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Kabanata 22

Kabanata 22

Kissed

I was gawking the whole evening. Kinabukasan ay nagpaalam akong uuwi muna. Kukuha muna ako ng mga damit at magpapahinga ng sandali. I bid a goodbye to Laurence and he smiled. Pagkatapos nung nangyari kagabi ay naging okay ulit siya. Maybe its because of the medicine that he take.

I waved my hand to them. Nanatili naman si Laurence sa tapat ng pintuan hanggang nakasakay ako sa aming sasakyan. I slowly closed my eyes. I couldn't concentrate and I was fully preoccupied.

The next four days It became more deficient. He's ill became more severe. Mas naging madalas ang pagkasakit ng kaniyang ulo at pagkalimot. Minsan ay nahuhuli ko rin siyang nakatulala.

There's also a day that I caught his mom and dad having a small fight out of his hospital room. His father was still wearing their Army uniform. Naglalakad ako non para bibisitahin sana si Laurence pero iba yung nadatnaan ko.

"I have a friend, he's a great doctor. Mapapagaling niya ang anak natin. Mas mapapagaling siya pag dalhin natin siya sa Amerika!" mahinang giit ng mid-40's na lalaki. Ang papa ni Laurence.

Napahawak naman ng sentido si tita Tes. "Ano ba, Philip? Hindi kaba nag-iisip? Hirap na hirap na nga tayo sa pagpapagamot niya, wala nga tayong pambayad, papuntang Amerika pa kaya?" she almost shouted.

Tito Philip tilted his head and massaged the bridge in his nose. He lowered and continue. "Gagawa ako ng paraan, 'kay? Don't stress yourself. Kailangang magpakatatag tayo ngayon. I am willing to risk everything just to save our son. Just please do trust me." he said in a low voice and hugged his wife who is now vulnerable.

Doon ko naisip na kailangan nila ng pera. My family is ready to help them financially. Pero hindi sapat yun. I must do something.

***

Nagsimula na ang byahe papunta sa St. Anne's Hospital. Sumakay ako ngayon ng jeep. Hindi na ako nag-aabalang magpapahatid ni papa dahil nasa duty siya. When I arrived, I immediately go to his hospital room. I smiled despite of tiredness.

Bubuksan ko na sana ang pintuan nang bigla akong hinarangan ng isang nurse.

"Iha, hindi pwedeng bibisitahin sa mga oras na ito si Mr. del Real." saad niya.

I confusely looked at her. "Po? Bakit?"

"He's under treatment." diretsahan niyang sagot.

Hindi agad ako nakagalaw. "C-Can I see him?" I said while my chest is in tight.

The nurse smiled a bit. "Sure."

Sinilip ko si Laurence galing sa bintana. The doctor was injecting something on his spine at nang dahil don ay napapikit siya at ikinuyom ang kamao. Nakatutop ang kaniyang bibig at tahimik na umiiyak.

I wanted to help him. I wanted to be there too. I wanted to hold his hands. Maya-maya pa ay bigla siyang sumigaw at nanghina. I cover my mouth with my trembling hands. Pinipigilan ko ang pag-iyak. Wala sa sariling napa-upo ako sa silya.

Hindi ko kayang makikita siyang ganito.

Hindi ko kaya.

Nang natapos yun ay pinapasok na ako ng nurse sa room. Agad bumungad ang pagod na mga mata ni Laurence sakin. Nanghihina siyang ngumiti.

"Aleng," paos niyang sambit. Agad ko  siyang pinigilan.

"D-Don't speak. Magpahinga ka muna." nahihirapan kong sambit.

He slowly nodded his head at pumikit na. I was holding his hand while I rest my head to his bed. Ayaw ko yung bitiwan. Nababalutan naman ng katahimikan ang paligid kaya agad akong nakatulog.

I got awake when I feel someone is caressing my hair. I slowly opened my eyes and I saw Laurence with his stretched smile. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti dahil don.

"Do you feel better now?" tanong ko.

His eyes twinkled like a star. "I will feel much better if you'll going to kiss me." he joked.

I bit the insides of my cheek to stifled a smile. Feeling ko ang pula pula na ng mukha ko ngayon.

"Aleng," he laughed.

Nagkunwari akong nagalit. I mentally rolled my eyes and looks away. Kahit nasa ganitong kalagayan siya ay nakuha niya pa ring magbiro.

"Aleng bilisan mo." he said from ear-to-ear while pointing his lips.

I looked at him in disbelief. Is he even serious? Nagmamakaawa siyang tiningnan ako.

"Aray," mahina niyang sambit at may iniinda na sakit.

Agad akong nag-panick. "Laurence saan yung masakit?" I asked nervously.

He pouted. "Sa lips, Aleng." saad niya sabay turo sa nakanguso niyang labi.

I slowly scourged his hand. I thought he will undergo with his symptoms again. Even that I'm with my exasperations still, I am able now to breathe in relief. Akala ko kung ano na ang nangyayari sa kaniya.

"Don't you dare to do that again!" I spat.

Tumawa siya ng mahina. "Kung iki-kiss mo ako." sambit niya na parang bata.

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Okay. Pero sa pisngi lang." I said.

Tumango naman siya. "Sige."

Kahit kinakabahan ay nagawa kong lumapit sa kaniya. I leaned closer to him until I can feel his breath. When the moment my lips will able to kiss his right cheek, he immediately turned his head and his lips touches into mine.

My eyes got bigger due to his sudden movement. He kissed me! We just kissed!