trapped (completed)

8. I care for you still

"Hi Ta! Yep! I'm back. Kanina ko pa iniisip anong i-kkwento ko sa yo in 20minutes. Ah, since di mo ako nakikita, kwento ko nalang kung ano suot ko – eto, naka gown, mask and shoe cover ako over my clothes. Requirement dito sa ICU e. Kulang nalang ipag-hazmat suit kami e. Haay Ta, I should really have my eyes checked na talaga. Alam mo ba, I grabbed your pants from the cabinet at yun ang suot ko today. Oo, sorry. Kasi naman, I think si Bebang nagkamali na naman at dun nilagay sa mga pants ko yung maong mo. Yung kapareha nung ripped jeans ko din. Ayun, medyo bitin. Pinagtatawanan nga ako nina Mama at Kuya Sammy kanina kasi mukha daw akong ewan. E wala naman akong dalang extra pants or shorts today, puro shirts lang so suot ko sya buong araw..."

"Huwat!?! I hope those aren't my favorite pair! Luluwag na yan...Bee naman e...si Bebang na naman...Sabagay, whenever I need to get my clothes from your closet, I usually have to go through your clothes and try to remember what I've left at your place kasi madalas nami-mix up ni Bebang yung mga damit natin...couple clothes pa more! hahaha!"

"...tapos naka-black shirt lang ako...yung plain shirt. Kasi I remember you saying that I look better in plain shirts. Yung mga stylist lang naman ang nagbibihis sa atin e. Pero yun, I like your style more. Yung simple lang. Mas may dating pa!"

"Oo naman Bee...you look more pogi in super simple styles. Yung masyadong madaming print, nakaka-distract..."

"So, how do you feel today? I wasn't able to help in caring for you today e. Sorry. Malapit na yung concert e. Kagabi nga, nag-shoot kami ng video teaser. May effects...and get this, may isang part na naka-costume ako! I'll tell them to video it for you para you can watch paggising mo..."

"Costume? Hammerman? Sabagay, you can promote him naman diba? I mean, your concert producer is also the producer of your show...Haay! Yang Hammerman costume mo o...naayos na ba yung plates dun sa front? Please remind Kuya cameraman and Direk not to take shots of you in costume from below...dapat para sa akin lang yun...what's that sound?"

"Oh shoot! My 20minutes are up! Haaay Ta! I wish I could stay longer in here. The other day, I begged Tito to swap time with me para I could stay longer pero pinagalitan ako ni Cielo, pinalabas ako! Anyway, I'll be outside naman e. I'll stay for about an hour or more like I always do. Goodnight, Ta. Abooo!" Jay said as he kissed Nic goodbye for the evening.

"Aboootu! Thanks for dropping by. And please, choose your clothes properly next time. Ah, I wore your shorts din pala nung shoot namin. Hehe! Sorry! We can share shirts pero medyo malabo yung pants e. Ang liit ko kaya compared to you..."

"So, ayun na nga, bumisita ulit si Jay dito. Nami-miss ko na siya...nami-miss ko na yung mga kiss, akap at cuddles namin..sabi nya, nag-c-cuddle din pa naman sya minsan kaso masikip yung bed...tapos, may mga wires at tubes na nakakabit sa akin so baka mahugot o maipit kaya wag na muna...tiis nalang kami pareho...

Speaking of Jay...Bee, sino nag-aasikaso ng mga gamit at food mo? Diba may work na si Mama? Regular na sya sa show e. Please always bring extra sets of clothes when you leave para sure na pampalit ka. Pawisin ka pa naman. Wag magpapatuyo ng pawis, please. And, ask Kuya Sammy or Mama to buy you more vitamins. Paubos na yung nasa white bottle dun sa condo...

Pang-ilang araw na ba ako andito? Parang forever na. Di pa rin ako makagalaw. Di ko pa rin maidilat yung mga mata ko. Nung una, naiinis ako. Natakot ako na baka forever na akong ganito. Then, naisip ko, at least naranasan ko pa yung mga naranasan ko. Yung iba, from childhood at mula nung nagka-isip sila, di nila na-experience o nakita ang mundo. Di man ako nakapunta sa lahat ng lugar na gusto ko sanang puntahan o nagawa lahat ng nasa bucket list ko, at least nasubukan at naranasan ko yung karamihan dun. Tapos, yung everyday interactions sa barangay, nagpakita din sa akin ng buhay ng ibang tao. Sabi nga ni Mommy, appreciate all the little things kasi those are what really matter, diba? So, naisip ko, if and when bumalik na ako sa normal, magpapasalamat talaga ako sa lahat ng experiences ko, even the smallest ones."

Nic had daily visitors who would hang out by the window of her ICU room. They got to "see" Nic thru the window for a few hours a day but it was only family and Jay who were allowed to enter the room at their scheduled time.

Mommy made sure that Nic always looked neat even at her worst (when her fever rose and her heartbeat spiked for 2 days). She was always fixing Nic's hospital gown (which was actually just draped over her because of the wires to monitor her heart). Even the sheets and blanket always looked neat. Mommy would also remind the nurses to do the same when they come in to check on Nic or administer medicines.

"Medyo OA na Mom...kama lang yan...hahaha!"

Nic's brain activity was also tested and it showed that it was clear and her brain was functioning properly. It was really just her nerves that were being affected by the syndrome.

"...like I said, she'll have to relearn most of what she was doing before but her memory is intact." Dr. Carla assured the family.

"Good morning Nic!" Cielo came in at the usual time in the morning to check on Nic and begin her day. "...anong plano natin today?" Cielo liked to ask Nic random questions although responses were not really expected given that most patients under her care were mostly comatose. "...boyfriend mo yung lagi kong pinagsasabihan? Ang kulit e. Parang five years old" Cielo chuckled. "...pero mabait naman...mahilig magsmile kahit na alam kong nasasaktan sya kapag nakikita ka na nya...maingay yun pagpumapasok dito...parang nag-aannounce na andito na sya tapos biglang tatahimik at seryoso na pag nasilayan ka na nya...kiss sa noo...uupo na dito sa tabi mo tapos magkkwento na sya...minsan, nagkkwento ng araw nya...madalas, tungkol sa trabaho...workaholic ata yung boyfriend mo e...ano nga ulit pangalan nya? Ahh...Jay...Jay nga pala...yung artista...nagpakilala na sya sa amin dito...madami na ring artista na naalagaan ko dito pero ngayon pa lang ako magiging private nurse...oo, sabi ng Mommy mo, pag nakalipat ka na sa regular room, ako ang mag-aalaga sa yo...mabait si Ma'am...maasikaso...si Sir naman, yung Daddy mo, mabait din kaso ang daming tanong. Hahaha! Pati yung mga plaster na gamit namin, tinatanong. Gusto atang bumili e. Speaking of bili, lagi kaming binibilhan ni Jay ng food. Sa lahat ata ng mga bantay dito, sya pa lang ang laging may pakain sa amin...naiinggit na nga yung ibang unit kasi kami laging may donuts o kaya sandwich...di pa ubos yung chicharon na dala nya nung isang araw...ayaw namin i-share sa iba..hahaha! Okay, ang daldal ko na naman...sandali lang, babalik ako para sa feeding mo, kunin ko lang sa station..." Cielo spoke to Nic while caring for her. She finished up and patted Nic's arm before leaving. Nic's fingers moved.