Always, My Jade

Understanding (62)

"Jade told me about what you had decided when you got married in New York. Gusto na daw niya agad magkaron kayo ng baby but you refused dahil nga hindi pa siya out in public. So she said since you always meet half way, pumayag kang ipreserved and egg cells niyo sa Egg Bank doon and you already discussed even the sperm donor. So as soon as we got there she contacted the egg bank and scheduled for the procedure. The doctor said she's delicate and needs special attention so Cathleen's Mom volunteered to attend to her needs while she's in the process of waiting." nagulat ako sa mga sinabi ni Mama at pati si Tita Karen, she's an OB-Gyne and well known in London, lumipad siya sa New York for Jade?

"Si Tita Karen?" tanong kong takang taka.

"Oo Anak, actually she's here right now nasa office lang siya ng director ng hospital na to so she could see Jade. Sabay kaming umuwi galing New York hindi pa siya nagpapakita sayo kasi gusto muna ni Jade na isurprise ka pero siya yata ang na surprised." ngiting sabi ni Mama, bigla akong nahiya. It's all my fault, sisi kong bulong sa sarili ko. Then I looked at Cathleen halata pa rin ang galit sa mga tingin niya at hindi siya lumalapit sa akin.

"There you are." bigla kong rinig at nalipat ang tingin ko sa nagsalita.

"Tita Karen." biglang tayo ko at sabay yakap sa matangkad at mestizang babae, naiiyak nanaman ako.

"I'd say you will always be a cry baby kahit na magkakaron ka na ng sarili mong anak." Akap pabalik at sabay sabi niya. Lumapit lang si Cathleen to give her mom a kiss and went back to her seat nakasunod naman ai Batchi na humalik din sa pisngi ni Tita. Fron the look in there faces ako lang talaga ang nabigla sa pagkakita kay Tita Karen as if all them knew about everything except me.  Then suddenly lumabas ng doctor from ER, hinanap ang family at pareho kaming lumapit ni Mama Amanda.

"Doc, kamusta ang anak ko?"

"She's fine, na stressed lang siya at nagkaron ng bleeding but she's perfectly fine and the baby. But she needs rest and special care, based on the baby's heartbeat medyo mahina. So she needs a follow up check up."

"Hi Doc, I'm Dra. Karen, I'm Jade's personal doctor and I already talked to your Director, Dr. Valdez, so can I checked on Jade's records and lab results?"

"Yes, sure. Wanna see her. we're preparing her transfer to a private room but she could be released anytime tomorrow. Kailangan lang niyang makapag pahinga." paliwanag ng doctor habang pabalik sila ni Tita Karen sa ER. I saw Cathleen at galit pa rin siya parang kambal to ni Jade pag sinumpong eh. Sa kanya lang ako taob noon ngayon dalawa na sila ni Jade, under na under talaga.

After a few minutes ay lumabas na si Tita Karen, lumabas muna sila Cathleen at Batchi while si Mama ay tinawagan si Dada kausap niya sa may dulo ng hallway.

"Hi sweetie, where's everybody?" tanong ni Tita Karen then pagkatapos kung sabihin ay kinamusta ko si Jade. "She's alright now and sleeping, she just needs to rest dito na lang then tomorrow pwede na siyang umuwi. Don't worry anymore, sweetie. Hintayin na lang natin siya sa private room niya." paliwanag ni Tita."What happened to Jade?" sunod niyang tanong at napayuko lang ako.

"It's my fault Tita and Cathleen's really mad at me."

"Who wouldn't be? Especially Cath, it's just like coming back to her when she lost her baby." wala sa sariling kwento ni Tita Karen na ikinagulat ko.

"C-cathleen?" tanging nasabi ko at tumango siya.

"She had a miscarriage and it almost cost their marriage just because of small misunderstanding." panimula niya.