Elvis kept on walking back and forth habang si Gene naman ay tahimik lang na nakasandal sa pader ng hospital hallway na pinagdalhan namin kay Tita Elvira. Tito Alejandro rushed immediately after I called him.
Gene met him earlier, and Tito Alejandro welcomed her with a smile and a hug. Wala akong narinig na sumbat o sisi mula kay Tito Alejandro. Instead, he just sat beside me and waited for the doctors to go out the emergency room. We all stood up as the doctor went out the ER.
"Sino po ang pamilya ng pasyente?"
"I'm her husband, doc."
The doctor looked at Tito Alejandro.
"She's fine. Tumaas lang ang kanyang blood pressure kaya siya nahimatay. You don't need to worry. She's awake now. She can be discharged anytime today."
Tumango-tango naman si Tito Alejandro nang magpaalam na ang doktor.
"This is your fault, Gene!"
Nagbabaga ang tinging ibinabato ni Elvis kay Gene samantalang si Gene naman ay tahimik lang ngunit nagtatagis ang mga bagang. I held her hand for a comfort.
"Stop it, Elvis! Don't take it all on Gene, this is partly your fault, too! I know, the situation's a bit complicated and hard to accept, but can you please act with manners? You too, Gene."
Gene nodded in response samantalang si Elvis naman ay galit pa rin ngunit tumahimik na. Tito Alejandro took care of everything para mailabas na si Tita Elvira sa ospital.
Dumiretso kami sa bahay ng mag-asawa. Ayaw sana ni Gene, pero nagpahinuhod ito sa pakiusap ng Mommy nito na sumama ito sa kanila. Kasama ko si Gene because she won't go without me.
"What is she doing here, Mom? She's not a family!"
Alam kong nagkabati na kami ni Elvis, pero alam kong hindi ganun kadaling mawala ang galit niya para kay Gene. Maaring kami ay okay, pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay okay na din silang magkapatid.
Ang awkward pakinggan. Ang awkward din isipin. Na ang dalawang taong may malaking bahagi sa buhay ko ay magkapatid pala.
"Watch your mouth, Elvis! Gene is my daughter! Please, don't treat her that way!"
Nakikiusap pero may diin ang bawat katagang lumabas mula sa bibig ni Tita Elvira. Si Tito Alejandro naman ay tahimik lang at ipinaubaya na sa asawa ang pagpapaliwanag.
Kitang kita ang paghihimagsik sa mukha ni Elvis. Si Gene naman ay tahimik lang sa tabi ko pero alam kong hindi rin siya nasisiyahan sa mga nangyayari.
"I'm sorry, Elvis. I'm sorry if I hid this to you. I'm sorry to the both of you. Pease forgive me."
I can sense that Gene's close to tears as her Mom told us what happened way back. I know she's hurt, who won't be if you'll know na pinamigay ka ng nanay mo at lumaki kang hindj siya kasama? Kahit pa sabihin na kasama mo naman ang ama mo, masakit pa rin malaman na mas pinili kang abandunahin ng sarili mong ina.
"Damn! Don't expect me to accept this easily, Mom. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Dad. I'm outta here."
Elvis looked at me with so much longing. Alam kong isa ako sa nga dahilan kung bakit mahirap para rito na tanggapin ang lahat.
Maybe Gene has seen how Elvis looked at me, mas hinigpitan nito ang hawak sa aking kamay which made Elvis cursed before he went out the house.
So much for complications.
Elvis went back to Cali. It has been a month since that incident and Gene's relationship with her Mom went smooth sailing. Opposite of mine, of course.
