Star & Twinkle (Completed)

Chapter 50

Twinkle laid quietly as the nurse drew her blood. She took a deep breath and prayed to God that she's compatible to donate her kidneys to her mother. "Nurse, gano po katagal malaman yung result kung compatible po ako mag-donate?" She asked. "Since urgent po yung need para sa mama mo, pinaka-matagal po is by tomorrow afternoon," the nurse answered. Twinkle took a deep breath. "Kung match po ako, ilan pa pong tests kelangan natin gawin para masimulan na yung surgery?" Twinkle asked again. "Usually po magpeperform po kami ng physical exam to make sure you're well enough para mag-donate. Ichichest x-ray po at electrocardiogram din po kayo to make sure healthy yung heart nyo. Hindi po kasi minor surgery ito. We need to make sure we prevent complications. Priority din po kasi namin ang health ng donor as well as the recipient.  Kaya it's best to check you po ng maayos to make sure mabalik po kayo sa normal routine nyo after donating your kidney. Ichicheck din po kung healthy yung kidney na idodonate nyo so marami pa pong tests gagawin like more blood tests pati urine test. Mag-peperform din po yung doctor ng CT scan sa may abdomen nyo to see po yung structure ng kidneys nyo. Then may follow up pa po na mga blood tests after. Pag okay po ang lahat, ipi-prep na po kayo ng mama mo for surgery as soon as possible," the nurse explained. Twinkle nodded. She prayed again. This time she prayed for the routine tests to be normal once she's found compatible to donate. She also prayed for everything to go by as quickly and as smoothly as possible so she and her mother can get started with the procedure.

Back in Star's room, Allan approached the nurse that was checking on Star. "Have you seen my daughter, si Twinkle, yung kasama ko lagi dito mag-bantay?" Allan asked anxiously. "Ay hindi po," she said to him. "Pwede paki-tanong sa staff nyo, maybe they've seen her. Maybe they know where she is. Ask if she's out there getting tested, please lang," Allan said as he took a deep breath. "Okay po, sir" the nurse said to him. He nodded as he looked at Vicky and Millie who stared worriedly at him. "Al, let's just think of it this way, na-test man si Twinkle if she's compatible, they won't allow her naman to donate if she's not healthy. They won't do it if she's unwell. We just have to let them know about Twinkle's medical history so they know the risks," Vicky said. Millie sighed. "Yun na nga, Vicks eh. She's been told she's healthy. So pano kung yun yung makita sa tests? And if they found her compatible sa tingin mo she'll even think twice pa to go on with the procedure?" Allan said worriedly as he rubbed his face. "Yeah, tita V. That's what I'm worried about, too. What if all the tests say na okay sya mag-donate? Shine won't hesitate. Sya pa mismo pupunta dun sa operating table and say, 'Here doc, cut me up. Take my kidney, give it to my mother,'" Millie said with tears in her eyes. Vicky swallowed, Millie's visuals didn't help ease their minds at all. "Naman toh eh. It almost makes me want to pray na sana hindi sila compatible. Nakaka-guilty tuloy," Vicky said worriedly. She swallowed hard again. "Ganun din iniisip ko," Allan said and Millie nodded in agreement.

After getting tested, Twinkle walked towards her mother's hospital room. She looked at her phone and found more than twenty missed calls from Rigel, Allan, Vicky, and Millie. Twinkle sighed. She took her time as she walked. She didn't want to deal with any of them. Rigel called her again. Twinkle took a deep breath and didn't bother answering his call. She figured she's on her way back anyway, she can talk to him when she gets there. When she finally reached the hallway where Star's room was at, Rigel looked towards her direction. He sighed in relief as he saw Twinkle. "Mahal ko naman, san ka ba nanggaling? We're all worried sick about you," he said as he welcomed her in an embrace. "Sa tabi tabi lang," she answered. She allowed him to hug her. Her face looked really tired, her body seemed beat up. She rubbed Rigel's back quickly and pulled away from his hug. Rigel stared at her arm. "You got tested," he said worriedly. She nodded. "Gising na si mama?" She asked in a monotoned voice. Rigel swallowed. He shook his head. "Twinks, talk to me," he said as he held her hand. "Ano gusto mo pag-usapan, Ry?" She asked him calmly. "Hindi ako, ikaw. Something's on your mind at alam ko you need to talk to us about it. What is it?" He asked her. Twinkle rested her head on the wall. "Worried lang kay mama, Ry," she said. Rigel sighed. "She'll be okay, mahal. I know she's in a lot of pain right now pero the doctors are doing something about it. They're medicating her with something strong kaya she's asleep most of the time. When we get a donor, she'll be back to her normal self again. She'll be okay again. We'll keep praying for it," he said to comfort her, but the expression in her face didn't change. "Naaapektohan yung puso ng mama ko dahil sa pain na meron sya ngayon. I'm worried baka magkaroon ng long term affect yun sa heart at health nya. Sana ako na talaga yung match para matapos na yung pagdurusa nya," Twinkle said as she swallowed. "Mahal," Rigel said worriedly when Millie came out of the room and found them. "There you are, Twinkle Andrada! We have been looking all over for you! Asan ka ba nanggaling—" she said when Twinkle's arm caught her eye. "You got tested? Shine, please—" Millie said, but Twinkle cut her off. Her stare made Millie feel uncomfortable. "Bubbles, ayoko ng makarinig ng sermon. Please lang. Ginagawa ko toh para kay mama," she said. She had an eerie look in her face that made Millie and Rigel look at each othe worriedly. "Gagawin nyo rin lahat ng ginagawa ko kung nanay nyo ang nasa kalagayan ng mama ko," Twinkle said as she stood up and walked inside her mother's room.