A MOTHER'S CARESS

Chapter Six:#NightOfSecrets

"Angel, angel..", Fely shouted which awakened Anjie and Olive. They saw Angel deteriorating. Bumababa ang heart rate nito. Napabalikwas ang dalawa sa upuan na hinigaan nila. "Anjie, tawagin mo yung nurses.", Olive instructed. Anjie rushed outside the room crying and went to the nurse station. "Nurse, yung kapatid ko po. Please..", she informed the nurse. The doctor and his team rushed to Angel's room. Fely was crying habang niyuyugyog niya si Angel. Olive tried to stop Fely from doing it. She held Angels hands and pressed it. "Excuse me.", the doctor said. "Doc, anong nangyayari? Please iligtas mo anak ko.", Fely cried and begged. "Misis, we will do our very best. Pwede po bang sa labas na lang muna kayo?", the doctor said. Hinawakan ni Olive si Fely palabas. "Ang anak ko, Olive.", she cried harder as she leaned her head to Olive's chest. Niyakap naman siya ni Olive. Anjie stood still. She froze because of what happened. Her tears rolled down. She couldn't believe it's happening again. Mas bumigat pa ang puso niya when she saw her mother crying so hard. "Mama.. ", she said silently. "Fely.. Kalma lang. Kalma. Everthing will be fine, okay? Angel will be fine. The doctors will do everthing they can to save your daughter's life. All we can do now is pray. And trust God. Okay?", Olive said. Then she prayed. Anjie ran from them. Di na siya napansin ni Olive. She went outside the hospital and cried harder. Nanginginig ang buong katawan niya sa sobrang galit. "Bakit Mo kami pinaparusahan ha? Ano bang nagawa namin sayo?" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Hindi ka ba naaawa kay Angel, ha? Ako na lang o. Wag na yung kapatid ko.", she added and knelt down. "Pagod na pagod na ako! Pagod na pagod na akong nakikitang nasasaktan si Mama. Pagod na pagod na akong mawalan. Ayoko na. Tama na!," she said while she looked up at the sky. Then looked down again and sobbed.

Meanwhile, Fely and Olive sat outside the room while they waited for the doctor. Nakayakap pa din si Olive kay Fely. Few moments passed, the doctor came out. They stood immediately. "Doc, what happened?, Olive asked worriedly. "Tatapatin ko na po kayo. Mas lumalala na po ang kondisyon ng bata. We will bring her to the ICU para mamonitor namin yung vitals niya. Bumibigay na po yung katawan niya. Bumabagsak ang heart rate niya.", the doctor said. Fely cried again after hearing the doctor. "Doc, please gawin niyo lahat to save our baby's life. Please..", Olive said. "We will do everything, Ma'am.", the doctor replied. Nilabas ng mga nurses si Angel sa kwarto papuntang ICU. Sumunod naman si Olive at si Fely. Papasok na si Anjie nang makita niya sina Fely papuntang ICU. Tumakbo siya agad. "Mama", she said loudly. Lumingon naman si Fely na umiiyak pa rin. Mas lalong madurog ang puso ni Anjie. She held her mother's hand. Nang makarating sila sa ICU, humanap sila ng upuan. While waiting for the doctor, Anjie asked her tita Olive kung anong nagyari. Di pa rin kasi makausap ang nanay niya na umiiyak pa din. "Tita Mommy, ano po bang nangyari? Bakit dinala dito si Angel?", she said. Olive held her hand. "Nak, mas lumalala na daw yung lagay ni Angel. Di na kinakaya ng katawan niya yung stress tsaka yung gamot. Malala na din ang kondisyon ng puso niya.", Olive said. "Posible po ba na..", di na natuloy ni anjie ang sasabihin dahil biglang lumabas ang doktor. "Mrs. Reyes.", the doctor said as she called for Fely. Fely looked uo and stood. "Yes doc?", she replied sobbing. "Normal na po ang vitals ng pasyente.", the doctor said. The three ladies sighed. Fely smiled with tears. "Salamat po, dok.", she said. "Pero, kailangan pa din po nating maghanap ng heart donor. To be honest, what happened earlier may happen again anytime. Her heart is so weak. In fact, her heart stopped beating kanina while we were trying to stabilize her vitals. But, thank God lumaban ang anak niyo. Anytime, pwede siyang magdeteriorate ulit. So, i suggest, you should find a heart as soon as possible.", the doctor said honestly. Hindi makapaniwala si Fely sa sinabi ng doktor. "I know an org that donates willingly the organ of their loved ones who passed. I can introduce you to them. ", the doctor added. Fely's eyes lit up a little bit. "Salamat dok.", she said. "No worries po Misis. So far, that's a good news right?", the doctor asked. "yes, it is.", Olive answered. "So, mauna na muna ako. I'll come back anytime to check her. You can now rest. Everything is under control.", the doctor said. "Thanks ,doc." Olive replied as she watched Fely and Anjie went back to their seat. "Dr. Enriquez, can I have a minute with you? I just want to discuss something with you.", the doctor asked. Olive was puzzled but she nodded in reponse. Anjie saw them so she signalled to her. "Alis muna ako.", Olive mouthed. "Okay po.", Anjie responded.

Olive and the doctor left. "Dr. Enriquez. I'm so sorry.", the doctor said. "It's alright doc. I'm fine.", she replied. "Im so sorry for your loss.", the doctor said. Olive paused for a while. Memories flashed back. But she tried to eliminate it from her mind and shook her head. She walked again. "It's alright. Im fine now.", she said. "I'm so sorry. I don't know the pain you have right now, doc. It's just that, I'm amazed how you stayed with your friend to comfort her after what happened to you in Australia.", the doctor said. She just smiled. The doctor opened the door. "Come in.", he said. Olive came in and sit. "Anyways, I just want to hand you this lists of the donors na pwede niyong tawagan. Everything's in there. Numbers, addresses, and names. Even the patients names. And the photos.", he said as he danded the envelope to Olive. Olive took it. Then she sighed, "Doc. Can I ask a favor?", she said. The doctor nodded. "Please, don't tell anybody what happened back there. Nobody knew it except you and my other colleagues who stayed with me there.", she said. "Yes. No one will know. It's a secret. Sealed.", the doctor replied. "Okay, thanks. I'll go ahead. Thank you ulit.", she said and walked out from the room.

Naglalaro sa isip ni Olive ang mga nangyari sa Australia. Memories flooded. She closed her eyes and paused. "Should I say it to them?", tanong niya sa sarili. Angels face appeared in her mind. "No. No. No", she shook her head and walked again. She was about to cry when she saw Anjie in the hallway. "O? San si mama mo?", she asked. "Andun po sa loob.", Anjie said. "San ka pupunta?", Olive asked again. "Susunduin ko po sana kayo." Anjie said. Olive smiled at her then oinched her nose. "No need na. Andito na ako. Tara.", Olive said. Both of them continued walking until they reached their destination.
When they sat, Olive remained silent. "Tita Mommy, okay lang po kayo?", Anjie asked her. "Ah. Y-Yes, baby.", she replied. "Tahimik niyo po kasi eh.", Anjie said. "Gutom lang siguro to. Nagugutom ka ba? Bibili muna ako ng pagkain para paglabas ng mama mo, makakain na agad siya.", Olive said. "Okay po.",Anjie replied. Olive left.
Habang naglalakad si Olive, di pa rin siya mapakali. She was thinking about Fely. "Hindi. Di pwedeng malaman nila. It will remain a secret. Forever.", she said.

Anjie remained in the seat. She was thinking of her father. It's been a year, pero wala pa ring balita tungkol sa kanyang ama. "Buhay ka pa kaya ngayon, Pa?", she asked. Then tears started to fell from her eyes. Maya maya pa'y, lumabas si fely sa ICU. Nakita niya namang umiiyak si Anjie. "Nak?", she called Anjie. Anjie immediately wiped her tears. "Ma.", she said. Umupo si fely sa tabi niya. "kamusta po si Angel?", anjie asked. "Stable na nga yung vitals niya, Anak. Sana lang makarecover siya agad.", fely then sighed. Anjie nodded. "Eh kayo ma, kamusta?", she asked. Napalingon naman si Fely sa anak niya. "Magiging maayos din ako nak. Wag mo akong masiadong alalahanin.", she said. "Ma, umuwi ka na lang kaya muna. Ako na muna dito. Alam ko na naman din yung pasikot sikot dito eh. Para makapagpahinga po kayo. Dalawang gabi ka na dito.", Anjie said. "Nak, dba dapat ikaw yung pagsabihan ko ng ganyan? May pasok ka bukas. Dapat ikaw yung umuwi.", sabi naman ni Fely. "Ma, pwede naman po akong mag excuse sa teacher ko eh. Tsaka,may program naman sa school. Pwede na man na wala ako dun. ", anjie said. "Mm. Nak, salamat ha?", tears rolled down from Fely's eyes. Anjie cried too. She hugged her mother. "Wag kang mag alala nak, malalagpasan din natin to. Gagaling si Angel.", Fely said. "Ako dapat magpasalamat sayo Ma.", Angel said as she faced her mother. "Salamat sa pag-aalaga, pagmamahal at sa pagpapakatatag mo para sa amin ni Angel. Di lalaban ng ganyan si Angel kung di dahil sa inyo. Salamat at di ka sumuko sa buhay, sa amin. Kahit wala si Papa, ikaw yung naging mama at papa namin. Di ko maimagine lahat ng sakripisyo at pagod na dinanas mo, maitaguyod lang kami. Kaya maraming salamat Mama.", her tears flowed nonstop. Fely wiped Anjie's tears and caress her hair. "Anak, di ako magiging matatag kung di dahil sa inyo. Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit araw araw kong nilalabanan ang lungkot, ang pagod. Dahil mahal ko kayo.", she said. "I love you Mama", Angel embraced her mother. Maya maya pay bumalik na si Olive. Nang makita niyang nagyayakapan ang mag-ina ay ngumiti siya. She faked a cough. "Ehem. Ehem. Pwede ba akong sumali jan?", she said. Ngumiti ang dalawa. "Lika nga.", Fely said. Lumapit naman si Olive at niyakap niya agad ang dalawa. "Ang tatapang niyo.", she remarked.