Too Classic for Him

X. Waiting in Vain

I don't want to wait in a vain for your love

Cause summer is here

And I'm still waiting there

Winter is here

I'm still waiting there

I didn't know what was happening. I have no idea. I just followed Dominic as he run out the door to the elevator down to the entrance of the condominium building. Parang the flash na hindi ko na din alam kung pano kami nakababa. I just knew that he wasn't okay.

At hindi rin okay ang pamilya niya. Aligagang hinila ko yung kamay niya. "Hey. I'm here!" Bigla kong hinila yung braso niya. Frantic na lalabas na sana ng building.

"S-Sorry." Mahina niyang sabi. He looked so totally lost and... scared. I bit my lower lip.

"Where are your keys?"

Napatanga lang siya sa akin. "Nasan yung keys mo??" Inulit ko. This time mas madiin. Para siyang natauhan na dinukot iyon sa bulsang pantalon. Inabot niya iyon sakin. Hinila ko siya papunta sa parking lot. It was mere minutes but I knew that it felt forever for him before we got to the hospital.

Paglabas palang niya ng kotse ay taranta na siya. Nilingon niya ako na para bang sinasabing napaka-helpless niya. This was the kind of scared that felt like he was losing someone dear to him. Hindi ko maintindihan. Mabilis na siyang tumakbo. I could only see his back running toward the entrance.

I bit my lower lip. My heart squeezed so hard for him.

Bago ako bumaba napansin kong nasa dashboard ang cellphone niya. I quickly picked it up and walked in haste. I quickly found the reception area. Hindi ko alam kung anong pangalan buong pangalan ng pamangkin niya. I've no idea. Mahina akong napamura. Malaki ang ospital. I looked at his phone and checked if I could open it. And voila, walang password. It's just the typical swipe left and you see everything. Tumaas ang kilay ko dun.

I called the last number and somebody picked it up from the other end of the line. She wasn't was crying but I could hear the distress and worry in her voice. Hindi ko na matandaan kung pano ako nakapagtanong. And I couldn't recall how I ran the floor to where they are.

Emergency Room

I was out of breath and three pair of eyes looked back at me. An old man with Dominic's kind eyes and sharp nose. Very tall and slender. Must have probably his father. And the old woman who is also on the slender side with morena features. She's of the same height as Dominic's father. No wonder they were giants.

Hindi siya ito umiiyak pero nakita kong tense na tense. At pabalik balik.

Lastly, I looked at Dominic. I slowly walked toward them.

"Hi." I whispered. I didn't know what to do or say. Tumango lang sila pareho. This wasn't even the time of niceties and meeting new people. Lumingon ako kay Dominic. And my heart broke a little more. He was sitting and so helpless. Hinimas ko yung buhok niya. And before I knew it, he wrapped one arm around my waist and hugged me tight. His head snugged against my stomach.

His hand desperately clutched the cloth of my shirt. And I felt like I was becoming his lifeline at that moment. I could only hug him tighter and pray. Pray that his niece will survive this ordeal.

Otherwise... I don't know.

I felt the slow shake of his shoulders and the wetness in my stomach. I felt him heaving through the hug. There are different kinds of love. Sa sobrang dami hindi na natin alam kung ano yung tama. I even heard once that before that a person should be complete alone before she enters into a relationship. That we shouldn't seek for love and validation.