Monasterio Series #2: After All

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

The wave of nausea that hit me was so intense that I hardly made it to the toilet bowl before I emptied my stomach. Marahas kong itinuon ang mga palad ko sa magkabilang gilid ng lababo at pilit na inilabas ang nasa sikmura ko. My face contorted in annoyance when nothing came out of my mouth but pure saliva.

I was gripping the sink too tight, trying to get whatever's spinning inside my stomach when I felt a hand on my back.

"You okay?" Christian's husky bed room voice resonated in my ears while caressing my back with his warm palm.

Nagmumog ako ng tubig at humila ng tissue. I tapped my mouth and turned around to face him. Concern was etched on his sleepy face the moment our eyes met. Gulo-gulo pa ang buhok niya, ang mga mata ay bahagya pang namumungay. The moon is still up. Kasarapan pa ng tulog ng mga tao pero heto ako at nagsusuka sa hindi malamang dahilan.

I leaned my lower back against the sink and breathed a deep and heavy sigh.

"I  don't know. May nakain yata akong masama kagabi. Baka hindi ako natunawan."

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya na tila ba iniisip kung anong kinain namin sa nagdaang gabi.

"Do you want to have you checked? I'll ready the car."

Umiling ako. "I'll be fine. Mawawala rin ito mamaya-"

Hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sinasabi ko nang maramdaman ko na naman ang pagikot ng aking sikmura dahilan ng pagpihit ko paharap sa lababo. Kagaya kanina, tanging malapot na laway lang inilalabas ko dahilan para makaramdam ako ng panghihina.

"We should really need to have you checked, Cheska. I'll get the car ready." pinal na sabi ni Christian na hindi ko na nagawa pang kontrahin.

It's only a matter of thirty minutes and we're already on our way to the nearest hospital. Ayoko na sanang pumunta dahil sigurado naman akong may nakain lang talaga akong hindi maganda. But knowing Christian, he's too persistent when it comes to this. Basta may kinalaman sa akin ay hindi puwedeng ipagsawalang bahala.

Nilingon ko siya, tahimik at nakatuon lang ang atensyon sa madilim na kalsada. The light is off but I can still see the seriousness in his facial expression due to the lamp posts we're passing by. It's still four in the morning. Wala pang bakas ng papasibol na umaga

"What's wrong? Kanina ka pa tahimik." tanong ko hindi kalaunan.

Nilingon niya ako, sandali lang. Tipid na ngiti ang iginawad niya sa akin bago muling itinuon ang atensyon sa daan.

"I'm just wondering what made you vomit. Parehas tayo ng kinain kagabi."

"This is just nothing, Christian. Baka nanibago lang ang sikmura ko sa pagkain na 'yon." sabi ko.

Tumango siya, tila ba hindi kumbinsido at may iba pang naiisip na dahilan bukod doon. Hindi na ako sumagot. I know how worried he is. Kapag nalaman niyang wala lang ito ay siguradong doon pa lang siya makakampante.

Nakarating kami ng hospital hindi kalaunan. We went straight to the general doctor. I was surprised that Christian knew the resident doctor here. Kung hindi pa nagyakap ang dalawa pagkakita ay hindi ko iyon malalaman.

Sa tingin ko nga ay kaedaran lang ni Christian ang doktor na ito dahil halata rin naman sa asta at itsura.

"I don't think food has something to do with what you're experiencing right now, Mrs. Ricaforte." Doctor Alvarez said while tapping his pen against the wooden desk.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Christian na siyang nakaupo sa harapan niya. I was the one who pulled my gaze away and anchored it to the young doctor.

"What do you mean?" I asked.