Through the Nights

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Emergency Room

Francine secretly let out a long sigh the moment Direk Artie yelled cut.

Finally! she thought. Wrap up na sila at tapos na rin ang shooting. Makakapagpahinga na siya. But more likely, makakapagbakasyon na siya.

She's been preparing for her trip to Calayan Island since last month and she's set to leave the day after tomorrow. May tutuluyan na rin siya doon at nakaayos na rin ang mga gamit na dadalhin niya. She already packed her things ahead because she knows she'd be too exhausted to even lift a finger and too excited that she might forget something.

Pumunta kasi last time doon si Hale at Idriss para sa anniversary nila. At kahit medyo mahirap puntahan 'yong lugar dahil sa haba at putol-putol na biyahe, sulit naman daw. The beaches are clean. Puti at pino ang buhangin.

She doesn't really care whether the sand is gray or white. It could be blue for all she cares. But she doesn't like rocky beaches. Lalo na kapag malalaki at matulis ang tipak ng bato. Mabilis pa naman siyang masugat. It became a factor when Hale said that the sand were in fine grain.

Idagdag na rin na kaunti lang din daw ang turista doon. Mura at fresh pa raw ang mga seafood.

That's why when she heard those things, she didn't think twice to plan her trip. It's her much needed, much deserved, and much awaited getaway trip.

"Guys! Sunod daw kayo sa resto mamaya, okay? May pakain and painom daw si Direk!" one of the production assistants reminded.

"P'wede bang skip? Inaantok na ako," mahinang sabi ni Galen. He's Francine's partner in the film and one of her long time friends in the industry.

"Same. Gusto ko na rin magpahinga and maligo. Kanina pa ako naiinitan."

"Nanlalagkit na nga rin ako. Bigla ba naman kasing uulan tapos aaraw," sagot ni Galen.

"Kaya nga," Francine agreed.

Galen offered to drive her to the restaurant. Kasama rin nila ang dalawa pang staff sa production team dahil masikip na rin daw sa van kanina sa dami ng gamit.

"Ate Robin, ikaw na lang sa unahan. Baka kasi makatulog ako baka mahawa ng antok si Galen," sabi ni Francine.

Robin, one of the production assistants, smiled and nodded. "Sige, no problem."

Saktong nakatapat ang vents ng air con sa puwesto ni Francine. Kaya sa unang buga pa lang ng hangin ay nabahing na siya. Galen's car smells like musk. Hindi naman mabaho. Nagulat lang din siguro ang ilong ni Francine.

"Ouch," mahina niyang daing. Napahawak din siya sa tagiliran niya.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Jecka, isa rin sa mga production assistant.

Tumango si Francine. "Okay lang ako, Ate," sagot niya habang marahang minamasahe ang tagiliran.

She wondered about the slight pain she felt when she sneezed. But she didn't dwell on it too much when it went away after a few minutes.

Nakatulog din siya sa biyahe at ginising na lang siya nang makarating na sila sa restobar.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from a whole day's work. But she felt a bit dizzy after her nap. Sigurado naman siya na hindi 'yon sa driving skills ni Galen kasi madalas naman siyang makisabay at hindi rin siya nahihilo tuwing sumasabay siya.

Gutom na rin siguro ako, isip-isip niya. But her headache got worse when she stepped in the restaurant. Maybe it's her astigmatism, too. Pero nakadagdag din sa sakit ng ulo niya 'yong iba't ibang kulay ng ilaw. There's neon pink and blue and yellow. Especially the yellow one, it was too bright and scattered. Ang sakit sa mata.

Francine tried to eat dinner. The sisig and buttered shrimp they ordered looked so appetizing. Idadagdag pa ang baked oysters at crispy pata. But she felt weird in her stomach every time she swallows her food. It feels like it's going to come out from her mouth, too. Kaya halos 'di niya rin nagalaw 'yong pagkain niya. It even felt worse whenever she sips on her long island iced tea.

"Ayos ka lang ba talaga? Kanina pa kita napapansin," tanong ulit ni Jecka sa kanya.

"Ate, okay lang ba kay Direk kung mauuna na ako umuwi? I don't feel good, e," sabi ni Francine.

"Oo naman, okay lang 'yan. Samahan kita magpaalam sa kanya, gusto mo?"

Francine nodded. "Yes, Ate. Thank you!"

Buti na lang e hindi na rin siya pinilit ni Direk Artie na mag-stay. Pero panghahawakan niya raw 'yong bawi na sinabi ni Francine kanina habang nagpapaalam siya.

She was covered in cold sweat when she got home to her condo unit. Nadagdagan din ang sakit ng ulo niya dahil sa pagmamaneho ng driver sa na-book na sasakyan ni Jecka para ihatid siya pauwi.

Francine tried to ease herself by having a warm bath. Uminom na rin siya ng paracetamol para sa sakit ng ulo niya. Somehow it helped her headache. But the sharp pain in her abdomen was taking over.

Hindi ako nasusuka. Hindi ako nasusuka. Hindi ako nasusuka, she kept on repeating on her mind.

Wala rin naman siyang natatandaan kung may nakain siyang masama.

But in the middle of trying to remember all the food and drinks she had, Francine immediately ran to the bathroom to vomit.

Sa katiting lang din na nakain niya kanina e halos wala rin siyang nailabas. She decided to stay in the bathroom for a while, panting and catching her breath. At ang sakit-sakit talaga ng tagiliran ko. It was getting worse.

Food poison ba 'to? Or indigestion? she thought to herself, racking her brain for plausible reasons why she might be sick.

Francine went to bed after freshening up. Balot na balot siya ng kumot sa ginaw at halos mamaluktot na rin siya sa kama dahil sa sakit sa may tagiliran niya.

She tried to sleep it off but the sharp pain was too much to ignore. She even noticed the slight change in her temperature.

Napasilip siya sa cellphone niya para tingnan ang oras. It was a few minutes past midnight. Nagdadalawang-isip na rin siya kung pupunta siya ng ospital o susubukan niya na lang indahin at daanin sa tulog dahil baka mawala rin naman 'yon kinabukasan pagkagising niya.

But it hurt more when she yawned and laid on her side.

Francine winced. Ano ba 'to? Ganito ba kasakit kapag na-food poison? Ano bang nakain kong 'di maganda kanina?

She doesn't know what else to do to alleviate the pain. Hindi niya rin alam kung madadaan pa ba 'yon sa paracetamol o pain reliever kaya naisip niya na ring bumangon para pumunta sa ospital. 

She couldn't even bring herself to change her clothes. It was too painful to move. Kaya wala siyang ibang choice kung 'di pumunta sa ospital ng naka pajamas. She just threw in a hoodie, taking her phone and wallet with her.

There were nurses assisting her when she got to the emergency room. Mabuti na lang at kaunti lang din ang pasiyente kaya naasikaso rin siya agad. Nakausap na rin naman siya ng intern na duty at nabigyan ng gamot pero masakit pa rin talaga ang tagiliran niya.

"Wait lang po kay Doc, Ma'am, ha? Kaunti lang po kasi naka-duty ngayong gabi. Nasa surgery pa po—"

"Nurse Mae, papunta na raw si Dr. De Silva. Tapos na siya sa surgery niya," sabi no'ng intern na kumausap din sa kanya kanina.

Francine blinked. Sino raw? Tama ba ako ng narinig?

"Ay buti naman! Akala ko mamaya pa matatapos operation ni Doc. May dalawa na tayong pasiyente dito naghihintay sa kanya."

Francine was zoning out. It was probably the medicine they gave her for the meantime. Or her exhaustion and the pain she endured earlier.

But the doctor who just got in the emergency floor looked exactly like him. But this time, in blue scrubs underneath a white lab coat.

Kumurap-kurap ulit siya. Baka kung ano-ano na rin nakikita ko, isip-isip niya.

"Francine?" he called.

Pero magkaboses din sila.