ZYNE'S POV

Nakakagulat at napakatahimik ng babaeng 'to. I'm not used to it. Sa tuwing magkikita o magkakasalubong kasi kami ay palagi siyang highblood and on high pitch. Imagine, I almost hit her but she didn't say anything regarding this matter and she just said that she was in a hurry. So, I thought her creditors were hunting her because she didn't pay them on time. But when I found out the real reason why she's not in the mood and why she looks so depressed, I felt guilty to the things I said to her.

I offered her a ride partly because of the guilt. But the real reason why I insisted to gave her a ride was because of her mother who's in the hospital right now. I love my mom so much. And as I can see, she loved her mother that much too to the point that she doesn't care anymore about getting into an accident just to arrive at the hospital as soon as she could. And I admire her for that.

While on our way to the hospital, I was taking a glance at her to look how she's doing. She's much better now after her friend called compare to her state a while ago. It seems like she doesn't worry that much anymore. Now, she only worries about her mother's condition.

I want to ask her if she's okay. But I'm afraid that she might just ignore me. And I don't know why I am feeling afraid all of the sudden. It doesn't sounds like me anymore. I've never been afraid to anyone or anything in my entire life. This was the first time. At sa taong kinaiinisan ko pa. How ironic.

I just settled with my seat and restrain myself from talking to her.

As we arrived at the hospital, she immediately went out of the car without any word. So instead of stopping her, I just followed her wherever she go.

She went to the nurse station to ask for her mother's room number. We went to the room number they gave us afterwards.

When we reach our destination, a doctor welcomed us.

"Are you the relatives of Mrs. Reyes?" the Doctor asked.

"Yes, doc," agarang sagot niya.

"Come to my office."

She followed the doctor to his office and so I am. Wait. Why am I even here? I shouldn't be here. I should have leave after she went out of my car. But why the hell am I following her wherever she goes? Have I gone insane? Argh!

'You're already here. So why bother cause a fuss? Just go with the flow,' said by my subconscious mind.

Tss! Do I have any choice?

"Doc, ano po bang nangyari kay mama?" puno ng pag-aalalang tanong niya sa doctor na naka-assign sa mama niya.

I can also feel how nervous she is right now. She's nervous of what might the doctor tell her regarding her mother's condition.

"Your mom lose her consciousness due to over fatigue," pormal na sagot ng doctor.

"Over fatigue? Paano po nangyari 'yon? E nasa bahay lang si mama buong maghapon." Confusion is all over her face.

"Someone named Marta who brought your mother here said that she lose her consciousness while doing a laundry," the Doctor informed her which made things more complicated for her.

"What? Laundry?" naguguluhan pa ring tanong niya.

So, her mother is doing a laundry behind her back?

"I guess you have no idea about your mother's actions. But that's not the point here. As of now, your mother needs to stay here for a couple of days for..." Before the doctor could even finish his sentence, she cut him off.

"Pero doc, ikaw na nga po ang may sabi na over fatigue lang po. So pwede na po siyang umuwi at doon na lang magpahinga at bumawi ng lakas sa bahay," pagkontra niya.

What's with her? Why is she acting that way? She should just follow what the doctor said for her mother's health. And besides, it's much better for a patient to stay in the hospital than to go home. Mas maaalagaan at mas matututukan siya rito. Siya na nga mismo ang may sabi. She's not aware of her mother's actions. Malay ba niya kung gumawa ng mga gawaing bahay ang mama niya sa halip na magpahinga?

"That wouldn't be possible. We still need to run some test on here to make sure na wala na siyang ibang iniindang sakit especially at her age. You know, she's quite old to do the laundry and some chores. Hindi natin alam kung may mga nabaling buto na ba sa katawan niya o ano. And in addition to that, she needs to stay here to make sure that she'll have enough rest. Kapag nasa bahay lang kasi siya ay may possibility na maglalabada ulit siya or do some chores. Baka sa halip na makabawi siya ng lakas ay mas lumalala lang ang kondisyon niya," mahabang paliwanag ng doctor.

'Exactly my point!'

"I understand, doc. Magkano po ba ang babayaran?" nanlulumong tanong niya

Now, I get her point. It makes sense now. She's worried about the hospital bills. Well, I can't blame her. She have all the reasons to be worried. Malaking halaga ang kailangan niyang bayaran.

"As of now, hindi pa natin alam. It depends kung gaano siya katagal mag-i-stay rito at kung wala na kaming makitang ibang problema sa kaniya. Any question, Ms. Reyes?"

"Wala na po, doc," she answered in such a low voice.

"Then you may now go to your mother. She's been calling your name since she arrived her. You're Francine, right?"

"Opo. Salamat po, doc. Sige po. Mauna na po ako," paalam niya sa doctor.

I followed her until inside the room where her mother stays. Pero nanatili lang ako sa tabi ng pinto ng kwarto at hinayaan siyang mag-isang lumapit sa mama niya. Besides, I wonder if she's aware that I'm still around and was following her all this time. I guess she's not since I'm always behind her, keeping a 5meter distance. Idagdag mo pang kanina pa siyang lutang magmula ng kausapin siya ng doctor regarding her mother's condition. She's so depressed right now. And I felt a sudden sting in my chest seeing her in that state for who knows why. So weird.

FRANCINE'S POV

The moment na makalapit ako kay mama ay pinilit ko munang itago ang lungkot na nararamdaman ko sa loob-loob ko. I inhaled and exhaled repeatedly until I got a lot of courage to face her with a smile on my face. A fake one.

"Ma," marahang pagtawag ko kay mama para gisingin siya mula sa pagkakaidlip niya.

"O, anak? Nandito ka na pala. Kanina ka pa ba?" malambing na tanong ni mama.

Inalalayan ko siyang makaupo. Inilagay ko sa may pader ang unan at isinandal ko siya rito para maging komportable siya.

"Kararating ko lang po," magalang kong tugon at pilit na ngumiti.

"Ano ang sabi ng doctor? Makakauwi na raw ba ako?" masiglang tanong ni mama na halatang excited nang umuwi.

"Kailangan niyo pa raw pong mag-stay rito ng mga ilang araw pa para maobserbahan po kayo para makasigurong wala na kayong ibang dinaramdam." I tried my best para itago sa kaniya ang bigat ng dinadala ko dahil sa nagpatong-patong na problema. Hangga't maaari ay ayoko nang mamroblema at mag-alala pa siya.

"Umuwi na kaya tayo? Ayos naman na ako. Saka wala tayong pambayad. Mas malaki ang babayaran natin kapag nagtagal pa ako rito," pagpupumilit ni mama.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako dahil sa inaasal ni mama. Naospital na siya't lahat pero gastos pa rin ang iniisip niya.

"Huwag na po ninyong isipin 'yon, ma. Ako na po ang bahala sa gastusin dito sa ospital. May ipon pa naman po ako. Huwag na po kayong masyadong mag-alala. Magpahinga at magpagaling na lang po kayo," I lied.

Ang totoo ay ubos na ang pera ko. At ang perang mayroon ako ay nakalaan na sa pang-araw-araw naming gastusin sa school at sa bahay. Nagastos ko na kasi ang ipon ko sa pagpapaayos ng bisikleta ko at noong birthday ni Dave. Mag-a-advance na lang siguro ako sa dalawa kong part time jobs. O baka mangutang na lang ako sa mga kakilala ko. Haist! Bahala na.

"Sigurado ka? E paano 'yong mga gastusin mo sa school?" hindi kumbinsidong tanong ni mama.

"Huwag na po ninyong intindihin 'yon, ma. Gagawan ko na lang po ng paraan. Basta magpagaling po kayo."

Hindi na baleng mapagod ako kakatrabaho basta gumaling lang si mama. Iniwan na nga kami ni papa. Pababayaan ko pa ba naman ang nag-iisang magulang na mayroon kami?

"Iyong mga kapatid mo?" biglang tanong ni mama.

"Doon na po muna sila kina Maxine. Wala po kasing magbabantay sa kanila. Sige, ma. Bumalik na po kayo sa pagtulog ninyo. Babantayan ko po kayo."

"Huwag na anak. Ayos na ako. Hindi mo na kaila..." Hindi ko na pinatapos pa sa pagsasalita niya si mama at iginiya ko siya pahiga ng kama.

"Ma, sige na. Huwag ng matigas ang ulo, okay? May kasalanan pa kayo sa 'kin. Hindi kayo sumunod sa usapan natin. Kaya sige na, ma. Magpahinga ka na. Babantayan na lang kita," mariing sabi ko para hindi na siya magmatigas pa.

"Sige. Pero magpahinga ka rin a. Kagagaling mo lang sa paaralan kaya umidlip ka kahit sandali para makabawi ka ng lakas," puno ng pag-aalalang sabi ni mama na ikinabuntong-hininga ko na lang.

She should worry for herself. Pero bakit ako pa rin ang iniisip niya? She needs rest more than I do.

"Mamaya na, ma. Kapag nakatulog na kayo," I lied for the second time. Ang totoo ay gusto ko lang siyang bumalik sa pagtulog para hindi niya ako makitang lugmok na lugmok. Hindi ko na kasi magawa pang itago ang frustrations na nararamdaman ko at iniiwasan kong mailabas ang tunay kong nararamdaman sa harapan ni mama. Mag-aalala lang siya.

Nang makatulog na si mama ay saglit ko lang siyang binantayan bago ako pumuntang garden sa labas ng ospital para magpahangin at maglabas ng sama ng loob.

A/N: Poor Francine :(