Hospital Series 1: Paraluman

Chapter 44

"Yung passport mo?" I asked Uno.

Uno rummaged his bag looking for his passport. Nandito na kami sa airport para ihatid si Uno. It wasn't a surprise nang maapprove ang application nya to join the week-long international conference sa Singapore. And after almost 2 months of fixing documents and arranging schedules, ito na.

Aalis na siya.

"Here," he said raising his passport. "Dito ko na nga sa hand carry lagay," he added.

"Ipad mo. Lagi mo nakakalimutan yan," paalala ni Doc Ysabelle. I grinned at tumingin kay Doc Ysabelle. "Ako na naglagay sa hand carry niya," I said.

"Wow, girlfriend duties," she joked.

Uno grinned and gently grabbed my arms to pull me into a hug. I hugged him back, finally sinking in na aalis na siya. It's been almost 2 months, halos dalawang buwan ko hinanda ang sarili ko rito pero parang ganun pa rin.

Uno and I didn't talk much about this, parehas din siguro naming ayaw harapin kung ano nang mangyayari sa aming dalawa. Pero alam ko naman na eh. And if he can't do that, probably not wanting to hurt me, e'di ako na lang. 

Ako na lang ang gagawa para sa aming dalawa.

My chest tighten and I felt my wave of tears coming back. Flowing with as much force as it could give. And with soft sobs, it went out. Uno looked at me, his eyes soft.

"Chipmunk," he called out holding my face between his hands. Will it be the last time I'd hear that? He planted a soft kiss on my lips. "Saglit lang ako," he whispered.

"Okay, eexit muna ako dito. Mga bwiset kayo," Doc Ysabelle joked bago tumalikod at lumabas.

I grinned pero ayaw magpatalo ng mga luha habang matigas ang ulong pilit umagos. Uno patiently wiped them off. "If you cry that much, baka hindi ako matuloy," he gently teased.

Parang gusto nang sistema ko yun nang kumawala ang isang hikbi. I bit my lip bago nilagay ang magkabilang braso sa leeg niya. I tiptoed, and Uno squatted for me as I bury my head on his neck. Smelling his scent, feeling his warmth, memorizing how everything was bago siya umalis. 

For the last time...

"Hey," he softly whispered soothing while rubbing my back. Umatras ako, allowing him to look at my eyes. "Babalik ako," he said soft yet stern.

I bit my lip. Pinigil ang sarili magsalita. Dahil yes, babalik siya ng Pilipinas, pero baka hindi na sa buhay ko...

"I love you," sabi ko na medyo pumiyok pa.

Uno genuinely smiled and held my face again. "I love you," he whispered.

****