"N-nasaan ako?"
"Kathalina?"
"You're awake. Thank God"
Unti-unti kong minulat ang mga mata ko. Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko at parang walang maramdaman ang mga paa ko. Nagtataka kong tinignan silang lahat. Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw na akong natutulog dito o buwan ba ang dapat bilangin. Everyone looks so worried. I feel a bit trembled. All I remember was a serious fire accident and the thought that I could have died on that day.
"Kath, the doctor is here. Tell him honestly what you feel at the moment ah. Don't worry, anak. Everything's going to be okay. You will be fine". Dad hugged me. Ang huli kong natatandaan ay nasa ibang bansa siya for some business matters and he said that he might stay there for a year. Bihira mapauwi si Daddy from a business venture kung hindi naman importante ang dahilan. Napabalikwas ako ng kaunti. Teka. Posible bang isang taon na akong nakaratay dito?
Two nurses have approached me to check on my vitals. Maya-maya ay may isang doctor na lumapit sakin. He is our family doctor. I noticed na okay naman ang memory ko. Tinignan ko rin ang balat ko kung may nalapnos ba or what. May malaki akong sugat sa paa ko pero wala akong nararamdamang sakit. Namamanhid lang. As I look at the people, I saw that William is here and he is perfectly okay. May benda lang siya sa kaliwang braso pero nakita ko naman na nagagalaw niya ito ng maayos. Maya-maya ay naramdaman kong may tinatanggal si Dr. Fermin sa ulo ko. As far as I remember, nabagok pala ako. Kaya pala masakit pa rin ang ulo ko hanggang ngayon.
"Ija, do you remember what happened to you four days ago?" Dr. Fermin asked.
"I was in a big fire accident. It's the building near the university po." I answered. Nakita kong lumiwanag naman ang mga mata nila.
Hinarap ni Dr. Fermin sila Daddy. "She's not totally healed. The injury in her head could have caused her a memory loss but I'm glad she remembers everything. I am also sure that she doesn't feel anything on her feet. It's normal. Just a week of rest and she'll be well."
"Thank you, Doc."
"You're welcome. I'll come here from time to time to check on her. I'll go ahead."
Naglakad na si Doc palabas ng room. Ang natira na lang dito ay sina Dad, William at yung dalawang nurse. Sa totoo lang, masaya ako dahil okay si William and he's here. Does that mean he cares for me? Wait.
Hinawakan ko ang mga kamay niya. "Thank you for saving me," I said with my tears flowing down. Hinawakan ko pa ng mahigpit ang mga kamay niya hindi dahil mahal ko siya. I just feel so grateful. I now owe him my life. I know it was him na nagligtas sa akin nung mawawalan na ako ng malay at malapit na maabutan ng malaking apoy. He was wearing a blue shirt. I know it was him.
"ahmm..--
"Hindi ko alam kung paano kami makakabayad sa pagliligtas mo sa anak ko. I wish I could pay you the exact value -
"Actually po--
"Dad?" The door opened. I saw Ate entered the room. Nagliwanag ang mga mata ko. Finally, she's here. Siya rin talaga ang hinahanap ng mga mata ko kanina pa. Ang dami kong gustong ikuwento sa kanya. Kung sana nandoon lang siya nung time na yun, sana hindi ako matatakot. Sana niramdam ko siya nung time na parang hindi siya okay noong makikipagkita ako kay William. Iba din talaga ang instinct ng kapatid. Pero I am happy to tell her na I'm okay now because William saved me. Gusto kong tumayo ngayon para yakapin siya.
"Where have you been, Kassandra?"
"I- I was at Palawan, Dad. I just got my plane ticket yesterday. Fully booked po kasi ang mga flights.
BINABASA MO ANG
Soul of the Star
Non-FictionI am done with life. I am over it. I've decided to deprive myself of my chances to live. And it was given to me. The stars had granted my wish. The life I breathe, I no longer own. And Yes! I believe things will go fine now. But I didn't expect now...
