“You mean di siya sumipot?!” Tanong ni Nhila sa alaga.
“Yes Ate.. Parang akong tanga na naghintay sa kanya sa labas ng city hall ng tatlong oras. Pinahintay ko pa yung judge, nagmakaawa ako na bigyan pa ako ng panahon. Kung ano-ano naiisip ko na scenarios why she didn’t show up. I thought she had an accident or her dad took her against her will. Alam mo, my first instinct was, I called hospitals around the area asking if she was brought in. Finally, I spoke with the hotel personnel and apparently, they saw her calmly climb in the car with her dad. There was no struggle. She just left me hanging there. Pakiramdam ko then, ako na ang pinakatangang lalaki sa mundo. She made me believe she loved me. My only conclusion was, ginamit niya lang ako para makawala sa dad niya. And in the end, she knew she couldn’t stand up for herself.”
“Nag-usap na ba kayo ever after?”
“I was waiting for her call...anything. I wanted to hear what she had to say. Pero wala. Wala. Wala. At ako na naman si gago na nagpakatangang naghintay ng tawag, sulat, email...kahit ano. Kumustahin man lang ako kung buhay pa ‘ko. Kung ano nangyari sa pinaasa niyang tao.... ang sakit umasa ate. In the beginning I told myself, there must be an explanation for all of this. She couldn’t be that cruel. Pero months passed and there was nothing from her. And you know, I get it. Ganito lang pala ang kapalit ng lahat. Hindi ko naman mamasamain kung ayaw niya sa akin. I don’t think i deserved what she did to me.”
“As in ngayon lang kayo nagkita since then?!! “ Tumango si Gerald sa tanong ni Nhila. “Wow man! Kaya naman pala ang lalim niyang dala mo. ”
“Pasensiya na ate ha? Hayaan mo na lang muna ako mag-isip. Matulog ka na.”
“O sige Ge..hayaan mo, aayos din ang lahat.”
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Nang lumuwang ng bahagya ang dibdib ni Sarah, she gathered all her courage and decided to go back to the hospital. It was around 2 am but she knew na hindi na niya pwede pang ipagpabukas pa. Ayaw niyang dumating pa yung panghinaan siya ng loob. It was now or never. She had to explain things to Gerald for whatever it’s worth. She didn’t expect him to understand pero tama na sa kanya na malaman ni Ge ang nangyari that day she left him.
Nang makarating siya sa top floor ng ospital where the special suites are, she decided to stop by the restroom and fix herself. She felt that in doing so, she would be able to control her emotions. Nagpaalam siya sa nurses on duty na makikigamit siya ng banyo sa nurses’ lounge. Ikinagulat ng mga on duty na staff ang presence ni Sarah.
“Doc S, duty ka ba?” ani ni Mel, isang nurse na naka duty. “Ayiiiiieeee! May dadalawin? Doc, quiet ako ha pero kunwari mag rounds kayo ha para di tayo masita ng supervisor namin.”
“Sira ka talaga! Ah...may pinagbilin kasi mom niya so puntahan ko lang sana sandali...thanks Mel. Sandali lang ako.”
Nang makarating si Sarah sa restroom, naghilamos siya para mawala ang mga bakas ng luha. Her eyes were swollen but she couldn’t do anything about that. She fixed her hair and started to breathe in and out before walking out one door and into another.
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Papatulog na si Nhila nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pinto. Inakala niyang ang nurses and pumasok to check on Gerald pero nagulat nang Makita ang nakilalang dalaga, naintindahan niya agad ang pakay nito. Sumenyas siya kay Sarah na lalabas siya sandali at sinabi na lang na may kailangan siyang bilhin sa convenience store.
