GROWLING HEARTS

58. HIM

***

Armie told me everything about his life. He was born with a rare condition that made him very weak. He had immune deficiency when he was very young. Sabi niya ay mahina ang katawan niya kumpara sa kakambal niya na si Henry. Lagi siyang naoospistal dahil sa sakit niya. Laging 50/50 ang kalagayan ng buhay niya. He can't even walk or eat properly. Mahina ang tuhod niya at kapag kumakain naman siya ay may pagkain na nagti-trigger sa kaniya kaya bigla na lang siyang nahihimatay.

Luckily, his mother is a doctor/pharmacist so she tried to find a cure for him. Mrs. Loreto hired the best Chemist/Scientist in Yotik City. They collaborated in finding the cure for Armie's illness. They mixed all the significant elements and chemicals from different kinds of animals and plants just to find the perfect result.

Armie is six years old. Sa wakas ay nakagawa din sila supposedly, the cure for him. Itinurok nila ang cure kay Armie after masigurado na safe ito (which is not). After the first few weeks ay naging okay naman si Armie. No side effects. Naging malakas lang siya at naging healthy. Nakapaglalaro na din sila ni Henry. And this one day came, napansin nila na pabig-bigla na lang nagiging aggressive si Armie. He even ate a raw rabbit na pet nilang dalawa ng kambal. Ganyan siya ka-wild.

"What are you doing Armie?" a six-year-old Henry asked.

"Eating?" sagot ni Armie.

"No Armie! Stop it! Rabbit is a pet! It is not your food!" sigaw ni Henry. Binitiwan ni Armie ang rabbit at marahang lumapit kay Henry. His face was smeared with blood.

"Armie! Don't come near me! Stay there!" iyak ni Henry habang takot na takot na inuutusan ang kakambal. Bigla na lamang kinagat ni Armie si Henry kaya napahiyaw ito.

"Mom!" agad namang dumating ang Mommy nila. Hinatak niya papalayo si Henry. Iyak ng iyak ito dahil sa kagat na natamo niya. Napaluha si Mrs. Loreto nang makita ang namumulang mukha ni Armie na dahil sa dugo ni Henry.

Right after na makagat si Henry ay hinugasan kaagad ni Mrs. Loreto ang sugat ng anak at tinurukan ito ng anti-rabies. Mabuti na lang at hindi na-infect si Henry. Nabahala ang parents ni Armie sa naging condition ng anak nila kaya they quarantined him. Tanging ang Hired Chemist lang ang nakakalapit sa kaniya. Para maprotektahan si Henry sa kapatid niya ay ipinadala ito sa America — sa kapatid ni Mr. Loreto. That's why naging english speaking itong si Henry.

"Ms. Jacky Razonable?" tawag ni Armie sa Hired Chemist habang sinusuri ang condition niya. Nine years old na siya that time.

"Yes, Armie." tugon ng Chemist. She smiled.

"Can I ask something?" tanong ng batang Armie.

"Of course, ano iyon?" tugon ni Jacky.

"Bakit po hindi na ako dinadalaw ni Henry?" tanong ng bata. He was in pain. Malungkot siya dahil sa condition niya at nasasaktan siya dahil sa kasalukuyan ay tinuturukan siya ng Chemist ng kung anumang gamot.

"Henry is in a better place. Kailangan niyang lumayo para mag-aral." paliwanag ni Chemist Jacky. Nililibang niya si Armie para hindi nito maramdaman ang pagtusok ng karayom.