A Little Bit Of Something (On-Going)

#85

(Cace)

Nanginginig pa ang tuhod ko nang marating ko ang labas ng pintuan ng private room ni Jonnie. I halted to catch my breath, as soon as I got Tito Sixto's call, the adrenaline overtook my body. My hands were shaking as I turned the door's  knob open.

   Napako agad ang mga mata ko sa natutulog na Jonnie.

     "Cace, tubig." bigla'ng rinig ko kay Tito, may inaabot nga ito'ng bottled water.

     "Thank you po."

     "Pawis na pawis ka, nagtatatakbo ka siguro noh?" Tito somehow chuckled, "Sabi ko naman sa'yo kalmahan mo lang."

   Bahagya ako'ng ngumiti, kay Jonnie pa rin nakatingin. She was still in her peaceful sleep.

     "Si Tita Ligaya po?" pansin ko kasi na mag-isa lang si Tito sa kwarto.

     "Sinamahan ni Peter, nagpapa-IV shot. Hinimatay kasi kanina nang makita niya na gumising na si Jonnie."

   Tita has been putting up with everything for the longest time, it was not a surprise that she finally broke down now that Jonnie's awaken.

     "Sampu'ng minuto'ng gising si Jonnie, ineksamin na rin siya ng mga doktor. Responsive na siya at nakapagsalita na nga kanina, tinawag niya Mama niya." habang nagkukwento si Tito, lumapit naman ako kay Jonnie't humawak sa kamay niya. She's warm.

   Jonnie's alive.

     "Baka maya-maya magising ulit siya."

   Tumango ako.

     "Aantayin ko po ang paggising niya."

   Napangiti si Tito sa sinabi ko.

     "Sige. Puntahan ko muna si Ligaya." he gently tapped my back before leaving me alone with Jonnie.

   Maririnig ang tunog mula sa aircon ng kwarto, mahimbing nga ang tulog ni Jonnie. Habang nakatayo ako sa gilid ng higaan, pinagmamasdan ang babae'ng mahal ko, sunod-sunod na ang pagmuo ng mga luha sa magkabila'ng mata ko.

   Hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya.

     "Thank you." halos hindi na lumabas ang boses sa bibig ko nang sabihin ko 'to.

   Nilipat ko ang isa'ng bangko sa gilid ng higaan, I wanted to stay close to her, still holding her hand.

   Jonnie was already out of the Intensive Care Unit and as soon as her condition got stabled after getting out of the coma, she no longer needed the ventilators to help her breathe.

   The wounds she got from the accident were starting to scar, her head was covered with a newly changed bandage, her left arm in a cast.

   Step by step, she'd be free from those.

   Jonnie whimpered as I was staring at her in her sleep. 

   She grasped my hand.

    "Baby, wake up...Jonnie." 

   Takot na takot ito habang nakapikit ang mga mata, I managed to keep everything together at  pinindot ang button para tumawag ng nurse habang kinakalma si Jonnie.

     "Jo..."

   She opened her eyes.

   That very moment my eyes met hers, I felt a sudden tug within my heart, overwhelming emotions started to take control over my being. I couldn't even say I was happy that time, to me, it was beyond that. It was euphoric to see her eyes looking back at me again.