Losing To Win (Lost Series #1) | Completed

Chapter 19

Felicie

“How long was I asleep?”

Doctora was beside me, cheking my vitals. Ilang minuto na rin akong gising ngunit tila nananaginip pa rin ako.

Hindi pa rin ako naniniwalang nasa ganito na ang kalagayan ko.

Ang huling naaalala ko lang, kausap ko siya hanggang sa nahilo ako. Hanggang sa lamunin na ako ng kahinaan.

“2 days.” Nginitian niya ako, bagaman walang bakas ng sigla rito. “Hinahanap ka na rin ng mga magulang mo sa'kin. But I just told them you're still enjoying your vacation with me.”

Sarkastiko akong napatawa. I just lost my two days while being a Sleeping Beauty here. Hindi ako gano'n. I'd rather have a sword and fight on the battle where I was thrown, not like this one. It makes me feel too weak. Nakakainis.

Umupo siya sa'king tabi habang may hawak na folder.  Ang kaniyang mga mata'y puno ng pag-aalala. “Kailan mo ba kasi sasabihin sa kanila? You're. . . you're not getting better. The cancer cells continue spreading rapidly.”

Paulit-ulit niya na lang sinasabi 'yan. Sinabi ng ayoko nga.

Mariin akong pumikit, saka nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga.

No. Everything will be okay.

I forced a smile on my face. “I'll just continue my medication. No need to tell them———”

“Magulang mo pa rin sila Felicie. They deserve to know the truth.” Alam kong pinipilit na lamang niyang magtunog kalmado. The wrinkles on her face wasn't showing calmness.

“But the truth is they don't care. Or if they would, ayokong mag-alala sila. Ayokong dumagdag sa isipin nila. Ayokong maging pabigat pa.”

Hindi man nila sabihin, alam kong marami silang problema ngayon. The very reason why they often come home. Kung uuwi man din sila, laging laptop ang kaharap.

This time, she heaved a deep sigh. “But still, you are their child———”

Bago pa man niya maituloy ang sasabihin, tumunog na ang phone sa kaniyang bulsa. Agad siyang napatingin sa'kin nang makita ang caller.

Then she turned on the loud speaker. “Where's Felicie?”

Tila binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa narinig. His voice was enough for me to feel the shiver, to feel the fear of having them know the truth.

I gulped. Nanatili lamang akong nakatingin kay Doctora habang hindi alam ang sunod na gagawin. “She's with me———”

“Give her the phone, I'll talk to her.”

Lalong lumala ang kaba sa'king dibdib. Agad akong umiling, but she still handed me the phone and I have no other choice but to accept it. “D-Dad. . .”

“You know Mr. Gallego right? 'Yong businessman na tumulong kina Aeiou last year,” sambit niya. Muling gumawi ang aking tingin kay Doctora na nakikinig sa'ming usapan. Ngunit imbes na lapitan ako't agawin na sana ang phone sa'kin, nginitian niya na lang ako at saka umalis na.

Punyemas. Ayokong kausapin ang tatay ko.

“Yes po. B-Bakit?”

“May gaganaping contest sa school niyo. He's one of the major sponsor there, and the one who'll win will have a spot on their company. I want you to join it.”

Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko. No, hindi pwede. Win once told me about that contest, ayokong kalabanin siya!

Ayokong matalo siya. His scholarship would be at risk.