Largesse

1. Sep

The strong smell of antiseptics, the constant beeping sound of the heart rate machine and the whoosh of the respirator were common. It was part of Sep's daily life. He's been in the hospital for many weeks after a fatal gunshot caused him to fall into a coma.

No one really knows what happens when people are comatose. Doctors assume that the patient literally just shuts down from the world although he thrives and lives for a long time and wake up months and even decades after. However, most of the time, coma survivors either fall into a vegetative or locked-in state where in they are awake but totally dependent on their carers or wake up in a realm where they think they're still in the same day, month, or year when they first 'fell asleep.' Only time would tell if they regain awareness of their surroundings. Sep was shot in the temple and the bullet logged in the middle of his forehead. His doctors feared that removing the bullet would cause further damage. Sep was now in a coma because of the trauma of the shot and the concussion that happened when he fell to the ground. It was almost 22 weeks since Sep went into a 'sleep-like' state. His doctors and family were eagerly waiting for the day Sep would wake up and be more aware of his surroundings. Hopefully, Sep would be 'normal' again.

---

"Good morning, anak!" Strawberry said as she came into the room.

"Good morning, apo!" Lola Char greeted cheerfully. "...nagdala ako ng konting prutas..." She followed Strawberry into the room.

"Nay naman. Kumupit ka na naman sa paninda natin e..." Strawberry said as she watched her mother take out the fruits she brought from her bag.

"Konti lang naman. At saka, para kay Apo Sep naman to e..."

"Nay? Di naman nya makakain yan e..." Strawberry said. Aside from the heart monitor attached to Sep's finger, he had a NG tube in his nose that was used to feed him, and a respirator.

"Ah..oo nga no...eh di akin nalang...ikaw, gusto mo?" Lola Char said and began peeling an orange, offering some to her daughter.

Nanay Straw could only scratch her head in disbelief.

---

"Good morning!"

"Ma'am Nadia...good morning po...pasok po kayo..." Lola Char said as she stood up to receive Nadia who arrived.

"Nagdala ako ng pang-breakfast natin...kumain na po ba kayo?"

"Salamat po...kakadating din lang po namin..." Strawberry replied.

Lola Char took some of the bags from Asi, Nadia's bodyguard, then helped Nadia put the containers of food on the table before approaching Sep's bed. She stroked Sep's head and kissed him on the forehead.

"Good morning, Seppy...I love you..." Nadia said softly as she stroked Sep's head, she caressed his cheek and patted his jaw gently.