The Man I Chose To Let Go (Under Editing)

Chapter 13: Safe

"Anak, naririnig mo ba si Mama?" 

Ma, isip niya. Sigurado siyang boses iyon ng Mama niya. Bakit parang umiiyak ito? Anong nangyari?

"Anak, nandito lang kami."

She wanted to open her eyes but it seemed stuck. Hindi niya rin maigalaw ang labi at daliri. What's happening to her? Is she in coma?

"Doc, it's been a week. Wala pa rin bang balita kung bakit hindi siya nagigising?" It's Fred. His voice seemed tired, malapit ng mapaos pero pinipilit pa ring magsalita.

"Between the two of you, siya ang pinaka napuruhan, Mr.Santiago." ani ng babaeng doctor, "She's in coma and all we can do is to wait. It's too early to decide if she won't wake up or not."

She's in coma! Tama nga siya ng hinala. Sandali, naalala na niya ang gabing iyon. Malabo ang kaunting detalye pero ang malinaw doon ay tumama sila sa poste. 

Narinig niyang bumukas ang pintuan. Ngunit kahit tumahimik sa loob ay alam niyang may tao roon.

Sino kaya ang naiwan? Saan kaya sila nagpunta?

"Hi, Ma'am. We'll just clean her up," sambit ng isang baritonong boses. Lalaki ang maglilinis sa kanya?!

"Ako na, hijo." Mabuti naman at nandiyan ang Mama niya! "Ako na ang bahala sa anak ko, salamat."

Tumango naman ito, "Sige po."

"Amanda, ang sabi namin sa Kuya mo. Hangga't hindi maayos ang kalagayan mo ay hindi kami aalis dito." She said, "Huwag kang magalala, hindi kami aalis."

Amanda didn't know what to do. She felt tired but she's not even moving. Kaya naman bumabalik lang siya sa pagtulog at kahit magkamalay ay hindi niya pa rin maikilos ang katawan.

"Hi, Aims." It's Fred! She felt him near, she can smell his musky scent. She must know dahil kay Fred niya lang naamoy iyon. His scent takes her to places, makes her feel excited and refreshing. It gives him a sophisticated aroma. "You're stuck with me tonight, pinauwi ko muna sila Tito at Tita."

Narinig niyang naghila ito ng upuan at nilapag sa tabi ng kama niya. She heard him sighed, too. Then relaxed when his back reached the backrest. Mukhang pagod na naman ito sa trabaho, malamang nanibago na si Mandy na talaga ang secretarya nito dahil nandito siya.

It was a good call din pala na humanap na siya ng replacement. At least, hindi na ito sobrang pagod na pagod sa pagalis niya. 

"You didn't tell me," Shit. "About your resignation." Narinig ba nito ang nasa isip niya?

Oh no. He already figured it out!

Damn, this is the only time she is grateful for her condition. "Matagal mo na pa lang plano na umalis, but you stayed because I came back... Why did you do it, Aims?"

It's because I love you, and I know that you need someone to be there, and I want to be that person.

"You could have the coffee shop that you want, hindi ba iyon ang plano mo?" Fred held her hand and caressed it, "I'm not gonna get mad, Aims. Not with you. Kapag ikaw, palagi kong maiintindihan."

He rested his cheeks on her palm, "Gumising ka na, please. Hinihintay ka na nila sa Switzerland, you have dreams to fulfill, Amanda. The only one who can make it come true is you."

Amanda lost count on how many days she is in coma. As if she's counting. Walang umaga at gabi sa kondisyon niya. Fred, Camilla, Samuel, Vicky, her parents are looking after her.

But sometimes, she can feel another presence inside her room. 

No, not God. How can she know?

It didn't bring her peace and comfort. It was more of the opposite. Parang naghihintay lang ng pagkakataon kung kailan siya walang kasama, kung kailan siya walang kalaban laban.

The door opened, again. Alam niyang may pumasok. Katulad ng una niyang pakiramdam, hindi rin gusto ni Amanda ang nararamdaman ngayon.

She couldn't smell her parents scent. Its not even Fred's.

She could hear her own monitor. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso niya.

Then she heard a whistle. An evil whistle.

Huwag, kung sino ka man... Huwag... Maawa ka...

"Hi, Amanda." Lalaki ito. He is unfamiliar. Hindi niya ito kilala! "Kumusta ka na?" He touched her hair. Kinuha nito ang oximeter niya!

She could smell him. She could feel his breathe on her skin. "I missed you..."

Miss? Hindi niya ito kilala. 

No, help... Help me...

Naramdaman niya ang kamay nito na inaalis ang kumot niya, "Lilinisan lang kita, ha..."

No, ayoko... Please, huwag.. Diyos ko... Tulong...

Naramdaman niya ang kamay nito sa binti niya, "Don't worry, Amanda. I'll take care of you. Hindi kita sasaktan," Naramdaman niyang lumalagpas na sa hita ang hawak nito nang bumukas muli ang pinto.

"Who are you?"

Fred!

"Ah, Sir. Good morning, po." Agad nitong inalis ang kamay sa hita niya. She suddenly felt cold. Is she exposed? May panty man lang ba siya!?

Also, Umaga pala ngayon! What the hell? "Schedule lang po ng cleaning ni, Ma'am."

No, Fred. Si Mama lang naglilinis sa akin.

"I don't remember allowing any male nurse to attend with her. In fact, we didn't assign anyone."

"I'm sorry, Sir. Napagutusan lang po,"

She could smell Fred nearby, lumapit ito sa kanya, "Aims? Why are you crying?" Lumuluha na pala siya! Agad na pinindot ni Fred ang emergency button kaya naman nagpuntahan ang nurse at doctor sa silid niya.

He was so mad.

Sa boses pa lang ni Fred, alam niyang walang makakapanakit sa kanya. Hindi ito kailanman naglalabas ng ganito katinding emosyon. He was always calm. Kapag nagagalit ito, hindi pa halatang galit. 

He may be hard, but never harsh. 

This is different. 

"Sir, we do not have any male nurse that fits in your description." The doctor said, "and we didn't assign any male nurse to Ms. Dela Paz, as you ordered."

"Doc, may nag-alis ng oximeter niya." A female nurse said.

"Sir, we promise. We'll take a look on this." Sambit ng doctor. Nang makaalis ang mga ito ay tumabi si Fred sa kanya.

He held her cold hands. He is the warmth she needs.

"Don't worry, Aims. I won't let this slip." He promised and she felt safe.