Sightless Love

Chapter 5

"Mr. Smith, I am afraid that your family here is telling you the truth. Because of the incident, you acquired injuries and several fractured bones..."

So that's why it hurts when I move. He thought.

"There were also some minor complications. But both your eyes are blinded. May nakuhang ilang shards of broken glass in your left eye so we were expecting this blindness. Though ang reason kung bakit pati ang isang mata mo ay naapektuhan may be because of trauma. There are many studied cases where a person, who is in shock or trauma for some reasons, or in too much depression, can go through temporary blindness."

"So, it's temporary, right? I'll still be able to see?" He felt so relieved.

"Well, it depends on the situation, Mr. Smith. We are still observing you for signs and we are thoroughly working through your test results. In a few days, we will be able to find the reason to your blindness and cure it if we can."

"What do you mean 'if you can'? Well, you should. It's your job."

"Rest assured, we are doing our best, sir. But I have to be honest, it may take a while. And –"

"What assurance can you give?"

"Well, as I was saying, we can't say yet –"

"So you can give me no assurance then?"

"Sir, we are doing everything we can. Trust that we will do our best."

Biglang sumingit si Francisco, "Magtiwala na lang tayo apo sa mga doctor. Alam naman nila ang ginagawa nila. At siguradong gagawin nila ang lahat ng makakaya nila, diba doc?"

"Opo naman."

"Sige ,doc. Salamat."

"Walang anuman. Trabaho po naming yan. Mr. Smith if there is anything you'd like to know about your case, if we can, we'll be more than willing to comply."

Hindi siya sumagot. How could this have happened? What happens if his parents find out? What will they think?

Wait! Do they know?

"Lola Flora, does mom know already?"

"Hindi namin sila nakontak agad, apo. Pero tumawag na ang mama mo kanina at nasabi na namin."

Shit!

"What did she say?"

"Sobrang nag alala siya apo."

Seeing how his Lola Flora reacted when he found out, alam niyang mas masasaktan ang mama niya. Then he thought of his dad. He rolled his eyes. Though he don't know how that looked like now. What happens when you get blind? Does it affect even the rolling of your eyes? At bigla siyang naputol sa pag-iisip ng narinig ang sinabi ng lola.

"Galit na galit si Albert, pero naipaliwanag naman na namin na may jetlag ka pa kaya nakatulog ka sa pagmamaneho. Sana nga ay si Caloy na lang talaga ang pinadala ko para sunduin ka."

He groaned inwardly. Alam niya na once na malaman nito na he ragained conciousness ay magsesermon na naman ito ng walang humpay.

Why couldn't just understand me? Why couldn't he just care? Doesn't he really love me?

Love.

He couldn't even remember when was the last time his father showed him affection.

He was always as hard as stone.

He didn't use to be like that, actually. They used to be a happy family. Complete and contented. He didn't know what happened but several times he overheard his parents fighting. It became more often as time went by.

Then Jimmy left home. He started living on his own. He said he couldn't bear home. Says it's not like home anymore. I know. I felt it too. But he was too young then. Besides, who will be there for their mom? He promised to always be by her side.

Things started getting well. And it was almost just like before. The only difference was Jimmy wasn't there...

And their father didn't seem to be his father anymore.

He was like a total stranger to him.

Flora seemed to see Jake's trail of thought, "Apo, intindihin mo na lang ang papa mo. Nag alala lang siya. Mahal na mahal ka ng mga magulang mo."

Him? Worried? Since when did he care for me? He doesn't know the words care and love. It's just all business for him. And I only exist in his life so there's someone who'd continue the family's legacy. He didn't even consider what I wanted in life! I wanted to be a pilot. To travel the world. Visit different countries and places. But when I told him, he dismissed it immediately. He thinks it's petty. 'That's luxury,' I remember his words. 'Business and legacy comes first. Don't you ever forget that!'

Now all his dreams are shattered. And there's no way to mend it.

There is. He heard someone say.

"What?"

He asked out loud.

"Ano 'yun apo?"

"Nothing."

He realized a voice echoed in his head, there is!

Silly but tinanong niya ang sarili, what?

Not 'what', 'who?'

What? Then, who?

Her!

Who?

You know her. She can save you from your miseries.

I know I'm getting crazy right now, but that's crazier.

~~~~~