Kick-Start

Ella's Day

After Ella was transferred to the private hospital, James tried to visit her a number of times, but the nurses were directed not to let anyone except her parents in.  He also tried to send her text messages but they remained unanswered. In one of his attempts, he saw her father.

"What are you doing here?"

"Sir, makikiusap lang po sana na makita ko si Ella kahit sandali lang?" James pleaded. "Gusto ko lang po sana makita if she's okay -"

"She is. The doctors are seeing to it. Anything else?"

"Sir -"

"We had a deal."

James cringed.  "Sir, baka naman po -"

"No. You can go."

Dejected, James handed her father the bag he brought. "Pwede po bang ipaabot nalang ito? Favorite niya po yan na pasalubong."

Ella never got it.

"James?"

"Ella, it's Mommy. How are you, Anak?"

Ella turned to her kindly face. "Mom? Si James nasaan na?"

"Anak, pahinga ka muna."

"Mom, baka hinahanap na ako ni James." Ella asked. She awakened to an unfamiliar place, feeling very weak. Her mom told her what happened and that she was still at the hospital. "He hasn't visited ba?"

Her father snorted. "Yan ba ang pinagmamalaki mo? Nagkasakit ka lang, binalik ka na."

"Dad," her mother reprimanded. "Ella, rest na muna."

"He left her. She should know that."

She reeled from the hurt and getting back on her feet took longer than normal, but after graduation, she decided to act. "Jean, please help naman."

"Ella, alam mo namang ayaw ng parents mo kay James."

"I know. Pero what my dad said didn't make sense eh. I think James asked for help lang kaya nila ako nakuha... I just have to know? Sort this out with him."

"Sabi mo iniwasan ka na niya during graduation. Baka naman talagang ayaw na niya?"

"No. Hindi yun eh. There's more to it and I think it's because of our finances. I need to talk to him."

Jean and Ella headed to James' family home and saw his parents. "Tito, Tita, si James po? Gusto ko lang sana pong makausap."

"Naku, Ella he's already left for Dubai."

"Po? Left?" His parents told her of his decision to work abroad.

"Hija, maybe it's time for you two to fulfill your dreams separately first."

*
James del Rosario
What is kaba.