The Burning of Summer

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Nang magising ulit ako ay tirik na ang araw sa labas. Namataan ko sila Ate at abuela na nakakalat sa kwarto ko. Ate Winter is sitting beside abuela while Ate Autumn and Rain are sitting on my bed.

Bigla akong napabangon.

"What the- anong ginagawa niyo dito?" inalalayan agad ni Ate Winter si abuela nang tumayo ito upang lumapit sa akin.

"I heard that you got sick mija! I'm sorry wala kami dito kahapon." Abuela held my hand as she say those words.

I blinked twice before it sink in to me what was happening.

"Okay naman na po ako."

"No! My goodness you still look pale! Nagpatawag na ako ng doctor at-"

"Abuela there's no need for that. Okay na po ang pakiramdam ko." hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko.

"We have to make sure that you're really okay! Paano kung malala pala yan at hindi simpleng lagnat?"

"Hayaan mo na si abuela Summer, if doing that will give her peace of mind then let her."

"But abuela I thought you weren't feeling well yesterday, are you okay now?"

"It was a just a simple high blood pressure. Okay na okay na ako. Makulit lang ang Ate mo at pinilit akong magpatingin sa doctor!"

"Abuela mabuti na ang sigurado."

Dumapo naman ang kamay ni Rain sa noo at sa leeg ko at pinakiramdaman kung mainit pa ba ako.

"Hindi ka naman na ganun kainit Ate, uminom ka ba ng gamot? Sorry we weren't here to take care of you."

Tipid akong ngumiti.

"Ayos lang and yes naka-inom na ako ng gamot."

"But you were alone! Hindi dapat naiiwan mag-isa ang may sakit!" sabi ni abuela.

Doon kumunot ang noo ko.

Alone? Reid didn't tell them that he took care of me? And where the hell is thay guy? Sabi ibababa niya lang yung tray pero hindi na sya bumalik.

I was kinda expecting to see him when I woke up. Nanlulumong binagsak ko ang katawan ko pahiga ulit sa kama nang may kumatok sa pinto at sinabing naroon na daw ang doctor na pinatawag ni abuela.

The doctor examined me using her stethoscope. Nilagay niya yun sa aking likod at sa dibdib. The doctor is a she obviously and probably in her early 40s. At mukhang magkakilala sila ni abuela base sa usapan nila.

Anyway, almost everyone here knows my abuela because she owns huge farmland. Or as they call a hacienda.

"Trangkaso lang naman po Señora and it is nothing serious." sabi ng doctor at isinabit ang stethoscope sa batok. "Ituloy mo lang hija ang pag-inom ng gamot sa lagnat since effective naman iyon dahil bumaba na ang lagnat mo but if after two to three days ay nilalagnat ka pa rin I suggest you go to the hospital for some blood tests just to be sure."

"Ano po ba ang dapat gawin?" tanong ni Ate Winter.

"Just let your sister rest. She needs more of that."

Nang matapos ay hinatid ni Ate Winter ang doctor palabas. Bumaling naman agad sa akin si abuela.

"I'm sorry mija, from now on all four you will not do farm work anymore! My goodness! You girls aren't used to labor work! Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ng Daddy niyo at pinagawa niya sa inyo ang mabigat na trabaho."

"Don't be sorry abuela, it was fun working. And I get to know more people and even made new friends!" masayang sabi ni Rain na ngayon ay nakayakap kay Abuela.