The Ruins of Winter

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Miss Constancia."

Agad akong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan nang lumabas na si Doc Ivo. Like a cue, my tears immediately fell. Hindi ko alam kung saan pa nanggagaling ang luha sa mga mata ko. I feel so weak and dehydrated, I can't even move to drink water. Hindi ko alam kung paano pa ako naiiyak sa lagay na ito.

"Tito..." Juan Luis called him as he wrapped his arms around my shoulder. Kung wala siya sa tabi ko, kanina pa ako bumagsak dahil sa panghihina.

"Pwede ka nang huminga ng malalim, Erys." Doc Ivo said. I sighed and covered my face, sobbing so hard again, "The transplant is successful."

"Thank you, Doc." I whispered between sobs.

"He will stay in the PICU for three weeks at most and until we see that he's already stable. We will still observe him closely." Paliwanag niya, "You don't have to worry, Erys. This is already a huge step for him. They will transfer him in the PICU in thirty minutes, pwede na kayong maghintay doon."

"Tito, thank you..." Juan Luis said. Ivo tapped his shoulders.

"You owe me a coffee atleast, JL." Ivo smiled at him.

Juan Luis chuckled, "I'll give you a supply of your favorite coffee for a year, if that's what you want."

"Yabang mo." Dr. Vazquez told him.

When Dr. Vazquez left to eat his dinner, agad na rin kaming pumunta ni Juan Luis sa Pediatric Intensive Care Unit kung saan ilalagay si Ice. This area of the hospital is specifically for kids who needs to be observed in the ICU.

Suot namin ni Juan Luis ang protocol na mga kasuotan habang naghihintay sa tapat ng magiging kwarto niya. My eyes met his for a moment. Hindi siya nagsalita pero hinawakan niya ang kamay ko ng mahigpit. Dumantay ako sa braso ni JL. God, what would I do without him?

Walang malay si Isaiah nang ipasok sa ICU. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mga luha ko dahil sa pinaghalong takot at saya na natapos na ang transplant.

Sabay kaming pumasok ni Juan Luis nang matapos na silang ayusin si Isaiah sa kama. I immediately reached for his cold hands. It's cold and light but I can clearly feel his heartbeat.

I kissed his hand and lightly caressed it before whispering, "You did so great. You're so brave, Isaiah. Mama is so proud of you..."

"You did great, Ice..." Narinig kong sabi ni Juan Luis bago umakbay sa akin.

Saglit lang ang visiting hours sa PICU kaya hindi rin kami nagtagal at kailangan na rin naming lumabas ni Juan Luis. Hindi namin nakita na magising si Isaiah. Ang sabi nila Doc, baka raw bukas ng umaga pa dahil sa anesthesia at wala naman daw dapat ipagalala dahil maagap na babantayan ng nurses at doctors doon.

"I'll check on him every hour, don't worry," Dr. Vazquez said, "Kung hindi ako, there's a lot of trustworthy fellows. Umuwi na muna kayo, kumain at magpahinga. Bumalik kayo bukas kapag naayos niyo na ang mga sarili niyo. Isaiah is okay."