200 Pounds Of TLC

Chapter Ten

He smiled widely, alam niyang pinalitan nanaman nito ang laman ng tray niya. Tumingin siya kay Melody at ibinigay ang matamis na ngiti. Kinindatan naman siya ni Melody.

"Thanks!"
"No prob!" Sa labas lang ako."

"Paanong naging ganyan ang breakfast mo?" Tanong ng mama niya.
"Kinausap niya yung nutritionist sa baba, tapos pilipino yung cook kaya ganito ulam ko."

He's lying. Alam niyang si Melody ang gumawa at nagluto nito.

"Walang nagtitinda ng tocino sa mga asian stores here in town."

"Marunong gumawa yung cook."
Totoo naman...
Panandaliang tumahimik ito.

"That nurse is something, huh?"
"Yup! Mabait at magaling siya." ngiti nito sa ina.

"She's older than you, two years, if I remember correctly."

He doesn't know why she said this all of a sudden.
Kaya tumingin na lang siya dito ng nagtataka.

"You'll soon be having your fixators out. A month, to be exact."

"Yes. Pero may therapy pa."

Tumango ito. "Yes. But you can just go home after you heal from surgery. You don't need to stay at the hospital anymore."

"What? Why? Hassle pa kung galing pa ako sa bahay tapos pupunta ng hospital. That's everyday going to and from the hospital."

"I just thought you could go home already. We'll just hire a male attendant to assist you with your needs."

"I don't need to." pagiwas nito ng tingin. "I can just stay here, mahihirapan pa ako sa pabalikbalik."
I don't want another attendant.

"I'll talk to the doctor about it." Final na sinabi ng ina.
"I said I don't like the idea! Sasakit lang ang paa ko sa travel! Besides I'm fine here! Dati pinapagalitan niyo ako dahil ayaw ko dito sa hospital. Ngayon namang nakapag adjust na ako, sasabihin niyong uuwi ako?"

"You're not to give the final say on this." Tumayo ng diretso at nagpagpag ng damit ang mama niya. A sign that this conversation is over. She took her bag and left.

The next time the doctor visited, he asked about the therapy. Sadly, it's really just fine to go home after his surgery heals. But he doesn't want to. Kahit pa naiinis siya sa Doctor niya, na halos angilan niya sa kada bisita nito, minabuti niyang magpakumbaba at makiusap na sabihin ng doctor sa mama niya na mas ikakabuti kung sa hospital na lang siya mag stay.

Nagdalawang isip pa ang mokong na doctor.

"Why don't you want to leave?"

"I'm fine with the set up here. If i'm going to travel everyday then I'll only delay my healing."

"But it's good to have a change of environment, you've been in the hospital for quite some time now."

Aba, at talagang pilit akong pinapaalis?

"No doc. I won' t have anyone to help me at home."

Napataas ang kilay ng doctor.

"You can hire a male attendant?"

"NO!" mariing sabi nito. Tumigil ito panandalian at huminahon.
"I don't want to. Just tell my mom it's best for me to stay here. Please?"

Tahimik na nagisip muna ang doctor at saka tumango.
"Alright. I guess you'll heal quickly when someone is caring for you here."

Napayuko si Kristian at pinipigilan ang ngiting kumakawala sa labi.

-o-

"One month na lang at surgery mo na ulit, Kristian!" excited na sabi ni Melody habang nagbabalat ng apple.
"Oh, excited ka na yatang makaalis ako rito?"
"Asus! Siyempre, mamimiss ko ang kapilyuhan mo, pero mas masaya kapag magaling ka na."
"Nagsawa ka na yata sa pagaalaga saakin."