Parallel Intersection

Chapter 36

"How are you feeling, Jam?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin. Tears started to formed in my eyes.

"What happened?" My eyes directly went to the doctor beside me.

"You literally passed out again!" Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon.

What is she doing here?

"Jam, I think you overworked yourself again. Did you had dreams again?" Usisa sa akin ng doktor sa aking tabi. He's the one who checked me when I got comatosed! Ganoon na naman ba ulit ang nangyari?

"Joe..." Inilibot ko ang aking paningin. "Where is Joe?" I saw how Yohan's eye darkened.

"Can you please stop thinking about him? Baka nakalimutan mo ang ginawa niya sayo?"

Lito ko itong tiningnan. Anong ginawa? I thought we're fine? What the fuck is happening?

"Have you forgotten about Lindsay's Fashion show? Where he fucking left you on your supposedly partner ramp?"

My lips parted. Hindi pa rin napoproseso ang sinabi ng kaibigan. "We went here to Naga after it dahil pageant na ng pinsan mo, at para na rin makaiwas muna sa nangyaring pagpapahiya niya sayo!"

The doctor signalled something to Yohan. I think he's telling her to calm down. Habang ako naman ay pilit iniintindi ang mga nangyari. What happened? I thought we were in New York?

"Jam," Muling natuon ang atensyon ko kay Doc. He's on his thirties...I think. "Did you have dreams again?"

I sighed. Pilit kong nilulunok ang bukol sa aking lalamunan. "Yes," I said between my breath.

"Can you tell me what is it?"

I can vividly remembered it all. Pakiramdam ko ay totoo ang mga nangyaring iyon.

"I-I was in New York for...a fashion show. Joe...was there...with me." I gulped, stopping myself from crying. "We...celebrated Christmas and New Year together...we also had a shoot at Regatta." Nanghihina kong paliwanag, hindi ko alam kung alin doon ang panaginip...o kung totoo pa ba lahat ng nangyayari sa akin.

"The Regatta shoot really happpened, Jam. I was with you...sa Las Casas diba? But, Joe...he's very distant and professional all those time...he didn't even talked to you." Unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pag-agos ng aking mga luha. "New York...Jam, he wasn't even there." Dagdag pa ni Yohan gamit ang mahinang boses. "You went to New York for a fashion show, yes. But you only stayed their until Christmas and left the day after. Joe wasn't there."

I froze. Hindi ko lubos maisip na ganoon nga ang nangyari. If it happened, then why did I passed out months after it?

"Ilang araw na ako rito?" Nag-aalala kong tanong.

"Isa palang naman, ate." Sagot sa akin ng aking pinsan, si Ali.

I closed my eyes as I tried to remembered what happened during Lindsay's fashion week.

Natigil lamang ang pag-iisip na iyon nang muling magsalita si Doc. "I advise that you rest well first. I think it's because of too much work."

Mabilis din itong nagpaalam sa amin. Lumapit sa tabi ko si Yohan at saka ako mabilis na yinakap.

"Jam, what's happening to you?" Mangiyak-ngiyak nitong tanong. I harshly bit my lower lip.

Nakatulugan ko na lamang iyon. I remembered how I was able to peacefully sleep because of Yohan and Ali.

Nagising ako. Tingin ko ay gabi na at nasa tabi na ang dinner ko. I like hospital foods, masarap kasi sila. Or maybe, I am not a picky eater at all.