Aligned With The Stars (Montereal Series #3)

[27]

Hindi nawala ang sakit sa tiyan ko hanggang sa makarating kami sa hospital. The blood on my legs kept dripping, like it would never end. My tears continued to fall, worrying for the baby in my tummy.

The only thing I want is for my son to be alive. That's the only thing that I'm wishing for, right now. I want to give birth to him, I want to see him. Pero unti-unti nawawala 'yung pag-asang 'yon habang tumatagal. Hindi ko na alam...

Nawalan ako ng malay pagkatapos akong dalhin sa hospital. I didn't know what happened. Did my baby survive?

Binukas ko ang mga mata ko at nakitang nasa kwarto ko. I noticed someone's tight hold on my hand, with his forehead pressed on the bed. I could hear his soft cries and tears on my hand. Anong nangyari?

"Santi..." mahinang tawag ko.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin at napatayo para tingnan ako. The look of concern is evident on his face, pati na rin ang luhang namuo sa mga mata niya.

"Are you okay? What do you feel?" tanong niya at hinaplos ang mukha ko.

"Okay lang ako... si baby?" I asked. "What did the doctor say?"

His hold on my hands loosen as he sat back on his chair. Ngunit hinawakan niya ulit ang kamay ko at tinitigan lang 'yun. He didn't answer me yet.

Napatingin ako sa paligid at nakitang lumapit sina Mommy sa akin. Nandito na rin sina Kuya. Pati 'yung kapatid ni Drake na nag-aaral ng med dito, kausap niya si Kuya at si Kuya Slade.

"Mommy... what happened? How's the baby?"

Nakita ko ang pamumukto ng mga mata nila. They all look sad, angry, and concerned. Parang may nangyaring hindi maganda at hindi rin sila makasagot sa tanong ko.

"Anak... kase." Mommy struggled to find the words she could tell me. I could see how red her face is from all the crying she's been doing since earlier.

I tried to smile. "Why do you all look like that? Wala naman nangyari diba? It was just a minor accident..."

Sinubukan kong pakiramdaman ang tiyan ko, gaya dati. My brows furrowed. Why does it feel so empty?

Hindi pa rin sila gumagalaw at nabalot lang ng katahimikan ang buong kwarto. I turned back to Santi and held both of his hands. Nakatulala lang siya sa akin at hindi gumagalaw. His face seemed red, like he just cried a lot.

"Santi, answer me. What happened to our baby? He's still here in my tummy... right?" fear was evident on my voice. I want to know what happened! Why won't they tell me?

His lips quivered a bit and held my hand. Hinawakan niya iyon ng mahigpit at tumingin sa mga mata ko. I could see the pain on his eyes as he massaged my hand to calm me down.

"Daphne," he called and swallowed. Tumingin siya sa mga mata ko at sinubukan akong pakalmahin. "He's gone..."

My heart stopped. I blinked twice.

"H-Huh? Anong gone?"

He sighed heavily and massaged his forehead. "Gone. He didn't make it, Daph. You lost too much blood that he didn't—"

Hinablot ko ang kamay ko sa kanya. Umiling ako ng paulit-ulit.

"You're lying."

"Daph—"

"You're lying!" I shouted. "He's still here! Buhay pa siya! He's still here, I could feel it... nararamdaman ko pa siya..."

Santi swallowed hard as a tear escaped from his eye. Sinubukan niyang hawakan ulit ang kamay ko, ngunit iniiwas ko 'yun sa kanya.