BORROWED TIME

41

B E A T R I Z

"So your first operation will be for your left leg. Don't worry it's just a simple cast immobilization to help your bone be healed properly. Usually it takes just six to eight weeks to heal your injured left leg. Then two weeks after your first operation, we wil conduct your second operation. Your right leg was the most affected leg due to the car accident. When you look at your x-ray results, you will see that your bones were broken into tiny pieces so we have to use an external fixator for it. We will use some rods and screw it outside your leg so that it could keep your broken bones intact until it finally be enclosed as one. There's actually no exact time for your leg to heal. It will be based on how you will respond to your therapies and rehab soon."

"Bea, are you listening?"

"Bea?"

"Bea!"

"H-huh? Are you saying something?"

I heard all of the people in the room gasping.

"Hay naku naman Bea. Doc Rex is explaining the flow of your surgeries. Why aren't you listening?"

"Loel." I heard dad warned kuya.

"A-ahm I'm sorry. I was not listening a while ago. Ano na nga ulit yun?" I asked them then everybody sighed again.

"Hayyyy. I'll just put it this way. Two weeks after your first surgery, your second surgery will happen. Do you understand it now?" Doc Rex scratched his head.

"Yah. I understand it. You don't have to explain it further." I said and it made them put their hands on their faces.

"Okay, so that's all. Take as much rest as you can so that you'll be prepared for your surgery. Goodluck, Bea."

"Yah, sure." then Doc Rex went out of the room.

I sighed. "Mom, dad, kuya. You don't really have to admit me this early here in the hospital."

"What? Bei, it's just two days before your first surgery. Mas mabuti nang you'll stay here until you recover so that the doctors can monitor you easily." kuya told me.

"Alam mo anak, may point naman ang kuya mo. It's better this way. Two days can go by quickly. Mas mabuti nang you are being prepared well by the doctors." Dad tapped my head.

I sighed. "Okay. If you said so."

"Don't worry anak. After your surgeries, we're going straight to home. But for now, you have to wait. Until you are finally done with your surgeries." Mom held my hand so I smiled shortly.

"At oo nga pala. Your mom and I will go back home. We'll get some clothes for all of us. Para naman we can stay here until your surgeries are finished. Loel, take care of your sister. Don't do anything stupid. Okay?"

Dad adviced.

"What? Do you think I'm going to do something stupid?" kuya protested.

"Binibilinan ka lang namin, Loel." mom said and kissed our foreheads.

"Okay, aalis na kami. Take the responsibility for now, Loel." Dad said then they both went out of the room.

"Hay naku. Do you think I'm going to do something stupid here?" Kuya Loel sat down on my bed while I just looked down and sighed heavier.

"Is there something bothering you, little sis?" maybe he realized that I am starting to get quiet.

"Nothing kuya. I just... Maybe I just couldn't believe I'm still living after all what happened."