A PRANK TO REMEMBER

APTR – 25

"Always apply the first aid baby. Press on the wound to stop the bleeding. Clean the wound no matter how small it is, cleaning will reduce the chance of infection. Just use ordinary tap water. Some antiseptics may damage skin tissue and delay healing. After cleaning, cover the wound with a sterile, non-sticky dressing." she stared at me bago muling bumaling sa nakabenda kong mga paa. "Ideally, a doctor or nurse should clean wounds that are large, deep, or dirty, and abrasions caused by gravel. There is a risk of infection, and also a risk of permanent tattooing of the skin from gravel, dirt, grit, etc, which remain in a wound." she sighed. "Wounds longer than 5 cm or which involve deeper tissues than the skin may need stitches like what happened to you. Wounds caused by penetrating glass, metal, etc, may need to be carefully examined, and may need an X-ray to check that there is nothing left inside. The most common complication is an infection of the wound. See a doctor if the skin surrounding a wound becomes more tender, painful, swollen, red, or inflamed over the following few days."

Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago, tulad nga ng sabi ng Ninang Trisxh niya.. she's a walking encyclopedia. But because it's a 21st century, mas okay siguro kung Madam Google na ang itawag sa kanya. I secretly giggled at my thoughts.

"Nakikinig ka ba?" 

Kaagad naman akong tumango and smiled at her.

"Yes Mommy. I can handle myself now, malaki na ako. Ako na nga po ang nag-aalaga kay Sundae, right? Saka maliit na sugat lang naman po ‘to. Malayo sa bituka."

She smiled and caressed my cheek saka muling ginamot ang hiwa sa daliri ko.

"Alagaan mo ang sarili mo, baby. Don't do that again."

Ngumuso ako.

"I just want to cook for you." tugon ko. "But maybe, Dad’s right. Mukhang nagmana ako sa’yo, hindi rin ako marunong magluto."

"Then, it’s a good thing. Marami tayong pagkakapareho." She smiled and kissed my forehead.

I opened my eyes and frowned ng mapansin ang dextrose na nakakabit sa’kin.

"You’re awake."

It’s Clinton.

"What happened?"

"You passed out. We’re here in the hospital. Cheese called me."

"W-what time is it? What happened to our game?" saad ko at akmang babangon nang dinuro ni Clinton ang noo ko at muling ibinalik sa pagkakahiga.

"Relax. It’s already 10 PM. They won. They’re here a while ago but you’re sleeping kaya umalis din sila. She stayed though." tinuro nito ang isang babaeng nakahiga sa sofa. 

"C-captain?"

"Yeah, she’s worried. Ano ba kasing naisip mo at naglaro ka pa? Gusto mo bang malumpo?"

I pouted.

"Kung hindi niya nahalatang injured ka, baka kung napano ka na. As a punishment you need to heal your wounds. Hindi ka makakalakad niyan. You need to stay at home."

I groaned.

"Let’s go home then. Ayaw ko dito."

He stared at me, kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin.

"Mom called."

"I don’t care."

"She’s worried."

"K."

"Inaalam na kung sino ang naglagay ng bubog sa sapatos mo." I remained silent. "Ren.. she wants to see you."

Nagtalukbong ako ng kumot.

"Shut up Clinton."

"She’s our mother, Ren."

"Yeah. She’s you mother."

I heard him sighed.

"Wala siyang kasalanan sa nangyari Ren. It’s an accident. Bakit kailangang sa kanya mo isisi ang lahat? Bakit kailangang siya ang mag-suffer? It’s been two years. Two years ka na niyang sinusuyo pero ikaw ‘tong lumalayo.  I loved Sundae too, she’s also my sister. Nawalan din ako Ren. Lahat tayo nawalan, lahat tayo nasaktan. Hindi lang ikaw."

Inis kong inalis ang kumot at hinarap siya.

"Really? Nawalan din kayo? Nasasaktan din kayo? Then why?! Bakit hindi ko ramdam? Bakit feeling ko ako lang ang nawalan? Bakit ang bilis niyong natanggap? Bakit parang wala lang? Bakit ang bilis niyong bumalik sa normal?!"

"Hindi porket hindi mo kami nakikitang umiiyak, hindi na kami nasasaktan Ren. We’re still in pain, andito pa rin ang sakit. We’re just taking a step forward dahil ‘yun ang tama. Yun ang gusto ni Sundae."

"How?! Paano mo nalaman ang gusto ni Sundae? Nakausap mo ba siya? Nakita mo ba siya?!"

"What I’m saying is--"

"No. Pinagtatakpan mo lang ang babaeng ‘yun, Clinton. You know what, kahit anong sabihin mo, wala pa ring mangyayari. Hindi na maibabalik si Sundae. Your so-called-mother killed her. And I will not forgive her, forever."

"Ren.. sto--"

"Mabuti sana kung siya na lang ang nawala at hindi si---"

"T-tita.."

Halos sabay kaming napalingon ni Clinton sa pinto kung saan nakatayo si captain at namumutlang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Mom.. " Clinton whispered saka bumaling sa’kin.

She’s staring at me. At hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko, nang makuha pa niyang ngumiti while tears keep falling from her eyes.