The Red Strings

•Chapter 1

I let out a heavy sigh, what do I expect? Hahanapin nila ako? Like they care, kung sa una palang gusto na nila akong mawala. My family doesn't care a single thing about their middle daughter, tanggap ko naman na wala silang pakialam sakin pero may kung anong kirot parin akong naramdaman sa sulok ng aking puso.

Feeling ko iiyak na naman ako kaya nilibang ko muna ang sarili hanggang sa tinamaan ako ng antok at nakatulog ulit.

"It was a miracle na nagising sya," naalimpungatan ako sa narinig kong pag-uusap sa loob ng kwarto—teka sino tong nasa loob ng kwarto?unti kong minulat ang aking mga mata at bumungad sakin ang isang middle–age man at si Jerome.

"It's also shocking how she recovers so fast and it's been 3 months! Mostly other patients wakes up from coma ay umaabot ng ilang years so it was really a miracle!" The middle–age man added his statement, I think he's the doctor.

"That's a good thing doc," sagot ni Jerome. Nagitla ako ng magtagpo ang aming paningin, he only smiled at me.
"Doc, she's awake." He said at napatingin naman sa gawi ko ang doctor na kausap ni Jerome.

"Oh nagising ka ba namin hija? Oh, ako si Doc Martin Arlington. Ako ang doctor na nagsusuri sa kalagayan mo, and hija here's some good news! Your recovery is marvelous, in a weeks pwede ka nang ma discharge pero mag ta-take samples muna tayo para masigurado na okay ka na at walang impeksyon sa brain mo." Doc Martin gladly said, I'm somehow feel happy that I get better and also guilty.

For some reason ako may gustong kumitil sa own life ko and here I am inside of the hospital at nagpapagaling. Maraming information ang sinabi sakin ng doctor na di ko naman masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin dahil napadpad ang atensyon ko sa red strings na naka attached sa pinky finger nito.

"Doc are you married?" Out of nowhere bigla ko iyon natanong—isang malaking kahihiyan!
Napatigil rin sa pagsasalita si Doc Martin at parang di nya inaasahan iyong tinanong ko, maging si Jerome nagulat rin at parang naiinis ako sa pagmumukha nya ngayon. He's holding himself not to laugh.

"Oh, ah.. well it's kind of confidential hija but still I will give you a tiny bit of hint." Lumapit sakin ng kaunti si Doc Martin, and he whispered his answer na kinagulat ko naman— I didn't know na close pala kami ni Doc, mukhang wala atang personal boundaries and space na nalalaman si Doc.

Ng matapos nya ito sabihin sakin ay nag ayos rin ito ng tayo at nag-wink pa muna sakin, may dinagdag rin syang information na sinabi sakin before he bid his farewell and left the room. Somehow I feel alone again—

"Hey," napalingon ako sa right side ko at nakita ko si Jerome na kinuha ang isang upuan at inilapit ito sa hospital bed ko bago sya umupo, akala ko umalis na sya kasama ni Doc Martin.

"Ano yung secret nyo ni doc?" He asked with matching curious face—he looks like a puppy sa pinag-gagawa nya.

"Why would I tell you a secret when it's a secret?" pilosopo kong tanong na ikinawala ng curious face nya at may pa roll eyes pa syang nalalaman.

"Hmph! Killjoy mo naman, tsaka nga pala can I call you by your name?" Tanong nya sakin, well di pa pala ako nag pakilala sa kanya pero I know he knows my name.

"Ahm yes you can call Jasmine or Jas for short," he smiled at me while looking at me straight in the eye.
"And your Jerome... Right?" He nod his head at inilahad nya sakin ang kamay.

Napatingin ako sa right hand nya na inilahad sakin and looks like he wants a hand shake, kaya inabot ko rin ang aking left hand para makipag–shake hands sa kanya. His hands are warmer than mine, then I saw again the red strings. His strings were attached in his left pinky finger while mine is the opposite, it gives me a weird feeling.

The hand shake didn't last long, since ako ang unang naglayo saking kamay.
Napatikhim naman si Jerome dahil dun and then he began to talk, tamang  sagot lang ako sa mga questions nya kasi I'm not a talkative person—I only speak with my mind.

Di rin nagtagal si Jerome at nagpaaalam na aalis muna sya dahil daw may aasikasuhin lang sya, I only gave him my normal smile before he completely left the room.

Then here goes my mind wondering again. Bakit ko nga ba nakikita ang red strings? What's the reason? Dahil ba yun sa aksidente? Or guni-guni ko lang yun?

I check my hands again and there's the red string. I think it's really real—I mean the strings are real!

I can really see the red strings, so does that means Jerome is my soulmate? Does that means I can see and know people who are destined to each other?

There's so much questions that made my head hurts, Ugh. I think stop muna ako sa pag sa pag-think, di pa ako fully recover baka mabinat pako.

Can't believe na habang pinapakalma ang sarili ko ay tinamaan uli ako ng antok at nakatulog ulit.

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Author: 🧵🤭