SECRET LOVERS

KIERAN

KAILENE

It's been a week since the accident. My Father-in-law's funeral was 4 days after he died. I was not able to go since I did not want to leave Kevin in the hospital. My mother-in-law agreed that I should stay with Kevin. My parents were here. Si Mommy muna ang tumitingin kay Kieran. She flew in a day after the accident. Jino's parents are here too. A couple of days ago dumating din si Jino. Hindi ko pa sila nakakausap. SI Daddy lang ang araw araw na pumupunta dito sa hospital para tanungin ang doctor sa kundisyon ni Kevin. SInce Dad is a neurologist alam niya ang kalagayan ni Kevin. Sabi niya na tatagan ko ang loob ko kasi hindi pa stable si Kevin. He is in a coma and the machines are the ones helping him to survive.

I stay by his side all day, kinakausap ko siya.

"Hi Honey, it's me Kailene."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. Hinaplos haplos ko. Nung naaksidente siya, ngayon ko lang nahawakan ang kamayniya na ganung ka intimate. Dati pag nag holding hands kami, wala lang holding hands lang. Ngayon, habanghawak ko ang kamay niya, nakita ko may nunal pala siya sa loob ng palad niya. Yung isang daliri niya may peklat. Yung middle finger niya at yung ring finger niya magkasing laki. Pati yung mukha niya, ngayon ko lang hinahaplos ng ganito ka intimate. Yung mukha niya na walang benda. Yung galos sa mukha niya ay unti unti nang naghihilom. May mga gasgas siya sa arms niya. Hindi ko matignan ang mga binti niya. Na amputate ang mga paa niya. Below the knees. Naaawa ako kay Kevin.

Mula nung naging asawa niya ako, not once na narinig ko siyang nagreklamo. Hindi kami nag aaway unless tanggihan ko ang mga regalo niya. Dun siya nagtatampo. Pag weekends, nasa pool langsilang mag-ama. Minsan isinasama niya si Kieran sa yate. Minsan naman tinuturuan niya si Kieran mag golf.

"I love you Kevin. Please get well soon. I don't know what to do without you here. Kieran needs you. I need you. You know how much I need you. Please Honey, don't leave me."

I bowed on his hand placing it on my face. I am crying over it. When I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked at the hand that touched me, Jino.

HIndi ko alam kung ano angsasabihin ko. Hindi ko din alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. Hawak niya si Kieran.

"Daddy?"

Kinuha ko siya kay Jino at iniupo siya sa gilid ng kama ni Kevin. Kinuha niya ang kamay ni Kevin at pinisil pisil niya.

"Daddy, come on wake up."

"Daddy is resting, sweetie."

"But I miss him already. He did not come to see me in school during the program. He told me, he will come."

"Something happened to Dad and he has to rest so when he's up so he could go swimming with you again, do you like that?"

"Yes. Can I give Daddy a hug and kiss him?"

"Ok. But be careful okay? You're kinda big. haha"

Niyakap niya si Kevin at hinalikan ang pisngi niya. Binulungan niya ito. Pero malakas naman.

"Daddy, Uncle Jino is here. He brought me here to see you. Mommy is still not talking to him. Maybe she hates Uncle Jino, right Dad? So you lost when you said they are friends. They're not. Daddy, please wake up soon. I miss you. Mommy is not fun at all. Uncle Jino is half fun cause he does not know how to cook pancake like you do. I love you more than anyone Daddy. More than Mommy, more than Uncle Jino, more than chocolates, more than Spiderman, more than the swimming pool, and more than Shoana. Oh Daddy you know Shoana gave me flowers today. She said it was for the teacher but she likes me better than the teacher so she gave it to me."

At hinalikhalikan niya si Kevin.

"Uunngg!"

"Kevin? Jino kunin mo si Kieran."

"uunngg"

"Kevin?"

I pressed the button alerting the nurses'station. One nurse came and told him what happened. He pressed the button again and another came who in turn paged Kevin's doctors.

We were whisked outside the room. I sat on the cold empty chair at the alley waiting for news about Kevin. Jino sat beside me, Kieran on his lap.

"Don't worry Kailene. God is good, Kevin will be okay."

We were in that position when Dad and Mom arrived.