Soulful Eyes (book 2, Missing Piece adaptation)

Chapter 72

4 years later

JHOANA

Nandito ako sa school ni Nolan, pinatawag ako kasi naaksidente siya while he was playing basketball daw

"Ms. Maraguinot, unfortunately, your son severely sprained his lower right ankle. But it can be treated non-surgically, therapy sessions lang yan" doctor

I sighed as a sign of relief

"Ok, thank you doc"

Inside the car

"Nolan, I told you many many times to be extra careful pero hindi ka nakikinig"

"Mom, basketball accidents can happen anytime. It's inevitable, you know" Nolan from the backseat

"Pero maiiwasan pag may pag-iingat ka. Eh pano kung mas malala natamo mo?! Nako, Nolan, grounded ka I tell you"

"Moooom, you're being oa na naman ah. You heard the doctor, right? 'Therapy sessions lang yan'" Nolan at ginaya yung wag ng pagsalita nung doctor kanina

"Bukas na bukas, pupunta tayo sa therapy lab. I'll find the best therapy lab in town. Pag magaling ka na wala ng basketball, ever"

"But mom, I love basketball" Nolan

"Tigilan mo ako sa love love na yan. Love love ka diyan eh sinaktan ka nga"

"Is that a hugot?" Nolan teases

"Nolan, I'm serious"

"Ok ok, I'm sorry, mom. I love you. And dada loves you too hahhaha" Nolan laughs

Nang-iinis pa eh

Nolan knows the truth already. Pinaintindi namin sa kanya ang nangyari sa pamilya namin. Pero wala kaming sinabi na sumama si Bea sa iba

The next day

BEATRIZ

While I was in the office, Beth, one of our physical therapists, came in

"Bei, may walk-in client tayo. Eh full sched tayo today" Beth

"What seems to be the problem? Set the client an appointment then"

"Yun na nga eh. Pinakausap sa'kin yung mommy niya sa phone, gusto niya immediate treatment sa anak niya" Beth

"How old is the kid?"

"9 year-old boy" Beth

Oh I remember my son, this patient is the same age as Nolan

"So, sino kasama nung bata?"

"Yaya niya" Beth

"Ahh ok, I'll talk to them. Better if we can contact his mother again? Pero ikaw, as a pt, hindi ba first priority yung case ng bata?"

"No naman" Beth

"Okay, let's go"'

I walked out of the office and went straight to the lobby. And there I see a kid sitting on the couch, clinging to his yaya

My heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. It had been four long years since I last held my child in my arms. Gusto ko maiyak pero I'm holding it back

NOLAN

I was like "😳" the moment I see dada standing meters away from me

Dada then came closer to us. I am just silent not knowing what to say or what to do? So I better shut up