Artistry of Love (Abstract Series #3)

Chapter 39

The chiming timepiece.

Each and every single drop from the faucet.

Even the yapping dogs that belong to our neighbors.

I absolutely no longer have any aggravations.

Gusto ko na lang matulala at kalimutan ang sitwasyon. My one and only son was dying, and there was nothing I could do but watch helplessly as my heart shattered.

"Ilang araw ka nang hinahanap ni Riley. Hindi mo ba siya bibisitahin?"

I drowsily cast a weary gaze Trip's way, who was already wrapped in his denim pants and shirt. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nakakaya na magpatuloy sa buhay. He appeared not to be concerned about our son, or maybe he didn't seem to be grieving at all.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa sahig nang lumapit siya sa akin. I was totally off the clock. I simply allowed myself to become alone in our home. Hindi rin ako sumasagot ng mga tawag at kung may bumibisita man sa akin ay hindi ko kinakausap.

"Please, love. Visit him."

"I—" My voice broke. "I-I simply can not afford to see him struggling for life in that hospital bed, Trip."

Mas lalong nanghina si Riley at hindi na talaga siya makagalaw. He would catch his breath as though he were battling for it with only a slight movement.

Napapikit ako nang mahigpit akong niyakap ni Trip. As his hands rubbed my back, tears continued to pour from my eyes. I completely wasted the days I spent trying to prepare myself to be emotionless since, in his arms, I was unable to control my cries.

"Birthday na niya next week. Everyone is making every effort to get ready for it. They don't want to pressure you into helping, but they do want you to. Pero 'di ba mas magiging masaya ang anak natin kapag nalaman niyang tumulong ka sa preparation?" he whispered. "Besides, he had been anticipating a birthday celebration since the previous year."

Natigilan ako. We didn't have the chance to celebrate his birthday last year because he passed out the day before his celebration. Since then, he would always blabber about the themes and things he wanted to do for his birthday this year.

Sa sobrang pagkalulong ko sa lungkot, pati birthday ng sarili kong anak ay nakalimutan ko na.

"Trip," I sobbed. "What if he dies?" Ayaw kong banggitin ang tanong na iyon pero hindi ko rin pwedeng iwasan. We both want to sign the agreement, but I'm not prepared to take the risk.

"Would you allow your regrets to consume you once more if he passed away because you decided to shut yourself in here rather than spend time with him?"

Napatingin ako sa mga mata niya. I nearly lost my remaining strength when I noticed the devastating sadness that had been engraved in there. Hindi kagaya ko, walang luha na makikita sa mukha niya pero ang sakit na nakaburda doon ay hindi matutumbasan ng ilang milyong luha.

I had believed for a long time that I was the only one experiencing pain and misery.

"I can't lose him," iyak ko at niyakap siya ulit. "Not my baby. Kahit ako na ang mawala basta 'wag lang si Riley. Every single time he needs to struggle for his life, I can't bear to watch. Imbes na nasa labas siya at naglalaro sa ibang mga bata, nandoon siya sa ospital at nakikipaghabulan kay kamatayan."

"Maybe it was God's plan," he said, in a very weak tone, as if he were even uncertain of his own words.

"Bakit?! Kasama ba sa plano Niya ang maging ganito ang anak natin?!" I gave him just enough distance by pushing him slightly. "Will our son's suffering influence the crime rate to decrease? Will severe weather and other disasters disappear since Riley is fighting for his life? What impact would it have? Bakit hindi Niya na lang tayo hayaang maging masaya? Mababago ba ang ikot ng mundo kapag nawala ang anak natin, Trip? Why does he keep stealing away the people I love?"