Kabanata 6
1199 Words
SILVER was staring at the photograph on the wall. Among the dozens of pictures in Kelton's Hall of Greatness, there is only one photograph that he looks at each day.
The one hanging next to his mom's picture.
Umigting ang kanyang panga habang nananatili ang titig sa nakangiting lalake sa larawan. The guy was said to be the best surgeon Kelton Medical Center had ever witnessed. Ilang kilalang tao ang naoperahan nito, kabilang na ang isa sa mga naging presidente ng bansa.
He had all the fame and great opportunities ahead of him, but one day, he just . . . quit. Not just at his job at Kelton but in his profession.
That day . . . was the day Silver was born.
Nilunok ni Silver ang namuong bara sa kanyang lalamunan nang makarinig siya ng mga yapak palapit sa kanyang pwesto. Dr. Tash, his best friend, handed him a cup of his favorite coffee drink.
"Thanks," Silver simply said.
Tumingin ito sa larawang tinititigan niya. "I still wonder what made him quit, you know?" ani Tash. "He was iconic."
Oh, Silver knows why. He absolutely knows why, and it's one of the reasons why he doesn't want Raiah to stay in Kelton for far too long.
Sumimsim siya sa kanyang kape. Nadama naman niya ang pagsulyap sa kanya ni Dr. Tash bago ito muling nagsalita.
"I heard Dra. Kavinski was able to take a walk on her own yesterday. Hindi magtatagal ay baka makabalik na rin siya sa serbisyo, right? I'm excited to see her do her wonders."
Tash was a big fan of his mother. Kaya nga kahit na pinakamatalik niya itong kaibigan ay hindi niya sinasabi rito kung gaano siyang namumuhi sa sarili niyang ina.
"I don't think she'd still go back to practicing her profession, Tash. Dad and I had already talked about it. She's gonna stay at home."
Nangako ang daddy niya na hindi na nito hahayaang bumalik sa pagiging doktor ang kanyang ina. He doesn't want to see her in Kelton acting like a hero to the kids in the pediatric ward when she failed to become a good mother.
A good wife.
"Sayang. I was really looking forward to bringing coffee to Dra. Raiah Kavinski every morning." Ngumisi ito. "Balak ko pa namang magpaampon sa kanya."
Silver scoffed. If only he could trade places with someone else, he would never want to be that woman's son.
Sinilip niya ang kanyang relos. "I need to do my rounds before Chavez does something stupid again."
"Don't be so hard on her, Silver. She's special. Mukha namang nagmana kay Dr. Chavez." Naging makahulugan ang ngisi nito. "Besides, she's f*****g gorgeous. Kahit wala akong sakit, parang gusto kong magpa-admit maalagaan lang niya."
Inirapan niya na lamang si Tash. Binangga niya pa ito sa balikat saka siya naglakad patungo sa elevator. Humalakhak naman ang loko-loko niyang kaibigan. Halatang alam nito na napikon na naman siya.
Silver was about to walk inside the elevator when he realized that his father was inside. Mukhang galing ito sa basement at kadarating lamang sa Kelton. May dala na naman itong bungkos ng mga bulaklak at pagkain para sa kanyang ina.
"Silver," tawag nito. "You weren't answering my calls."
Iniwasan niya ang tingin nito. He even sighed heavily before he finally walked inside the elevator. "I had so much in my plate. Sorry," pagdadahilan niya.
Tiningnan nito ang buton na pinindot niya. "Why don't you come with me and say hi to your mom before you-"
"We've talked about this, Dad. Please . . ."
Bumuntonghininga ito. "She misses you so much, Silver. When will you forgive her?"
Umigting ang panga ni Silver. Nang hindi siya nakatiis ay tuluyan niyang sinalubong ang tingin ng kanyang ama. "How could you pretend as if you don't hate her as much as I do?"
Lumamlam ang mga mata nito. "Because I don't, and you shouldn't, too."
He scoffed. Napipikon na dahil sa nagiging takbo ng usapan. "How could one of the best neurosurgeons of this country be this dumb when it comes to love?" he murmured but his dad still heard him.
"Silvester, you only know how of the story-"
"And that is more than enough for me to realize how foolish you are for still sticking by that woman's side," galit niyang putol sa sinasabi nito.
Mabuti na lamang din at bumukas na ang elevator sa floor na pinindot niya kun'di ay baka lumala pa ang away nila. He loves his father so much but sometimes he couldn't help but hate his actions and choices. Lalo na ang mga ginagawa nito na may kinalaman sa kanyang ina.
Masama ang loob siyang nagmartsa patungo sa nurse station. Naging alerto ang mga naroroon. He spoke to Nurse Jammy for a couple minutes before he finally called Raiah to join him in his rounds.
Tahimik na bumuntot ang dalaga sa kanya. Yakap nito ang records habang ang ulo ay nakatungo. Mukhang masama pa rin ang loob nito sa kanya dahil sa nangyari noong nakaraang linggo.
Mabuti naman. He intends to make her hate her job that she'd leave Kelton on her own.
"We're gonna schedule your operation the day after tomorrow," pag-abiso niya sa huling pasyenteng binisita nila.
They were about to leave the room when they heard a loud cry coming from the other room. Napatakbo sila ni Raiah palabas ng silid upang alamin ang nangyayari.
"Tulong!" palahaw ng ginang habang hinahatak ang duguang anak palabas ng banyo ng silid.
Raiah immediately rushed towards the patient who slit her own wrist while Silver froze on his spot. His eyes widened as a painful memory started to invade his mind.
Nanlamig ang kanyang katawan. His muscles tensed as if he was brought back to the time when he had witnessed something similar. Blood and broken glasses were everywhere. Thunders were roaring in the sky. It was dark in the room but he could smell the blood staining the marble floor.
He was alone with the bloody person on the floor who was staring at him with so much pain.
He was alone. He was scared. Helpless . . .
"Doc!" tawag ni Raiah ngunit masyado siyang nakulong sa kanyang isipan.
He couldn't move. Not even a bit, as if he suddenly became the thirteen-year-old Silver again.
Raiah let the other nurses hold the patient. Tumayo ito at lumapit sa kanya. "Silver!" she called before she placed her palm on his left cheek. "She needs you," she said as if it was a command that brought him back to himself.
Silver swallowed the lump in his throat before he nodded. "Y-Yes," he said in a husky voice. Aligaga pa rin at ang dibdib ay labis ang pagtibok.
Raiah's eyes softened. Maya-maya ay humaplos sa kanyang pisngi ang hinlalaki nito na tila mayroon itong pinunasan. Doon lamang niya napagtantong napaluha na pala siya nang hindi niya namamalayan.
"I'm here . . ." She placed her other hand on his right cheek. "Do it scared if you have to . . ."
Silver pursed his lips as his chest felt a different kind of warmth.
The kind of warmth he didn't realize would soon burn him . . .
- Writer
