Amnesiac

Thirty Sixth

We entered the room and were happy enough to see a disoriented – but awake – Colleen on the bed. When she sees us, there was a small smile that graced her features. Karlos cussed as soon as he realized that we were both so dumb for leaving her alone. We are so dumb.

"Kuya," she called, "Why am I here?"

Karlos walked over to her and sat on the chair beside the bed. "You had your asthma again, baby." He whispered and started to play with the curls of his sister.

"But don't I just use the little blue thing?" she asked.

"Your inhaler?" Karlos asked and the kid nods. "Yes we used that one but it didn't work. So we have to get you here."

Colleen nods sleepily. I know that feeling. Being just woken after a long sleep but you're still in the need of another slumber. I've been out of that condition for months now, but I could still remember the feeling of being in a long period of hibernation and the feeling of being left behind.

Her eyes moved to me and she smiled, a little wider. "Hi, Ate," she whispered. "How are you?"

I chuckled. "I should be the one asking you that, shouldn't I?"

"I am okay. Can we go home now?" she asked, "I want to sleep in my pink bed. This bed is white. Not mine."

"You have to stay here a little more, Colleen." I told her. "You have to sleep here, too, for the meantime."

"Like how you did before?" she asked. "If I sleep, would I still know your name?"

My chest tightened. I didn't know that she knew about my past condition of being comatosed for five months and being amnesiac.

I smiled at her. I knew better than to have a breakdown. Besides, I wouldn't want to put Doc Karla's effort of helping me get over the depression of just being unable to remember into waste. Karlos was about to stop his sister but I beat him. "You'll still know us, Colleen." I told her with a smile. "Now, you should sleep so we could bring you back to your pink room sooner."

She smiled back and mumbled a small good night to the two of us. Soon enough, she was back to hibernating. Karlos' eyes were glued to his sister. Karlos's love for this kid never ceases me. I have never loved any other human being that dearly. I bet my love for Karlos is not even as levelled as his love for his sister.

"You should go home, Andromeda." Karlos said, looking at me.

I shook my head. "I can stay. My attendance in school would just get flawed; I am still ahead of the period anyway."

He shook his head. "Go get some rest, I mean," he says, "You've gotten a long day already, you should go get your own rest."

"But—"

"Come on, listen to your boyfriend for once," he chuckles as he pressed it. "I can take care of her. I've been doing it for a long time already. I'm used to it."

I sighed. There was no way that I can convince him to let me stay with him in here. I knew better than to push it more so I just gave it up. "Call me if you need something. Anything at all, okay?" He nods.

After exchanging a couple of I love you's and a few kisses, I made my way out of the hospital room and to my car. By the time I get to the house, I went straight to the bedroom and didn't bother to eat dinner. When I saw my bed, it just pulled me closer and in no time, I collapsed.

-

MsAmanda talked to me about Karlos' absence for yesterday and today. She said she has good news for him and that she would like to pass the good news to me so I could say it to Karlos. I explained the guy's absence and she says that she understands and that she can't wait to have him back in class.

After classes, I made my way to my car and to the hospital. Colleen would be discharged tomorrow, and until now, we still have no idea who paid her bills the last time. Karlos even accused me for snooping, but I swear to the heavens that I am not the one who paid his sister's bills.

I parked at the vacant lot and locked my car before getting out and walking to the front lobby. Just before getting the chance to step to the elevator to Colleen's room, I saw a familiar face by the desks.

"Marj?" I called the woman I saw back in the pizzeria. I smiled when I confirmed it was her. "Hi, Marj! Fancy seeing you here,"

Marj turned to me and smiled when she recognized me. "Andromeda! Hello!" she waved at me and I walked to her. "You too, what you've been doing here?"

We hugged as if we were too close to each other and smiled. I swear, there is something with this woman that makes me feel so at ease. "Well, remember my boyfriend?" I asked her, "His sister is rushed in the hospital because of asthma. What about you?"

"My daughter is confined in this hospital, asthma conditions as well. It's been taking a toll on her." Her smile falters a bit and I urged myself to pay no attention to it. "Well, I better be going, I still—"

"MsMarjorieLabajo?" a woman from the desk called over our direction and I almost froze there when I heard Karlos' surname. "Here's your receipt, please just present it by the accountant in the front desk in the lobby."

The woman was looking over to us; I almost turned to my back to check if she was calling someone behind me. But it was only Marj and I and... wait... Marj. Marjorie. MarjorieLabajo. Marj has the same surname as Karlos. She could be a relative that just found her way here.

"I better go." Marj hurried, separating her hold from my arms and speeding through the woman for the receipt and walks back to the lobby. Something occurred to me right then and there and it was just then when I ran after her.

"Marj wait!" I called after her, but it was no use. If I scream louder to her, the guards might think I am a lunatic that is trying to trespass through the hospital. I can't afford to get into trouble, I am here for Colleen.

The front desk showed no clue of Marj. She wasn't in there anymore, she ran away.

My heart pounded loudly, the feeling of the left over adrenaline still pumping in my veins. I was never a fan of running, exercise is something I don't really like doing. My breaths came in as gasps and I told myself to calm down and just find a different way to be able to find Marj.

After having my normal breathing, I went to the elevator. Before I could get in, I saw the woman from the desk that called Marj just earlier. I went to her and leave the elevator doors close by themselves.

"Hi," I said timidly, mustering up a smile, "Can I ask you something?"

The woman smiled to me. It was a relief that she isn't the type of being so obnoxious. "Sure, darling, what is it?"

"I would like to know whose bills Marjorie Labajo paid for. Can you tell me?" she looked hesitant. "Don't worry, I am friends with her. I just have to ask for directory." I half lied. I mean, I do think that Marj and I are friends, despite the age gap.

"Oh." The woman smiles then checks over her computer. "Let me just check, please give me a minute."

"Take your time, I'm in no hurry."

After a few moments, I just stood there, leaning over desk's surface as I waited for the woman to find the information I was asking for. Then she makes a click with her computer's mouse then looks up at me, a smile on her face.

"MsMarjorieLabajo paid the bills of her daughter," she said, and my heart pounded loudly in my chest. "The one in the room 201. I think the kid's name is ColleenLabajo." She says. I smiled at her though I was like too disheveled to process everything. Daughter. Marj is Karlos' and Colleen's lost mom.

--

I'll probably double update today, if internet will be kind enough to be speedy or something. Happy Sunday!