Healer

Kabanata 22

Culprit

Kaagad na lumipad si Herod para sundan ang kapatid na nakaratay sa ospital. Kahit abala pa ito sa kaniyang Judo Club Center ay pansamantala niya itong tinigil muna para kay Hecap. It's been two days since the incident happend, hindi muna nakapag-OR si Seunjah dahil lutang ito sa mga nangyayari. I have no choice but to tell her the truth.

As I expected, she's shock and confused.

Her uncle situation is not doing well nowadays, hindi pa namin nasabi sa kaniyang tiyuhin na naaksidente ang kinilalang anak nito. Kasalukuyan akong naghihintay sa kaniya sa garden nang hospital, patapos naman daw siya sa pagrarounds at napagpasyahan naming magkape muna sa pinakamalapit na café sa ospital.

"Hey, pasensya na natagalan ata ako." She said and kiss my cheek. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin kaming balita kay Fatima. Ilang araw na siyang nawawala at hindi ma-contact. Kahit ang pamilya niya ay hindi rin alam kung saan siya.

"It's alright, wala rin naman akong masyadong trabaho ngayon. Check-ups lang at rounds lang din. So tara?"

"Sige." Nakahawak siya sa aking braso habang naglalakad kaming dalawa.

"Alam mo 'yong matanda na walang anak ay nakakaawa talaga. Walang nagbabantay sa kaniya at wala ring bumibisita. Nakakalungkot lang din kasi kahit mga kapatid niya ay hindi man lang dumalaw sa kaniya. Naikwento niya rin sa akin na marami daw siyang natulungan pero ni isa sa  kanila ay walang bumalik sa kaniya upang siya naman ang matulungan. You think it's fair for her? I mean, hindi naman siya naghihintay nang kapalit pero I think it's unfair to her. She's old and no one will mourn for her and that's just sad. Kahit gaano ka pa kabait sa lahat, darating pa rin ang araw na wala kang tatakbuhan at tanging sarili mo nalang ang makakasama mo."

I used to hear her cheery voice everytime we had our date, she is always excited telling me how her operation thrilled her that much and how did she save the patient. But this time, her story is deep and out of the blue.

"I think.. it's unfair to the old woman. She have her siblings pero ni isa sa kanila walang bumisita man lang. Kahit saan anggulo mo tingnan, deserve ni nanay ang may mag-alaga sa kaniya. It's a big blessing to be alive in that age, how old is she again?"

When her thin line lips she replied. "She's eighty three years old and her brain is good. Kaya lang dahil sa katandaan ay alam mo na, maraming komplikasyon ang nangyayari.." She shrugs.

"Well, it's a blessing indeed." Tumigil kami sa tapat nang Café. It's a pastry kind of a Café. Pastries and coffee, good match!

Ako na mismo ang umorder para sa aming dalawa, expresso sa akin at black coffee sa kaniya. She choose french bread and I choose mocha cake, less in icing.

"So what's going on in your pretty head? Are you fine? How are you feeling?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko. Dumampi ang mga labi nito sa kaniyang tasa at humigop nang kaniyang kape.

She smile but it's not a happy smile. She looks so stressed and problematic. Hindi niya rin sabihin ay alam ko.

"To be honest, I don't know. I am not fine, I feel hollow and I feel empty.. you know that I am always positive at everything, right?"

I nodded.

"But this time I felt like the world is againts me again and I don't like it. Could it just be me having this cruel fates? I mean, Hecap deserve to live a happy and a life where there's no more lies and now he is in the hospital, lying and injured.. I just.. plus the IC, there's no one in charge of it kaya tinake over muna ni Tita Amanda, sa aming lahat siya ang mas lalong naapektuhan sa mga nangyayari. I mean.. can this end right now? Tito is sick, barely breathing and we don't know when he'll expire like a fucking bubble.."