Chasing Chances [TSC Book 2]°KathNiel° ✓COMPLETE

Chapter Three: Hospital

"Hey bro."bati ni Arlo na 'di ko sana napansin. "Ako ang nagdala sa kanila. Dumaan ako sa inyo e."

Tinanguan ko lang siya dahil dumiretso ako sa anak kong tumatakbo rin papalapit sa'kin. Kinarga ko agad si Chance habang hawak ko naman sa isang kamay si Zacc. My babygirl can really be so energetic at times so I took them to the office. Baka makadisturbo o makagulo pa sila ng mga customers. Ayaw ko ring pinagpipiyestahan sila dahil sa cuteness nilang nakakagigil. My little guy and I were busy listening to Chance' stories when Arlo and Mirana walked in.

"Zacchy, mauuna na kami ha?"paalam ni Mirana.

"Sure."sagot ko. "Arlo, 'wag kang pasaway sa daan."

"Of course bro. I'm a good driver."

Umirap si Mirana saka hinila palabas ang fiance niya. Ilang minuto matapos makaalis sila, napaisip ako. Kung iniiwasan ako ni Mr. Vinzon, ibig sabihin may problema. Mirana's right, I should see him. Kaya naman, bago umuwi, kasama ang mga anak ko, dumaan kami sa kompanya niya.

"Man, what a surprise."bungad niya nang makita kami. He looked surprised. Thanks to his secretary na nagpapasok sa'min. "Hello there, peanuts."bati niya sa mga anak ko.

"I was just wondering if you've ever been to the park and saw her again. Or if you're pursuing the book?"walang paligoy-ligoy na tanong ko.

"Zacchary, gustong-gusto kong tumulong sa kahit na anong paraan. I just really don't have the time right now. Our company's having a crisis."aniyang nagpakonsensiya sa'kin kahit papano. "I need to focus on our business first. Hindi narin ako nakabalik sa park. Pero kung sakali man, I have your number. Tatawag agad ako."

"Salamat, Ajax. This means a lot to me. Lahat ng pwede kong kapitan, kakapitan ko 'wag lang mabitawan 'tong pag-asang pinanghahawakan ko na makikita ko ulit ang asawa ko. I'll take all my chances to find her."

Isang mapait na ngiti ang pinakawalan niya.

"But did you ever... Uhm... think that it's possible that she's really gone?"he asked, making me return that kind of smile, a bitter one.

"Yes. For five years, I believed in that. Tinanggap kong 'yon ang totoo. Pero nakita ko mismo 'yong asawa ko e. Rinig ko 'yong tawa niya. Alam kong alam mo 'yong ganitong pakiramdam. Hindi naman nagkakamali kailanman ang puso sa pagkilala ng taong mahal mo eh. Sigurado akong ang asawa ko ang nakita ko no'ng araw na 'yon."I expressed with certainty.

"If that is so. I suggest it would be best if you begin looking for discrepancy in the hospital where she was proclaimed dead. If necessary, request for a DNA test."

"That's right. Sa sobrang dami ng nangyayari, hindi na ako makapag-isip ng maayos. Man, I really appreciate everything. Maraming salamat. Sana makita mo narin 'yong babaeng mahal na mahal mo."

"Thanks. Thanks, man."

"See you around."

A week after that, I immediately started arranging things for the DNA and the investigation regarding the day she died.

"Mr. Harrison, we cannot perform DNA testing after cremation. The high heat of cremation process destroys DNA."Dr. Ramirez explained.

"So how can I assure that these are my wife's cremains then?"I asked, ill-tempered.

"Zacchary, we have your wife's record in the hospital. Your mother was with us on the process after she had her last breath."

"No. I was in comatose for two years and I woke up with a news that my wife's dead! I want a clear evidence that she is dead!"I blared at him. "I'll request for investigation. I need a list of all the medical staff na nasa delivery room ng araw na 'yon—no. I want the list of names of all the staff na nakaduty that day."

"I will help you with that, hijo."

"Good. Tito, siguraduhin mong wala ka talagang alam o kung wala kang kinalaman sa kung anumang nangyari sa araw na 'yon."

"Don't threaten me, Zacchary. You're like my real son. I won't ruin my profession for anything. Ba't ko naman gagawin 'yon?"He defended himself. "I understand your pain, son. But, I hate to say this, your wife breathed her last breath right in front of my eyes after calling your name."

I felt my jaw clenched at what he said. Mirana has told me that already. Pero bakit ang sakit paring isipin hanggang ngayon?

"Sorry, tito."naluluhang pagpaumanhin ko. "You were right. It's still here, the pain. Minsan, natatanong ko rin 'yong sarili ko kung nababaliw na ba ako."

Tito Francis tapped me by the shoulder with a sad smile.

"Well son, listen. Regarding the DNA testing, there's one part of the body that is weakened but still intact to some degree following cremation; that is a person's teeth. Virtually, all properly performed cremations will ultimately pulverize the teeth though, so there is little chance of intact DNA. However, on the rare chance that there is a tooth, it is possible to use it for identification."

"We'll get the most trusted laboratory for the test."

"I'll set the appointment for you."

Naglalakad ako palabas ng hospital na nakatuon ang atensiyon sa phone. Panay kasi ang text ni Mirana. Baka naman kasi tungkol sa mga anak ko kaya hindi ko maipagpaliban.

"Aww—"

"Naku! Miss, sorry!"I apologized to the woman na nabangga ko. Agad kong ibinulsa ang phone at tinulungan itong tumayo. "Sorr—"Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko matapos niyang hawiin ang buhok na nakatakip sa mukha niya kanina. Ramdam ko ang malakas na pagtibok ng puso ko, gaya ng araw na nagpropose ako sa kanya, na ikinasal kami.

"I'm okay. Sorry, ako 'yong hindi nakatingin."

This can't be true. That's exactly her voice. Walang pahintulot na tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko.

"Hey, are you okay?"

This is my wife. She is my wife. Without thinking clearly, I enclosed her in my arms. Siguro dahil sa gulat, hindi agad siya nagreact. Hinayaan niya akong humagulhol habang yakap siya. But all things come to last.

"I'm... I'm sorry. Were you hurt?"she asked uncomfortably when she broke out from my arms. "Nasaktan ba kita? Sorry."

Akmang aalis na siya pero hindi ko siya hinayaan. Hinawakan ko kaagad ang kamay niya. She even flinched in surprise. Napatingin pa siya sa mga kamay naming magkahawak. Why is she acting like she doesn't know me?

"Babe, alam kong ikaw 'yan."

"Excuse me, I'm really so sorry about earlier. But I really don't think that we've met before."wika niya na para bang natatakot sa'kin.

"Chances. Ako 'to, si Zacc. Ako ang asawa mo."pagpapakilala ko.

"I'm really so sorry, mister. Hindi ako si Chances. Hindi talaga kita kilala."she said apologetically.

"Please."I begged when she tried pulling her hand. "Please, don't go. Please. Sumama ka sa'kin. Baka maalala mo lahat kapag nakita mo 'yong mga anak natin."

"Please, I really need to go. Wala akong amnesia o anuman. Wala akong dapat maalala. Wala naman akong nakakalimutan e. Sorry, I really have to go. My fiance's waiting for me."

Fiance. Noooooo. She can't leave! Nagmamadaling hinabol ko siya. I can see in her eyes that she was indeed scared of me. Para bang tingin niya sa'kin ay isang kriminal.

"Chances, sandali—"

"Sir! I told you! Hindi ako si Chances!"napipikong sigaw nito sa'kin.

"Noooo, alam kong... Alam kong ikaw 'yan."

"Ang kulit mo! Umalis ka na or tatawag ako ng guards."

"Chanchan—"

"Hindi nga ako si Chances. Hindi ko kilala 'yang tinutukoy mo. Hindi kita kilala. Please, lubayan mo na ako dahil hindi ako ang asawa mo."

I wanted to prove her wrong. When my wife talks a lot, there's only one way to shut her up.

I kissed her. Again, I kissed my wife.