Alunsina's POV
"Lola, aalis muna po ako ha? I love you.."
I held her hand and kissed her in her forehead. I started crying again.
It's been three days..
"Hush, anak.. ayaw ng Lola mo na umiiyak ka.." Mom consoled me. Pinunasan niya ang luha ko.
"Mom.. hindi ko kayang nakikitang ganiyan si Lola.." I cried even more. Tinignan ko si Lola. Ang daming tubo ang nakakabit sa kaniya.. It breaks my heart seeing her like that.
"She's a fighter.. she's very strong, anak. You know that," she smiled a little, trying to hide her pain.
"I know that, Mom," I tried to smile but I just.. couldn't.
"Let's pray for her fast recovery, okay?" she kissed me in my forehead.
"Sige na, Mom. Pupunta muna kami sa bayan ni Kuya. We're just going to buy some food,"
Kuya just arrived here yesterday. I'm actually surprised to see him here. Ang alam ko, he doesn't know anything about what happened to Lola Toyang because my parents don't want to stress him anymore. It is because he was taking his exams when it all happened. Maybe my parents wanted him to focus on his studies than worrying too much about Lola Toyang.
"Tatawagan ko na rin po si Clyde. I bet he is worried," paalam ko.
I haven't informed Clyde anything about this. Sa tatlong araw na nandito ako, I didn't call or even text him. I don't want to be a burden anymore.
But on the side note, I felt guilty for not even telling him where I have been. He is worried, I know he is worried.
"Ingat kayo, anak," I then went outside and looked for Kuya.
"Kuya, tara na.." I said with tiredness on my voice as I entered his car.
Tahimik lang kami habang nasa byahe. Siguro iniisip din niya si Lola. Namamaga na rin ang mga mata niya dahil sa kakaiyak.
Nang makarating kami sa bayan, naghanap kaagad ako ng signal. Mahina kasi ang signal sa ospital. Ngayon lang ulit ako nakapunta rito.
Weak cignal is also one of the reasons why I haven't called Clyde.
Lagot ako neto sa bebe ko! Hindi man lang ako nagpaalam sa kaniya. It's been three days!
Baka nabaliw na 'to kakahanap sa akin.
I bit my lip when I saw he is calling me already.
"H-hello?" kinakabahan kong bati.
"(Fuck! Finally!)" sigaw niya kaya nilayo ko ang phone ko sa tenga ko.
"Uhm.." I bit my lip again. "I'm so sorry.." I said in a soft voice.
"(Where are you?)" he sounds mad but I think he's just trying to calm himself.
"I'm at my Lola's province," my voice cracked.
There's a minute of silence between us after I said that.
"(Is.. is there something wrong?)"
I sniffed because I can feel that I will cry again. "Clyde.." I sobbed.
"(Baby, what is it? Tell me what's wrong..)" he said in a soft voice.
"Lola is at the hospital.. she.." I paused because I already bursted into crying. "She had a heart attack, Clyde.." bumuhos na ang luha ko.
"She's in critical condition.." I covered my mouth so I won't cry so loud.
"(Fuck. I'll go there, baby. Wait for me,)"
"Drive safely, Clyde.."
I love you.
"Tahan na.. lalo kang papanget niyan," Kuya said as he tried to console me.
"Kuya naman, eh," mukha tuloy akong tanga rito na tumatawa habang umiiyak.
"Tumahan ka na. Gagaling si Lola, okay?"
I took a large amount of air. "Palaban siya.. gagaling siya.." I wiped my tears away.
2 hours later, nakarating na'rin si Clyde. Umalis na si Kuya nang makita niyang dumating na siya.
I immediately ran into him and hugged him tight. I can feel my tears falling.
"I'm so sorry for not calling you right away... Wala kasing cignal—"
"It's okay, baby... Don't worry," mas lalo pa niyang hinigpitan ang yakap. "Stop crying, please.. It's so hard for me to see you cry," pinunasan niya ang luha ko gamit ang panyo niya.
"I'm very scared, Clyde.. Paano nalang kung hindi kayanin ni Lola—"
"Kakayanin niya. Kakayanin niya 'yun. She's a strong woman. Lalaban siya, okay?" he said in a soft voice. I lifted my face up. I cried even more.
Nang mahimasmasan ako sa pag-iyak, I told him what happened.
Since umalis si Tita Alena dahil mayroon siyang trabaho, ang kambal lang ang kasama ni Lola. She's out for three days dahil may seminar sila.
Sabi ng mga kapitbahay, bigla nalang daw nabuwal si Lola habang nagdidilig siya ng halaman. Isinugod naman siya kaagad sa malapit na ospital.
Tinawagan kaagad ng doktor si Mommy. Nagmamadali kaming nagpunta kaya hindi na ako nakapagsabi kay Clyde. My whole body was shaking nang malaman kong nagkaroon ng heart attack sila Lola. I didn't even manage to tell Blaire or Ivory what happened.
"I thought something bad happened to you.." he looked away.
What does he mean by that?
"You don't know how worried I am when I can't find you anywhere in Manila," his voice cracked.
"I'm sorry.. I don't know what happened to me in those three days.. I just don't know what to do.. I'm so devastated.." I bit my lip. He hugged me.
"I'm sorry I wasn't with you in those three days, babe.."
"It's fine.." I swallowed hardly and wiped my nose. "I want to go to the church, Clyde.." mahina kong sabi.
He held my chin up. "Let's go," he kissed me on my forehead.
Nang makarating kami sa simbahan, lumuhod kaagad ako at nagdasal. I closed my eyes.
Lord, I pray for my Lola's fast recovery.. Gusto ko pa po siyang makasama nang mas matagal.. She's my greatest treasure.. wala po sanang mangyaring masama sa kaniya..
I know all of these are happening because You have a plan for us.. I pray for everyone's safety.. especially my Lola Toyang's.. I love her so much, I don't know what would I do if I'll lose her..
Through Jesus' name, I pray.. Amen..
When I opened my eyes, I saw Clyde praying too. His eyes were also closed..
Nang imulat niya ang mga mata niya, ngumiti siya sa akin.
He held my hand and kissed it. "Be strong, love. I'm always here for you.." nagbabadya na namang tumulo ang mga luha ko.
"Thank you, baby.." I said in a soft voice and felt that my eyes were already starting to get watery.
He just smiled at me and we went inside a convenient store near the church to buy some foods. Mayroon namang canteen sa hospital pero maganda na yung mayroon kaming stocks ng foods.
Kumuha ako ng basket at nagpunta sa bilihan ng tinapay.
"Clyde?" I heard a guy called him when we're about to pay at the cashier.
"Toby?" his lips were parted a little. "Tol!" nakipag-apir siya sa lalaki.
"Tol! Miss na kita!" the guy hugged him.
"Ako rin, tol. Pumogi ka lalo ah?" Clyde chuckled.
"Alam ko naman 'yon. Pogi ako since birth," he held his chin. Napatingin naman siya sa akin. "Hala! Syota mo, tol?"
"Yes," Clyde replied. "Alunsina, my girlfriend,"
My eyes widened because of what he just said.
Hindi naman ako nainform!
"Pucha! Sana all!" Toby chuckled.
"He's Toby, kababata ko," he told me.
I smiled. "Hello," I extended my hand. Tinaggap naman niya ito.
"Parang nakita na kita dati?" nag-isip pa siya bago magsalita. "Ikaw ba yung apo ni Aling Toyang?" he said while paying in the counter.
"Oo," I smiled.
His face lit up. "Pinagdadasal namin siya araw-araw! Sana gumaling na siya kaagad. Ang bait-bait kaya niya," he smiled. He's right. Lola is a very kind person. Handa siyang tumulong sa lahat. That's why everyone in this province loves her.
"Oh siya sige! Aalis na ako at baka bungangaan na ako ng Mama ko," he chuckled. "Kitakits Alunsina at Clyde! Painom ka naman someday! I-invite niyo ako sa kasal niyo ha!" nakangiti niyang sabi at sumaludo pa. Kumaway nalang ako sa kaniya.
"I'll pay for these,"
"Huh? 'Wag na, nakakahiya! Ang dami pa naman nito—" but I was too late, nabayaran na niya.
"Too late," kinindatan niya ako at binuhat na ang mga napamili namin. I just playfully rolled my eyes.
Edi ikaw na mayaman. Che!
"Clyde, hijo.." nagmano siya kay Mom nang makabalik kami sa hospital.
"Good evening po, Tita," he gave her a small smile.
"Salamat dahil sinamahan mo ang anak ko.."
"No problem po, Tita," nilagay naman niya ang mga pagkain sa table.
"Sige, lalabas muna ako," paalam ni Mommy sa amin at lumabas na rin.
"Hi Lola," Clyde sat beside the hospital bed. "Pagaling ka po, ha? Lagi pong umiiyak si Alunsina, eh,"
I sat beside him and looked at Lola.
"Mahal na mahal ko po yung apo niyo, ayaw ko po siyang nakikitang umiiyak.." his voice cracked. "Ayaw niyo rin naman pong nakikitang umiiyak siya, diba?"
Natahimik naman siya pagkatapos nun. Tahimik lang kami habang nakatingin kay Lola.
Kinabukasan, nagising ako sa sinag ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ko. Dito kami sa hospital natulog. Kami ang nagbantay kay Lola. Umuwi kasi sila Mom at Dad sa Manila, kumuha ng mga damit.
"Good morning, baby.." he kissed my forehead.
"Morning," matamlay kong sagot.
"You look pale. Are you hungry? I can get some food for you," sabi niya.
"Wala akong gana," matamlay ko ulit na sagot.
"Kagabi pa hindi kumakain 'yan, tol," I looked at the person talking behind me. It was Kuya.
"Alunsina, you should eat—"
"Wala akong gana, Clyde. Kulang lang ako sa tulog kaya namumutla ako," pinilit kong ngumiti.
"Makinig ka naman sa amin, Alunsina," Kuya said as he looked at me seriously.
"Kuya—" nakaramdam ako ng hilo kaya hinawakan ko and ulo ko.
And everything just went black.
Nagising nalang ulit ako nang marinig kong nag-uusap sila Kuya at Clyde. Nakahiga ako ngayon sa sofa na nandito sa kwarto ni Lola.
"Ingatan mo ang kapatid ko, Clyde," rinig kong sabi ni Kuya. "Kapag nalaman kong pinaiyak mo 'yan, papaduguin ko talaga ang nguso mo,"
"I promise, I won't hurt her," he chuckled and even raised his right hand.
"Siguraduhin mo. Ipapabugbog talaga kita kahit tropa kita," seryosong sabi ni Kuya.
"Okay, Kuya," pang-aasar ni Clyde.
"Namo, kadiri ka. Kuya amputa," sinuntok niya nang mahina sa braso si Clyde.
Clyde scoffed. "Okay, Alejandro,"
"Ehem," singit ko naman kaya napalingon sila sa akin.
"Are you okay? May masakit pa ba sa'yo? Nahihilo ka pa ba? Anong—" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Clyde nang lumapit siya sa akin. I chuckled.
"I'm fine," I scoffed. Akala mo naman kagigising ko lang galing sa comatose.
"Ayan, ayaw mo kasing makikinig. Napakatigas ng ulo mo," singit naman ni Kuya.
"Napakatigas ng ulo mo," I mocked him.
"Sige, gumanyan ka pa. Isusumbong kita," sagot niya. Inirapan ko lang siya. Sakto namang may tumawag sa kaniya. "Bahala nga kayo riyan. Tumatawag yung syota ko," he smirked.
"You have a girlfriend?! Hindi ka nagkwekwento!" asik ni Clyde.
"Ulol," lumabas na'rin siya kaagad bago pa ako makapagsalita.
Tinignan naman ako ni Clyde. Alam ko na ang tingin niyang ganiyan, papagalitan niya ako.
"Huwag mo na akong pagalitan. I'm sorry," I pouted. Nakapoker face lang siya.
"Hey, I said I'm sorry," pacute ko pang sabi.
"I'm going to get you some food," malamig niyang sabi.
Amp! Nagtatampo pa!
After a few minutes, dumating siya na may hawak-hawak na plato. Fried chicken lang 'yun tsaka kanin. He even got me an orange juice.
"Thanks. I love you," sabi ko. Napansin ko namang nagulat siya.
Oh well, iba talaga ang epekto ko sa isang Clyde Salvatore.
"Hold on. What did you said?" he slowly said as he licked his lips.
"Hindi ko na uulitin," I smirked. Kumain na ako kaagad. He's just staring at me while I'm eating. Naconscious naman ako.
"Stop staring at me. Baka ikaw ang makain ko diyan," barumbado kong sagot. But he's just staring at me with his blank eyes.
"Are you still mad? I said sorry na ah," I pouted again.
"Don't pout. I-kiss kita riyan, eh," he replied. I pouted even more para surahin siya.
"Sige nga, oh," panghahamon ko sa kaniya.
"Okay," he smirked. Inilapit naman niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko kaya nagulat ako. It was a very sudden move so my eyes widened! Napapikit nalang ako nang mas lumapit pa siya.
I was expecting him to kiss me on my lips but he didn't..
He kissed me on my forehead and whispered something.
"I love you too.. three, four.. infinity.."
°°°