Finding Doctor Daddy (SPG)

Chapter 6.1:Find him

Saliwa sa inaasahan ay mukha ni Ate Sinag ang bumungad sa akin nang magmulat ako ng mga mata. I thought I saw Junnie before I passed out. Napakunot noo ako. That was a hell of a panic attack, pati si Junnie nakikita ko na.

Kinapa ko ang aking dibdib, I took a deep breath, and when I felt that my heartbeat was fine ay napanatag na ako.

Bago pa sila magsalita ay sumagot na ako. "I'm fine, Ate, where am I? Balik na tayo kay Tala."

"Oobserbahan ka pa raw ng doctor," aniya. Tumango ako. "Pero ililipat ka naman na mamaya sa silid ni Luna. We're just waiting for the neuro-psych..."

"Ate, I told you, I'm fine. It's just a nervous breakdown."

"Alright." She sighed as a resignation. "Pero hayaan mo na matingnan ka na rin para mapanatag si Mommy."

Agad akong niyakap ni Mommy nang dalhin na ako sa silid ni Luna. She was so worried and guilt was obvious on her face, naluluha rin. Hanggang ngayon ay alam kong sinisisi niya pa rin ang sarili niya na hindi niya kami nagabayan noon nang tama kaya dumating kami sa puntong magkakapatid na ubos na ubos na kami.

It was all done anyway, wala naman na sa akin 'yon. Ina siya kaya nauunawaan ko kung anong nararamdaman niya dahil nanay na rin ako. Mother tends to blame themselves forever if something bad happens to their child.

"Huwag ka nang mag-alala, Mommy, nag-alala lang din ako kay Luna kaya nag-nervous brekdown ako," sabi ko. She nodded and wiped her tears away. "Umuwi ka na muna, Mommy. I can handle Luna. Matutulog lang naman kami ngayong gabi."

"No. Dito na rin ako magpapahinga," sabat ni Ate Sinag. "Hindi ko kayo pwedeng iwan dito, pareho kayong pasyente."

"Ate, ang daming nurses dito, saka for observation lang ako. Okay na okay na talaga ako. Magpahinga ka na kayo ni Mommy, and you should take an off tomorrow."

My sister can't stay dahil gaya ko ay may battle rin siya sa sarili niyang mental health. Masyado na siyang puyat nitong mga nakaraang araw dahil sa rami ng events sa hotel kaya si Ate Tessie na lang-iyong yaya ni Luna ang sinabi kong magbantay sa amin.

But she insisted to transfer us on a class a private room. Hindi naman ako tumanggi para wala nang diskusyon at makauwi na sila. Ayos na rin at mas komportable. We have our sala and television, may mini kitchen din. My sister told me that she pulled some strings to get a room like this. Ang alam ko kasi ay hindi pa lahat fully furnished. The Dominguez' does well on booming their hospital. Ito na ang pinakamagandang ospital sa bayan ng Naic.

Magkatabi ang kama naming mag-ina kaya nakayap si Luna sa akin. Her cute little fingers were playing with the hem of her favorite hotdog pillow. It was her pillow since she turned one. Lagi niya iyong dala-dala sa kada sleepover kay Mommy because she couldn't sleep without it.

Kinikiskis niya ang mukha sa gilid ng aking dibdib. Ganoon ang ginagawa niya sa tuwing nagpapaantok.

"Mommy, milk. I'm hungry," Luna said, giving me her cutest smile. Napangiti ako. Kaya pala paikot-ikot dahil gutom. I made her milk and gave her some biscuits.

"May masakit pa ba sa'yo?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"'Di na po. Ouchie lang tummy ko, I'm hungry kasi."

"Wow. You talk tagalog well na ha," I proudly told her. She flashed a smile at me.

Medyo maalam naman na siya mag-tagalog pero mas nahahasa iyon sa tuwing kasama niya sina Mommy at Yaya Tessie. Hirap na hirap kasi ako magturo ng Filipino subject sa kanya noong kauuwi lang namin. Medyo pa rin naman hanggang ngayon pero nadagdagan na iyong mga alam niya.

"Mommy, Doctor Dominguez is kind. When can I meet him again?" She suddenly asked. She was talking about her pediatrician. Pinunasan ko iyong bibig niya bago siya sinagot.

"Mommy La said that he will be doing rounds later. Doctors sometimes do that late at night. Baka tulog ka na noon. Hindi ka pwedeng matulog nang late."

Luna's pretty face immediately went sad. I made a gentle caress on her chubby cheeks.

"Don't worry. You will see him tomorrow. We will thank him personally for saving your life."

"Okay. I want to give him something, Mommy. Ask his favorite."

"Sure, sweetheart. I will."

She quickly finished her drink and cookies. Umupo lang siya saglit at nag-drawing. Maya-maya ay nag-aya na rin siya matulog.

I was currently in deep sleep when Ate Tessie woke me up.

"Ma'am, nariyan na ang doctor ni Luna."

Agad akong bumangon. I was beyond surprise when I saw Junnie looking at me. He looked exhausted and...sad.

"A-are you..." I didn't finish my words when he suddenly hugged me. That was so warm and comforting. Kahit na gulat sa kanyang ginawa ay niyakap ko na rin siya pabalik.

"I had a rough day today," he whispered. "The baby I recently catched was dead. Overdue."

Tumango akong nakakaunawa. "Not your fault, Doc. You still did great," I told him. I hope that my words could comfort him. Kaya pala ganoon na lang ang lungkot niya.

"Thanks." Siya iyong unang humiwalay sa akin. He smiled at me.

"So, you're the one who catched me a while ago. Thank you."

"I much prefer "f**k you," he huskily said, biting his lips. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko, napakalibog talaga.

Hinampas ko siya ngunit agad naman niyang nasalo ang kamay ko. We then laughed at each other. Tumagos ang tingin niya sa anak kong natutulog. "Looks like that little princess is now feeling better." Binitawan niya na ako at tinungo si Luna. "Nag-fever pa ba siya?"

"Hindi na. Kumain na rin siya. Thank you, Doctor Dominguez."

Ni-check niya iyong vitals ni Luna. He was so engrossed in what he was doing.

"You're welcome." He turned to me. "Ikaw pala kumusta na?" Biglang nagseryoso iyong mukha niya, may bahid ng pag-alala. "Did Doctor Benitez check you up?"

"Yes. Dumaan na siya kanina bago umalis sina Mommy. Nothing to worry about, it was just a nervous breakdown. Sobrang nag-alala lang ako kay Luna. Something triggers so..." I shrugged. As much as I wanted to share what triggers me ay pinili kong itikom ang bibig ko. Nakakahiya na sabihin ko na sarili kong anak ay pinagtangkaan kong patayin.

Niyakag ko siya sa may bandang sala. Paglabas namin ay sinarado ko ang glass door ng room. Naroon naman si Ate Tessie sa sofabed sa loob kaya may nagbabantay kay Luna.