BORROWED TIME

36

I held my backpack tightly and pulled my luggage as I slowly walk towards the arrival area.

"Ate!!"

I smiled when I saw Jaja in the crowd.

"Ja!" I embraced my sister with all my might.

"Grabe, ate. Na-miss kita! More than a month ka ring wala dito. Sobrang dami mo nang namiss na pangyayari." nakabusangot nitong reklamo habang hinihila ang maletang hawak ko.

"Ja naman. Dito mo pa talaga balak mag-drama? Hindi ba pwedeng ipagpasa-bahay mo na yan?" I said jokingly but she just rolled her eyes on me.

"Ikaw na nga tong na-miss, ang arte-arte mo pa." she said with pouty lips.

Napa-iling na lang ako at inakbayan siya.

"Charot lang naman yun. Ito naman di na mabiro. Na-miss rin kita noh. Wala akong maasar na baboy doon." I said as we started to go out of the airport.

"Wow ate ha. Di ikaw na sexy!" padabog niya sabi kaya natawa na lang ako.

We waited for a cab.

"Ate, san mo gustong dumiretso? Sa condo mo?"

Umiling naman ako as I remember kung bakit nga ba ako nandito.

"Diretso na tayo sa ospital, Ja. Gusto kong makita si papa."

She just nodded because maybe she felt that the atmosphere has changed. Tahimik lang kami sa buong byahe and I don't have the energy to tell her stories about my job in the US.

As soon as makarating kami sa ospital, nagmadali akong makapunta sa room ni papa.

I opened the door with shaking hands and saw my father lying on the bed and seeing him asleep made my heart beat heavier than usual.

"Pa? Wake up. Please. Nandito na ako. I am home." I held his right hand gently and rubbed its back.

I was trying to refrain myself from crying but I just couldn't. Si papa to eh. Si papa na ginawa ang lahat para makapag-aral kami ni Jaja sa magandang school. Kahit na ang kapalit pa non ay ang malayo siya sa amin para magtrabaho overseas.

"Ate..." Jaja tapped my shoulder at nakita kong awang-awa rin siya sa nangyayari kay papa ngayon.

"Ahm, uuwi muna sana ako. May training kami bukas ate eh. Si mama naman, nasa Batangas pa para kumuha ng bagong gamit niya at ni papa. Baka bukas pa siya makakabalik." nag-aalangang sabi nito sa akin.

I wiped my tears and held her arm. "Sige na Ja. Ako nang bahala dito. Ako na munang magbabantay kay papa. You have nothing to worry about. Umuwi ka na't magpahinga. I'll update you and mama if there are new findings sa kondisyon ni papa."

"Sigurado ka ate?"

I nodded. "Yes, Ja. Sige na, go home and take some rest. Dito lang ako."

She nodded at nagpaalam sa akin pagkatapos ng ilang minuto.

I looked at my father who is still unconsciously alseep and I can't help myself from worrying. Na baka hindi na magising ang papa ko.

"Pa, wake up. Nandito na ko."

*tok tok*

I heard a knock from the door that was immediately followed by its opening and I saw someone I'm not ready to face yet.

"N-Nico?"

Mukhang nagulat yata siya na nandito na agad ako sa bansa.

"J-Jho? Babe!"