Fate and Star *FSA Book II* [KiefLy]

Chapter 11

"Aray naman! Lakas mong humampas ah!" Kiefer complained while massaging his left arm.

"Eh kasi naman huwag kang humihirit ng mga ganyan ah. Diyan ka na nga, pasok na ako sa room ni Itay." Paalam ni Alyssa at tumayo na.

Kiefer was quick to grab her hand and stood up to face her. He cleared his throat.

"Uhm. Hi I'm Kiefer Ravena, 25 years old from Cainta." He introduced and offered his hand.

Alyssa smiled. "Hi, I'm Alyssa Valdez, 25, from the beautiful Quezon Citeeeyyy." Pagpapakilala niya at hinagis pa ang mga braso sa ere.

"Ang cute mo." Hindi mapigilang paghanga ni Kiefer.

"Oh at least 'di ba hindi na masama first impression mo sa akin. Miss Walang Suklay no more." Natatawang sambit niya.

"Sige, basta ba huwag mo na rin akong tatawagin na Mr.Ilong eh." Sagot ni Kiefer.

"Sige deal." At nagkatawanan sila.

"So let's start anew. Friends?" Alyssa offered. Kiefer shook his head. "Why not, more than that?" He teased.

"Crazy! Para ka ng Lolo mo. And speaking of, baka hinahanap ka na sa inyo ah." She said while looking for something in her pocket.

"So dahil friends na tayo, pinapalayas mo na ako ha. Sasamahan na muna kita dito." Alok nito na hindi na rin kinontra ng babae.

++++

"Ayan, nagpumilit ka talagang sumama sa akin eh." Natatawang biro niya.

"At hindi rin naman ako nagrereklamo ah. Ako pa ba, yakang yaka 'to ng muscles ko." Sabay pakita nito ng braso.

"Sus yabang. Tara na nga bayaran na natin yan."

"Sure ka ba wala ka na nakalimutan sa lagay na 'to?" Tanong nito habang tinutulak ang grocery cart.

"Sakto na yata yan. Para hindi na rin bumaba baba sina Inay o Kian. Pero sana talaga maging okay na at makalabas na si Itay 'no." Saad niya na malayo ang tingin ngunit agad rin humarap at ngumiti ng pilit.

Inabot ni Kiefer ang kamay ni Alyssa at marahan itong pinisil kaya't napaangat ito ng tingin sa kanya.

"Ly, hindi mo naman kailangan magpanggap kung ako ang kaharap mo. Okay lang paminsan maging mahina." Malumanay niyang sabi.

She pat him on his shoulder and gave him a small smile, "Let's go."

But involuntarily, like it was the most natural thing to do, Kiefer pulled her for a hug that shocked her initially. He held her tighter, gently caressing her back. Alyssa hugged him back and shut her eyes, as if pouring out all the emotions she has been suppressing the whole time. Unlike with Luigi, it felt warmer, more comforting, more homey. And before her thoughts could wander farther, she slowly pulled away and smiled at him shyly.

To kill the air of awkwardness between them, Kiefer would crack silly jokes and nonsense stuff to which Alyssa would genuinely react and laugh, like an innocent kid, light and carefree with no extra baggage in life.

They were still laughing until they reach the door to Ruel's bedroom. Alyssa slowly turned  the doorknob and she wasn't surprise to see the Doctor doing his rounds.

"Ineng, buti nandito ka na, para isahan na lang raw ang papaliwanag ni Doc." Lita said and signaled her to get inside.

"Sorry Nay namili lang po kami ng stocks. Kief, lapag mo na lang diyan, please." He nodded and did what was told and even fixed some on top of the refrigerator. 

"Mrs. Valdez, nakita ko na lahat ng laboratory results at monitoring records ng patiente, and I'm afraid he's not  responding to the medications." Doctor Lopez said and approached Ruel's bed.

"Bale itong isang dextrose na may gamot,intended siya as diuretic, ibig sabihin expected natin na malaki ung urine output ni Ruel upang maiwasan natin ang cardiac overload, pamamanas and in return bababa ang blood pressure niya. But according sa records, pinakamababa na niya is 150/90. At yung urine output niya in 24 hours is not adequate. That is why I ordered for some series of laboratory results and I found out a significant result sa BUN and creatinine--"

"Doc, anong pu-pwede nating gawin?" Singit ni Lita na puno ng pagaalala para sa asawa. Maagap naman siyang niyakap ni Alyssa upang pakalmahin ang ina.

"I have referred this to a Nephrologist already.  The only way to cure acute kidney failure is hemodialysis. Ooperahan si Ruel sa bandang leeg upang magbukas ng shunt. So the goal is to remove fluid and
waste products from the blood and to correct electrolyte imbalance. Dahil nga damaged na yung kidney niya eh hindi na niya nailalabas ung toxins ng katawan and that would be fatal to his life." Mahabang paliwanag ng doctor na kahit hindi lubusang maintindihan ni Alyssa ay walang tigil ang mahina niyang dasal para sa ama.

"Ano po mga kakailanganin Doc? At mga magkano po ba aabutin ng operasyon?" Lita asked in a shaky voice.

"Nay naman, huwag niyo na nga pinoproblema yang pera. Gagawan ko ng paraan." Alyssa said reassuringly to calm her mom. But deep inside she is more than broken, financially, emotionally.

"You can double check with the finance department, but per session, roughly nasa limang libo yun. Dadaan muna si Ruel sa cardio-pulmonary clearance bago natin maischedule ang operation. Hopefully he will be stable. I'll go ahead." The doctor said as he pat Ruel's shoulder who was peacefully sleeping.

"Kian, samahan mo ako bumaba. Ineng, dumito ka na muna ha." Tango lang ang tanging naisagot ni Alyssa at agad na nilapitan ang ama.

"Tay, palakas ka ha para mabilis maiayos yung operasyon mo at gumaling ka na agad. Pero promise ha huwag na matigas ulo. Pag bawal, bawal talaga. Hindi mo na ako madadaan sa mga pa cute mo at mga pa bargain mo. Lagot sa akin si Kian pag pinagbigyan ka." Biro niya habang hinahaplos ang kamay ni Ruel.

"Tay, huwag mo na problemahin ang pera, ako na bahala don. Kahit ano gagawin ko para sa'yo, para lang gumaling ka." Hindi niya namalayan ang presensya ni Kiefer, nagulat na lamang siya ng inabutan siya ng tissue at mahinang hinahaplos ang kanyang likod.

Marahas niyang pinunasan ang mga luha sa mukha at umupo ng matuwid. Yumuko naman si Kiefer upang magpantay sila.

"Ly, kung pera lang pinoproblema mo, huwag mo ng isipin. I'll be more than willing to help." Alok ni Kiefer.

Tukso. Layuan mo ako.

xxxxx