Broken Iris

Chapter Eighteen

Her

"Are you the one responsible for her tears?" Kuya Levi said thru his gritted teeth. Bagama't kalmado ang boses nito ay mababakas mo naman ang pagbabanta.

Hindi umimik si Raven pero ramdam kong nais nya ring singhalan ang kapatid ko. He is only keeping his composure intact

.

"You don't answer my question kid, so you won't get yours." He coldly said bago ko naramdaman ang kamay nyang nakahawak ng mariin sa braso ko. Hindi naman iyon masakit at alam kong siya iyon dahil  milyong boltahe ang nararamdaman ko sa simpleng hawak nya lang.

"I believe we have to continue some sessions for her eye check-up. So back off kid." He added.

Pero ganoon na lang ang pagtahip ng hininga ko nang hawakan din ni kuya ang kabilang braso ko. Nagmistulang tug-of-war ang dalawa at ako pa ang ginawang lubid. Hindi man nila ako nasasaktan pero hindi ko maiwasang hindi mainis sa sitwasyon ko. Panay pa rin ang alaskahan nila sa isa't-isa at nakalimutan na yata nila na nasa pagitan nila ako. Hindi na ko nakatiis at ako na mismo ang nag-alis nang parehas nilang hawak sa braso ko. Napabuntong hininga ako bago nagsalita.

"Just stop! Both of you! For Christ's sake, you're both grown-up man but your acting like a ten-year-old kid!!" asik ko sa mga ito saka ko pinilit alisin ang parehas nilang kamay na nakakapit sa braso ko.

"Kuya Levi, I'm sorry but I have to go with Dr. Raven for my check-up. We can talk later after my session hmm?" Paglalambing ko dito and I heard him sigh.

"K-kuya?" I heard Raven said and then mumble some curses but Kuya Levi and I paid no attention.

"Okay. But I'll send you to his clinic and fetch you later after your session." Tumango na lang ako para matapos na. Gusto ko na rin kasing magpahinga.

Tahimik kaming naglakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa clinic ni Raven. Hinabilinan pa ko ni Kuya Levi na h'wag aalis dito hangga't hindi nya ako nasusundo. May check up session din pala sya kaya naman nagpaalam na din ako kaagad.

"I didn't know you had a brother. Sorry for being rude." He suddenly said nang makaupo na ko sa kanyang couch sa loob ng clinic. Tahimik lang akong tumango at nagpatuloy na kami sa ginagawa nyang analysis.

Ginabayan nya ako sa isang equipment na pangsuri sa mata. His close distance sent me to haywire but I tried to conceal it. Patuloy naman ang paghuhumerentado nang puso ko at kahit ilang beses ko itong sawayin ay alam kong hindi ko ito kayang madiktahan. I know I'm a hopeless case

"It seems like the operation went well and I can't see any fragments. There is a high possibility that you can gain back your eyesight the moment we found a match." Maikli nyang pahayag pero halos bumuo na sa buong pagkatao ko. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang maging emosyonal at umiyak.

"Your such a crybaby just like what Doctor Breckett told me." He whispered while wiping my tears using a cloth. Hindi ko alam kung paano kaagad sya nakalapit sa akin ng hindi ko inaasahan but I must admit that his care warms my heart.

Natapos ang session namin at gaya nang pangako ni Kuya Levi ay sinundo nya nga ako, actually dumating pa nga sya nang mas maaga sa usapan namin kaya naman nagbigay na lang sa akin ng ilang payo si Raven at sinabihan rin ako ukol sa mga susunod na schedule. Nagpaalam ako rito at nagpasalamat bago tuluyang sumama kay kuya para maihatid naman nya ako sa aking kuwarto.

"How did the session go?" Halos panabay pa naming sabi. We both chuckle at pinauna ko na syang magsalita.

"It went well and according to my status I could get out from this hell hole as I finish my last medications." He said and I felt a pang in my chest suddenly. That was a piece of good news for him knowing that his sickness same as mine were doing fine and soon to be tolerable or controlled. It's just that we've only met a few hours ago but then fate won't spare us time to bond and get to know each other.

"Mabuti naman at makakalabas ka na dito, Kuya Levi. " I tried to sound happy but failed miserably. I'm such a hypocrite.

"Hey, baby don't be upset. Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it and this time with a plus because I'll bring our parents here with me." He said as he anchored his arms around the top of my shoulder.

"R-really!? Oh God! T-hank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I can't help but hug him tight earning a light chuckle from him. Walang pagsidlan ang tuwa at excitement ko! Makikilala ko na din sila!

All along I thought I was living in this world and fulfill my life with an incomplete heart. I still miss my parents who adopted me and meeting my biological parents was my newfound hope and strength. I'm still mesmerized by the thought I could have a family again, not that I'm not thankful to my friends and the people in the church but a family is a gift. A special gift that God gave to us.

"Hey baby, I gotta ask something?" I heard the uncertainty in his voice but I just nod. 

"Don't you hold any grudges on us because we lost you?... D-don't you hate us?" He seriously said after his fake laugh lay down.

Umiling ako sa kanya habang nakasubsob pa rin ako sa kanyang yakap. Ang pagtatanim ng galit ay walang patutunguhan, hihilahin ka lang nito pababa. Ang makapiling at makasama ang tunay kong pamilya ay higit pa sa hiling at dasal ko tuwing gabi. God has great plans for us, indeed.

Nagkuwentuhan pa kami ni Kuya bago ako matulog. Sinabi ko sa kanya ang result ng check up ko at tungkol sa mga taong nag alaga sa akin sa Pilipinas. Lumipas ang oras at sinabi nyang ituloy ko na lang ang ibang kwento ko bukas dahil malalim na ang gabi. Bago sya namaalam ay hinabilinan nya pa akong mag-lock ng pinto pero tinawanan ko lang sya dahil bawal iyon. I heard him sigh, mukhang nakalimutan nyang nasa ospital kami.

"Good night baby." He whispers as he tucks me into my bed and kiss my forehead

I smiled. "G'night Kuya Levi."

Narinig ko na lang ang pagbukas at muling pagsarado nang pinto bago ako napabuntong hininga. This was all too much for me and I can't hope for more. Minsan na rin akong nawalan ng pag-asa at minsan ay naniwalang mamamatay na lang akong mag-isa.

Akala ko ay hindi na ko makakaligtas ng gabing iyon pero nadinig pa rin ako ng langit. Ipinadala nya ang dalawang anghel sa buhay ko na sina  Sister Ally at Father Rocco. Niligtas nila ako mula sa mapait na paniniwala ko sa mundo. Maswerte pa nga ako dahil kakambal pala ni sister Ally si Ashley kaya't nakadaupang-palad ko muli ang mga kaibigan ko.Speaking of them namimiss ko na din sila. Hindi ko kasi sila ma-contact nitong mga nakaraang araw. Nag-aalala na ko.

I was drown with my own thoughts at hindi ko man lang namalayan na may nakapasok na sa kwarto ko. Nagulat na lang ako nang lumubog ang kanang bahagi ng higaan ko at nang magtatangka palang akong sumigaw ay agad naman nyang natakpan ito. Tahip ang kaba sa dibdib ko pero mas lalo pa itong dumoble ng mapagtanto ko kung sino ang tahasang pumasok sa kwarto ko.

"Hush sweet pea. I never meant to scare nor harm you but it was driving me crazy seeing you with your brother... My jealousy is eating me alive even knowing that it is a blood-related relationship but it still making me insane! Fvck!" He grunted. And I was left stunned.