Shin reached Barin General Hospital an hour before midnight. Pagdating niya roon ay kaagad niyang tinawagan si Ness na sa mga oras na iyon ay hawak ang cellphone ni Eva. Ness informed him that Eva was in the delivery room, so he went to the nurse's station and insisted to be there beside her.
Matapos niyang magsuot ng scrub shirt, bouffant cap, shoe covers at face mask ay kaagad siyang pinapasok sa delivery room kung saan naroon si Eva at ino-obserbahan ng doktorang naka-assign dito. Nakahiga na ito sa delivery bed, pawisan at nanghihina. Subalit nang makita siya'y biglang nagliwanag ang mukha nito.
"You made it," she uttered. Itinaas nito ang kamay na kaagad niyang inabot at pinisil.
"Your babies couldn't wait— they want to come out tonight."
He smiled behind his mask. "Please don't tell me you were holding them up until I arrive?"
Eva chuckled at his joke. Nakikita niya sa mukha nito ang hirap.
"No, silly. Hindi ba sinabi sayo na kailangan nilang hiwain ang tiyan ko para ilabas ang mga anak mo?"
"That sounds gruesome," he said, faking the shock in his face, making Eva laugh.
"Oh God," she uttered while laughing. "Why can't you be like this all the time?"
Yumuko siya at hinalikan ito sa noo. "Like what?"
"Funny as hell," sagot nito saka ngumiwi nang maramdaman ang muling paghilab ng tiyan.
Doon siya hinawakan ng doktora sa balikat. Tuwid siyang tumayo at hinarap ito subalit ang mga kamay niya'y nanatiling naka-hawak sa asawa.
"Mr. Takano, I need to inject the general anesthesia now, the surgery will commence soon. Your wife needs your support, so you can stay here and be with her."
Tumango siya bilang pagsagot dito. Ngumiti ang doktora at sinenyasan ang mga nurses na ihanda na ang mga kakailanganin. Ang isa sa mga nurse ay naglagay ng stool sa bandang uluhan ng delivery bed kung saan siya maaaring maupo. And the others put a curtain separating them from seeing the procedure.
Naupo siya sa metal stool na ibinigay sa kaniya at idinikit ang noo sa noo ni Eva na sa mga oras na iyon ay patuloy sa paghugot na malalim na paghinga.
"You'll be fine..." he whispered as he tightly closed his eyes. Ang isang kamay niya'y humahagod sa buhok nito habang ang isa'y mariing nakahawak sa kanang kamay ni Eva.
"I am starting to feel numb down there," she whispered back. Ipinikit rin nito ang mga mata at hinawakan siya sa braso, bago nagpakawala ng malalim na paghinga. "I'm scared."
Nag-mulat siya at ini-angat ang ulo upang titigan ito. "Hang on, babe. You can do this. Just relax and hold me."
Eva looked up and gave him a nervous smile.
"I was watching a video about C-section the other night. It looked scary, so I can't imagine what's going on down there."
He smiled back, lowered down his mask, and gave her a soft kiss on her lips.
"Don't be scared, you will be fine. Matatapos ang surgery nang wala kang mararamdamang kahit anong sakit."
Eva touched his face softly.
"I'm really glad that you're here with me, Shin."
Hindi na siya sumagot pa. Muli siyang yumuko at dinampian ito ng banayad na halik sa mga labi saka muling idinikit ang noo sa noo nito.
"They better be careful not to cause you pain or they'll be sorry forever."
Eva responded to his joke with a soft chuckle.
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SHATTERPROOF
General FictionWATTYS 2021 WINNER - WILD CARD CATEGORY Shin Takano used to be a notorious gang leader; living his life surrounded by money, alcohol, cigars, drugs, and women. He used to show no mercy to his targets and enjoyed the fun of beating them up and scammi...
