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MY NOSE crinkled up as I smelled an antiseptic, and undertones of the artificial fragrance. I opened my eyes slowly, and saw Mr. Trevino on my side sleeping and holding my hand. His face is full of worries.
I barely moved my hand but it feels so weak. "N-ninong..." I murmured.
Kahit mahina lang ang pagsambit na ginawa ko sa kanya ay nagising siya, at kaagad akong dinaluhan.
"Thank God, you're finally awake Aria! Wait — I'll call the doctor."
After he said that, he tapped the red button above my bed. Maybe that's their way of calling the doctors or nurses here but—
"N-ninong... Am I at the hospital?" I muttered.
Mr. Trevino looked at me with sympathy. "Anak, you have been confined here for a week now..."
My eyes widened at what he said. I can't seem to mutter even a single word. Though my mind is full of questions already.
He heaved a sigh, "you were drowned while you were in your bath tub. I'm just glad that I was not yet late, and I had saved you. I t-thought I w-was late. Gosh, if that happened, I'll surely blame myself for everything." Tears are now visible in his eyes.
Mukhang sising-sisi siya dahil sa nangyari sa akin.
"B-but... I-it's not y-your fault n-ninong... Don't b-blame yourself... Please..."
He was about to answer me when a doctor and a nurse entered the room. They checked my vital signs, my eyes, and they asked me questions but only those that I can answer.
When he was done checking me, he faced Mr. Trevino. "We will run some more laboratory test to the patient to make sure that she's really out of danger. She's stable now, but we still have to continue monitoring her, and so she will still be admitted to the hospital for one more week, Mr. Trevino," the doctor explained.
Kokontra pa sana ako dahil ayaw kong manatili ng matagal sa ospital, pero tinitigan lang ako ng masama ni Mr. Trevino, kaya nanahimik na lamang ako, at mariing itinikom ang aking bibig.
"Please do everything for my inaanak to make sure that she'll fully recovered, and out of danger," he seriously stated.
The doctor smiled, "don't worry. We promise to do the best we can."
My godfather smiled also, "thank you, Doc."
Humarap sa akin ang doktor, at nginitian ako, "please listen to us and to your god father, Miss Zecca. We assure you that you will get better as soon as possible. I have to go now to check my other patients. We'll get back to you in an hour or so."
I nod. That's the only thing I can do now, for I don't want to speak anymore. Surely, I will just pester them to release me, and send me home. I really don't like the smell of the hospital — I hate this place so much.
Nang makaalis ang doktor kasama ang nurse, ay nilapitan ako ni Mr. Trevino, at hinawakan niyang muli ang aking kamay.
He sadly smiled at me, "I know, you don't like this place... But please? Can you stay here until we know that you're fully healed?" I stared at him but didn't dare to say a word. "Just one more week, and they'll discharge you, okay?" I nodded.
I know he's now frustrated. I breathed out, and gave him a smile of assurance. "I will stay, Ninong. Okay? And I promise to obey you. And... I'm so s-sorry. I d-don't wanna be a burden to you... I know you do have a lot on your plate now..."
Napasimangot siya sa aking tinuran, "siguradohin mong magpagaling kaagad, at 'wag matigas ang ulo. And don't ever think that you are a burden to me— you're not. I'm your second father, and you're my responsibility. Okay?"
"Thank you, Ninong..." I muttered.
"You're always welcome. Anyways, is it okay if I leave you for awhile? I'll just go, and visit Joaquin. He'll be discharged any moment now, ija."
I smiled at him, "take your time, Ninong. I'm happy for his fast recovery, and kindly send my regards to him." He nodded at me then left the room.
HINDI ko alam na nakatulog pala ako pagkatapos kong inumin ang gamot na ibinigay sa akin ni nurse Cherry.
Mr. Trevino is still not here. I think he's still with Mr. Monte up until now. I really hope he's really in good condition, and in good shape now. I fret about what happened to him. I'm still blaming myself and I don't have to make excuses because I'm guilty.
"I promise Ninongs... It won't happen again. I won't let you be involved in my troubles anymore. I'll face this on my own. You're a brave woman, Aria. You'll get through this."
IT'S BEEN eight days since I was admitted to the hospital. My co-workers already knew my situation, and of course the Montgomery clan. Sila pa ba?
Last time I checked, they're still monitoring me. I don't have to ask them how, because everything is possible with them. They're freaking Montgomery.
"In fairness ha, hindi pa rin pala sila nakaka-move-on dahil lang sa maling nagawa mo. Ba't gano'n? Naka-move-on na ako sa ex-jowa ko tapos sila hindi pa rin?! Kakabaliw," reklamo ni Joan.
Napasimangot naman si Lanie, "ang popogi nila pero mga baliw, at praning naman. Sayang."
"Madami rin silang issues sa buhay," segunda pa ni Joan.
Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo, pagkatapos ay bigla na lang humagalpak ng tawa si Joan, kaya nakitawa na rin kami sa kanya.
Mabuti na nga lang at dinalaw nila ako ngayon dahil talagang nababagot na ako sa ospital na 'to. Gustong-gusto ko nang makauwi sa bahay, at sana'y makabalik sa normal na buhay. You wish, Aria.
Mr. Trevino already made a call that he can't visit me yet because he's waiting for an important shipment of emerald jewelries from Dubai, but I told him it's okay if he can't make it, and I truly understand it. I told him already that Joan and Lanie decided to stay for a night here in my private room.
Honestly, I'm not comfortable with it. I don't want to be a disturbance to them, but they insisted. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko silang makasama, pero, ayaw ko lang na madamay pa sila sa kaguluhan ng buhay ko ngayon. Ayoko nang may ibang taong madamay pa sa kung ano pa man ang mga posibling mangyari o mangyayari sa akin.
"Oi mars hindi naman siguro masamang mag-doctor hunting kami rito 'di ba?" Biglang tanong ni Lanie.
Napakunot-noo ako dahil hindi ko nakuha ang tanong niya, habang si Joan naman ay napapahagikhik dahil sa tanong ni Lanie sa akin.
Oh, I get it now.
"Hindi naman masama kaso..." hindi ko muna itinuloy ang kung anumang sasabihin ko sa kanila.
"Kaso?" Magkapanabay pa nilang tanong.
"Minsang sinabi sa akin ng isang nurse rito na may isang babae raw ang nagpapakita sa pasilyo tuwing gabi, lalong-lalo na kapag kaunti na lang ang taong dumaraan doon. Nakasuot ng puting damit, at mahaba ang buhok. Akala nga niya noon na isang pasyente raw na biglang naligaw ng daan, ngunit nang lapitan niya raw ay biglang nanayo ang kanyang balahibo, at kumaripas siya ng takbo patungo sa nurse station—"
"Bakit naman siya tumakbo? Bakit hindi niya muna kinausap? Baka nga pasyente 'yon," Tanong ni Joan.
"Papaanong hindi kakaripas ng takbo ang nurse na 'yon? Eh medyo nakalutang sa ere ang mga paa ng babaeng nakaputi. Kitang-kita niya iyon. Nakatalikod din iyon sa kanya na mas lalo pa'ng nagbigay ng kilabot sa kanyang buong katawan."
Matapos kong sabihin iyon ay bigla na lang nagsilapitan sa higaan ko ang dalawa, at tumabi sa akin. Nasa kanan ko si Lanie habang nasa kaliwa ko naman si Joan.
"Mars naman... Wala namang ganyanan. Ito nga't sasamahan ka namin dito eh, tapos mananakot ka lang," litanya ni Lanie.
Habang si Joan naman ay mas inilapit pa ang kanyang sarili sa akin, "mars naman eh, jowa ang hanap namin, hindi multo."
Can't help myself not to laugh at them. It's not that I want them to be scared. But, I'm not gossiping either. Nurse Cherry was the one who told me about the lady in the hallway.
She was not the one who saw it, but she saw how petrified her colleague was. Sinabi niya rin sa akin na may kakaiba rin daw siyang nararamdaman kapag dumaraan siya sa pasilyo na iyon. Ang tinutukoy niyang pasilyo ay malapit lang dito sa kwarto ko.
Nurse Cherry even told me that there is a very private room at the end of that hallway, but only the chosen doctors and nurses can enter the said room.
I decided to change the topic because I'm starting to have this odd feeling. The ambiance in the room is changing. As if something — or someone is watching us.
Pasado alas onse na rin ng gabi nang mapagpasyahan naming magpahinga. At dahil may kalakihan ang kama ay dito na lang din sila natulog.
I fell asleep too, but the alarm on my phone woke me up at exactly twelve o'clock. It's midnight. Time for my medicine. The good thing was that my phone's alarm clock didn't wake them up.
I'm just wondering why Nurse Cherry is not yet here to give me my medicine. I then slowly get up not to disturb them.
Naisip kong baka nakatulog si Nurse Cherry, dahil kahit hindi ko naranasan ay alam ko ang pagod at puyat kapag pang-gabi ang trabaho.
Ang alam ko ay malapit lang ang nurse station mula sa kwarto ko kaya ipinagpasya ko na lang na pumunta roon, at hingin sa kanya ang aking gamot.
Hindi pa man ako lumalabas ng silid ay ramdam ko na ang pananayo ng aking balahibo sa katawan, kaya ay napahugot ako ng malalim. Kaya mo 'to self!
Kailangan kong sumunod sa takdang oras ng pag-inom ng gamot upang makalabas na ako agad ng ospital. Kaya pansamantala ko munang isasantabi ang anumang takot na aking nararamdaman.
Nakakabinging katahimikan ang sumalubong sa 'kin nang makalabas na ako ng aking silid. Mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay wala pa akong nakikitang nurse station. Parang mahaba-haba pa yatang lakaran ang gagawin ko nito.
"Baka patungo na rin dito si Nurse Cherry. Tama. Hihintayin ko na lamang siya."
Nang akmang bubuksan ko na sana ang pintuan ng aking silid ay naagaw naman ang pansin ko ng isang taong dumaan 'di kalayuan sa akin. Oo, alam kong tao iyon— at hindi isang babae kundi isang lalaki. He was wearing a doctor's long coat, though I didn't see his face because it's a bit dark in the hallway.
And as the saying goes, "curiosity kills the cat" which I hate sometimes — I was triggered to follow the doctor that I saw in the hallway.
Bigla kong naalala ang tungkol sa pinakapribadong silid sa dulo ng pasilyo. Wala naman sigurong magagalit sa akin kung mangahas akong magpunta roon.
Habang naglalakad ako ay iniisip ko na ang mga salitang lalabas sa aking bibig sa sandaling mahuli nila ako. Pero sa totoo lang ay hindi ako makapag-isip ng mabuti dahil biglang lumamig ang aking pakiramdam.
The eerie ambiance in that hallway is creeping me out. Suddenly, I felt uneasy as if something is following me, but I don't wanna look back. I held onto that. There's no turning back, Aria!
Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa matanaw ko na ang silid sa dulo ng pasilyo, at ilang saglit pa ay nasa labas na ako ng silid na iyon.
I suddenly heard a woman's cry, and it feels like she's just so near from where I am standing now. I was so horrified that I immediately opened the door and entered, then I locked it.
Napasandal ako sa dingding, at napabuga ng hangin nang hindi ko na narinig ang babaeng umiiyak.
Nang makahuma ay inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa buong sulok ng silid na iyon.
Wow...
It's really a very private room as what Nurse Cherry said.
It looked like a room in a five star hotel. Amazing! It's even bigger than my bedroom, and more sophisticated than my living room. I was really amazed.
Kasya pa nga ang isang buong pamilya sa silid na iyon kung tutuusin.
There's another room in that private room that looked like an ICU. And I saw a lot of equipment there, though I can't really see who the patient was.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang may nag-uudyok sa akin na lumapit doon, kaya iyon ang ginawa ko. Pero nang makalapit naman ako ay hindi ko pa rin makita ang pasyenting naroon dahil may mga tubong nakakabit sa kanya.
I then saw a set of hospital gown, hospital head cap, and facemask so I decided to wear those. After which, I slowly opened the glass door and entered.
I don't even know why my heart is beating so fast that it's deafening me as I get near the patient.
And as I finally saw the patient's face, it seems like my world stops revolving. It feels like my heart stops beating, and it's suffocating.
But how? No... It can't be... I must've been dreaming now.
Ouch! I pinched myself.
No. I am not dreaming. This is so real... And I can still see the bruises from the accident. But even so, he's still handsome. Very handsome...
Can't help myself but to softly caress his face, and while doing that, the ring on my finger glittered.
"I see you..." I murmured with mixed emotions that I myself couldn't understand.
A loud thud echoed in the ICU room, "who the hell are you?!"
ℒℴ𝓋ℯ 𝒟ℯ𝒾