ward (completed)

23

Richard lost a lot of weight when Nic was away.

"Anong nangyari sa yo?"

"Na-miss kita e. Ayoko kumain. Di masarap yung food."

"Dinala ako ni Daddy sa McDo. Kumain ako ng chicken and spaghetti. Madaming tao. Tumitingin sila sa akin. Tumitingin din si Andrea sa akin. Si Andrea yung kasama ni Daddy sa house namin. Kasama din si Sally at si Kuya Nonoy. Friend ko si Sally at Kuya Nonoy. Lagi silang nakikipagplay sa akin. Si Andrea, bad sya. Sinisigawan nya ako. Palo nya nga ako e."

"Pero happy na ako ulit kasi nakabalik ka na. Dito ka nalang ha? Wag ka na aalis."

"Sabi ni Daddy may surprise pa daw sya sa akin. Pero matagal pa daw yun."

"Daddy mo pala yun. Si Tito Nicky. Pwede ko ba syang tawaging Tito Daddy nalang? Kasi Daddy mo sya. Friends tayo. Parang Daddy ko na rin sya. Miss ko na Papa ko e."

"Sabi ni Daddy, si Tito Miko daw ang gagawa nung surprise. Big surprise daw yun."

"Nakita ko yung lalakeng kasama ni Tito Daddy. Sino sya? Bakit andito sya?"

"Tapos sabi ni Daddy, malapit na daw kami ulit magkasama. Pero ayoko. Ayoko umalis dito. Baka andun ulit si Andrea. Ayoko kay Andrea. Bad sya."

"Basta, happy ako na nandito ka na ulit."

Many months later, Richard and Nic were learning to be more independent within their controlled environment. Richard assisted Nurse Ruth in the office by collecting and delivering patient charts from wing to wing. Nurse Ruth was in-charge of several wings within St. Dymphna's but her main office was in Wing 11. Nic, on the other hand, helped collecting dirty clothes from the patient's rooms in some of the wings and also helped in folding laundry. Nicky visited almost every day and became a familiar face and figure to Nic. In fact, Nic had learned to trust more people. She would reach out and grab or hold hands with Richard when they played or walked together. She liked feeding Richard or Nicky with the little snacks she liked to eat like cereals and raisins. Nic liked cuddling and leaning against Nicky's shoulder when he read her a story. Once, while Nicky and Nic were on the couch for story time, Richard joined them and lay on the couch beside Nicky, his head on Nicky's lap.

"...it's weird but I feel happy when I'm with Nic. I guess she filled that gap that I had here (points to his heart)..." Nicky and Miko spoke about Nicky's plans. Miko had just completed his project and was giving Nicky a tour.

"How about Richard?"

"I've seen how inseparable they are. They support each other. That's why I've decided to..."

"...to?"

"I've thought of him as a son...like Nic's twin..."