I Could Fall

Chapter Thirty

Umiiyak ako nang tawagan ko si Ali. He panicked because I could barely breathe when I told him about the call that I received.

Nang sabihin ko sa kanya kung saan hospital ay binaba niya na rin ang tawag. I changed 'cos I want to go to the hospital. I went to my parents' room to tell them about the news. They immediately decided to go to Atticus.

They tried to ask me about Atticus' condition but I couldn't answer them properly. Hindi pumasok sa utak ko ang mga sinabi ng lalaking tumawag. All I can think about is that Atticus got in an accident. Himala pa nga na nakuha kong tandaan ang hospital na pinagdalhan kay Atticus.

Si Daddy ang nakipag-usap sa nurse para itanong kung nasaan si Atticus. Lutang na sumunod lang ako sa kanila patungong ER.

We passed by a couple of beds in the ward before we found the unit that Atticus was in. Una kong nakita si Ali at si Tita Agatha. Tito Theo was nowhere in sight. They were watching Atticus who was getting attended by a nurse.

"Agatha," tawag ni Mommy kahit na hindi pa kami nakakalapit. All of their eyes turned to us because of it.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Ali. His face was sullen but his eyes softened at the sight of me. Hindi ko magawang ngumiti sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko ay mali para sa oras na ito kaya ibinaling ko ang tingin kay Atticus.

His face was all bruised up and his upper cheek got a cut and was a little swollen. He looked like someone who got in a fight instead of someone who got into an accident. Nang makita niya ako ay nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napangiwi dahil lang sa kaonting paggalaw ng mukha.

Yumakap si Tita Agatha kay Mommy nang makalapit kami. Hindi ko alam kung tamang bumeso sa kanya o magmano man lang kaya nanatili lang akong nakatayo sa tabi ni Daddy.

"You didn't have to come but thank you," emosyonal na sabi ni Tita Agatha at ginawaran kami ng tingin ni Daddy. Hindi rin nagtagal at ibinalik din agad kay Mommy.

"What happened? Where's Theo?" tanong ni Daddy.

"He's on the phone with a friend in the AFP. We want to speed up the process on finding the car that hit Atticus," paliwanag ni Tita Agatha. "Tumakas si Atticus sa bahay at pumunta ng bar. According to a bystander, he got into a fight with someone. Ang suspetya namin ay 'yon ang sumagasa sa kanya. So far he has minor injuries and we're still waiting for the result of the test if there's an internal bleeding."

"I told you not to make a big deal out of this. Tss..." Atticus snided.

"You were hit by a car, Atticus! Kung napalakas o mali ang bagsak mo, you could have died!" nanginig ang malakas na boses ni Tita Agatha.

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Atticus flippantly replied.

Suminghap si Tita Agatha at bumuhos ang mga luha. "At hinihintay mo pa na hindi? You're spiraling again, Atticus James! Bumabalik ka sa-"

Hinawakan ni Ali ang balikat ni Tita Agatha kaya napahinto ito sa pagsasalita. Atticus' eyes were dark as he looked away. His jaw was ticking, like he was trying to supress something.

Tita Agatha looked at me with her teary eyes and shook her head before walking away.

"Agatha," tawag ni Mommy dito at matapos ay sumunod na rin.

Huminga nang malalim si Ali bago tumingin sa amin ni Daddy. "I'll just go check on Dad to see if I can help."

"I'll come with you," sabi ni Daddy pero bago umalis ay tiningnan nang masinsinan si Atticus. "Man up, son."

Sabay na umalis si Daddy at Ali. Naiwan ako kay Atticus na ngayon ay sa iba pa rin nakatingin. He looked so angry but I know beneath that layer, he's just in pain. Seeing him like this hurts me.