Treacherous

Chapter Fourteen

Southern Light

Elias Manuel's

I couldn't sleep that night. I kept on thinking about Andeng and the fact that she didn't want to take the tumors out. Kahit hindi ko naiintindihan ay paulit – ulit kong tinitingnan ang brain scans niya. Paulit – ulit kong inaalala kung nasaan ang mga tumor na iyon at kung anong mawawala sa kanya sa oras na mapektuhan ang mga parteng iyon ng utak niya.

Maybe she was right, maybe it's not worth it. Paano nga naman kung hindi na siya makapagsalita, o makapaglakad, o kaya man ay hindi na siya magising at iyong makina na lang ang bubuhay sa kanya? Hindi na si Andeng iyon. If a part of her is gone, it won't make her who she is, pero sigurado akong gugustuhin ko pa rin siyang makasama.

"Can't sleep?" Santino came down the stairs. I was at the bar, drinking habang hawak ko iyong scans ni Andeng.

"Thinking."

"Why? Hindi naman ikaw iyong doctor." Nakakalokong sabi niya. "And because of you, my boss yelled at me at the phone ealier."

"He won't fire you. You're a stock holder." I told him. Naupo siya sa tabi ko.

"She asked you to leave. Is it done?" Tanong ni Santino sa akin.

"Nope. I'm just thinking." I told him. Sa kamay ko ay naroon ang kwintas na para kay Andeng. Hindi ako susuko. Kapag sinabi ko, gagawin ko and I will do everything for her.

"If that's the case, this is going to be tricky. But you know what you should do first?"

"What?"

"Break that fucking engagement. You don't need that woman. Avo hates her. She told me last week that she saw her picture and she saw darkness in her. She doesn't like her and you know that Avo is always right. We didn't have a mother growing up and Avi protected us, raised us like we're hers, she dedicated her life to us so when she says that Ireena Consunji is darkness, then she is. Break it off, she's bad luck, dude." Tinapik ni Santino ang likuran ko.

Isa pa pala iyon, but I still have to talk to Papito about that, or maybe I should think about Plan B. Sa totoo lang, sa ilang araw na wala ako sa Pilipinas at pabalik – balik ako ng Brazil at dito, ay hindi man lang siya sumagi sa isipan ko. All I was thinking about was Andeng and how the fuck can I make her agree with this operation.

"Christian is doing everything for your Philippine License. You better think of a plane on how you'll get these things out of that beautiful head of hers."

"Did you show Avo her picture?"

"I don't see the need why." I said.

"For darkness and light."

Avo believes in such things. Masyado siyang mapamahiin. Naalala ko noong bata ako, palagi niya kaming kinukwentuhan tungkol sa mga Greek Gods and Goddesses, Romans and Norse and constellations.

I remembered her telling me that my light can be found in the southern part of the sky. It's funny. I never looked for it in the South. Plus, it didn't mean anything to me. Andromeda is my light and I will make sure she'll shine brighter.

I stood up.

"Where are you going?" Santino ask me.

"To find my light." I grinned. Tinangay ko iyong scans ni Andeng at ang kwintas niya. I took my car and drove to the hospital. It's late, hindi na siguro ako papapasukin bilang bisita but I know better. Gagawa at gagawa ako ng paraan para makita siya.

Pumuslit lang ako, Mabuti na nga lang at hindi ako nakita noong mga guard. I went to her floor, straight to her room. I hope she's awake. I need to take to her. Pumasok ako sa kwarto niya at dahan-dahan kong isinara ang pinto.