A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 59: New Hope

[Quin]

"You're very lucky indeed. I had several patients with the same disease and most of them died before the year ended," aniya. Abala si Dr. Cole sa pag-aayos ng IV habang seryosong nakikipag-usap sa'kin. His brows are seriously in shape and the straight line of his thin lips is pursed a little.

He's young and promising. At age 30, he's a successful doctor most patients seek for. But for some reason, he's distant and silent.  He is not after any social interactions, even with the patients and other medical staff. Kaya nakapagtataka nga dahil kinakausap niya ako ngayon.

"This luck might run out soon, doc," tanging tugon ko sa sinabi niya habang nakaupo sa aking kama at magaan na ang loob dahil nakakakita pa ako ngayon gamit ang isang mata.

I saw him turned to me in he corner of my eye. I caught a glimpse of an emotion in his eyes that I am not certain to because my eyesight is not fine. And I'm not sure, but I think it's intense longing.

"You shouldn't say that. Try to be optimistic, Ms. Angelo, that's one of the key factors in surviving any disease. Even how incurable they can be." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

"I can't believe it... You're an optimist?" I can't help but ask as I looked at my IV fluid. Natawa siya sa tanong ko pero wala akong mahagap na kasiyahan sa kan'yang boses. It was dead, rotten and bitter.

Something that I am not familiar already.

"Actually... I was a pessimist," He said emphasizing the word 'was' and with an obvious american accent.

"What made you turn to the better side?" Nilingon ko siya at nakita ang bahagya niyang pagkatigil. His blue eyes mirrored emotions I see in myself everytime I get to think of someone, or the memories that I made with that someone.

There is of course joy, and then there is also pain. They are always side by side, unbreakable. Bakit kasi kailangang maging kakambal ng kasiyahan ang kasawian?

"An angel did." Mataman niya akong tinitigan habang nakahalukipkip. I felt a little uncomfortable because I am not already used with other people looking at me too much. Lalo na sa aking kalagayan.

"What's her name?" Amusement danced in his eyes, pero hindi dahil sa ngayon, kun'di dahil sa mga marahil ay naaalala niya sa pinag-uusapan namin. The past always makes sense, huh? Because most people can't get over it.

"Angelica De Guzman," he answered softly like her name is one sacred and precious commodity. Nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

"De Guzman is not a foreign name," puna ko. Napaangat ang gilid ng mga labi niya saka humalukipkip.

"Mainly because she's not American like me. She's a Filipino just like you but she got some German features with her since her mom's a German." Napatango-tango ako sa naging paliwanag niya. "She's pitiful. Living a life so dreadful like an angel with  broken wings. Something that an angel never deserves."

His eyes turned cold sad even with my terrible eyesight aided by another glass. He is being vulnerable right now, huh? Hindi ako makapaniwala.

Alam ko namang lahat ng tao ay may kan'ya-kan'yang problema... Pero 'yong iba, hindi nahahalata ng iba kasi magaling silang magtago ng nararamdaman. And when they start talking about that pain they've been enduring, it is not easy to stop heavy feelings from surpassing the waves or their self-control.

"Why?"

"Let's just say, all her life... She stayed inside the hospital and receive painful treatments every single day." Lihim akong napatda sa sinabi niya. How come?

"Her sickness was cruel. She's most of the time in a vegetative state especially after sessions of treatments. But do you know what's very amusing?" Ngumisi siya. "She's a lovely and radiant person. Friendly, optimistic, and one of a kind witty. And somehow... She managed to reserve herself a very big space in my life."