PLEASE BE MINE...AGAIN (Completed/Editing)

Chapter 11.3

"Heto po ang bayad, manong," wika ni Lorabelle sabay abot ng pamasahe sa taxi driver eksaktong huminto ang sasakyan sa tapat ng apartment.

"Salamat, Miss," anito saka hinintay muna na makababa siya nang maayos bago muling paandarin ang sasakyan.

Thanks goodness! She managed to go home safely though she had been in a terrible situation earlier. Kahit naman papaano ay nagawa naibsan ay matinding galit na nararamdam niya habang nakasakay sa taxi. She was able to loosen up a bit and think properly.

Her forehead drew some creases after pressing the door bell twice and her mother was not yet coming out. Wala kasi silang katulong kaya ito ang nagbubukas ng gate sa tuwing umuuwi siya. Kadalasan ay sa unang tunog pa lang ng door bell ay sumasagot na ito mula sa loob kaya labis talaga siyang nagtataka kung bakit nanatiling tahimik sa loob. She pressed the door bell for the third time and she still didn't get any response.

"'Ma?" she called, making her voice louder so that the woman could hear. "Ano kayang problema? Bakit walang sumasagot?" she asked herself though she knew she couldn't answer her own question.

She fished for the duplicate key in her bag and opened the gate herself when she found it. Tumuloy siya sa loob at nakabibinging katahimikan ang sumalubong sa kanya. She took a quick glance on her wristwatch and saw that the time was almost ten in the morning. Her mother should still be in the house at that time because Jackie wasn't used to being watched over by a guardian. Sinusundo lang ito kapag malapit na ang dismissal at mamayang alas onse pa sana 'yon.

She was about to go to the room to change her clothes but her stomach suddenly grumbled. Oo nga pala, hindi pa siya nag-aalmusal simula kanina kasi inaway niya si Steven. Biglang lumukot ang kanyang mukha nang maisip ang lalaki.

Hay naku! Akala ko pa naman totohanan na 'yong namamagitan sa'min. Peke lang pala ang lahat ng 'yon! atungal ng kanyang isip.

Hindi mabura-bura ang asim sa kanyang mukha habang nangangalkal siya ng makakain sa kusina. Her eyes landed on some sunny-side up eggs on a small plate and a loaf of an untouched sandwich beside it. Bigla siyang natakam sa nakita kaya mabilis niyang binuksan ang plastic ng sandwich and topped it with eggs. She would just search for her mother after she finish eating.

She opened her mouth and was about to take the food when her phone suddenly beeped. Thinking that it was an important call, she hurriedly grabbed her bag and fished for her cell phone in it. Hindi na siya nag-abala pang tingnan ang Caller ID upang malaman kung sino ang tumawag.

"Hello?" she answered right after pressing the answer key.

"Hello, anak! Nasaan ka ba? Kanina pa ako tawag nang tawag sa'yo hindi mo man lang sinasagot!"

As she listened to the woman on the other line, Lorabelle felt as if a terrible fear just hit her. Bigla na lang bumundol ang 'di maipapaliwanag na kaba sa kanyang dibdib. She dragged in a deep breath before answering.

"Sorry po, Ma. Kauuwi ko lang dito sa bahay. Nasa'n po ba kayo?" Shit! mura ng kanyang utak nang mag-warning ng low battery ang kanyang cell phone. She silently prayed that she would be able to get all the information she needs before the battery gets totally drained.

"A-anak, nasa ospital kami ngayon." She heard some soft sobs from the other line. Alam niyang umiiyak na ang nanay niya kaya mas lalo siyang kinabahan.

"Ano?! Saang ospital po, Ma?" bulalas niya habang tila luluwa ang mga mata dahil sa pagkabigla. Mas lalong lumakas ang paghikbi ng ina pagkatapos niyang magsalita. "Shit!" she cursed loudly when her phone was freaking out of battery already. Mabuti na lang at nasabi ng kanyang ina ang pangalan ng ospital bago namatay ang kanyang cell phone.

Dali-dali niyang tinakpan ang mga pagkain sa mesa at dinampot ang charger na nakapatong sa TV stand saka inilagay iyon sa bag. When she was sure that everything she needs – especially her ATM card – are inside her bag, she hurriedly left for the hospital.

Dahil sa halu-halong bagay na umuokupa sa kanyang isip ay hindi na alam ni Lorabelle kung paano at kung gaano katagal bago siya nakarating sa Quezon City General Hospital. She strode fast to the emergency room and there she saw her mother sitting near the door.

"Ma..." wika niya rito. Her mother automatically turned to her and she could some marks of tears on her eyes. "Anong nangyari, Ma? Nasaan si Jackie?" Mas lalong nabalot ng kaba ang kanyang dibdib habang naghihintay ng kasagutan mula rito. She felt like she's losing her breath as the time passed and she hadn't seen her daughter yet.

Before Aling Maridon could answer, a physician appeared from a hospital bed that was surrounded with hospital curtains. They stood up to approach the woman when they saw that she was walking towards them.

"Who's the mother of Jackielyn Yañez?" pormal na tanong nito sa kanila.

"A-ako po, Doc. Kumusta po ang anak ko?" kinakabahan ngunit pilit na pinatatag ang sariling tanong niya. She held Aling Maridon's had tightly.

"I'm Doctor Stephanie Conferido. Ako po ang tumingin sa anak niyo. Base sa test na ginawa namin ay may dengue ang anak niyo. Her platelets dropped at 10 so we need to do blood transfusion as soon as possible," paliwanag nito sa kanila.

"Diyos ko!" Her tears dropped dramatically after hearing everything. Pakiramdam niya ay nagdilim ang buong paligid dahil sa peligrong kinasusuungan ng anak.

Kung gastos lang sa ospital, kaya niya kasi may ipon naman siya kahit papaano pero ang mag-produce ng dugo ora-mismo ay parang hindi niya kakayanin. She knew that Jackie's blood type was AB+. It was one of the rarest blood especially in the country. Sana may makita siyang blood donor agad.

She couldn't help but be disappointed of herself. Kasi nagawa niya pa talagang pumunta sa birthday ni Steven at maglasing doon sa condo habang hindi niya alam na napapahamak na pala ang sariling anak. What kind of mother is she? She's such an irresponsible mother!

"Doc, please do everything to save my daughter. I'm willing to pay whatever it may cost," she begged, holding the doctor's hand. Hindi na rin niya nagawang pigilan ang mga luhang tumulo.

"Don't worry, Misis. We'll take care of her," pagbibigay assurance naman nito saka marahang pinisil ang kanyang kamay gayundin si Aling Maridon.

"Thank you, Doc," ani Aling Maridon.

"Walang anuman. Excuse me," ang tanging sagot ng babae saka umalis na ito.