Until Forever (Published!)

Chapter 55

Micheal was fuming in mixed emotions as he drove. Pinipilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili pero hindi niya maiwasang mag-alala. Lalo pa at ang sama ng panahon. The rain was pouring hard, and he couldn't drive fast in a wet pavement and dark surroundings. But he had to push through. He had to drive and brave the wrath of the storm. He had to run after Mia. Oh God, please, let him find his wife! He needed to. He just couldn't let her get away! And he was dead worried. Malakas ang ulan at madilim ang paligid. Hindi kabisado ng asawa ang kalsada. It wasn't safe for her to drive in a mountainous place where the terrain was unpredictable. He was hoping that the rain would stop, but it continued pouring from the heaven as if a dam of water was opened. Dang!

"Mia... where the hell are you?" he murmured as he wiped the window to clear the mist. Ni hindi na kasi niya makita ang paligid dahil sa makapal na tubig na dumadaloy sa bintana ng sasakyan. The wiper wasn't enough to clear the window. Sinuyod niya ang daan. The heavy downpour added to his frustration. Hindi kasi siya makapag-drive nang mabilis. He drove for an hour yet he still could not find Mia's pickup. He glanced at his wrist watch. It was only four thirty in the afternoon yet the surroundings were already dark because of the heavy rain and fog. Abot-abot ang panalangin niyang nasa mabuting kalagayan ang asawa at ina. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at unti-unti nang humupa ang malakas na ulan. Malinaw na niyang nakikita ang daan. Nakakapag-drive na rin siya nang mabilis. He opened the windows of his SUV. Sinusuyod niya ng paningin ang paligid. Nadaanan niya ang isang bahagi ng daan na may ilang mga residente ang nakakalat sa paligid. Parang may tinitingnan ang mga ito sa ilalim ng bangin. He got curious. Itinigil niya ang sasakyan. May nag-uusap na dalawang tao malapit sa kanya.

"May nahulog na sasakyan. May naaksidente yata," wika ng isang ale sa kausap nito.

Para siyang tinadyakan sa narinig. Kaagad na idinungaw niya ang ulo sa bintana ng kanyang SUV. "May naaksidente?" malakas na sambit niya. Lumingon ang dalawang nag-uusap sa kanya.

"Oo meron," sagot ng ale sa kanya. "May nahulog na pickup sa bangin."

Pickup? It couldn't be! Nanigas ang kanyang buong katawan. Nang makabawi siya mula sa pagkabigla ay kaagad siyang lumabas sa kanyang sasakyan. Abo't-abot ang kanyang kaba habang naglalakad papunta sa gilid ng daan. Bangin ang gilid niyon. May nakalagay namang harang pero nasira iyon. He looked down to the ravine, and he was mortified with what he saw. "Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed in terror as Mia's pickup filled his sight. Hindi iyon tuluyang nahulog sa malalim na bangin dahil sumalpok sa malaking bato. But it didn't look good either. The front of the pickup was crushed as it smashed against the rock, the windows were broken. "Mia! Mama!" sigaw niya. Pinanghinaan siya ng laman sa nakita. Naaksidente ang asawa niya! Oh God!

Mabilis na bumaba siya sa bangin. May ilang taong nandoon at sinisilip ang loob ng sasakyan. "Tabi kayo! Asawa ko iyan," aniya at lumayo ang tatlong lalaking nag-uusyuso. Mabilis na nakalapit siya sa pickup. And he almost died when he saw Mia and Jasmin inside the pickup. Blood was splattered around the car. "Mia! Mama!" Nagpalipat-lipat ang paningin niya sa dalawang pasahero nang naaksidenteng sasakyan. Jasmin was unconscious, but she was safely strapped in a seatbelt. But his wife... "Shit!" he cussed as he opened the door. Ni hindi na siya humihinga nang abutin niya ang asawa. Puno ng dugo ang mukha nito. At walang malay. "God, Mia!" nanginginig na sa takot ang boses niya. Pinangko niya ito at inilabas sa pickup. He was almost in a panic now. The thought that Mia was dying was ripping him apart. Tears were pricking in his eyes. But he tried his best to pacify himself. "Tulungan ninyo ako," pakiusap niya sa tatlong taong naroroon. "Pakilabas naman sa pickup si Mama," tukoy niya sa isa pang pasahero. "Nasa daan ang sasakyan ko. I'll bring them to the hospital."

Mabilis namang tumalima ang mga pinakiusapan niya. Binuksan ng mga ito ang passenger's seat at inilabas ang isa pang pasahero. The biggest man carried Jasmin. Dinala nila ang kanyang asawa at ina sa kanyang SUV. Kaagad na pinulsuhan niya ang mag-ina nang maiayos sa loob ang mga ito. They still had pulses but very weak. Ganoon pa man ay nakabawas iyon sa matinding alalahaning dinadala niya. He fished for his phone and rang Denzil's number. Kaagad naman itong sumagot.

"Micheal?"

"Denzil!" habol ang hininga na wika niya. "I need your help. Emergency!"

"Anong nangyari?" tanong nito.

"Naaksidente si Mia. God, I don't know what to do!" nagpa-panic na wika niya. "Where are you? Nasa hospital ka ba? I need to bring them to the hospital. Malapit lang kami."

"Micheal, calm down," he wisely advised. "Don't panic, okay? Yes, I'm here in the hospital."

"Good! We're rushing in a few minutes. Mia and Mama are not doing good. Prepare the emergency room for us."

"Okay. Good thing that it's not busy here in the hospital right now. I'll wait for you. Stay calm and drive carefully. I hope Mia and Tita Jasmin will just be okay."

He drew a sharp breath. He really hoped so. Oh, God, please... don't let Mia and Jasmin die, he silently prayed. Kaagad na nagpaalam siya kay Denzil. And with heart full of worry, he drove to the hospital. He was praying again and again to the Lord to send His holy angels to watch over Mia and Jasmin as he tried to get the help they needed. He couldn't afford to lose the two most important people in his life - ang kanyang asawa at ang kanyang kinikilalang ina.