SHATTERPROOF

24 | The Tough Fighter

Tahimik na pinagmamasdan ni Shin ang anak na ilang linggo nang nakaratay sa ospital habang pinakikinggan ang beep ng monitor screen sa tabi ng kama nito. He had been staring at his little boy's face almost all day he didn't know where he took his courage to do so.

Due to the accident, Stern suffered severe head trauma, multiple broken ribs, and bones, as well as punctured lungs and crushed vocal cords. Ayon sa naka-kita ay nasa gilid lang ng kalsada noon si Stern nang may nakita at biglang tumawid. Nang mga sandaling iyon ay mayroong paparating na sasakyan— mabilis ang pagtakbo at dire-diretso kay Stern.

Ayon pa sa mgaito ay tumilapon sa ere si Stern at nang bumagsak sa kalsada ay kinaladkad pa ng sasakyan.

Nang marinig niya kung ano ang nangyari sa anak ay gustong sumabog ng dibdib ni Shin. He couldn't imagine how his son must have felt at that time— or was he still able to feel something, somehow? Or did he just blacked out?

It pained him that he wasn't able to save Stern.

His son had been in a coma for three weeks now, still unstable, and could only breathe through the oxygen tube.

Hindi niya alam kung may puso pa ang taong gumawa niyon sa anak niya. The driver didn't even stop to check on his victim. The bastard just ran away, not caring if the little boy was dead or alive.

Luckily... the ambulance arrived on time. They were able to save Stern. Kahit na nasa state pa rin ito ng coma, ay nagpapasalamat pa rin siya at nakikita pa rin niyang humihinga ang anak. Na bagaman mas na nahihirapan siya sa sitwasyon nito, ay kailangan niyang magpakatatag para sa pag-gising nito'y naroon siya.

At kailangan niyang magpakatatag dahil siya lang din ang mayroon ngayon si Steyah.

And by God— Steyah was crying every day in the first two weeks. She wouldn't stop from weeping for his twin brother— she was so worried that she begged for him to let her see Stern. Pero hindi niya nais na makita si Steyah ang kalagayan ng kapatid. Hindi niya alam kung kakayanin niyang makita ang sakit sa mga mata ni Steyah sa oras na makita nito ang itsura ng kakambal.

Ibinalik niya ang pansin sa anak na nakaratay sa hospital bed. Ang buong ulo nito'y nakabalot ng benda dahil sa head trauma na natamo nito, at mayroong maliit na tubo na naka-konekta roon. The doctors explained to him that the tube was needed to measure the pressure in Stern's skull and to drain out the cerebrospinal fluid. There was also another tube connected to his nose, which helped him breathe easily, and also sent extra breaths to prevent the risk of accidental stopping of breathing.

Stern's face was still swelling, but some of his wounds and scratches had already healed. Sa mga braso at binti nito'y may mga sugat at gasgas din na ngayon ay unti-unti nang naghihilom. Sa kaliwang braso nito'y naroon naman nakasaksak ang IV, at sa dibdib nito'y may naka-konekta ring mga EKG lead wires.

Hindi alam ni Shin kung papaanong nakayanan ng anak ang lahat ng mga tubong naka-saksak sa katawan nito. It must have been excruciating for Stern— but he kept on fighting. Sinasabi ng mga doktor na hindi pa stable ang kalagayan ng kaniyang anak, pero lumalaban daw ito.

Huminga siya ng malalim at masuyong hinawakan sa kamay ang anak.

"Keep fighting, son..." he whispered. "Papa and Steyah will wait for your recovery— so keep fighting and come back to us soon, 'kay?"

He bit his lower lip to stop himself from weeping. Kahit araw-araw niyang nakikita ang sitwasyon ng anak ay hindi pa rin niya mapigilan ang sarili. He's scared to lose Stern— he wasn't just ready to lose a child. Kaya gagawin din niya ang lahat ng makakaya niya upang mailigtas ito ng medisina, at upang mahanap ang salarin sa nangyari sa anak. He had been working with the Canbera Police to find the driver— he'd make sure to put him in jail for his crime.