/'Not everyone deserves a second chance.'
-Anonymous/
Glaiza
I'm tapping the steering wheel while patiently waiting for the traffic light to turn green. I have two cars ahead of me in this busy intersection. Edsa highway, which is the fastest possible way considering its 3:30 in the morning is unfortunately close due to some road improvements. So, I have to take the long way and go around Mandaluyong to get to St. Luke's. My GPS read the ETA at 4:10 am.
I don't understand what to exactly feel right now. When the nurse called about an hour ago, she told me Rhian is having a seizure and when you are in a coma for a year, a single seizure can finish you off or wake you up.
The line was cut off so I rush to my car and hit the road as fast as I can, I almost forgot to change my clothes.
My hands shakes even more as the minute passed, I decided to call Tita Amanda.
"Hello Tita Good morning po, yes po, im on my way na din..........im not sure Tita, the nurse told me she's having a seizure...let's meet at the hospital na lang po...okay Tita..ingat po."
I slid the phone in my back pocket and focus back on my driving, malapit lang ang bahay ni Tita sa hospital, chances are sila ang unang makakarating.
Hindi gaanong malakas ang aircon pero nanginginig ang tuhod ko na parang nanlalambot. Im familiar with this kind of situation, im hoping for the best but im preparing my heart for the worst.
Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko if I arrived at the hospital with Rhian covered in white sheets. The idea is sending tears to my eyes. Medically speaking, the longer the person stays in a coma, the slimmer the chances are na magisisng siya. 6 months ago, Dr. Martinez already recommended for Euthanasia or in lay mans term, Mercy Killing. Muntik ko na siyang masuntok ng i-open up niya un.
Few blocks more and I'll reach the hospital parking. I whisper a prayer to calm myself down.
"Papa Lord....im hoping for a good news po...not hoping pala..im begging for a good news...you know all my hearts desire Papa Lord, wala po akong maitatago sa inyo, marami po akong gusto mangyari but Papa Lord...let your will be done...thank you po."
With my silent and modest prayer, gumaan ang pakiramdam ko, i could feel my heart beat normally.
"Thank you Papa Lord...you're the best."
----------------------------------
Glaiza
Natatanaw ko na ang entrance ng ICU room ni Rhian, naghahabulan ang daga sa dibdib ko pero hindi ko pinapahalata. Hindi na ako dumaan sa nurse station.
Mas bumibigat at lumalalim ang paghinga ko sa bawat hakbang,
"Have faith...have faith...have faith..."
I keep mumbling the words hanggang makarating ako sa tapat ng pinto.
Naririnig ko na mula sa kinatatayuan ko ang hikbi ni Tita Amanda at Alden, mas lalong nangatog ang tuhod ko.
Nakawhite blouse in black buttons and faded blue jeans with high cut black boots ako, inayos ko ng kaunti ang aking buhok, im really hoping na buhay na Rhian ang makaharap ko or kahit tulog pa din, kahit anong version ng buhay na Rhian tatangapin ko.
Huminga ako ng malalim bago tinulak ang pinto, nakatingin pa rin ako sa sahig habang humahakbang papasok.
Natahimik ang lahat sa pagpasok ko, pati ang malakas na hikbi ni Tita ay dahan dahang humina.
Napapalibutan ang higaan ni Rhian ng tatlong nurse, si Dr. Martinez, sina Tita, Alden at Maine.
Nakaturn off na din ang screen ng heart at vitals monitor. Pati ang feeding tube ay naitapon na din sa basurahan.
Patakbong yumakap si Alden sa akin, kasunod si Tita at Maine.
And there she is....my soulmate...Rhian Ramos.
In a white hospital gown and a messy bun with a confuse expression on her face.
Her back is against the headboard, Dr. Martinez is checking her vitals while she randomly nod.
I take a few step backwards while covering my mouth. Kumalas mula sa pagkakayakap sina Tita at Alden. Naninigas ang panga ko, hindi ko maintindihan kong naiiyak ba ako o natutuwa.
"Hija...si Denise...si Denise..."
"Bumalik na si Ate Rhian....bumalik na siya..."
Clearly, i can hear them but i got my eyes on Rhian. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.
'Thank you po Papa Lord...thank you po...'
Dr. Martinez turn my direction ad gave me a nod. He walk my way and tap my shoulder with that victorious smile in his face.
"She back Dr. De Castro."
Tanging tango lang ang naiganti ko as he leave the room.
Parang slow motion ang paglakad ko palapit sa kanya, our eyes meet and my heart melts on the spot.
"Rhi....Rhi..."
Umagos na ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigil. We're an arms length apart, nararamdaman ko na nga ang paghinga niya. She can breath on her own and its amazing.
I reach in for a year old hug pero bigla siyang umatras at napasandal ulit sa headboard.
"Who are you? Ma, sino po siya?"
My world came tumbling down in Rhian's disoriented face. Im aware that memory loss or amnesia are just few complications of awaken coma patients.
I compose myself as Tita Amanda came to my defense.
"Rhian anak...she's Glaiza, kasintahan mo."
Mas lalong pumakla ang mukha ni Rhian. Tiim itong ngumiti.
"Ikaw naman Ma, stop messing around. Si Erika ang kasintahan ko, hindi ko po siya kilala."
"What the hell? Anong si Erika...?"
Hindi ko napigilan at napataas ang boses ko. Isang taon ko siyang hinintay tapos pag gising niya si Erika maaalala niya.
Dahan dahan namang hinatak ni Maine ang braso ko.
"Ate Glaiza, kalma lang po, baka epekto lang yan ng coma niya...wag po muna nating pwersahin."
"Oo nga Ate, baka may natamaan lang sa utak ni Ate Rhian kaya ganyan."
Dagdag naman ni Alden. Sobrang hirap ang pinagdaanan ko, pero mas masakit ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.
My fiancee doesnt remember me.
"Im sorry Rhian, im sorry po Tita....Maine is right, amnesia or memory lost are common complications of coma patients...."
I try to compose myself while scratching my nape and rubbing my hands against each other.
"...im so happy that you're awake Rhian, i'd been praying for it for a year...Tita Amanda, ill just check her status in the nurse station, excuse me po..."
With a heavy and wounded heart, i walk to the door, being forgotten by Rhian is worse than seeing her in a coma. Kinapa ko ang dibdib kong literal na nadudurog.
"Glai...."
I stop on my feet, nakatalikod na ako but im pretty sure it was Rhian who call my name.
"Glai...Glaiza...."
Agarang pumatak ang luha mula sa namumugto kong mata, lumingon ako at nakita kong nakatayo na si Rhian sa gilid ng kama.
She's smiling at me, napakaganda niya. Para akong batang sumisinghot ng luha.
"Glai....biro lang...pwede ba kitang makalimutan? Eh mahal na mahal kita."
Nagtatatakbo akong yumakap sa kanya. She wrap her arms on my nape and i wrap mine on her waist.
Napahagulgul na ako ng iyak.
We're both digging our face on the others neck.
"...i miss you Rhian...God knows how much i miss you..."
"Glai....Glaiza ko..."
-------------------------------------------
Rhian
My whole body feels stiff, even the slightest ray of sunlight is hurting my eyes. There's a silent pounding in my head and a healed scar on the back of my left ear. The way about I feel about my body is different as I remember it to be. My arms, left and right, full of injection marks. My center feels swollen from the attached catheter.
According to the Doctor I spoke earlier, I'd been in a coma for a year after passing out due a complication in my brain that he called, aneursym. He explains everything in language im trying hard to comprehend, what I understand is, they insert a some sort of metal coil in my brain to close down the infected veins and after a year, im awake.
Hindi ko pa masabayan lahat ng sinasabi nila because the last thing I clearly remember is proposing to Glaiza, after that, wala na. My mom keeps on thanking all the saints she can possibly mention while Alden and Maine hugs me like crazy. Sabi nila marami daw nangyari habang coma ako, they even though im gonna die for good dahil for a year walang improvement ang conditions ko. My Mom said she had to sell our house in Baguio to keep up with the bills. Mabuti na lang daw at covered ako ng insurance by the company or else, mawawala ang lahat sa amin, she even mentioned that Glaiza spent almost all her saving's to provide me the best life support equipment.
"Hey...open wide Rhi."
Glaiza feeds me some tasteless soup while im craving for red meat. She looks so beautiful, suot pa rin niya ang singsing na binigay ko.
"Walang lasa Glai...I want some steak.."
I frown my face, medyo matigas pa ang facial muscle ko, mahirap pala mag 'make face' kapag kagagaling mo lang sa coma.
"Rhi naman...meat agad? Do you want to upset your stomach, isang taon puro liquid ang laman niyan tapos bibiglain mo ng solid foods. No, ito na muna Rhian Denise."
Gusto kong tumawa ng malakas sa naging reaction niya, para siyang si Mama dati noong pinipilit akong kumain ng gulay. But its cute, she's cute. I slowly open my eyes and straightly swallow the horrible soup.
"That's my girl...okay one more."
"Ugh...tama na. Maco-coma ako ulit sa lasa ng sabaw nay an eh."
Marahang pinalo ni Glaiza ang kamay ko, i act as if I broke a leg.
"Ouch...sakit...."
"Hala...sorry Rhi...okay ka lang ba? napalakas ba Rhi? sorry ha...saan masakit...dito...dito...?"
She examines my arm na para akong nahulog sa hagdan. Sobrang maalaga at thoughtful niya since early morning, the perks of waking from a coma.
"Kalma Glai...acting lang. Diba Doctor ka, bakit nagpapaka nurse ka dyan? Isa pa, i can eat on my own."
Inagaw ko mula sa kanya ang kutsara at nilaro laro ang sabaw, ag labnaw talaga nito.
Naupo siya sa dulo ng kama habang nakatingin sa akin, mayamaya, bigla itong umiyak.
"Im sorry....im just so happy na gising kana. Prayers can really move mountains. You have no idea how many times ako naglakad ng paluhod sa baclaran or nagsayaw sa Obando."
"Obando? para sa mga gustong magkaanak yun diba?"
She scratch her head, ang cute talaga ng kumag na 'to.
"Ay talaga? kaya pala puro mag asawa ang nakakasabay ko, akala ko nagkataon lang. My bad."
Nagtawanan kami pareho. I ask her to come closer, she reach for my hand and kiss the back of it.
"Sabi ni Mama naubos daw saving's mo sa akin Glai. Thank you so much kasi hindi mo ako binitawan, i may not understand everything yet but one thing im sure, you did not leave my side even if the going got tough, and for that im greatful."
"Soulmate kita diba? Ang mag soulmate hindi nag iiwanan, they stand with each other. Pera? I can work for it, pero ikaw, nag iisa ka lang. Kaya kong isugal ang kahit ano para sayo Rhian, kasi mahal kita."
Niyakap namin ang isat-isa, full of longing, full of love.
She trace the scar in the back of my ear, sobrang pagmamahal ang nararamdaman ko para kay Glaiza.
"Glai...im gonna spend the rest of my life beside you...i promise.."
"Rhi...thank you...thank you so much at bumalik ka...im so inlove with you Rhian Ramos..."
We kiss for the first time in a long time. Glaiza's lips still feels the same way, the intoxicating effect that sweep me off my feet, the sudden frenzy in every muscle of my body, the lustful delight of her saliva.
I snake my arms to her nape, my tongue jump in the mix and Glaiza retreat but im keeping my grip tight.
"Rhian...nasa ICU tayo, transparent ang glass wall....calm yourself...nakacatheter ka pa nga dyan, kung anu ano na binibida.."
Natawa ako ng malakas sa statement ni Glaiza.
"Hindi mo ba ako namiss Doc?"
I seductively ask habang binababa ang sleeve ng hospital gown na suot ko. Im just teasing for Glaiza's reaction.
"Dios miyo Marimar....ngayon lang yata ako nasexyhan sa hospital gown."
"So ano nga Doc? Are you in or out?"
Tumingin ito sa paligid at nasapo ang noo niya. Binaba ko na din ang kabilang sleeve at totally expose na ang balikad ko hanggang cleavage area, partida pa yun, wala akong bra.
"You're gonna get me in trouble Rhi..."
"Im more concern of getting you in between my legs Glai."
Napalunok ito at nagpunas ng pawis, she look so stress na parang batang nakabasag ng pinggan.
Hinatak ko pataas ang sleeves ng hospital gown at tumawa ng malakas, basag ang mukha niya ng marealize na pinagti-tripan ko lang siya.
"..you should have seen your face Glai...hahaha"
Namewang ito habang naninigas ang panga.
"Sige tawa kapa, sinasabi ko sayo, kapag nakalabas ka na dito 'careño brutal' ka. Macocoma ka ulit sakin Miss Ramos."
Authors Note:
Hi.☺☺☺
Kamusta po, masaya na ba tayo?
Wag lang po pakaseguro, baka po kasi kaltukin na naman si Author at may biglang himatayin at macoma na naman.✌
Salamat sa support niyo.
Share your idea kung ano mangyayari sunod.😊
Ikasal na natin? Pag awayin natin? Buntisin natin si Glaiza or Rhian? Ibalik natin si Solenn or Luis?
What do you think?
#lovewins