She's the Real Challenge

42: The Rescue, Part 1

Bystanders stopped to stare at Sage as he alighted from his 360 Spider that he haphazardly parked in the driveway. Nagmamadali niyang binuhat si Ken at tumakbo papasok ng ospital. Hindi niya man lang sinara ang pintuan ng kotse niya.

The staff was ready. Nakahanda na ang stretcher at agad na kinabitan si Ken ng swero at oxygen mask. The nurse took her vital signs as they rushed her into the emergency room.

Sage watched intently at the side as medical professionals crowded beside Ken. Sa hindi niya maipaliwanag na dahilan, napakahirap makita si Ken na nasa gano'ng state, nakapanlulumo. He suddenly remembered that he was clutching Ken's bloody phone. Hawak iyon ni Ken bago ito mawalan ng malay.

After checking the screen, he found three missed calls from Heidi. Ken was probably trying to call her teammate before she lost consciousness. Ayaw niya mang pakialaman ang cellphone ni Ken, this was an emergency situation and he decided to call back Heidi who, thankfully, immediately answered.

"Ken! Bakit wala pa kayo dito? Sorry hindi ko nasagot 'yong tawag mo kanina pero 'di ka na sumagot no'ng tinawagan kita pabalik. Si Lily rin, 'di sumasagot. Nasaan na ba kayo?" Hindi agad nakasingit si Sage sa tuloy-tuloy na pagsasalita ni Heidi. "Uy, bakit 'di ka nagsasalita?"

"Heidi, nasa ospital si Ken," Sage said weakly.

"What? Sino 'to? Naku, 'di mo ako mabubudol, kung sino ka mang nakakuha ng cellphone ng kaibigan ko," inis na sagot sa kanya ni Heidi.

"Si Sage 'to. We're at St. Raphael's Medical Center. She had a gunshot wound when I found her at the side of the road and she's unconscious right now."

"Oh my God," Heidi gasped, finally believing Sage after recognizing his voice. "Eh si Lily, is she with you? 'Di rin 'yon sumasagot ng tawag."

"Sinabi ni Ken na may kumuha kay Lily, hindi ko alam kung pa'no siya hahanapin. Can you help me with this?" he said.

"I'll report the incident and get Matt, we'll do everything to find Lily. Pupunta kami agad diyan." Heidi took a deep breath before continuing. "Salamat sa pagsagip kay Ken, I know you have your differences and you seem to hate each other—"

Sage cleared his throat to interrupt Heidi. "I don't hate her."

"Good to know." Rinig sa boses ni Heidi ang pagngiti nito. "Pakibantayan si Ken, bye."

He ended the call thinking that Heidi didn't need to remind him.

* * *

Lumapit ang isang doktor kay Sage sa waiting area. "Are you with the patient?"

"Yes, how is she?" The anxiety was evident in his shaky tone.

"She lost a lot of blood and is still unconscious. She's not in a critical condition anymore pero hindi rin stable. Maswerte siya na hindi tumama ang bala sa vital organs pero kailangan pa rin niyang sumailalim sa surgery as soon as her vitals become more stable," the doctor said.

"Is she going to be okay?" Sage asked, his eyebrows furrowed while his lips trembled.

"We're doing everything that we can," the doctor replied before leaving him.

He couldn't get the image of her bloody unconscious body out of his mind. Napakabilis ng tibok ng kanyang puso sa pag-aalala. Parang hihikain siya kahit wala naman siyang history ng asthma nang maisip ang posibilidad na maaaring hindi na magising si Ken.

Ilang minuto nang tulala si Sage nang lapitan siya ng isang nurse. "Sir, ikaw ang kasama ng pasyente, 'di ba?"

"Yes, ako nga," nagulat na sagot ni Sage. "Bakit? May nangyari ba kay Ken? Okay lang ba siya? Anong pwede kong gawin?"