INCUBUS

Chapter VIII

Chapter VIII

Araceli's eyes opened and found herself in a white room full of different medical apparatus fixed on her. Hindi niya maintindihan. What was her last memory? The longer she tries to remember it, the easier it fades out. The only thing she can feel from it is memories. And she's afraid of something...something she can't explain.

"Oh, my God! Gising na siya!" she heard someone says probably the nurse.

Napapikit siya nang biglang naging maingay sa loob ng silid niya. She felt like her body is awake but her mind is still fuzzy and disoriented.

"Baby, are you okay? May masakit ba sa'yo?" she heard her mother say. Lumingon siya rito. Her mother's eyes are swollen as if she cried all week long.

"B-bakit ako nandito, Ma? Ano'ng...nangyari sa akin?" tanong niya.

"You were comatosed for a week, Ara. Ni hindi alam ng mga doctor ang nangyari sa'yo. No cause and no diagnosis. Mason tried to wake you up from sleep but you did not. We thought...we thought we lost you, Ara."

She felt her chest tightened. She almost died. Ano naman ang sakit niya? As far as she can remember, when she undergoes a general check-up a month ago, she was healthy as a baby.

"Alam ba sa office na nandito ako?" she asked.

She knew it was weird pero una niyang ipinag-alala ay ang trabaho. If she's one week out, malamang galit na naman sa kaniya ang department head nila.

"Yes. Lagi kang binibisita ni Jecca dito. Your company even shouldered the expense of your medicals. Ang sabi nila ay part daw iyon ng Insurance contribution mo sa kanila."

Napatango lamang siya. Dahan-dahan ay bumangon siya sa kama at pinakiramdaman ang sarili.

Okay naman ang sarili niya. Wala namang masakit sa katawan niya. Ibinaba niya ang paa niya sa kama at sinubukang tumayo.

"Ara, you don't have to—" natigilan ang kaniyang Ina nang makatayo siya nang walang alalay. Tumalon pa siya ng dalawang beses pero wala namang nangyari.

"Ma, puwede na bang tanggalin itong suwero ko?" sabi niya. Makati sa pakiramdam ang nakakabit na IV sa kamay niya.

"Can you stay still, Ara? Hintayin natin ang doctor. Haay, nakung bata ka." Napapailing na sabi ng kaniyang Ina.

"Ma, wala naman kasi talaga akong nararamdaman na masama. I am perfectly fine,"

"Then how come you're here? Hindi ka ma-o-ospital ng walang rason. Kaya mahiga ka lang diyan at ikukuha kita ng pagkain."

"But I'm not hungry, Ma," she pouting.

Her mother's eyes fixed on her as if she was trying to decipher something on her.

"Are you mentally ill, Ara?" sabi nito dahilan para matawa siya ng malakas.

"Si Mama talaga. I'm fine nga kasi,"

"Wait, I'll call your father. Matutuwa iyon kapag nalamang gising ka na,"

Her mother fished her phone and started dialing her father's number. Wala naman siyang nagawa kundi ang muling maupo sa bed at maghintay sa doctor. Nakakaramdam siya ng pagkabagot at tanging gusto niya lamang ay umuwi na.

She was staring at her IV fluid while counting every drops. Nangangalahati na ito. Siguro kaya siya hindi nagugutom dahil sa mga gamot na itinurok sa kaniya.

"Are you afraid of me, Araceli?"

Napatuwid siya sa pagakaupo nang biglang may narinig siyang boses ng isang lalaki.