Magnitude Arena

Magnitude X : LVIII

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"Nabugbog nga si Hub sa kalye at napagtulungan."

"Hindi ko po alam iyon."

"That's what his Mom said. He saves someone at ayon—-" pagbabahagi ng nurse sa akin.

Mahaba-haba ding kwento ang napag-usapan namin, tungkol kay Hub at sa aming sari-sariling buhay. Magaan at masiyahin din siya kausap kaya kahit napapalagi ako rito ay hindi ako nakaramdam ng bagot at lungkot.

Maybe it's their job and their gift, to make people feel warm and welcome.

Everything seems like an ordinary days. Hub is a human being with a girlfriend and a mother. So that's the plot twist.

"Thank you Ms. Avila, sa pag-uupdate pala sa akin."

"No worries. Actually, mas gusto kita ditong nagbabantay sa pasyente ko."

"Salamat talaga."

Dahil naging malapit na ako sa nurse na nagbabantay kay Hub. She always makes an update for his Mom & his girlfriend's visiting schedule. They seem to visit him thrice a week, habang ako araw-araw na tumityempo ng oras para bumisita at masolo siya.

"Kailan ka kaya magigising?" sabi ko sa hangin habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

My heart's still in pain. Ito pala 'yong masakit na pakiramdam. It's really official, alam kong pag-gising niya, hindi niya ako kilala. Mukhang binuhay siya sa mundong may sarili ng memorya at buhay na matagal ng tinatahak. Kahit bilang kaibigan, hindi niya siguro kikilalanin.

Why am I even here? Maybe because it feels worthy. Doing these were satisfying. And that's what I promise to myself, whatever happens. I'll be there for him.

Magulat nalang siguro yong nurse paggising ni Hub, na hindi pala ako lubusang kilala ng tao pero grabe yong alaga na binigay ko.

"Where am I?"

"ha—?" sabi ko na lamang at nagulat ng biglang maalimpungatan si Hub sa kanyang pagkakahiga. Nataranta naman kaming dalawa ng Nurse na tila'y nagising siya sa kanyang masamang panaginip basi sa kaniyang aksyon.

"I said where am I!?"

"Sir, you're fine. You're sent here because an unfortunate event happened. But all is well now. Gising ka na." mahinahong ulat ng nurse.

"I want to get out of here!" sigaw niya na animo'y walang narinig.

"Hub? hindi—-"

"Sino ka ba?" sigaw ni Hub sa akin while giving me the bitter and intense look. This is not what I'm expecting to see & didn't prepare myself for this.

"Bawal pa kasi." I answered, playing it safe. Nakayuko na lamang ako para maiwasan ang nakakanuklaw niyang tingin.

"Where's my phone? I'll call my Mom." aligaga niyang lahad. Inaalis ang mga bagay na nakakabit sa kanyang katawan, kinakapa ang mga materyal na bagay sa kaniyang higaan.

His energy comes back to its life but I don't know if I'll be delighted seeing him like this.

"Since I'm okay right?" dagdag niya ng nakatingin na sa Nurse. The nurse took action immediately, called someone for assistance.

Ngayon, para lamang akong hangin sa sulok. I felt like an invisible, he never made an eye contact after. My nerve and heart inside were aggressively shaking and I don't like how I'm feeling. I want to speak but my mouth is tied shut. I want to move and leave but unable to move my legs.

It's bringing the worse in me.

The nurse gave his phone out of the pocket and he started using it to contact someone, maybe it's his Mom.

"F*ck those jerks. Makita ko lang sila Mom. I'll kill them." He shouted, referring to those guys who made him incapacitated.

This person is the opposite Hub I've known. His eyes, action screams like an antagonist. His energy and aura is too different, it's unplesant. Not what I'm really expecting.

Did I just made a wrong decision, making him breathe?

"I need to get out of here!"

"Hub—"

"Ano?!" sigaw niya ulit na nanlilisik ang mata. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at mabilis sa hinagip ng kamay ko ang kanyang pisngi. I slapped him.

"What the fuck—-"

"You're insensitive."

"What?"

"You're ungrateful. I hate you." sabi ko at mabilis na pumanhik palabas.

Hindi na ako nagpaalam pa sa nurse. I cried involuntarily and hurriedly walked away. The pain is unbearable. My heart can't take it anymore.

"Sivan?"

A familiar face walked with speed and when he came close. He tightly hugged me.

"Clifford." sabi ko nalang at busilak na tinanggap ang kaniyang yakap. And from that moment, I burst my tears out and hid my face on his chest.

"Buti okay ka na."

"At ikaw din."

I never bothered to contact them back but glad they're okay. I missed them. I miss my friends.

Maybe. The only people I have now.

"Clifford." sigaw ng pamilyar na boses. Boses ni Hub na papalapit sa amin.

"Tol." sagot ni Clifford.

Hindi na ako umimik pa at nagpaalam na lamang kay Clifford, segway gamit ang sariling mata. Thankfully, he let me leave and I saw on my peripheral vision, how awed they're.

As much as I'm embarrased, yet I can't fake my emotion and display my displeasure. How can he be such a jerk?

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