ELEVATOR
ALMERA'S POV
Mabilis akong napamulat ng aking mga mata ng makaramdam ako ng sakit sa aking mga buto.
Parang may tumutusok-tusok na mga karayom sa loob ng katawan ko.
“Arghhh” impit akong napatili, habol hininga akong tumayo at hinalungkot ang drawer ko at ng makita ang hinahanap ko ay mabilis ko itong binuksan at mabilis na isinubo ang dalawang natitirang medisina sa lalagyan.
Napaupo ako sa sahig, ininda ang pananakit ng aking mga buto. Mga ilang minuto muna ang lumipas bago unti-unting nawala ang pananakit.
Sa tingin ko ay umepekto na ang painkiller na ininom ko.
“Pero last two tablets na iyong ininom ko kanina, I need to go to Dr. Arya to ask for more painkillers.” I whispered.
Even though I was weak, my legs shaky and unsteady, I stood up and decided to get ready. I can't let this pain stop me, habang hindi pa ako sinusumpong ng sakit ay mas mabuting maaga kung mapupuntahan si Dr. Arya.
“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND ALMERA?!” her voice was sharp, laced with a mixture of anger and concern, her face flushed with frustration. She slammed her hand on the desk. “Did you drink alcohol? Do you really want to kill yourself?!” Her voice cracked slightly at the end, revealing the underlying worry beneath her anger.
She cares, I know she does..
We are in her office right now, a place that usually felt comforting now felt suffocating. Her family owns this hospital where we are. She is one of the doctors here and she is also the one who takes care of and manages this hospital.
I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me.
“I only drank a little bit of alcohol,” I mumbled defensively, shrinking under her intense gaze. “Alam muna, gusto ko lang libangin ang sarili ko” pahabol ko pa.
I was comfortably seated on the couch, but then she approached me and stood in front of me, her shadow falling over me like a shroud.
“Aren’t you scared of what might happen to you? You haven’t even undergone chemotherapy yet and you’re drinking alcohol? You’re probably forgetting that it’s strictly prohibited for people with leukemia!” Her voice was softer now, but the concern was palpable.
Her eyes, usually bright and full of life, were clouded with worry.
She's the only person I considered as my friend, pero hindi ko iyon pinapahalata.
“I know” ngumiti ako ng pilit “Pero okay naman na ako eh! hindi mo na kailangan mag-alala pa sa'kin, All I need is more painkillers." I pleaded.
Tumigas ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito bago naglakad pabalik sa inuupoan niya kanina .
“No! You need to undergo chemotherapy. You’re my patient Almera, so whatever happens to you will have a huge impact on me.” Dr. Arya's voice was firm.
Ako naman ngayon ang tumayo at lumapit kung nasaan siya nakaupo.
“Exactly! You’re my doctor, and you’ll do whatever your patient wants. I haven’t made a decision yet, I have more important things to do than that chemotherapy.” I retorted, hinawakan ko ang kamay niya “All I need right now is the painkiller, pati ba naman 'yon ipagkakait mo pa sa'kin?”
I need time, a time to figure things out.
Napabuntong hininga ito bago kunin ang kamay niyang hawak-hawak ko at may kung anong kinuha sa drawer nito at pagkatapos ay ibinigay sa'kin.
Napangiti ako ng makita kung ano ito.
”Thank you so much!”
“You’re always welcome, basta lagi ka lang bibisita rito so I can monitor your condition.” her voice held a hint of sadness.
“I will, for now I need to go, kailangan ko ng pumunta sa opisina” tumango lamang ako at aalis na sana ng magsalita ulit ito.
“Almera, we’ve been together for so long, you’re like a sister to me.” Her voice was soft, filled with genuine affection and concern. Liningon ko siya dahil doon. ”Hindi lahat ng oras matutulongan ka ng gamot na ’yan, the day will come when your body will get used to the painkiller and it will no longer be able to stop the pain you will feel. You need chemotherapy, as soon as possible”
Tumango lamang ako sa sinabi niya at binigyan ng matamis na ngiti.
When I arrived at our company, I quickly entered the VIP elevator. This elevator is exclusively for us. My husband and I, employees are not allowed to ride this.
And I realize something while looking at this elevator.
“We’ve never ridden this elevator togethe.. ni Clark” napangiti ako “Kailan kaya?” unti unting nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko ng may biglang mga imahing pumasok sa isipan ko.
“Then let's make a deal”
“I want you to treat me like your wife, just for one month.”
“If you agree, for this one month, you have to do your duty as my husband, and I will also give you the list kong ano pa ang mga pwede mo pang gawin as my good husband and don't worry about my uncle or your parents, I'll handle them after the divorce.”
“O-oh my God” nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatakip ako sa aking bibig.
Masyado akong na preoccupied kaninang umaga na nakalimutan ko ang mga pinaggagawa ko kagabi.
This is not real!
“You're crazy almera, you're f*cking crazy!” sinabunotan ko ang aking buhok at ginulo gulo ito dahil sa inis, napapadyak-padyak pa ako ng aking mga paa na ginagawa ko lagi kapag ako ay nakakaramadam ng inis or frustration.
Nasaganon akong ayos ng bumukas ang elevator at ganon nalamang ang panlalaki ng aking mga mata ng makita ko sa hindi kalayoan si clark.
He was talking to one of our employees.
N-now way..
At kung minamalas ka nga naman, napatingin ito sa gawi ko.
Ang ibang mga emplaydo ay nakatingin na rin sa'kin at ang bawat isa sa kanila ay nakabukas ang bibig.
Gulat na gulat sa itsura ko ngayon, what? rare niyo nalang makita ang ganito ayos ko so mag sawa kayo!
“Deal, I'll be your good husband for a month.” bigla ko nalamang narinig ang boses nito sa aking isipan kaya ay ginulo ko ulit ang aking buhok at napatingin sa paligid. Side effect ba ito ng painkiller? Hell no! Matagal na akong umiinom nun pero ngayon lang 'to nangyari!
Nanlaki ang mga mata, baka nababaliw na talaga ako? Shit!
Nang makita ko itong nagpaalam sa kausap niya at nag simulang maglakad sa kinaruruonan ko habang ang mga kamay nito'y nasa bulsa ng pantalon niya ay doon lamang ako nataohan.
”Sh*t! Sh*t!” pinindot ko ang closed button ng elevator.
Ayuko siyang makausap ngayon! Ayuko!
But it was too late when I saw how he used his hand to block the elevator door from closing completely and he quickly entered.
“Hi wifey!” he playfully smiled “You just arrived and you’re leaving already? Are you seriously leaving your husband here without giving him a morning kiss?” I stepped back but he quickly grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him, his grip surprisingly strong.
This isn't Clark!
The Clark who's Infront of me was completely different person, I swear!
END OF CHAPTER 18
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Thanks for reading! Anyways how's the chap? haha! Our playful Clark is back!
