

"Mr. Faulkerson?"

His father nodded and stood up. "Kamusta si Rosario, Doc?"

"We're keeping her under heavy monitoring because the infection is already in her bloodstream," the doctor said. "But you can go and visit her now. She's already awake."

"Thank you po," Richard Faulkerson Sr. replied. "Basta gawin niyo po ang lahat para gumaling si Rosario. We can't lose her."

"We're trying our best to make sure she recovers," the doctor assured him. "Still, you might need to prepare yourself for whatever happens."

"Sige po. Maraming salamat po ulit."

"Oh, before I forget.  When you visit her, please don't forget to wear protective gowns and masks so you won't get infected."

***

RJ now stood by the entrance of his mother's room, trying to find the strength to approach his mother. His father left a few minutes ago to call his siblings who were currently at home.

"RJ?" a hoarse female voice called out. "Ikaw ba iyan?"

"Yes, Ma?" he asked, moving towards his mother who was hooked up to several monitors. He sat down next to her before taking her hand in his.

"Nag-cut ka na naman ng class no?"

He nodded.

"Dapat hindi ka na pumunta dito," his mother said in a tired voice.

"Ma!" RJ protested loudly. "Mas importante ka kaysa sa P.E. class ko."

"RJ, 'wag mo na akong isipin. Tanggap ko na naman na malala na ang kondisyon ko."

"Hindi totoo iyan, Ma," he insisted. "Pwede ka pang gumaling."

"Nanghihinayang lang talaga ako kasi hindi na kita makikita sa TV."

Tears pricked his eyes and trickled down the side of his face. "Please, Ma. 'Wag ka namang magsalita ng ganyan. May panahon pa. High school pa lang naman ako oh."

"Kung pwede lang, hindi ko na kayo iiwan," Rosario said softly. "Pero, ano ang magagawa ko?"

RJ wished that he could say that his mother was mistaken and that the doctor said that she was going to be fine. He wanted to tell her that she shouldn't worry because she was getting out of the hospital soon. But, try as he might, he couldn't find it in himself to lie to her.

"Ang unfair lang, Ma," RJ said after a moment. "Bakit nangyayari ito sa atin? Bakit ngayon pa?"

"RJ," his mother murmured weakly, reaching out to wipe the tears in his eyes.  "Tahan na. Malay mo sa tamang panahon, matupad mo rin iyung mga pangarap natin."

"Paano?"

"Magtiwala ka lang sa Diyos," she smiled faintly. "May plano siya para sa ating lahat."

"Ma, dapat siguro magpahinga ka na. Mukhang pagod ka na oh."

"Oh, sige. Pero bago ako matulog, pwede bang ngumiti ka muna? Ayoko kasing nakikitang malungkot ka."

He complied hesitantly, giving her a forced smile. His mother just looked at him for a moment before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

I'm sorry, Ma. He thought to himself. Hindi ko pa rin maibigay iyung gusto mo. Pero, 'wag kang mag-alala. Susubukan ko munang tuparin iyung mga pangarap mo para sa akin.

Who knows?

Maybe someday, I can smile again.

***

Somewhere else in the same hospital...

"Menggay," Mary Anne Mendoza prodded her daughter. "Ano ba kasing problema? Bakit bigla akong gustong kausapin ng teacher mo?"

"Ewan ko, Nay," Maine rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Wala naman akong ginagawang masama eh."

Her mother sighed. "Eh bakit sinabi ng teacher mo na agaw pansin ka daw sa bus? Ayaw mo daw pumasok ng Enchanted Kingdom."

Maine bit her lip, trying to think of an excuse to tell her mother. While her mother was reasonable, she can be quite strict especially when she is angered.

"Menggay," her mother said warningly.

"Hindi rin naman kasi ako mage-enjoy," Maine whispered. "Saka pinagtawanan lang ako nung mga kaklase ko nung nadapa ako kanina."

"Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi sa teacher mo?"

"Hindi naman siya maniniwala eh. Sasabihin lang niya na papansin ako."

"'Nak, ginagawa mo naman iyun sa bahay, 'di ba? Kasi sabi mo laging sina Coleen ang pinapansin namin."

Mane sighed. She wasn't actually seeking attention. She was looking for someone who will join in the fun and accept her for who she is without reservations. But she couldn't tell her mother that.

Her mother rubbed her forehead. "Ikaw talagang bata ka."

"Ma, high school na ako," Maine protested. "Hindi na ako bata!"

"Ewan ko sa iyo, Menggay. Maghintay ka lang kasi ng tamang panahon."

"Anong sinasabi mo, Ma?"

"Sus, 'wag ako. Darating din iyung magbibigay sa iyo ng lahat ng atensyon at oras niya."

"Ha?" Maine looked at her mother confusedly.

"Magsasawa ka na lang dahil sobrang didikit sa iyo iyun!" Mary Anne chuckled. "Parang iyung Tatay mo na hindi man lang ako maiwan."

"Ma!"

"Oo na," her mother acquiesced, standing up and moving towards the door. "Hahanapin ko lang ang doctor mo ha? Dito ka lang. Baka may makasalubong kang binata na bigla ka na lang itanan."

"Ma, asa naman no!" Maine laughed. 

Her mother just shook her head and hurriedly left the room, almost bumping into a high school boy who was crying silently.

Maine craned her neck to get a better look at the boy but he immediately left after apologizing to her mother. Iyun kaya sinasabi ni Mama na itatanan ako? Sayang, hindi ko nakita kung ano itsura niya! Haha. 'Di bale, sabi nga ni Nanay, dapat maghintay ako ng tamang panahon. Tiwala lang, Menggay.

Who knows?

Maybe someday, I can find the one.