diminutives

index card

as maine was rolled into a private room at the emergency section, rj heard soft moans from her like she was trying to say something.

uhmmm...

maine? maine? please tell me you're ok rj pleaded while holding on to the side of the stretcher

with her eyes half-opened, she held on to him and tried to utter something but no words came out

you're ok... you're gonna be ok... may masakit ba sayo? squeeze my hand if you feel anything painful

she squeezed his hand and closed her eyes.

fuck! this is all my fault he cursed himself mentally. sana hindi ko na lang siya sinabayan

saan masakit? nurse?! he immediately looked for any available medical person that could help her nurse?! i'll get some help, ok?

maine nodded softly

"sir alden. kalma lang po. kami na po ang bahala. nagpa-order na po ng blood chem si dr. hidalgo. relax lang po." sabay ngiti ng nurse "kung pwede po sana paki-fill up na lang yung iba pang information ng girlfriend nyo para po madali na lang ang pagdischarge sa kanya"

ahm hin-

"ah oo kami na bahala!" biglang pumasok si mama ten sabay abot ng chart at ngiti sa nurse

"salamat po mama ten. wag po kayong mag-alala. our facility has a very high value for our clients' confidentiality" sabay ngisi nito kay mama ten

"alam mo gusto kita. salamat hija"

"katie po. aldenatics bulacan" bulong nito

"pag di busy, ako bahala sa selfie mo!" sabay kindat ni mama ten sa nurse

the nurse giggled and went straight to the nurse station to page the doctor in-charge of the trauma unit.

ma! ano yun? pambihira——

aangal pa sana si tisoy pero tinakpan na ni mama ten ang labi niya ng kanyang hintuturo

"you'll thank me later" at ngumiti ito ng nakakaloko sa alaga sabay talikod, naiwan naman si rj na puno ng pagtataka, at ng makalayo si mama ten narinig nya pa ito "oo nga pala, you're welcome" at tuluyan ng lumabas si mama ten ng kwarto

maine? the nurse is calling the doctor ok.

she nodded but did not say a word

"sir alden, papunta na po si dr. hidalgo, ahm sir nasabi po kasi ni sir leysam na nag-faint daw po si mam?" nurse katie inquired

ah yes. medyo nagkagitgitan kasi kanina, i think kaya siya nag-pass out.

"ok po. nagdinner na po ba si ma'm?"

fuck! oo nga ni hindi ko man lang tinanong. shit! he scolded himself again

"ahm i guess the answer is no po?" panigurado ni katie

ahmm... no—

ahh—r—rj... she called with broken voice

rj immediately tend to her

maine... may— may masakit ba? parating na yung doktor...

ay-ayoko dito... she said in hushed tone and teary eyes

rj saw her discomfort and felt a pang in his chest for putting her in this situation

pa-parating na yung doktor. pag sinabi nya na ok ka iuuwi na kita— i mean— he stopped realizing it didn't sound right, he even heard the nurse giggled i—uhh i mean, ihahatid na kita sa bahay. sa bahay mo, ok?