Red String of Fate (Colours of Love #1)

PROLOGUE

This story contains spoilers for Abyss of Gold.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names of characters, places, events, businesses, and incidents are from the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual places, events, people, etc is coincidental.

The story also contains strong language and mature content that may not be suitable to young readers. Read at your own risk.

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"Are you sure you can drive? I can drive you to the hospital or even accompany you there." Nag-aalalang tanong ng kasamahan ko sa trabaho.

"No, I'm okay, Engineer. Thank you."

"Sinabi ko na kasi sa'yong huwag mo ng sukatin kasi mataas. We can ask a worker to do it. Mapilit ka kasi." He said while putting a sling to support my left elbow.

"Come on! I'm not dying. Besides, trabaho ko 'yon. Hindi ko naman pwedeng ipaubaya sa kanila iyon. May mga trabaho rin sila." Kaunti nalang at maiinis na ako sa kakulitan ni Kastler. Akala mo naman kasi mamamatay na ako.

"Okay, then. Update me with the results. Take care."

"Ikaw muna ang bahala rito. Update me if ever something happens or what. Papasok ako bukas." I bid goodbye to Kastler at umalis sa site to go to the hospital.

I was about to measure something on the ceiling but the stairs were unstable on the ground. Noong nalaglag ako, pinangsuporta ko ang kaliwang siko ko kaya iyon ang napuruhan. Hindi naman sobrang sakit kaya lang kailangan kong ipakita sa doktor baka may naging problema. At para na rin manahimik na si Kastler.

When I arrived at the hospital, nahirapan pa ako sa parking dahil maraming sasakyan. Good thing, a car was about to leave and so I took the space.

I went straight to the nurse station to be assisted. Hindi ako sanay sa hospital.

"Uhm good morning. I would like to request for an x-ray. I fell on my left elbow." The nurse immediately took some papers to take down some information about me siguro.

"Kailan pa po iyan, Ma'am?" Sagot niya habang inaayos ang mga papel.

"Ngayon lang. Less than an hour ago, I guess."

"Do you have records na po ba here, Ma'am?"

"Wala pa. Ito pa lang." Hindi naman kasi ako sakitin o ano. Bumibisita lang ako rito kapag may kaibigan or kamag-anak na naaadmit or something.

"Your name po, Ma'am."

"Althea Dela Cuesta." I said then smiled at her.

"Okay, Ma'am. You can wait here," She pointed on a bench in front of their station. "Saglit lang po. Naka break po yata ang Chief Tech. But it will only take a few minutes, Ma'am."

Umupo na ako doon at inilabas ang phone ko to check my social media. Nagcheck ako sa group chat naming magkakaibigan at baka may ganap sila or what.

Henley Fernandez: This weekend nalang so we are all available. Sobrang busy niyo kasi mga friends. Di ko kayo mareach hahahahahaha.

Ellie Guevarra: G lang ako. Tanungin mo yung dalawang engineer baka may ginagawa pang building hahahahahaha.

Reese Cruz: I'm in, bitches! Ask Thea hahahahahaha.

Mga baklang 'to! Syempre g ako 'no? Hello, I need a life!

Malay ko ba kung may potential jowa doon. Char 1/2. At kahit naman pass ako, wala akong magagawa. Pipilitin pa rin nila akong sumama. They would make you feel guilty for not showing up. Yeah, that's how our friendship works.

Althea Dela Cuesta: May choice pa ba ako? Lol.

"Ma'am Althea, you can proceed to the 5th floor. The x-ray room is there po." Tumayo na ako at sumakay sa elevator. Karamihan sa mga kasabay ko ay nurses at doctors. When the elevator reached the 5th, lumabas na rin ako agad.

I looked around to find the x-ray room. Puro normal rooms lang kasi ang nadadaanan ko. Dapat pala nagtanong ako kung saan banda! Ang laki nito.

I approached another nurse station to ask.

"Hi. Where's the x-ray room?" The attending nurse immediately looked at me and smiled.

"Ito po, Ma'am," She pointed a light blue door na nasa malapit ko na. "Are you Miss Dela Cuesta?"

"Uh yes."

"May emergency po ang Chief Tech namin and all our RadTechs are attending to other patients but I talked to Doc to attend to you, Ma'am. Tutal left elbow lang naman po ang ie-exam sa inyo. Mabilis lang po iyon. Pasok na po kayo." I smiled at her then walked towards the room. VIP na ba ako no'n?

Pagpasok ko, nakita ko ang isang medyo malaking room. May glass table and two chairs in front of it. Sa kabilang side, may curtain. I think nasa loob no'n ang mga machines or what. I don't really know. Walang tao. May nakatambak na envelopes and folders. I think these are results. Kaya naman natakpan ang desk name plate.

Umupo muna ako at naghintay. I roamed my eyes around the room. Puro warm colors at may kaunting painting lang.

I moved the envelopes a bit to see the name plate on the desk. My eyes widened as I saw what was written.

Putangina. Is this even happening?!

Dr. Matthew Aiden R. Garcia, RRT, MD

"Thank you for patiently waiting, Miss." I turned around to see who's behind me.

Napalunok nalang ako at kumurap ng ilang beses.
He was holding a piece of paper.

"Let's examine your left elbow." He looked at me with no reaction. Habang ako, still processing what's happening for fuck's sake!

How can he look at me like that? Like he does not know me.

At all.