Through the Nights

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Endless Loop

It feels like she was running in circles. Kahit nakaupo lang naman siya sa kama at nakatulala sa kawalan. Makakabisado niya na rin ata ang itsura ng ceiling dahil ilang oras na siyang nakatitig doon.

Okay, baby. Ano pa?

His words echoed on her mind. Lalo pa dahil ang lambing din ng pagkakasabi ni Nicco do'n kanina.

She shook her head again as if it would magically disappear just by doing that.

But no. It was almost 2 a.m. and she couldn't stop thinking about it. Gusto niyang tawagan si Hale kasi feeling niya mababaliw na siya kaiisip. Pero ayaw niya rin namang mang-istorbo. Lalo na kasi busy sa law school si Hale at marami raw siyang binabasang cases ngayon.

She could talk to Cynthea about it but she's already asleep. Abala rin naman kasi sila ni Iov sa pag-aasikaso ng kasal nila. And Glory's a doctor too. She's busy somewhere in a hospital in New York.

Si Galen kaya? isip-isip niya. But she hesitated when she was about to reach for her phone.

'Wag na lang. Baka tulog na rin 'yon.

In the end, she's left to herself and her thoughts and his words that couldn't seem to fade away.

Naka-move on naman na siguro ako somehow, 'di ba? Francine chewed her lip while trying to answer her own question.

She didn't really put that much effort into it. But she managed to keep her distance from him all this time. They weren't seeing each other, they weren't talking that often. It's safe to say that somehow, some of her feelings settled and faded away due to his absence.

Palagi rin siyang busy sa projects niya. Wala siyang time mag-isip kahit pa minsan may mga maliliit na reminders tungkol kay Nicco. She'd miss their memories, but that's all there is. Even though, there are still some moments where she wishes she could reconnect with him. 

And . . . she still finds him cute and warm, and she's still comfortable with him around, and something stirred inside her stomach when he lied on the bed beside her and when he asked for a hug.

Hindi pa ba ako nakaka-move on? Ang tagal-tagal na rin ever since no'ng break up namin. So why why am I overthinking this right now? Sabi naman ni Nicco kanina nag-slip lang. I should let it go, right?

She sighed. Hindi na rin si Nicco 'yong nag-abot no'ng mga pinabili niya kanina. Si Nurse Haira na lahat ang naghatid sa room niya. She was also the one who assisted her in the shower.

Ang sabi naman kanina ni Nurse Haira, sa kanya na raw pinabigay ni Nicco 'yong mga binili sa convenience store kasi busy na rin siya sa duty.

And maybe, it's for the best.

But two days went by and she hasn't seen him around. He didn't stop by to visit her even for a few minutes and there wasn't a mention of his name from the nurses or Dr. Ocampo either. Nahihiya rin naman siyang itanong sa kanila si Nicco.

Kaya hinayaan niya na lang at baka busy lang din si Nicco sa duty.

Pero discharged na ako bukas, her mind whispered. A part of her was hoping to see him just to extend her gratitude before she goes home. Kaso tuwing lumalabas siya sa hallway para maglakad, hindi niya naman nakakasalubong si Nicco.

Napatingin siya sa orasan. It's 8 o'clock in the evening. He already clocked in two hours ago for his shift.

Saglit na lumabas si Francine sa kuwarto niya. She looked around the floor. Tahimik at wala gaanong tao sa hallway. Hindi niya rin naman gaano kabisado ang ospital kaya wala siyang ibang choice kung 'di bumalik. Baka kasi maligaw pa siya kapag sinubukan niyang hanapin si Nicco.