LADY

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER 8: Losing You

|Stanley Delos Santos|

I walked back and forth outside the ICU. I got a call from the hospital saying that Herlinda just got into a car accident. And it's just a minutes after she leaves her condo unit.

Hindi ako mapakali at ramdam ko ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba.

Kasalanan ko 'to. Kung sana'y...

"Stanley! Jusko, ang anak ko!" sigaw ng kararating lang na si tita Erlina.

"How is she?" tito Harold asked on a calmed voice pero mababakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala.

"Wala pa ring lumalabas, tito. I'm sorry," I bowed my head.

"Ilang oras na silang nasa loob?" tito Harold asked.

"Almost two hours." He balled his fist upon hearing my answer. Tita Erlina cried harder and hug her husband.

"Kuya!" "Stanley!" Napabaling ako dahil sa sigaw nang kararating lang na mga tao. Emmanuel and Dad.

"Kumusta na? Any update from inside?" my dad asked.

"Wala pa ring lumalabas hanggang ngayon. It's been almost two hours," tito Harold answered.

"Maupo ka muna hijo," agad akong naupo nang mismong si tita Erlina na ang nagpa-upo sakin.

Habang tumatagal ay mas lalo akong kinakabahan at hindi mapakali. I don't know how but I feel something bad will happen and I don't like what I am feeling right now. Hindi ko gusto ang nararamdaman ko dahil alam kong malaki ang pagsisisihan ko.

Sabay-sabay kaming napalapit nang may lumabas na doctor.

"Doc, how's my daughter?" tahimik lang akong nakatingin sa doctor nang halos yakapin na ito ni tita Erlina habang yugyog-yugyog ang balikat nito.

"Wait lang misis," the doctor said stopping her from shaking his shoulder.

"Sorry for your loss. We did our best but she did not make it. We're trying to save the baby now but we only have 70 percent chance to save the baby. Doctor Rosales' team are working on saving the baby now so, just wait for him," dagdag nito.

"Erlina!" tito Harold and dad shouted in unison.

"Tita!" Emmanuel also shouted.

Tita Erlina fainted upon hearing what the Doctor said. Napatulala ako dahil sa sinabi ng doctor. Baby. I have a baby. We have a baby.

Lumukso ang puso ko dahil sa saya sa nalamang magkakaanak pala kami ni Herlinda. Pero agad ding nawala ang saya ko.

"Oh god! Fuck! Fuck this!" I cursed under my breath because of realization.

"Kuya! Stop that!" paulit-ulit kong sinuntok ang dingding kasama ng iilang murang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

Please. Please save our baby. Please. Hindi ko yata kayang pati ang anak namin ay mawala.

"Fuck! This is all my fault," sisi ko sa sarili.

"Eman, ikaw na munang bahala d'yan sa kuya mo. Ibababa lang namin ang tita niyo. Stanley anak, you need to calmed down," matigas na paalala ni daddy.

"Your baby needs you," dagdag nito bago sila tumalikod sa'min.

"Shit! This is all my fault," marahas kong sinabunutan ang sariling buhok dahil sa galit at pagsisisi. Gusto ko ng saktan ang sarili ko dahil sa kagaguhang ginawa ko.