The Color of Happiness

At the Hospital

Chapter Six

August didn’t hesitate on Joy request and said yes immediately. After their late lunch, they instantly went to Saint Luke Hospital where August’s father was currently in. August didn’t expect things to turn out this way for their date as he had expected that after their lunch they would go to the Venice Grand Canal Mall that had been the rave in the social media right now and maybe get to know more about each other there and all. But as he drive he thought that he is now giving Joy the access to the most personal part of his life which is more than just “getting to know each other” and he realize that it seem to be the most normal thing to do.

“Sigurado ka ba dito?” Tanong ni Joy ng palapit na sila ng St. Luke.

“Honestly, I really don’t know.” August replied. “I am feeling nervous about you meeting my father but I also feels that it is the normal thing to do, that you should meet him.”

“Alam mo para ganun din ang nararamdaman ko pero siguro mas kinakabahan ako kaysa sayo.” Pag.amin naman ni Joy.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero nang inamin mo ang sitwasyon tungkol sa papa mo ay parang naalala ko rin noong time na nasa ospital si papa kaya agad kong ginusto na makita siya at makilala siya. Ayoko naman na makikialam ako pero hindi ko talaga alam..ah basta..ang hirap eh explain.” Joy ranted frustratingly.

August smiled at this. “You are obviously more nervous than me.”

Joy blushed. “Sorry, nagiging madal-dal lang talaga ako pagkinakabahan.”

“It’s okay Joy.” August smiled widen. “Gusto ko pagnagiging madaldal ka, you are so cute with you are being talkative.”

Joy bit her lower lips to stop herself from smiling. Dios ko nakakakilig talaga ang lalaking ito. She thought to herself.

After finding a parking space, August guided Joy to the Hospital and as soon as they got in August held Joy’s hand. Nagulat si Joy sa ginawa ni August but at the same time she felt something warmth as he held her hand. It was like someone was giving her a warm embrace. Napatingin si Joy sa kamay nilang dalawa tapos napatingin kay August. At sa pagtingin niya ay napatingin naman si August sa kanya at namula agad ang kanyang mukha.

“You don’t mind do you?” August asked with a smile as he then held up their hands that is clasp together.

Napailing lang si Joy na nakangiti rin, feeling niya ay parang nasa cloud nine siya. Pero ang nararamdaman niyang cloud nine ay biglang naglaho ng nakarating na sila sa floor sa kung saan naka-admit ang ama ni August. At bag-o sila pumasok ay may isang matandang babae na lumabas sa kwarto.

“Manang Ana!” Tawag ni August pagkakita niya sa matanda.

“Oh August, andito ka pala.” Gulat na sambit ni Manang Ana at mas nagulat siya na may kasama itong babae.

“Manang Ana, ito po pala si Joy. At Joy ito naman si Manang Ana, my nanny but more of my parents when I was growing up and still is, right Manang Ana?” Pagpakilala ni August sa dalawa.

“Oo naman, sino pa naman ang magpapalaki sayo kundi ako? Maloko ka talagang bata ka.” Sambit ni Mang Ana. “Kamusta ka Joy?”

“Okay naman po, kayo po ba?” Nahihiyang sagot naman ni Joy.

“Mabuti naman anak, mabuti naman.” Masayang sambit ni Manang Ana kasi dahil sa dalagang kasama ni August parang nakaroon na ulit ng buhay ang alaga niya ever since nalaman nito ang sitwasyon ng ama nito. “Dadalawin niyo ba ang ama mo August?”

“Opo Manang Ana, gusto pong makilala ni Joy si Papa.” Sagot ni August.

“Ay tamang tama ang pagdating niyo dahil kakagising niya lang. Sya, pumasok na kayo at ako ay kukuha ng pangmeryenda.” Wika ni Manang Ana at umalis naman agad. At si Joy naman ay hinila na ni August papasok ng private ward ng ama niya.

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Hindi inakala ni Joy ang bilis ng pangyayari at hindi rin niya inakala na maganda ang pagtanggap ng ama ni August sa kanya. Sa una ay hiyang hiya talaga siya at parang gusto niyang magsisi sa desisyon niyang makipagkilala sa ama ni Ausgust pero pagkatapos siyang ipakilala sa ama nito ay agad naman siyang tinanggap ng lubosan.

“Just call me Tito Ralph.” Raphael De Vaux, wrote on his white board and that made Joy smile.

Marami silang napagkwentohan tungkol sa pamilya ni Joy at pati na rin sa pagkamatay ng ama niya. Napagkwentohan rin nila si Dolores, ang mama ni August at kung paano sila nagkatagpo na masayang kwenento naman ni August.  Joy saw a different side of August at that moment, a side of him that shows how he loves his parents. At napatanto ni Joy na pareho sila ni August, kahit ano ay gagawin para sa pamilya.

They conversation ended when the doctor came to visit to check on Raphael. The doctor was surprise by the lively atmosphere on the room and was glad that his patient seem to have the energy because of his visitors. Gusto pa sanang kausapin ng doktor si August tungkol sa request ng ama nito pero hindi na niya ginawa at hinayaan na muna ang pamilya magbond.

“I think I need to rest now.” Raphael wrote after the doctor’s visit.

“Okay Pa.” August squeezed his father hand. “You need to rest now. Joy and I also have somewhere to go to.”

“Pasensya na po talaga sa abala ha.” Sambit ni Joy at umiling naman si Raphael.

“I think Papa wants to say na hindi abala ang pagpunta natin Joy.” August said. “I think he had enjoy our company.”

Raphael smiled at this and nodded.

“Mabuti naman pala.” Joy laughed shyly. “Sige po, paghinga na po kayo ha.”

Raphael nodded again and close his eyes with a smile on his face. Napangiti din si August at ginawaran ng halik ang ama sa noo. August then ushered Joy out of the room and they saw Manang Ana waiting patiently outside.

“Manang Ana! Ba’t andyan kayo at hindi pumasok?” Tanong agad ni August.

Manang Ana waved her hand dismissingly. “Sus, ayokong makadistrubo sa inyong pagkwekwentohan. Aalis na ba kayo?”

August nodded. “And papa wanted some rest also, he is actually sleeping already.”

Napatango si Manang Ana. “August pwede ba kitang makausap bago kayo umalis?”

Napakunot ng noo si August pero tumango na din.

“Sa loob sana.” Sambit ni Manang Ana.

Napatingin si August kay Joy.

“Don’t worry, dito lang ako sa labas.” Wika ni Joy. “Take your time.”

Agad naman pumasok si August at si Manang Ana at pagdating sa kwarto ang inaakalang tulog na na ama ni August ay gising pa pala. Mas lalong napakunot ng noo si August. “What it is? At Pa, I thought you were already asleep, what’s happening here?”

“August.” Napahawak si Manang Ana sa kanyang braso. “Hindi na kaya ni Papa mo na hintayin ang iyong desisyon.”

“What? What do you mean?” August frowned.

Napabuntong hininga si Manang Ana. “Pinirmahan na ni Raphael ang consent para putulin ang life support.”

“What?! That can’t be. Ako dapat ang pipirma ng consent na yon.” August argued.

“May lawyer kaming tinawag para magwitness na ang ama mo ay may isip pa para makapagdesisyon para sa kanyang sarili. At pagkatapos noon ay pinirmahan na niya ang consent.” Manang Ana explained. “Hindi na makapaghintay ang Papa mo August, hindi na niya kaya.”

Napatingin si August sa kanyang ama at nilapitan ito. “Is this really what you want Pa?”

Tumango naman agad si Raphael na may mga luhang tumulo sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata. He then tried to write on his white board. “Let me be with your Mama.”

Walang magawang tumango na lang si August. His heart was breaking but it is time to let his father go. “When will it be?”

“Sa kataposan ng buwan.” Sagot ni Manang Ana.

August gently squeezed his father’s hand. “Sa death anniversary ni Mama. Oh Papa, you are such a romantic.”