CHAPTER 23
MONTHS HAD passed. Ilang buwan na nga? Yeah, 3 months. Those months have been h-ll for the both of them.
They stayed in the hospital to take care of Gabby.
Her Chemotherapy is doing well, the doctor said. Pero sa bawat araw na ginagawa ng Diyos, kitang-kita niya ang hirap at pagod sa anak.
Minsan, bigla-bigla itong mawawalan ng malay habang nasa process ng therapy.
Mahirap para kay Carisha. Pero wala siyang ibang choice kung'di ang maging malakas at samahan sa laban ang anak.
“Lord, bakit ba ang anak ko ang binigyan mo ng ganitong sakit?” Nakatitig siya sa harap kung saan naruon ang Banal na Krus.
She always visit this chapel inside the hospital everyday. Carisha always asked God why.
But even afterall that happening to them, she's still thankful that she have Him. Dahil kung hindi, hindi niya kakayanin ang sakit sa bawat araw.
Carisha stay there and continue praying for Gabby until she felt someone presence beside her.
Kilala niya ang presensya na iyon.
“Baby, halika na. It's already 8 o'clock. You have to rest.” Sabi ni Ashton sa kaniya.
Carisha nodded and carefully stood up. 4 months palang ang tiyan niya pero medyo malaki na ang bump. She wonder why, hindi naman siya ganito magbuntis.
Inalalayan siya ni Ashton na maglakad pabalik sa kwarto na inuukupahan ni Gabby. Sa isang pintuan roon ay may silid para sa kanila kung saan sila nagpapahinga.
Pasalamat narin niya kay Ashton at kay Matthew. At sa mga kaibigan nito na laging bumibisita sa kanila.
Ashton leave a kiss on her forehead and lips before he carry her and put on the soft mattress.
“Sleep. Goodnight. I love you.”
She smiled, “i love you too.”
CARISHA felt sick when the morning came. This always happens in her first tremester but until now hindi parin nawawala.
She wash off her mouth and toothbrush then leave the bathroom.
She's combing her her when she heard a loud noises to the next door.
Ano ang nangyayari?
Dali-dali si Carisha na lumabas sa silid at nakitang tarangtang-taranta ang mga nurses at doctor doon. Anduon din si Ashton na bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha.
Inilipat nila si Gabby sa isang higaan at agad na tinulak patungo sa kung saan.
Kinakabahan siyang lumapit kay Ashton. “Ano ang nangyayari?! Ashton!” Sigaw niya sa kasintahan dahil naguguluhan na siya.
Halo-halong emosyon ang namumuo sa kaniyang puso. Ang mga luha ay nagsisimula ng magbagsakan mula sa kaniyang mga mata.
“Her heart beat stopped beating, baby. Let's go.” Hinila nito ang kamay niya at mabilis silang naglakad at sinundan kung saan dinala si Gabby.
Umiiyak siya habang tinatahak ang daan patungong Operating Room.
“Ashton...”
“Shh, everything will be fine.” His baritone voice is soothing but it didn't go well.
Masyado siyang takot at kinakabahan para sa anak na nasa loob ng silid na ito.
Hour passed, and the Doctor came out from the room.
Sabay silang napatayo ni Ashton at agad na lumapit sa doctor.
“Doc, ano ho? Okay na ba ang anak ko? Ano po ang nangyari? Kumusta po ang anak ko?” Sunod-sunod niyang tanong sa Doctor.
Kitang-kita niya kung paano malungkot na ngumiti ang labi ng Doctor.
Umiling-iling siya ngunit umiling din ang Doctor.
“I'm Sorry, Ms. Alejandrino. We did everything we can. But Gabby is the one who gave up.” Biglang tumingin ang Doctor kay Ashton. “Talk to your partner, Ms.Alejandrino.” Makahulugang anito saka umalis.
“Hindi... Hindi...No! Hindi patay ang anak ko! Ashton! Hindi, buhay ang anak ko!” Pagsisigaw niya room habang ang mga luha ay umaagos ng masagana mula sa kaniyang mga mata.
She saw how Ashton eyes shed a tears that follows for more. Pareho silang umiiyak sa pagkawala ng taong importante sa kanilang buhay.
Mahigpit siyang niyakap ng kasintahan at hinalikan ang kaniyang noo at ulo para pakalmahin siya.
“Hindi! Ashton, don't believe him! Buhay si Gabby! Buhay!” Napadausdos siya mula sa yakap ng kasintahan dahil nanghihina na ang kaniyang tuhod.
Hindi niya kaya. Hindi niya kakayanin!
Nuong bumaba ang mundo sa kaniya, andoon ang anak niya kaya kinaya niya. Pero eto? Paano?
ASHTON HEART is slowly tearing apart by seeing Carisha almost lying on the floor. He understands her. She's a mother. A mother who loves her child so much.
This is also hard for him. Gabby already took the half of his heart and the half part is on Carisha.
Ashton expected this... but he's still hurt.
He remembered what Gabby said this morning.
“Baby...Gabby has a message for you.” Aniya habang umiiyak ng walang tunog.
Carisha looked at him, asking what is it.
F L A S H B A C K.
“You have to eat, Baby. Para may sustansya ka.” Pinapakain niya si Gabby ng breakfast nito na lugar. Siya mismo ang nagluto niyon sa Cafeteria dahil gusto niyang lahat ng kinakain ng bata ay safe.
“Dada...” Tawag nito sa kaniya.
“Yes?” He replied, smiling.
“Tired...” She weakly said.
Ibinaba niya ang lugaw na hawak saka umupo sa tabi ni Gabby.
“What do you mean, baby?” Malambing na kausap niya kay Gabby.
Gabby smiled at him and spoke. “D-Dada... Tired. Gabby.” And then, her eyes formed a water. “A-Appy, Momma. Appy, Dada.” She said.
Ashton couldn't help but to feel the pain by those words.
He knows how tired Gabby is. She's too young to undergo in Chemotherapy and different kinds of treatment.
He understands her but he won't lose hope.
“What are you saying, ha? Are you thinking that you won't be cure? Of course, gagaling ka.” Pagpapalakas niya ng loob sa bata.
Umiling-iling ito na para bang matanda na ito. “G-Gabby, leave. Gabby.. a-appy. Meet Dada...” Kulang kulang ang mga salita nito ngunit naiintindihan niya. “Gabby, leave appy.” She closed her eyes making him panic.
Agad niyang pinindot ang alarm button dahil sa takot na nararamdaman.
“Gabby, don't sleep okay. Keep your eyes open. Dada is here.” But the fate didn't let them have her for a long time.
Before her heart monitor start beating, she spoke those two words. “Be...appy.”
And that's how Gabby left him downfounded.
E N D OF F L A S H B A C K
“Ang anak ko...” Mas lalong umiyak si Carisha nang marinig ang usapan nila ni Gabby kaninang umaga.
Ashton close his eyes tightly, he wanted to stop his tears. Kailangan niyang tulungan si Carisha. They have to be strong.
Ashton grip Carisha's arms and stood her up but Carisha started shouting in pain.
“Ahhh! Ashton!” She looked down and his eyes followed it. “Ashton! Aray! Masakit—ahhh!”
He doesn't know what to do at the moment. He carry Carisha and find a nurse or someone who can help them.
God, please... Just atleast make Carisha and our baby safe...
“Bud...” Matthew called him to get his attention. “I know you're mourning and this is not the right time but... i now have the result.”
Agad siyang humarap kay Matthew at kinuha ang isang brown envelope na hawak nito.
He thouroughly read every single details that written on the paper.
“99.99%, Guerrero.”
F L A S H B A C K
“What are you doing here, man?” 'Yun agad an bungad sa kaniya ni Matthew nang makita siyang pumasok sa opisina nito.
“I wan't to have a DNA test.” He saw how Matthew's forehead knotted but he didn't budge.
He felt it! He felt it the first time he saw Gabby! But he f-cking doesn't know how that happened?! How he forgot Carisha?
Gabby's hair, skin, eyes, and lips, it was all familiar because she was his! Even no confirmation yet, he's sure with that.
The blood type. Only rare people have type AB negative and it's just so f-cking d-mn if its just a coincidence!
But even how much Ashton want to confront Carisha, he just couldn't. Ayaw na niyang dumagdag pa rito kung ano ang naiisip niya. Siya nalang muna.
E N D O F F L A S H B A C K
Ashton punch the nearest wall and shouted. “Ahhhh!” He's so d-mn hurt.
Ngayon pa? Ngayon na wala ang anak niya saka pa tuluyang nalaman na anak niya si Gabby?
“Ahhh!” He keeps on punching the wall and Matthew can't stop him even he tried his hard too. “Bullsh-t! T-ngina!” He's shouting in pain.
Nagsisisi siya.
Nasasayangan siya sa mga panahong wala siya sa tabi ni Carisha. Sa pagbubuntis ng babaeng mahal, sa panganganak, pag-aalala at pagpapalaki. He wasn't there!
“Dmn it! Fvk! Fck! Fck! Dmn it!”
“I'll call the gang.”
PRETTYINDARK |PID