Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

Sick

Kakatapos lang naming magbreakfast ng mga kasama ko. I decided to go to a bathroom because I needed to pee. When I get back to our respective room, I suddenly heard sudden noises coming from the room of the boys. Parang nagkakagulo.

Bigla ko namang nakita si Adi na humihingal na papunta sa gawi ko. "Lauren," he said, panting.

"Bakit?" I asked.

He swallowed and looked at me nervously. Kinabahan ako bigla sa tingin niya. "Si... L-Laurence,"

Yung kaba ko kanina ay mas lalong dumoble. "Bakit anong nangyari?" natataranta kong tanong.

Weariness is painted all over his face. "H-Hindi namin alam... bigla nalang siyang..."

He didn't finish what he was saying because I immediately cut him off. "Nasaan siya?" I almost shouting.

"Nasa room namin."

Pagkatapos niyang sinagot ang tanong ko ay mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa room nila. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag pintig ng malakas ng aking puso.

"Si Laurence, Lauren." ani Yves nang nakita ako. Tinuro niya ang gawi ni Laurence at nanlamig ako nang nakita ko ang kalagayan niya.

He's convulsing, unconscious, and very pale. Hindi agad ako nakagalaw.  Are you sick?

"Mr. Gomez? Ano pong nangyayari?" sigaw ko.

Nangingilid ang luha ko at gusto kong sumigaw dahil walang pumansin sa tanong ko. "Mr. Gomez? What's going on?" I shouted again.

He nervously shooked his head. "Hindi namin alam Lauren... Bigla nalang siyang naging ganiyan pagkatapos kumain." nangingilid na rin ang luha niyang sumagot. Tiningnan naman niya si Yves. "Call an ambulance, ako ang tatawang sa parents niya." sabay tingin kay Laurence na nanginginig pa rin.

Bumagal ang hininga niya. I slowly walking towards him while my tears are slowly falling down. Ang kaniyang buhok ay basang basa na rin dahil sa pawis.

Agad akong lumuhod sa tabi niya. "Hey…wake up." my voice trembled as I said those words.

I've never seen him this weak before. I've never seen him this sick. Laurence, sino ka ba talaga?

May bigla namang pumasok sa room at agad kong nakilala ito. Laurence's mom is crying. Dali-dali siyang pumunta sa gawi ng anak niya.

"Laurence a-anak, what's happening to you?" she said, sobbing. She then turned to Mr. Gomez "May ambulance na ba?" napapanick niyang tanong.

He nodded. "Yes, Mrs. del Real."

"Tita, may sakit ba si Laurence?" tanong ko habang nanginginig ang boses.

She shooked her head. "Hindi ko alam…hindi…ko…alam." naiiyak niyang sambit.

Agad nang ini-rescue si Laurence at ipinasok sa ambulance. Sumama naman si tita Artes. I wanted to go too, but only one person is allowed to aboard. Umiiyak kong tiningnan ang ambulansya na unti-unti ng umandar.

Please, fight.

***

Nagpaalam na ako kay Mr. Gomez na aalis na ako sa camp. Laurence's condition keeps on crumping my mind. Besides, he needs me to his side. I remember those days when I was suffering from sorrow and despair but he was there for me, he never leaves me even though I always pushes him away. Kaya ngayon, ako naman ang magiging sandalan niya. I won't leave him no matter what.

Tahimik ang byahe namin ni papa pabalik sa bahay. I called him earlier to pick me up. Nagulat pa siya sa biglaan kong pag-alis sa camp, but I explained everything. Hindi siya nagsasalita sa buong byahe hanggang sa nakauwi na kami sa bahay.

"Lauren, I heard the news. Nandito kasi si Sheena iniwan ni Artes sa akin at sinabing her son is convulsing while nasa camp kayo? Is that totoo? May sakit ba siya?" sunod-sunod niyang sinabi nang nakapasok ako sa bahay.

I was about to answer when my dad interrupts our conversation.

"Loreit… Our daughter is tired. Let her rest for a while." ani papa.

Nag-alala namang tiningan ako ni mama bago tumango. "Okay."

Pilit akong ngumiti sa kanila at umakyat na sa aking silid. Humiga ako sa kama. I rest my hand on my forehead and closed my eyes. I was exhausted and pained. A tear slipped from my eyes once again. Iniiwasan ang mga posibleng dahilan kung bakit naging ganon si Laurence kanina.

Sana ay wala siyang sakit. Sana.

I get my phone and dialed the number of him. Maya-maya pa ay may sumagot. "Hello?" tita Artes' said in the line. Matamlay ito.

"Tita si Lauren po ito. Gusto ko sanang dalawin si Laurence, saang hospital po kayo ngayon? At kamusta na siya?" I asked in a low voice.

She sighed. "He's now sleeping. At nasa St. Anne's Hospital kami." sagot nito.

I nodded. "Okay po. I'll be there in 15 minutes. Thank you."

"Thank you too." she said and hang up the call.

Kinuha ko na ang wallet ko at bumaba na. Nakita ko sina mama at papa na mahinahong nag-uusap sa salas. Nang nakita nila ako ay agad silang ngumiti.

"Saan ka pupunta, anak?" my dad asked.

"I will go to visit Laurence. Nasa St. Anne lang naman na Hospital." I answered casually.

Tumango naman siya.

"You must bring some prutas!" she swished.

I nodded. "Yes."

Hinatid ako ni papa sa hospital at nakabili narin ako ng prutas. I searched the room 126 and when I found it, I knocked the door. I'm hoping that he's going to be fine.

Kumatok ako sa pintuan at agad naman akong pinagbuksan ni tita Artes. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha niya. Walang emosyon ang mga mata niya at ang laki ng kaniyang mga eyebags. When I entered the room I immediately gave her the basket of fruits. She thanked me.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin si Laurence na mahimbing na natutulog sa hospital bed. Hindi ko maiwasang malungkot. Nilapitan ko si tita Artes.

"Tita pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" I asked casually.

She nodded. "Pero pwede bang sa labas?"

We went the outside of the room and my heart doesn't know on how to stop from being nervous.

"Tita, what's with Laurence?" kinakabahan kong tanong.

The throbbed from my heart became doubled when I saw her tears slowly falling down.

"H-He has a traumatic brain injury and the doctor said that it's a r-rare condition." nanginginig niyang sambit.

Hindi agad ako nakagalaw. Traumatic Brain Injury? Papaano?

"Dala ito sa nangyaring car accident last year ng kakambal niya," she paused. Unti-unting nanumbalik ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Laurence noon.  That his twin didn't survived in that accident.

"And the doctor said that he must be treated right away. Matagal na pala niyang alam ang sakit niya pero hindi man lang niya sinabi sa akin." hagulhol niya. "Ayoko… Lauren natatakot ako. Ayoko ulit mawalan ng a-anak."

I cover my mouth with my trembling hands. I don't know how to face this. I don't know how to react but my tears won't stop.

Laurence is sick.