yuanfen (completed)

blink

Richard had opened his eyes indeed; a rebirth of sorts. However, he still needed to undergo several tests to check if he had regained full function of his body. His eyes were open but he just mostly stared. He seemed to be in a vegetative state where he had a cycle of waking and sleeping but was still physically unresponsive. He could not move his body.

"Sheesh! Ang kati ng ilong ko! These nubs are bugging me! And mom....your hair....."

"Hello Chuckie! Good morning, love!" Mommy Rio cheerfully greeted Richard and kissed him on the cheek, her hair touching his nose.

"Good morning, Mom....can you scratch my nose? Uhm...no? Haay.....think of something else then, Chuck! .......Good luck to you!"

"Daddy was here earlier....he brought me....Arman will come to pick me up later after bringing Biankie and Poch to school....how are you feeling?"

"Great mom! Just great! I went to Ayala Alabang kanina with sina Sam....we played soccer with sila Jojo....I'm exhausted....we scored a goal though....Mom naman....do I look like I went somewhere?"

"I bumped into Jojo and at the mall the other day....they send their regards..."

"Hmm...did you just say that because I mentioned them? Ay! You can't hear me nga pala....I hate this state I'm in....I'm here but not....It's freaky to be like this.....I like it but I also don't....."

".... Dr. Mendoza said that you'll be having your therapies adjusted soon....they're just waiting for the updated results of your MRI....once you regain more consciousness, they'll adjust it again...."

"Great! Just great! I haven't even started therapy and they're adjusting it already? I can't feel a thing, I can't move....what the heck!"

"Good morning Mrs. Faulkner....Dei...."

"Dei? She's here? Why?! Where?!"

"Good morning Dr. Mendoza....Dr. Perez...."

"We've reviewed Richard's current scans and test results and think that he is ready for physical therapy and some occupational therapies to maintain the skills he already has and to regain what he's lost. So far, we saw that he's still paralyzed from the neck down...we aren't ruling out him becoming a quadriplegic just yet...." The doctors further discussed Richard's current condition and prognosis.

"Oh...." Rio cupped her mouth. Dei laid her hand on her knee. She rested her hand on top of Dei's.

".....but we're not losing hope....he is responding well to his medication....his body just needs time to relearn to function on its own again....." The doctors said as they stepped out of the room.

"Yes po....let's not lose hope po..." Dei spoke quietly to Mrs. Faulkner when the doctors left.

"Sana nga....I miss my Chuckie..."

"I'm sure he misses you too, Ma'am...."

Several days later, Richard developed a slight fever. Dei was wiping his face with a wet wash cloth when he blinked. Dei did not notice this right away so he blinked again. Dei stared into his eyes for a while and realized that Richard seemed to be staring back at her. His face was still expressionless but his eyes seemed to have focus.

"Hello there...." Dei smiled and greeted him.

Richard blinked.

"Hmm...do you understand me?"

He blinked again.

"Damn woman! I can hear you! Ang daldal mo e....cute ka sana pero ang daldal mo talaga!"

"Ok....can you move your hand?"

"Ungghhh....c'mon hand....show her!.....puta! ayaw!"

"Try?"

"Uhmm........ayaw nya....di sya cooperative..."

"Hmm....baka naman niloloko mo lang ako at di ka talaga nakakintindi pa..."

"Eh gaga pala to e....nakatingin na nga ako sa yo.....sinagot ko na yung unang question mo....anong sinasabi mong di kita maintindihan! Hoy!"

"....Richard ba name mo?"

There was a long pause before Richard blinked.

"Richard Flores?"

Richard stared.

"Richard Fernandez?"

He still stared.

"Sige lang, kahit mag 20 questions pa tayo....unang kumurap, talo.....hehehehe"

"Teka....try mo nga mag-blink ng dalawang beses para sa NO na sagot...." Dei suggested.

"Ikaw ang magblink dyan....kapagod ka!" Richard slowly blinked twice after a long pause.

"Ayan....so one blink pag YES and two blinks pag NO....okay ba?"

A pause.

There was a long pause before Richard closed his eyes.

"Ay napagod ang poging Tisoy...."

"Can you not call me that? I hate that name!" Richard opened his eyes and stared at Dei. Then, he blinked twice. After a long pause, he blinked twice again.

"Anong "no" eh wala pa akong tinatanong....okay....is your name, Richard Faulkner, Jr.?"

Richard closed his eyes.

"Ay natulog na...."

Richard opened his eyes.

"So, yes ba yun?"

He blinked.

"Ayun naman pala....very good!"

"Ang kulit mo rin pala no?......Ano nga name mo ulit? Dei.....Dei-monyo? Joke lang!.....mas gusto nalang kita kesa kay Tristan...kung madaldal ka, maingay at makulit naman yun....mahilig sumayaw at kumanta....ang gulo!....thank you nga pala for staying on and taking care of me..."