I Won't Last A Day Without You

Chapter One

Ang tagal ng naghihintay ni Fredrick sa kanyang opisina. The last time na nakatanggap siya ng tawag kay Mang Karding ay an hour and half ago. He tried to dial Mang Karding's cellphone pero wala paring sumasagot. Ilang beses na silang nagtalo ni Mang Karding about him being late at times. Papatayo na sana siya sa kanyang silya ng may tumawag sa line niya.

"Sir, there's an important call for you." Sabi ng receptionist.

"Put it through." 

"This is the the St. Peter's Medical Hospital. We have Mr. Karding Ignacio, a sixty-five-yrs-old, male." Sabi ng isang babae sa kabilang linya.

"Is he okay?" Alalang tanong ni Fredrick.

"I'm sorry Mr. Harrison. But he is DOA."

"DOA?"

"Dead on arrival, Mr. Harrison. The car that he was driving was hit by a van. The car was in total impact. We are calling you because it says here on his card that if  found on his wallet, you are the contact person incase, something happens to him."

Nalungkot si Fredrick sa news na kanyang natanggap. Hindi muna ito nakapagsalita.

"Mr. Harrison... Are you there?"

"Yes, yes. I'm here." 

"We would like for you to identify the body in person Mr. Harrison."

"O-okay, I will be there."

He called his friend Mica at that moment to cancel their dinner. 

"Mica, I'm sorry. We have to cancel our dinner tonight."

"Why?"

"I have an important matter that came up. Raincheck?"

"What can I do? Next time call me ahead. Sayang naman itong ayos ko."

"I will next time." Napatawa ng kaunti si Fredrick sa sinabi nito pero bumalik din sa kalungkutan ang kanyang mukha ng ibaba niya ang telephone.

Lumabas siya ng kanyang opisina at binati siya ng mga tao na nakakasalalubong niya. Tumango lamang si Fredrick at patuloy itong pumunta sa harap ng elevator. Fredrick Harrison is one of the most top defense criminal attorney just like his father before him. His father was assassinated before he could step into college. At that time, no one was found guilty because there were no witnesses. Mang karding was the one who helped him through to be tough and guided him just like his father. His mother still lives, but prefers to stay outside the country. 

While he was on his way to the hospital, he could remember Mang Karding and the times they shared together while he was growing up. He was a big part of his life.

As he enters the main door of the hospital, he could feel a breeze just passed by through him. He just ignored it thinking it was caused by the cooling system of the hospital.

He walks up to the main desk and asks where the emergency room entrance.

"Excuse me... Can you please tell me where can I go to the emergency room from here?"

"Okay, sir, just take this long hallway, then at the end pass the elevator... You will see the emergency department sign."

"Thank you." 

Hindi alam ni Fredrick kung bakit siya nilalamig. Inayos-ayos niya ang kanyang sleeves. Kahit naka suit ito ay damang dama niya ang lamig.

"Ang lamig naman dito sa hospital."

Biglang may sumagot sa likuran niya at nagulat siya.

"Ako din." I sang matabang babae na naka-hospital gown.