Left Behind

Kabanata 4

JACKET

I remember his Jacket, I need to give it back to him. Maybe it's a time to catch up with him. Oh, I mean with them.

Itext ko kaya siya? Nah, I don't have his number, kunin ko kaya kay Clarence? Napaka harot naman ng dating. Ayst. It isn't obvious na gusto ko siyang makita if ibalik ko agad'diba? But, stop!

I have so many things to do and think more than that. I need to get rest early, pupunta pa ako ng Hospital bukas para palitan sila Mama. I suddenly feel the sadness. I dont want to think about it. Lagi kong nakakatulugan ang pag iisip.

Napabalikwas ako sa kama at napamulat ng mata nang may kumatok sa pinto. Umaga na pala, pero hindi pa naman maliwanag.

"Hija, mag almusal ka nalang. Ako'y pupunta ng bayan para mamili ng tanghalian at hapunan," tumango lamang ako kay Manang at ngumiti ng bahagya. I remember that I haven't do the morning rituals.

Naligo agad ako para makapag almusal na. Pababa na ko ng hagdan ng mag ring ang phone ko kaya bumalik ako sa kwarto. Sinagot ko at dumiretso pababa ng hagdan.

"Babae, may gawa ka ng Financial Statement 'tsaka directory?" I forgot that, but I already have my Financial Statement.

"May gawa na ko ng Financial Statement, pero format palang ang meron ako sa directory."

"Send mo sakin, wala pa kong gawa," as usual.

"Send ko nalang sa email mo."

"Okay, good morning pala," narinig ko siyang tumawa. I ended the call.

I packed breakfast for my Mom and for my brother. Ininit ko muna.

Pag dating ko sa Hospital nadatnan kong natutulog lang si Kuya sa sofa, habang si Mama naman ay nakatulog sa tabi ni Kenken. Tinapik ko sa balikat si Kuya ng makitang may tumatawag sa Cellphone nya.

"Kuya tumatawag si Ate Shine," Ate Shine is my brother's wife. Papungaspungas si Kuyang bumangon at sinagot ang tawag.

Lumapit ako sa tabi hospital bed at pinatong ang dala kong pagkain. Ginising ko si Mama at humalik sa pisngi.

"Kumain na muna kayo 'Ma at magpahinga sa bahay," nilingon ako ni Mama 'tsaka tumango.

"Nag almusal ka na?" I just nod my head slightly.

"'Ma, uuwi muna ako sa bahay. May kailangan lang akong gawin. Babalik nalang ako mamaya bago madischarge si Kenken," ani ni Kuya.

"Mag almusal ka muna."

"Okay na ko 'Ma, nagluto naman na si Shine sa bahay," humalik muna si Kuya bago umalis.

Pagkatapos kumain ni Mama ay umuwi na rin sya. I open my social media accounts. Sinend ko na din sa email ni Bettina 'yung format. May nag notifications sa'kin ng story updates. I was busy reading the UD's when someone sent a friend request. I check it.

'Caleb Jameson De Niro sent you a friend request'

My heartbeats racing so fast. It's just a friend request, pero ang lakas ng epekto sa'kin. I've been loyal to him for eleven years. His account is private, everytime I visit his account I can only see his followers and his Profile.

Now I have an access to his life? Wow, friend request palang 'yan, Cindy!. I accept him, and I browsed his photo album. Nothing suspicious, he has also a night life like Mia. Such a party goer. But one thing that catch my attention, is the girl sitting on his lap. It was taken three months ago.

'Be with you.' that's the caption, napakapanget naman.

Inaayos na ng nurse ang huling gamot na ipapainom kay Kenken. I'm very happy and grateful that his going to leave this hospital later.