Turn The Page

Chapter 61

"My gosh ang daming tao," May said while she and July arrived at the hospital. An unusual number of people were scattered all over the place trying to gather information about their loved ones regarding the recent accident. Police cars lined in front of the hospital. It didn't help that the media were also all over the place as they tried to report the incident on the news. "It must have been a pile-up, and that's what I'm worried about," July said nervously. "Gosh, 'wag naman sanang kasama pati sila April at Page. I don't know what June would do pag may nangyari sa anak nyang yun," May replied worriedly. "Excuse me," July said to one of the nurses that was walking hurriedly past them. "Sorry po, ma'am. If you're here to ask about the accident, yung mga police po ang available to talk. Right now, we're too busy. I apologize," the nurse tried to say as politely as she could before she left. "God, May. I don't know how we're going to do this. This is so chaotic," July said while she tried to get a hold of a police officer. "Excuse me," May said to one of the people there. "Nakita nyo ba anong nangyari sa aksidente?" She asked. "Nakita ho namin yung isang kotse, ang sabi po eh nawalan daw ho ng preno kaya ho sumalpok sya sa tatlo o dalawang kotse ba yun na nakahinto sa stoplight. Hindi ko ho matandaan kung ilang kotse sila pero yun po yung bumangga sa mga kotse kaya napunta po sila sa intersection. Grabe nga po eh, ang dami pong involved. May mga namatay din po," the man replied. "O God, Julz," May cried out. "Stop it. We're not going to think that way," July scolded. "What if April's dead?? Or much worse, what if Page is dead???" May asked as she panicked. "Stop it, May! This is not the time to lose it! Okay?! Ang dami nating kelangan i-figure out. God, I don't even know where to start. We don't even know if June is really okay. All I know is that I spoke to her, pero yung extent ng injuries nya? We don't know. And God knows nasan yung mag-tita. I'm hoping they're alright," July said. Her eyes started to water. "Excuse me," she said to the police officer. "Yes po?" The police officer asked in return. "I'm here to know whether you guys have the list of names of the people involved? I can't seem to get a hold of one of our close friends. Nasali yung isa pa sa close friend namin. Pero yung anak nya and yung sister-in-law nya, hindi namin mahagilap. From what we understand, they were supposed to meet up somewhere in that location," July asked him. "Ma'am, so far po sinosort out pa namin yung mga pangalan ng mga taong involved. Pero may listahan na po kami ng casualties at nung ibang injured pero hindi pa po yan tapos ma-update. Meron pa daw pong iba na finifigure out nila kung sino. May mga nasunog po na mga biktima kaya hindi pa po namin ma-identify," the police officer informed them. "O God, July. May mga nasunog," May said on the verge of tears. "May," July said firmly. "Can I see the list?" She asked the police officer shakily. "Eto po," the man replied. July and May hovered together to see the list. "O God, April's there. She's right there," May pointed out. "Shit," July said while she sighed heavily. Then she started to cry. "I can't--," she said to May as she handed her the list. "I can't check the casualties. Wala sa listahan ng injured si Page. I can't," July said repeatedly. "Hey, you're supposed to be the strong one," May complained while she started to cry again. "She's not on the damn list of injured people, May," July sobbed. "Well--let's--let's just think that for whatever reason--maybe April dropped Page off somewhere and had to leave? I don't know. Maybe it turns out hindi pala talaga sila magkasama?" May tried to convince herself and July. "You check the casualties," July said, still crying. "She's not on here," May repeated as if saying it over and over would give her what she wanted. "Page," she whispered nervously while she went through the list. "I don't see her name here either," she told July. "Are you sure?" July asked. "I think so," May said while she double checked the list. "Oh God, pano kung isa sya sa nasunog?" July asked trying not to panic. "Would you stop that? You told me not to think negatively. Sabi ko naman sayo eh, baka hindi sila magkasama. Baka they were on separate cars or something," May said. "Then how come we both can't get a hold of them? Recheck it again, please," July pleaded. "Okay," May said in return. "She's not on here," she said after double checking the list again. "Okay," July said while she nodded trying to get a hold of that little glimmer of hope that Page is still alive. "Sir, asan po si April Torres? Alam nyo po ba?" July asked the officer. "Ay sa information desk na lang po kayo mag-tanong kung nasan na yung mga biktima ngayon. Wala na po samin yung information na yun," the officer replied. "Salamat po," the two women thanked him before letting him go.