The Great Escape

Kabanata 26

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Kabanata 26

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I looked at them. Bakit ibang doctor ang nagpakita at hindi si Dra. Feliza? As far as I know, siya ang may hawak sa akin. Sino iyong babaeng doctor na kalalabas lang?

I felt the tightening feeling in my chest again. I gasped for air through my BiPAP and I regained my composure after a few minutes. I am starting to really lose control over my diaphragm. Matatanggal pa kaya itong nakakabit sa akin?

I saw Ephraim held my hand. Hindi ko na iyon maramdaman dahil sa pamamanhid. He was looking at it as if it would be gone any minute. Pinakakaba naman ako nito eh.

"Bakit hindi mo maalala?" I heard him whisper. "Are we really losing you?"

Hindi ko gaanong marinig ang sinasabi niya kaya nakakunot lang ang noo ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. His head was hung low and he was holding my hand. His undercut hair was also disheveled, parang ilang ulit dumaan ang mga daliri roon para guluhin.

I also noticed the dark circles around his eyes. Natutulog pa ba siya o hindi na? At saka kailan siya dumating? Huling naaalala ko bago matulog ay iyong pag-uusap namin tungkol sa white dwarfs. Dapat nasa daan na kami papunta sa unang lugar ng stargazing adventure namin.

It's already April 26. Tapos na ang napag-usapang araw kaya bakit nasa ospital pa rin kami?

I diverted my gaze from Ephraim to Psalm. My friend was also staring back at me, with worry etched on his face. What's wrong?

Then I glanced back on Ephraim who's still hanging his head low while holding my hand. They're really scaring me.

"A-Am I going t-to die?" I asked them.

"Don't say that!"

Halos sabay silang sinabi iyon. Nakaangat na ang ulo ni Ephraim ngayon at nakatingin na sa akin. Napatayo naman si Psalm dahil sa sinabi ko. Humalakhak ako para pagaanin ang atmosphere. Ang bigat eh.

"A-Ano ba?" I chuckled. "Kung makatingin k-kayo parang p-patay na ako—"

"Stop it, Seraiah," Ephraim mumbled.

I continued. "Hello? S-Saka na kayo m-malungkot k-kapag patay na—"

"Seraiah!" His voice thundered. "I said, stop it!"

I pursed my lips. Psalm was glaring at me and Ephraim hung his head low again. Wala na ang kamay niya sa akin at nakakuyom na ang mga ito sa magkabilang gilid niya.

I was just trying to lighten up the mood but I guess that's a wrong move. It's my fault. Pero bakit ba kasi sila ganoon makatingin? At bakit nandito pa kami? Dapat umalis na kami bago mahuli ang lahat.

"P-Psalm?"

He glared at me. "Let's talk after you straighten your thoughts. Babalik ako."

I watched him walked out of the room. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako habang bumabaling kay Ephraim na nakayuko pa rin. Natutulog na ba 'to?

"I-I want... t-t-to go o-outside." I told him after a few minutes of silence passed.

Tumango siya at binigyan ako nangtipid na ngiti. He stood up and crouched to give me a kiss on my forehead.

"Alright. I'll ask them."

Like what I did with Psalm, Mariette and Mom, I watched Ephraim walked away from me to ask the doctor if I could go out.