BORROWED TIME

51

"Jho, Christmas is coming soon. Hindi ba pwedeng umuwi ka to celebrate that with us?"

Tinitigan ko lang siya.

"Nico, how many times do I really have to tell you that my contract here has no vacations included? I am just so much thankful na pinayagan pa nila akong makauwi when papa was confined in the hospital when I wasn't allowed to go home. At isa pa, tuloy-tuloy ang medication at therapies ni Bea. Hindi pwedeng maudlot yun kasi mas lalo lang tatagal ang stay ko dito sa US."

"Ano ba, Jho? Hanggang ngayon ba you still believe na...gagaling pa yang Bea na yan pagkatapos ng natamo niyang injuries sa aksidente niya?"

He casually said kaya tinignan ko siya ng matalim.

"Anong sinabi mo?"

He laughed sarcastically.

"Jho, I'm just saying the truth. It's so impossible na gumaling yang pasyente mo in just a year. Nakakaawa lang yung mga magulang niya dahil nagsasayang pa sila ng pera, eh hindi naman malaki ang chance na maka-recover siya." he explained it with an insulting tone.

I clutched my hand and gritted my teeth.

"You're not a doctor, Nico. Kaya wala kang karapatang sabihin yang mga yan. Hindi mo kilala si Bea. At baka nga hindi pa rin yata kita talagang kilala."

"Sino ka para pagsabihan ng ganyan si Bea?" madiin kong tanong rito.

And I ended the call without letting him talk again.

"Hays." I feel so insulted from what he said. Not only for Bea, but also for me and my capability as a doctor.

I believe that Bea's going to recover. Not now, but soon. And I hate that galing pa kay Nico yung pang-iinsultong narinig ko.

I know I love him, but still, he doesn't have the right to say that. He doesn't know Bea. And I think I still don't know him fully yet.

I shrugged the thought off tsaka nagdesisyong lumabas ng kwarto para puntahan si Bea sa kabila.

I opened the door immediately.

Yep.

Hindi ko na kailangang kumatok or gumamit ng spare key para mabuksan ko ang room niya.

"When you finally get home... Will you visit Jia's grave for me?"

I see in her eyes how much she is missing her bestfriend.

So I nodded. "Oo naman. I promise I'm going to visit her for you."

"Thanks, Jho." she tapped my arm.

"Mag-to-twelve na. Kailangan mo nang matulog. Bawal ka pa ring mapuyat hindi ba?"

"Sige. Tara na."

We went upstairs for more than fifteen minutes dahil medyo nahirapan akong tulungang maiakyat siya dahil nga naka-wheel chair siya.

"Finallyyyy. Akala ko aabutin tayo ng isang oras sa pag-akyat eh. Sorry ha, hindi ko mabuhat yang wheel chair mo agad-agad eh. But don't worry. After removing all the rods and screws on your leg, you won't have to use wheel chair anymore. Crutches na lang." I said as I help her get on her bed.

Napaka-laki niya talagang nilalang kaya nahirapan din ako. Pero hindi masyado dahil na rin sa tinutulungan na rin niya ang sarili niya.

"Okay, there you go. Goodnight, Bea. Sleep well okay? Don't worry, ila-lock ko yung pinto ng room mo para di ka na maistorbo--"

"Wag na, Jhoana."

"Huh?"

"From now on...you don't have to lock my room's door na. Simula ngayon, you can enter my room without using spare keys or even knocking."