Love, Pixie (COMPLETE)

39: Operation

"How are you feeling, Olivia?"

Napatingin si Olivia sa kanyang tiyahin. She forced herself to smile.

"I'm okay, aunt Kelly," sagot niya. She's been in the hospital for three days. Her hearing came back yesterday. Her vision came back this morning.

Hanggang ngayon ay natatakot pa rin siya. She will never forget that day she woke up and thought she was trapped. It was dark and quiet. There was nothing she could hear except for her voice. Pakiramdam niya ay nahuhulog siya sa kawalan.

Mabuti na lang at nandoon si Max. She wouldn't know what to do without him.

"Nasaan po si Max?" Tanong niya. She noticed that he's extra quiet ever since they arrived in the hospital. She wants to know if something is bothering him.

"He went to the cafe. May inasikaso lang. He'll be back after lunch." Ang sagot ni Kelly at naupo sa paanan ng hospital bed na hinihigaan ni Olivia.

"Nakausap 'nyo na po ba ang doktor? Kailan po daw ako pwedeng umuwi?"

Umiling si Kelly. "Hindi ko pa nakausap ang doktor. Don't worry, he'll be here any moment from now. Huwag mo munang isipin ang pag-uwi mo. We need to make sure everything is okay."

"Hindi ito ang gusto ko, aunt Kelly. I didn't want to spend the remaining days of my life in the hospital but yet, here I am."

Ibinuka ni Kelly ang bibig para magsalita pero walang salitang lumalabas. Hindi nito alam kung anong sasabihin sa pamangkin kaya't pinili nitong manahimik na lang.

"I imagined myself dying peacefully not losing my sight or my hearing in a tormenting way." Sabi ni Olivia. She's getting frustrated.

"But you know what the doctor told us, di ba? You will slowly lose your senses until you...until you..."Hindi matapos ni Kelly ang gustong sabihin.

"Until I die," tinapos ni Olivia ang gustong sabihin ng tiyahin.

Magsasalita na sana si Kelly nang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang doktor.

"I'm glad that the patient is up," sabi nito habang nakatingin kay Olivia. May dala na naman itong chart.

"When can I go home, doc?" Kaagad na tanong ni Olivia.

"Well, I don't advise that you go home yet. You have an ear infection."

Napahawak si Olivia sa kanyang tenga. "Ear infection? Wala naman akong nararamdaman, ah."

"That's because you can't feel pain, Olivia."

"Of course. I forgot," sarkastikong sagot ni Olivia.

Napatingin si Kelly sa pamangkin. Ngayon niya lang muling nakita si Olivia na nagalit dahil sa karamdaman nito. She used to be calm and composed about her disease. But now it's different. Pakiramdam niya ay may bumabagabag sa pamangkin.

"You are lucky than other cancer patients, Olivia. You can't feel pain. You don't need medication to ease your pain."

"Yeah, I'm lucky except for the fact that my eyes and ears stop functioning any time they want."

"Nothing has changed, Olivia. You're on track. I just want you to prepare for the worse. Sa susunod na mawala ang paningin o pandinig mo, baka hindi na ito bumalik."

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Olivia.

"Wow! Great!" Galit na sabi niya. "So, I'll be treated for my ear infection and then I go home, right?"

"Yes," sagot ng doctor.

"Mga ilang araw pa ako dito, doc?"

"Around one week."