[Book 1] Warning: Bawal Ma-fall

48. Tama Na

"Yes, Ma. . . Nasa ospital po ako. . . Don't worry, hindi ako. Si Tito Lucas po. . . Yeah, I'm not going home. I'll stay with Misty. Wala siyang kasama. . . Okay, thanks. Mom. . ."

Pagkatapos nun ay nilingon ko si Zion nang hindi pa rin inaalis ang ulo ko sa kama.

"Si Mama, tumawag."

I looked to him worriedly. "You can go home. Kaya ko naman mag-isa dito e."

Mariin siyang umiling bago humila ng upuan at tumabi sa akin. "Dito lang ako. Hindi kita iiwan."

I stared at him, and I felt my heart beating faster. "Sure ka?"

"Oo naman. Ngayon pa ba kita iiwan kung kailan kailangan mo ng masasandalan?"

Despite the worries, I still managed to smile anyway. "Thank you, Zion. . ." With him, I feel safe and protected.

"O sige na. Tulog ka na. Hindi ako aalis..."

And with that, I fell into a deep slumber soon after I closed my eyes.

***

The next day, I tossed my head back because I felt a bit uncomfortable. Malambot naman ang hinihigaan ko pero bakit kakaiba? Kumilos pa ako pero nabigla ako nang bumagsak ako sa malamig na sahig. My eyes blinked and opened, slowly focusin on the white ceiling. Naalarma ako dahil puti ang kisameng nakikita ko. Hindi puti ang kisame sa kwarto ko kundi beige. Nasaan ako?

And then, I remembered what happened last night. Nasa ospital nga pala ako! Tumingin agad ako sa direksyon ng kama ni Daddy, and there, I saw him. His solemn gaze roved over my face. He seems weak, and his eyes are dull.

"Daddy!" I got up and ran into him. Niyakap ko siya at narinig ko ang tawa niyang parang nanggaling sa kailailaliman ng katawan niya. "I hate you! Bakit hindi mo sinabing may sakit ka palang iniinda?"

He just laughed his heart out like what he normally does. "I'm good. Ano ba... Over-fatigue lang."

I frowned, my gaze at him an unspoken question.

"Oo nga. Over-fatigue lang. Hindi ba sinabi sa'yo ng doktor kagabi?"

Ngumuso ako, still inconvinced. "Pero sabi niya po, heart failure."

He laughed and I don't know why I didn't feel any humor in it. "Over-fatigue nga. Baka nagkamali lang si Doc. Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm all good."

I frowned, still perplexed. "Are you sure?" Hindi ako convinced. Why would that Doctor tell me that he's got a heart failure when the truth's not? Ano yun, nagkamali lang? I breathed out in relief. Sana nga nagkamali lang talaga siya or else, I wouldn't know what to do.

"Yes, I am. Katawan ko 'to, Misty. Bagets pa ako," he joked and I couldn't help but laughed along. He studied my look and he instantly frowned. "Wait. Hindi ka pa ba umuuwi sa bahay? Why are you still wearing your uniform?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Napakamot nalang ako gulo-gulo kong buhok. And then, Zion flashed into my mind. Oo nga pala. Where is he?

"Si Zion po?"

And as if on cue, bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok si Zion na may dala-dalang pagkain. Lihim tuloy akong napangiti. Hindi nga talaga siya umuwi para samahan ako dito.

"Ayan na pala ang hinahanap mo e."

Sumimangot ako sa sinabi ni Dad kasabay nun ay ang pag-init ng mukha ko. Ewan ko ba pero conscious kong inayos ang sarili ko.

"Hindi ko po siya hinahanap 'no!"

Dad just laughed at my remark. Baka lumaki pa ang ulo ni Zion. Though, I am really thankful for having him by my side overnight.