VICTOR
Ted cleared his throat. "Sss-so sir, magpapabili parin po ba kayo ng ---" Ted is still trying to cover what they heard before we stopped.
Avie smiled at Ted and did a thumbs up at him. "It's cool, you're good" signaling Ted na tama na. She patted his shoulder as she walked past him. Avie moves like she owns the place, well she technically does. But there's a certain finesse to her movements like when she pulled a side pocket-like drawer from a night stand beside me.
She pulled out a clipboard from there and lifted a page to compare to the one in front. "Come on in guys, don't just stand there" Avie said as she kept reading.
The little girl came in first and put the pillow at my side. I smiled at her while the young man lifted his arm to pull up the comforter set he had been carrying. He placed it at the end of my bed and stood behind Avie.
"Jay akin na yung fruits para maibigay na natin sa--" Darylle took the plastic from the young man's hand. Mabilis naman si Ted na nagintervene sa kamay ni Darylle.
"I got it" Ted took the basket and the bag of fruits from Darylle's hand and placed them at the table near the couch. He offered them to sit on the couch after niyang alisin yung mga nakakalat na gamit namin.
Darylle accepted the offer, at kumalong si Deedee sa kanya.
Avie pulled out my xray from a large envelope and raised it up. "Mukhang ok ka naman, your bones are fine. The doctor at the hospital in Quezon did a good job putting it back after being dislocated. Naka-inom ka na ba ng ibuprofen?" She lifted another page. "Hmmmm..." She hummed while still reading. "The meds we got from Quezon must've... No, that's not it." Her eyes met mine. "Nagpalit ka ba ng anti-pain meds when the ones we bought were finished?"
"No" I lied. Hindi na ako uminom when I got to Manila. I had every intention of staying in pain so I could come at the hospital with a slight discomfort and Avie would take pity at palusutin ako sa biglaang pag alis ko.
"Ooooohhhkey..." Avie, still puzzled, ran her finger on my shoulder on top of my hospital gown. "What I don't understand is how it got so swollen this afternoon" inangat ni Avie yung side ng hospital gown ko to expose my shoulder and arm. "Ok ka naman kasi when we---" Avie paused "--were together in Quezon" she continued.
I looked at Ted. Now kay Avie na nanggaling na together kami sa noong nasa white mansion ako.
Binalik ni Avie yung files sa side pocket. "Aside from junk food, ano pang kinain mo lately? Baka kasi namaga ka from an allergic reaction" Avie's eyes turned to the pile of junk food Ted bought habang nagbabantay sakin.
"I didn't eat anything different from my usual, today legit na kinain ko yung ginisang ampalaya na may itlog from the hospital lunch." I proudly stated.
I couldn't help but smile, nakakataba ng puso yung concern niya. "Avie this is Ted nga pala, siya yung may-ari ng junk food, Ted this is Avie" Ted awkwardly waved at her, pero nakahalata siyang gusto kong tumayo siya at magpakilala ng maayos so he shook her hand.
"You've met Darylle and Deedee"Avie looked at them on the couch. The two were busy with Darylle showing something to Deedee on her phone. "And this is Jayjay" Jayjay walked toward me and shook my good hand. Very formal ang tanggap sakin ni Jayjay. Hindi ko tuloy matantiya kung ok ako sa kanya o hindi.
"Woooow! The Samaniego siblings are here?" The doctor who told Avie that she will be my attending physician walked through the hallway.
"Tita!" Deedee raised her arms to hug the woman. Jayjay and Darylle also did the same thing to greet her.
"Dito kayo?" The doctor pointed at my open room's direction. "Ooohhh, so you guys are visiting the Kuya" sabi niya when she saw me.
"The kuya?" Jayjay asked and looked at Avie.
Avie pulled him to the side. "Let her through" she told Jayjay.
"May I?" The group made way for her to get through. Avie moved to my side para makuha nung doctor yung file sa side pocket, making her lean on the bed. Abot ko yung kamay niya so I held on it. Napatingin sakin si Avie, unsure if hihilahin niya o hahayaan niya lang. She chose the latter.
"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked me while taking the files Avie looked at.
"Ok naman po" I answered.
"Masakit parin?" the doctor asked.
"Hindi na po pag hindi ako nagalaw" I answered honestly.
"Your x-rays are showing na nabugbog lang yung flesh mo because your bones are fine." She inspected my arm. "Overall ok ka na naman, actually you don't need to stay here." She looked around the room Ted got for me.
"Avie does he exercise? Lift weights? Do extraneous activities of the sort?" The doctor asked Avie.
"Yes he does" Avie doesn't have that information. She's bluffing.
"Oh, baka nakalusot sayo, busy ka kasi lagi" the doctor winked at Avie. "Iho, there will be times na ok na yung pakiramdam mo, but you're not supposed to lift things and move a lot, this injury needs time to heal" the doctor told me.
"Siguro Avie, alisin mo muna yung gym niya or yung fitness equipment ninyo sa bahay, that way hindi siya makaka-exercise." The doctor assumed Avie and I live together.
The Jayjay looks confused, exchanging looks with Darylle. Darylle lifted her palm to hold his questions off. Jayjay frowned even more nung nakita niya yung kamay ko sa kamay ni Avie.
"Well, I see no reason for you to stay here" she again looked at Avie.
"Pwede na akong lumabas?" I asked the doctor. "Ted" I called Ted's attention. Naintindihan niya agad and he quickly stood close to the doctor.
"Yes, I ke-clear na kita for discharge" tuloy paliwanag ni Doc about what I can and can't do while writing on a page at the clipboard. She prescribed more medicines and gave a piece of paper to Avie.
Avie read the paper seeming to double check what was written. "Ok na po Tita, thank you po" the woman excused herself.
"Miss Avie, yung paper, ano gagawin ko?" Ted asked Avie.
"Oh, wait" Avie wrote something on the paper and gave it to Ted.
Ted read what Avie wrote and looked at Avie.
"It's ok, go" Avie told Ted.
Ted went out of the room. Lumabas din si Darylle, Deedee at Jayjay dahil gusto ni Deedee ng water.
Naiwan kami ni Avie sa room. I pulled on Avie's hand when she tried to move away.
"Hindi ka na galit?" I asked her.
"I honestly don't know what to feel, Victor" Avie replied.
"How can I make things right?" I sat up on the bed.
"Bigla kang nawala, what was I supposed to think?" Avie pulled her hand away and crossed her arms on her chest. "Hindi ko alam kung anong trip mo sa buhay kasi nung nasa hotel tayo gustong gusto mong pumasok sa buhay ko. I'm sorry kung akala mo hindi ko gusto because I hid you from my grandparents and Deedee kasi they have a tendency to overreact. Pero sana nagpakita ka noong ipapakila kita sa mommy ko"
"I'm sorry I had to deal with emergencies at wor--"
"Hindi kayang tumawag? Hindi kayang magtext?" Avie asked in frustration.
"Sorry na Avie, I--"
"I might be pregnant, Victor"
My world paused.
Blank.
I never knew those words are even allowed in a sentence.
"I'm not sure, I'm on the pill pero there are times those things fail" bawi ni Avie. "Neither of us was careful last week" Avie continued.
My eyes switched between her face and her tummy. I never thought of it while I was with her.
"Are you ok? Hindi ka ba nagsusuka? Nahihilo?" Movie related symptoms lang alam ko.
Avie shook her head 'no'. "Bakit? Bigla ka ba ulit mawawala?"
"No" I stated firmly. "I'll be with you every step of the way. Kailangan mo ako o hindi, galit ka man o hindi, kahit ayaw mo akong makita, hindi ako mawawala"
Avie just stared at me without saying anything, gauging my sincerity.
"Can't we get those test sticks from drugstores? Gusto mo pabilhin ko ngayon si Ted" I asked Avie while setting my phone to call Ted. Excited akong makarinig ng positive result.
"Hindi pa madedetect until two weeks after concepcion" She explained and grabbed my phone. "No one can know until we're sure, ok?" She gave me my phone back.
"Of course, whatever you want" I grinned at her.
I can't begin sa dami ng ideas na nasa isip ko. It's all blooming from the positive result I'm so wishing for. "Kelan pwedeng mag-test?"
"Interested ka talaga?" Avie's expression changed. She's amused now.
"Oo naman" I tried my best not to answer so loud. Sobrang excitement parang sasabog ang dibdib ko.
"Akala ko maga-akto ka nang tatakbo pag nalaman mo" natatawang sabi ni Avie.
"I want this more than anything" I honestly answered.
"Talaga lang? Mamaya bigla ka nalang ulit mawala" Avie teased nag lighten na yung mood niya sakin. "Not that I can't do this on my own, pero we were both there, may participation ka and you deserve to know" paliwanag ni Avie.
"I'm here, whatever you need, whatever you want, 100%" I stated wholeheartedly. Grabe! I feel so pumped! Fully charged ako with ideas to take care of her, I'm giving this my all. "I want to take care of you 100%, but I can only do that if we live under one roof, ok lang ba sayo?" I suggested.
"That" Avie bit her lip. "That we cannot do, hindi nga ako makaka-test kasi I'm never alone, not with Darylle always with me and now that I'm in charge of my two younger siblings at gusto ng mommy magkakasama kami. Paano ako makakatest ng walang makaka-alam let alone live under one roof with you?"
Naku patay. "How about---"
Ted came in. "Ok na daw, parating na yung nurse to assist" he started opening his bag and stuffing his coat in it.
We both looked at him.
"What?" He asked.
"I- I---" Avie stuttered.
"Ihahatid natin sila sa bahay nila" I pointed my fingers at me and Ted. "Get the car ready" I ordered Ted.
"We have our own" Avie replied.
"Ahmm sir, one small detail po--" Ted said hesitantly.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Wala tayong sasakyan sir, pinauwi ko na yung driver kasi sabi ninyo kanina matagal pa tayo sa ospital" Ted continued.
Avie chuckled "How about you boys have dinner at my parent's place? Then we'll figure out how will you get home" Avie pulled out her phone, started to dial a number and put her phone near her ear. Waiting for the person on other line to answer, "Hindi pa din kumakain yung mga kasama ko, kasi ang sabi ko lang dadaan lang kami dito then we'll head home. Hello ate..." Avie talked to the phone giving instructions that there's six of us coming for dinner.
A nurse came in the room, kilala siya ni Avie judging by the way Avie took a few seconds to wave at her even when she's busy giving instructions to someone to come upstairs para salubungin kami.
"Sir relax lang po, aalisin po natin yung IV ninyo" I felt something cold slide out of my skin. "Paki press lang po sir till the bleeding stops" the nurse mentioned while smiling. I smiled back and thanked her.
May dumating na lalaking naka-barong, inabot ni Avie sa kanya yung bag ng comforter and the basket they brought.
"May ipapasakay na kayo sa sasakyan para maibaba na ni kuya?" Avie asked us.
Ted gave me a white shirt he pulled out from his bag tapos inabot yung slacks na suot ko nung inadmit ako kanina. Madami nang dala yung naka-barong so Ted came down with him dala yung duffel bag ko.
I got off the bed para makapagbihis. Mahirap gumalaw dahil sa arm sling ko. Aaktong aalisin ko na when hands stopped me from taking it off. Nagulat ako when Avie took my slacks and bent down para isuot sakin. I lifted my leg one at a time para maisuot sakin ni Avie.
Walang ibang sound kungdi yung belt buckle kong kumakalansing on Avie's movements. I kept doing deep breathing dahil naa-alive ako at baka may may tumayo at mag-object kay your honor.
"Are you ok?" Avie smirked and started untying my hospital clothes.
"I'm-- I'm good" I replied. "Alisin nalang kaya natin yung sling ko? Hindi na naman masakit eh" I told Avie.
"No, tiisin mo muna, a week or two lang naman eh" Avie carefully slid my injured arm on the free shirt, and expertly slid my head and then my good arm in the shirt holes. I stopped Avie from touching my shoes, may chinelas naman akong dala.
Bihis na ako when Darylle came in buhat si Deedee. Nakayakap na sa kanya yung bata na parang wala na sa mood. "Grumpy na siya, uuwi na tayo" Darylle announced in the room and swayed Deedee.
"Shhh... uuwi na tayo baby" Avie talked to her sa likod ni Darylle. Umiiyak na yata siya kasi Avie only caressed Deedee's hair, Deedee buried her face deeper into Darylle's neck. Deedee seemed mature nung dumating siya, she's like 4-5 years old shempre baby parin at inaatake rin ng sumpong in an unfamiliar environment.
Jayjay walked behind Darylle dala yung doll shoes ni Deedee. "Ate marami akong homework, matagal pa ba tayo?" he stated bluntly.
"Tara na" I told Avie. Matalim ang tingin ni Jayjay when I took Avie's hand pero he never spoke, naglakad lang siya sa likod ni Darylle while soothing the grumpy and crying Deedee.