Taking Risks

23

HIM

"Babalik ka na sa ospital?"

I turn around and see Kris by the kitchen, munching on some mangoes. It was quite late in the afternoon, with the sun about to set in perhaps a couple of hours and Ninna just texted me that I can finally come to the hospital to see Maine. I nod in Kris's direction.

"Nagtext na si Ninna. Gusto rin daw akong makilala at makausap ng nanay ni Maine," I tell him as I sit down on the couch to tie my trainers on.

"Hala. Uy, ok lang kaya 'yun? Baka sigawan ka. Or sampalin kasi kinidnap mo 'yung anak niya. Naku! Baka may kasamang pulis at ipa-aresto ka!" Kris says, his hands flailing, eyes wide.

I look up and with a raised brow, shake my head then chuckle instead. My friend has the tendency to be dramatic at times. "Tigil mo na 'yang kakanood mo ng mga teleserye. Kung ano ano na ang naiimagine mo."

He shrugs. "May basis pa rin naman sa real life ang mga storya sa teleseryes. So possible pa rin yung mga ganong scenarios 'no. Hindi nila ipalalabas yun sa TV kung alam nilang hindi makakarelate ang audience. At makakarelate lang sila kasi may pagka-real life diba?"

"Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako or ano sa slight pag-amin mo na nanonood ka talaga ng teleserye or maaaning dahil nyemas, Kris - teleserye talaga? Ano? Yung pinapanood mo ba yung mga dramarama sa hapon, ganyan? Or yung sa primetime? Malamang parehas."

"Gago," Kris mutters, raising his middle finger towards me, that I start to laugh harder instead. "Seryoso kaya ako. What if ganon nga 'yung mangyari? Tangina, maghahanda na ako ng pang-piyansa sa 'yo 'pag inaresto ka."

"'Tado ka, hindi mangyayari 'yun," I tell him. "I doubt na ganon ang nanay ni Maine. Kahit na ba may mga hindi siya tamang ginawang desisyon sa anak niya, I don't think she's still the type to do that. Plus, hindi papayag si Maine."

"Wow. Confident much lang, brad?"

I smirk. "Aba'y syempre."

Kris chuckles, this time around. "Iba rin." Then he suddenly sobers up. "Pero grabe rin kasi 'yung ginawa niya kay Maine. Hindi ko maubos maisip na kayang gawin ng isang ina 'yun sa anak niya, eh."

I sigh. "She probably has her own reasons. Kahit na malamang eh, hindi tama 'yung mga reasons. Pero nanay pa rin siya. At mahal niya pa rin si Maine bilang anak niya."

"Ewan. I mean, magsisinungaling ka sa anak mo na may sakit siya kahit wala naman talaga? Tapos 'yung sakit pa na ginamit mo eh 'yung sobrang lala para maitago mo siya sa mundo. Ang lala naman nun, pre."

"Hindi natin alam kung anong tumatakbo sa utak ng nanay ni Maine," I explain even though at the back of my head - I am also questioning the same things. Because Kris is right. How can one even lie about something like that? It's quite insane. I stand up before taking a deep breath. "O siya, larga na muna ako. Magayos ayos ka muna dito. Sabi ni Ninna malamang eh makakauwi na si Maine today or baka bukas. Dito na muna kami didiretso."

"Ha? Hindi pa kayo babalik ng Maynila? Tsaka bakit ako magaayos? Maayos naman ang lahat pa dito—"

I smirk again in Kris's direction, my hand on the front door knob and cut him off. "Darating si Katring."

Kris sputters and almost chokes on his drink as I laugh at his slowly reddening face while I leave him to his own devices for a while.

//

Ninna told me that I'll find Maine's mother in the waiting room a couple of doors down from Maine's room. I am quite nervous in meeting with her, because who wouldn't be nervous in meeting the love of your life's mother? Regardless of what she did, she is still the mother of Maine. And I still want to make a good impression.