A Love To Remember

Chapter 49: But..

"Tita? Tita Lea? Are you alright?" I heard a manly voice behind me at bago pa ako makasagot, everything went black.

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"Now, that explains everything. I can't believe this."

"Neither do I, never have I ever thought na aabot pa sa ganto ang lahat. This is too much, Chiara's too young to experience these kind of situations."

"Bata nga lang siya but mind you, she's a strong girl. A tough one."

Napasinghap ako at napadilat upon hearing random voices around me, looking at the white ceiling, alam ko na kung nasaan ako ngayon. I tried my best to take a look at my hands at tila, nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag ng mapagtantong walang dextrose o ano man na nakadikit dito.

"She's awake.." I heard someone said, followed by their footsteps. It's Kate and Analaine.

"Hindi porke't nandito ako upang bantayan ka, ayos na tayo. I just did this for my Kuya's favor so I still hate you." wika ni Kate na ikinakunot ng noo ko, "But yeah, I hate Clara more so.." dagdag pa niya, napailing na lang si Analaine na nakatayo sa kanan ko habang nasa kaliwa naman si Kate.

"Si Chiara?" I asked sa mahinang boses, Analaine smiled warmly at me, a smile saying na everything will be alright.

"Miracles do happen when you believe. Maraming dugo ang nawala sa kanya but she did it, once again, she survived." tila nabunutan naman ako ng napakalaking tinik dahil sa sinabi niya, thank God. Thank you.

"Can I see her?" tanong ko ulit, masakit man ang katawan ko, I tried my very best to sit, inalayan naman nila ako when they noticed that I was struggling.

"Sabi ni Kuya, magpahinga ka daw muna before seeing her, nasa kabilang kwarto lang sila." saad naman ni Kate, magpahinga? How can I do that?

"Please, let me see her. I just can't sit here all night long like nothing happened, please." pakiusap ko pa, nagkatinginan sila at sabay na bumuntong hininga.

"Hayaan mo na siya Analaine, 'di niya naman ikakamatay ang tumayo at maglakad eh." pabulong na wika ni Kate but it's enough for all of us to hear, napailing na lang ulit ako at hindi na nagsalita pa.

"Are you sure you're okay? The doctor said na kailangan mo munang magpahinga, over fatigue. Ayaw naming makitang umiyak sina Chiara at Kuya Aga if something bad happen to you." Analaine asked me worriedly, tumango lang ako at ngumiti ng matipid to show her that I'm really okay.

"I am, I know my body more than those doctors, trust me." I answered with voice full of assurance, alanganin man, she was left with no choice kaya tumango na lang din siya.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng kama as the three of us made our way palabas at pumasok sa kabilang kwarto at nagsimula namang tumulo ang mga luha ko upon seeing Chiara, laying at the bed with her eyes closed.

"Chiara.. Chiara.." I whispered at lumapit sa gawi ng higaan niya, I can't stand seeing her like this...para akong pinapatay ng ilang ulit. She looks so pale.

"Babes.." I heard Aga's voice na ngayo'y nakatayo sa tabi ko and before he can say another word, kaagad ko siyang niyakap at umiyak ng umiyak sa balikat niya.

"Kasalan ko 'to eh. Kasalanan ko 'to. This is my fault." sambit ko habang walang tigil pa'rin sa pagiyak, Aga rubbed my back continuously to somehow calm me but I just can't..

"Sshh... Huwag mong sisihin ang sarili mo, if there's someone to be blame of, that should be me." wika niya at mas lalo pa akong napahagulgol dahil dun.

"Sorry to interrupt your dramatic moment out there but the doctor is here." dahan-dahan akong bumitaw pagkatapos marining ang tinig ni Kate, as I wipe my tears away at tumingin sa gawi nila at gaya ng sabi niya, may doktor nga.

"How is she Doc?" tanong ko dito when she went to our direction at tumayo sa dulo ng kama ni Chiara, facing us.

Tumikhim muna siya bago magsalita, "Thankfully, we saved her and I can say na your daughter's really a strong girl, for a normal person, sa dami ng dugo na nawala sakanya, she's probably dead by now but she did it." nakangiting sagot nito but I can see a hint of sadness, what's going on?

"Is there something we need to know?" I asked again, bumuntong hininga siya as she turned her gaze to Chiara, who's still sleeping.

"We managed to save her life but, during the operation earlier, hindi lang ang laslas ng anak niyo ang napansin namin.. she also have bruises everywhere her body so we decided to do a test and..." ayan na naman, bumilis na naman bigla ang tibok ng puso ko.

"And?" I heard Analaine asked at halata 'rin ang kaba at pagkabahala sa boses nito.

"And we found out that her white blood cells are not fully developed, it's abnormal and their high in numbers. Sorry to say this but Chiara, Chiara's diagnosed with leukemia." she announced and I was too shock to move upon hearing it, pumiyok pa ako ng ilang beses to see if she was joking, na babawiin niya ang mga sinabi niya but she didn't.

The four corners of this room went silent, and before I can notice it, nagunahan na sa pagpatak ang mga luha ko while looking at Chiara.

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