trapped (completed)

12. abooo

Cielo noticed that Jay was somewhat disturbed about something. He was unusually quiet and fidgeted while sitting on the couch beside Nic's bed.

"Okay ka lang?" Cielo asked.

"Huh? Ah, oo..oo..." Jay, who had his head bowed down, was fiddling with his phone.

"Maiwan ko muna kayo sandali...babalik ako mamaya-maya...Nic, labas lang ako sandali ha?" Cielo said as she left the room.

"Bee, what's wrong? What's bothering you?"

"Ta...sorry...sorry...I...I didn't want it naman e..."

"Wait...what are you saying?"

"...I told them na ayaw ko naman talaga ng ganun e...pambata yung...pwede namang walang ganun sa kwento e...nakakainis!"

"What are you saying? Di kita maintindihan..."

"...alam kong kwento lang yun...trabaho lang...pero...ARGH!" Jay put down his phone and rubbed his hands on his face.

"Bee...ano yun?"

"...sorry talaga ha...sorry....yung mga tao sa social media, galit din...si Marla, si Jill, wala sila sa labas kanina...siguro nagtatampo din sila..."

"Hold it Bee! I am sooo confused..."

"...dapat superhero ako dun sa story...tinutulungan ko yung bayan ng San Juan kasi maraming masamang elemento na pinapakalat ni Loki para makuha nya yung mjolnir kay Hammerman...tapos, si Gwen, sya yung reporter na interested kay Hammerman...kaso, naiinlove na sya...ayun, nagkiss sila sa lips..."

"WHAT!?" Jay didn't notice that Nic's eyes grew big as she turned her head toward him.

"...pati si Sif, yung asawa ni Thor na nag-t-training kay Victor, may gusto din pala kay Victor kaya na-kiss din nya...."

"Ay pota!" Nic started breathing heavily causing her heart rate to go up.

Jay stood up from the couch and moved closer to Nic. Nic turned her head and was now staring at the ceiling. Although her heart monitor did not sound off, she calmed down as Jay held on to her hand and caressed it.

"Sorry talaga...ayaw ko ng ganun...sabi ko sa kanila, ayaw ko talaga...."

Jay leaned forward. For the first time in weeks, he planted a gentle kiss on Nic's lips. Nic involuntarily puckered up when she sensed Jay coming closer toward her. Jay rested his forehead against Nic's. "Abooo...always...just you...." Jay whispered.

"Aboootooo"

Nic's heart rate spiked again. A loud beeping sound made Jay jerk and pull away from Nic. He looked at the machines by Nic's bedside but could not locate which alarm was going off. A few seconds later Cielo returned to the room and pressed some buttons on the heart monitor and it stopped beeping. she checked on Nic who looked fine and not in distress or having trouble breathing.

"Anong nangyari?" Cielo asked.

"Hindi ko alam. Bigla nalang tumunog" Jay answered.

NIc's looked at them with pursed lips.

Nic began physical and occupational therapy almost immediately after leaving the ICU. She wanted to return to normal quickly. She worked extra hard at relearning everything she could.

Four days after receiving the sippy cup from Jay, Nic could reach for it from the over-bed table and grasp it. She would still dribble some water while drinking but could now drink independently. The following day, she was able to spoon-feed herself some soup with better control of the spoon (Nic's was learning to regain her eye-hand coordination; her reflexes were still weak and jerky at times). Nic continued to be fed by NG tube because big amounts of regular food affected her tummy.

Her gross motor activities included relearning how to stand, balance and walk. Nic was able to imitate most movements like stretching and reaching up. She could move her leg slightly while seated on the bed. She pulled herself up to stand and take a few seconds to steady herself. She could march in place. Because of double-vision, Nic was wary of taking steps.

"Parang nawawala yung sahig...di ko makita..."

Throughout her therapy sessions, Jay only heard about Nic's achievements when he visited in the evenings. He would push her on her wheelchair around the 7th floor for a 'stroll'. They 'dated' while parked by the window looking out at the garden balcony.

Aside from relearning how to move, Nic also had to relearn how to use her smaller muscles in her hands and fingers. Mommy bought her writing workbooks and Daddy helped her trace the shapes and letters in them. Jay brought coloring books and crayons and he and Nic would spend some nights coloring together.

"Para tayong nasa kinder..." Jay chuckled as they posted and 'exhibited' their works on the wall of Nic's room. They held a contest judged by Marla and Jill. Coloring works of Daddy, Mommy, Jay, Nic, and Cielo were on display. Mommy won the contest and was awarded with cake and a trophy.

"Ako naman ang susunod na makakakuha nyan!"

Although Nic made good progress, she was still far from being totally independent again.

"No matter how long it takes, I'll be here..." Jay said.

Soon, Jay's concert rolled in and as much as Jay wanted Nic to be present, he knew it was impossible. Nic was still in hospital. Although she had been awake from her GBS coma, she still needed constant care and observation. She was also doing daily therapies. It had been almost a month since she was struck by this mysterious syndrome but her recovery was quite slow.

"I dedicate this show to all my supporters and fans. To the Ja-Ni friends, maraming salamat sa suporta at pagmamahal. Nic and I are very grateful for your support...." Jay began the show with this spiel.

After several song and dance numbers and guest performers, Jay closed the show with a message of thanks to his sponsors, management, supporters, fans and family.

"...and to Nic, thank you for everything. Get well soon, I love you!"

The audience clapped and cheered as pictures of Jay and Nic were flashed in a photo montage. Jay watched tearfully as some videos of Nic and him were shown during healthier times. The video faded as it ended with more clapping and cheers. Jay faced the audience again and bowed. Suddenly, another video appeared on the screen behind Jay.

The fans had not seen Nic since she got sick. Marla and Jill and their fans made sure that no pictures or videos leaked from the hospital. Not even pictures of family and friends at the hospital were seen by the general public.

Jay wondered why the clapping stopped and the audience fell silent. He turned and noticed the LED screen lit.

On the screen, a wall of coloring book pages appeared. Then a voice said, "Game?" before the video panned on Nic on her hospital bed. Cielo had taken a video with her phone.

"...Bee...aboooo!"

Shocked, Jay stood frozen in his spot for a few seconds. Although Nic was undergoing speech therapy, she had yet to say an understandable sentence. She could move her mouth and mouth words but her general speech was quite slurred especially when she tried to communicate with people. This time however, it was clear and understandable.

"Ano raw?" buzzed several people in the audience.

"Abooo Ta...I love you...abooo!" Jay finally said. "Ang 'abooo' po ang "I love you " namin ni Nic."