ANDREA POV
I have to be rushed to the hospital that night because I've been having difficulties to breath. Di maipinta sa mukha ni Santi kung galit, inis o pag aalala ang uunahin.
I've made the old man worry again.
Nagising ako sa nakasisilaw na liwanag na nagmumula sa ilaw. Naamoy ko ang pinaghalong amoy ng antiseptic at iba't ibang uri ng kemikal. Hospital.
Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at nasilayang seryosong nag uusap si Santi at si Dr. Sandoval. My uncle. Mom's only sibling. And my only surviving blood relative.
Lumabas si Santi at pumanaog ng silid ang doktor. Umupo siya sa aking tabi at hinaplos ang aking buhok.
"You're awake," mahinahon niyang wika. "How are you?"
"I'm awake, alert, alive, enthusiastic..." pagbibirong kanta ko.
Tumawa siya nang bahagya at muling nagseryoso, "You always have a knack on making fun even at moments like these."
"How's my condition, Dr?" tinanong ko siya; inihahanda ang sarili sa magiging tugon niya.
"You can call me tito, like you always do." Hinawakan niya aking kamay at dahan dahan itong hinaplos. Bad news is coming.
"We're in the hospital, you're in a suit. You're in duty so officially you're my doctor now."
Nagpakawala siya ng mahabang buntong hininga. This is it.
"You know you can't do activities like that, Andi. You have to heed my advises obediently," pagdiriin niya sa huling salita. Or I'll die...
Tumango ako sa kaniyang sinabi subalit tila di siya kumbinsido.
"Tomorrow pa ang check up mo pero pinaaga mo."
"Well, ano magagawa ko? Na-miss kita eh," I winked at him.
"I'm just so glad you're fine."
Itinaas ko ang aking tatlong daliri at siya ay nginitian.
"Arianne's dead now, you're all I have," muli niyang sabi.
"I've been telling you to marry and settle down na kasi eh."
He nodded, "Pwede bang girlfriend muna?" Sabay tawa naming dalawa.
"I'll be leaving now ha? May operation ako in an hour. Ring me if you needed anything, I'll be here in a jiffy." Hinalikan niya ang aking noo at saka lumabas.
So here we are again, Andi.
Fighting for dear life...
Ipinikit ko na ang aking mga mata hoping that this will not be my last sleep.
MATEO POV
Nagising ako sa sunod sunod na tawag mula sa aking cellphone. It was saturday, who could be calling?
I looked at my phone and rolled my eyes when I saw who's calling. Mom.
"Finally! I've been calling you for ages. You need to visit you Lolo at the hospital. He'll be discharged today. Can't come, had business to attend to." Saka ako binabaan ng tawag. Galing, walang good morning at good bye. Or ingat.
I looked at the clock, it's 7:30. Kailangan ko na talagang gumayak.
Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa banyo, naligo at nag paalam kay Yaya Sabel. She's the only sane person dito sa bahay na matino kong nakakausap. My dad, kung di naman business ang hinaharap, babae. And my mom, who's living in a flat sa town ay puro business.
BINABASA MO ANG
Chasing Life And Love
RomanceAndrea Lee came from an elite family in Amsterdam, Netherlands, orphaned at 7 and only travelled the world through books. When she found out about acquiring Arrhythmia, a severe heart disease, she is bound to come back to Philippines to recall her m...
