Yesterday's Fragment (Medico Jurist Series #1)

Chapter 16

Midnight

"Esmeralda has stage two lung cancer." Dr. dela Fuentes informed us. We're inside the board room together with some specialist that will handle mama's case. Nakaupo siya sa kabisera. Nasa kanang bahagi ang tatlo pang mga doctor, si papa ay nasa kaliwa.

Ako ang nasa kanyang tabi at si CJ ay tahimik na humihikbi sa tabi ko.

"I...didn't know. She didn't tell me." Mahinang sabi ni papa. Hinawakan ko siya sa balikat at napalingon siya sa akin. Inabot niya ang kamay ko at ikinulong sa kanyang mga palad.

CJ intertwined her arms to mine and she buried her face on it. Huminga ako ng malalim na tila ba kapag ginawa ko iyon ay makakahugot ako ng lakas.

"These are the oncologists that's handling your wife's---" naputol ang pagpapaliwanag ni Dr. Dela Fuentes nang mula sa pagkakayuko, marahas na nag-angat ng ulo si papa at bumaling sa kanya.

"You knew about this?" gulat na gulat na tanong ni papa. Mabilis ko siyang pinigilan ng halos mapatayo siya sa gulat.

"Augustus. You knew?" When Tito did not answer, papa muttered a curse. Tuluyan na siyang tumayo at tumalikod sa amin sabay hugot ng malalim na paghinga.

"We knew. All along." Matapat at kalmadong sagot ni tito.

"You could've at least told me. I' am his goddamn husband. I have all the right and I am his fucking medical proxy!"

"Pa." tawag ko sa kanya ng halos umalingawngaw ang boses niya sa buong board room.

"Pablo, I can't just disrespect our patient's wishes. She asked of this. I am chief of surgery and I agreed with it."

"But you did not respect me? I am his husband, Augustus. More than anyone else, I deserved to know! She's my wife. She's my everything." Papa said and he is starting to become emotional. Tumayo si CJ at lumapit sa kanya para yumakap.

"Papa." She cried. Papa kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry but I can't deny my patient's wishes. You're her medical proxy, yes, but you're only allowed to decide on her behalf....in times like this."

Lahat kami ay natahimik sa sinabi ni tito. I already arranged Aja's travel. Randolf already sent his men to get her and any minute now, she'll be here.

"Let's just focus on Esmeralda's safety, can we?" Tito Augustus announced. Tumango si papa bago umupo muli sa tabi ko. I looked at CJ and she already looked like she's going to faint because of too much crying.

"Dr. Lacson?" Bumaling kaming lahat ng tumayo ang isang doctor at binuksan ang monitor. Agad lumabas ang chest CT scan result ni mama. Napapikit ako ng makita ang isang tila bilog na nasa pagitan ng kanyang baga.

"As you can see, there's a massive mass located at the bronchi. We detected the cancer and the tumor early but its growth is rapid and the location is quite impossible for us to operate."

Mama could die on the table considering her age and the location of the tumor. This one is going to be hard. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko nang maramdaman kong pumintig ito.

You really can't predict life. One day, you're healthy as a bull, the next day.....

"What should we do? I will do anything so she could be saved."

Napasulyap ako kay papa then I realized that life is short. Money is not the answer to everything. Marami kaming pera, hindi basta-basta mauubos pero ang buhay ni mama, isa lang. I don't think money will solve our problem.