Stay With Me, Tarius

CHAPTER 1

Gemini was hurried to a car owned by Shanaz's relatives after the incident. Gemini is constantly yelling at the passengers in the backseat of the car, whining about her swollen leg.

She yelled, "f**k! f**k! It hurts!"

"What the...tone down your voice, Gemini! Ang ingay mong bruha ka!" Reklamo ni Shanaz.

Gemini glared at her. "Eh, kung ikaw kaya itulak ko sa hagdan at balian ng binti, tignan natin kung hindi ka mapapasigaw sa sakit!" She said, annoyed.

Shanaz grimaced before saying, "Sabi ko nga." Then, she crossed her arms.

Meanwhile, Cawie sighed and gently touched Gemini's shoulder in an effort to soothe her companion, but Gemini pushed her hands away, causing Cawie to shake her head.

'Ang init talaga ng ulo nitong babaitang 'to.' Cawie thought.

"Calm down, Gem, baka naiirita na sa'yo si Manong Lucio." Natatawang saad ni Cawie.

Natawa ang matanda na nagmamaneho. "Hindi naman, Ma'am, sanay na po ako." He said, chuckling which made Gemini frown even more.

What the hell is this old man saying?! That I'm nakakairita?! The hell I care!

"Na'ko, Manong, bilisan mo na lang baka mamaya bugahan tayo ng apoy ni Dragon Gem." Weather teased, making them, except from Gemini, laugh.

"Tangina ka talaga, Weather! Hayop! Isa kang hayop!"

This bastard! Gustong-gusto talaga ako nitong inaasar!

Napakapit si Gemini sa kanyang kinauupuan nang makaramdam siya ng matinding kirot sa binti.

She groaned in pain, "f**k!"

Irritated, Shanaz yelled, "Will you stop shouting?!"

Gemini was incredulous as she eyed her. Gemini also yelled, "What the...you're the one who's shouting!"

Shanaz scowled, "Na-uh!"

Gemini pouted her lips, "Ya-uh!"

Buong byahe ay nagtalo lamang ang dalawa. Gemini continues to tease and argue with Shanaz as if she hadn't broken her leg after falling down the stairs. She pretended not to be hurt, but once they got to the hospital, she couldn't stop grumbling and whimpering in pain.

Her friends were face-palming as they saw this kind of scene.

"Kung makipag-away kanina akala mo isang sanggano pero no'ng nakarating na tayo sa Hospital akala mo baboy na kakatayin dahil sa kakangawa niya." Weather complained.

Cawie and Shanaz laughed at that before smacking his shoulder.

"What the f**k?! Don't touch me!" Napalingon sila sa kaibigan nilang nagwawala. Sinusubukan na hawakan ng isang babaeng nurse si Gemini ngunit todo ang pagpalag nito.

"You disgusting s**t! Don't you f*****g lay your hands on me!" Gemini shouted. "Galing ka sa O.R. tapos hahawakan mo ako?! Malay ko ba kung may bacteria 'yang tanginang kamay mo!"

"Sa tingin niyo...kailangan na ba nating tawagin si Tita Leanna?" Cawie asked, grimacing at the sight.

"f**k you!" They saw how Gemini raised her middle finger at the male nurse who tried to touch her. Hinahampas din nito ang mga kamay ng mga nurses na sinusubukan siyang hawakan.

Tumikhim si Shanaz bago sumagot. "Yeah...I think so." Kibit-balikat na aniya.

Weather scratched his head. "I'll just call Mom." He started to walk away. "Bantayan niyo 'yan baka pagbalik ko sa Mental ko na siya mabibisita." He said while chuckling.

"Oo na! 'Wag ka masyado mag-alala sa bebe mo, kami bahala!" Panunudyo ng kapatid nito.

Kaagad naman huminto sa paglalakad ang binata at marahas na nilingon. Pinanlakihan ng mata ni Weather si Shanaz sabay sabing, "Hush! She might hear you!" He placed his index finger in front of his lips.

The two girls giggled before waving at Weather. Napahinto sila nang makarinig sila ng malakas na kalabog. Nilingon nila ang pwesto ni Gemini at laking gulat nila nang makitang nagwawala na ito at ang kumalabog kanina ay isang saklay na pag-aari ng isang pasyente.

Dali-dali namang tumakbo palapit ang dalawa sa kaibigan at sinubukan itong pakalmahin.

***

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na din si Leanna, ang Ina nina Shanaz at Weather.

She was able to settle Gemini down after a few minutes. Good thing Leanna has a lot of patience. And Gemini is currently in the operating room, supported by Doctora Leanna and the nurses.

Napapagitla na lamang ang tatlo na nakaupo sa waiting are sa labas ng O.R. tuwing may naririnig silang kalabog sa loob.

"Sa tingin niyo...buhay pa kaya ang mga nurses sa loob?" Kabadong tanong ni Cawie.

"Sana..." Shanaz answered in a whisper.

"Gagi, ngayon ko lang naalala!" Weather exclaimed. Napatingin ang dalawa sa kanya, he looks bothered and anxious.

"H-huh? May problema ba, Kuya?" Tanong ni Shanaz na nag-uumpisa na ding maging balisa.

"'Di ba pang-Family Medicine si Mama?" Tanong ni Weather.

"Oo, Kuya." Kaagad namang sagot ni Shanaz.

Napasapo naman si Cawie sa kanyang noo. "Oh God, please don't tell me you're thinking some stupid things again, Weather." Saad niya ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng binata.

"Kung gano'n bakit niya ginagamot si Gemini?"

Napakunot ang noo ni Shanaz. "Dahil...isa siyang Doctor?" Patanong na sagot niya.

"Oo nga, isa siyang Doctor..." he paused, "Doctor ng tao, hindi hayop."

Napakurap ng tatlong beses ang dalawang dalaga at maya-maya pa'y sabay nilang pinagpapalo ang binata na ngayon ay tawa ng tawa dahil sa sarili niyang kalokohan.

"Aray! Tama na!" Natatawang daing niya.

Nang tumigil ang dalawa, muli na namang nagsalita si Weather.

"Ang reklamador ng babaeng 'yan 'no?"

Hindi siya pinansin ng dalawang dalaga bagkus ay parehong nagbubulungan ang dalawa, not minding Weather who's talking and complaining about Gemini beside them.

Then, both Cawie and Shanaz looked at Weather with a huge grin.

"...mag-uutos na nga lang, galit pa! Tapos ang malala, kapag nagpapabili siya ng pagkain niya wala man lang binibigay na pera. Tapos noon, one time na pumunta kami sa Mall, saktong ihing-ihi na ako kaya nagtanong ako sa kanya kung saan ang C.R. itinuro naman niya kaso tangina female comfort room 'yung napuntahan ko! Sa sobrang pagmamadali ko kasi hindi ko napansin 'yung sign. Grabe 'yung hiya ko! s**t na malagkit! Imaginin niyo, lahat ng babae nakatingin sa akin tapos sabay-sabay na sumigaw kaya tumakbo ako palabas. Pakshit mga dre! Umatras tuloy 'yung ihi ko." Daldal ni Weather.

"Siraulo din kasi 'yang si Gemini. Nakakatangina like to the highest pakening level!" Maarteng dugtong pa nito sabay maarteng hinawi ang buhok niya. Napahagikgik ang dalawang dalaga.

"Abnormal ka talaga, Kuya!" Nakanguso ani Shanaz.

"Lagot ka kay Gemini kapag narinig niya 'yang mga pinagsasabi mo." Pananakot ni Cawie.

Weather proudly grinned and crossed his arms as he lean on the chair. "Hindi 'yon magagalit sa akin, hindi naman niya alam, eh."

"Oh really?" Shanaz smirked as she raised her phone who's currently recording their conversation.

Namutla ang binata at nanlalaki ang mata na tinignan ang dalawa.

"Paksyet ka!" Sigaw niya.

Kaagad namang tumayo si Shanaz at tumakbo palayo.

"Feather Shanaz Elcueco! Bumalik ka dito!" Hinabol ni Weather ang kapatid. Samantalang tawang-tawa naman si Cawie sa itsura ng dalawa na akala mo ay batang naghahabulan.

"Mga gagi kayo! Naghahabulan pero paikot!" Cawie laughed.

***

Nang lumabas si Leanna sa O.R. kaagad na tumayo at lumapit ang tatlo. It's almost been two or three hours since they entered in the O.R.

"Mom, how is she?" Shanaz asked with worry.

"Is she okay, Tita? Her leg? How was it?" Cawie asked too, being impatient.

Leanna smiled at them and caressed her daughter's hair. "Don't worry too much, girls. Your friend is fine. May nakita kaming kaunting bali sa buto ang binti niya nang i-x-ray namin siya kaya napagdesisyunan na lamang naming i-cast ang binti niya."

"Ay, sayang. Akala ko natuluyan nang nabali 'yung binti niya." Dismayadong ani Weather kaya nakatanggap siya ng masamang tingin mula sa Ina. Sinapak naman ni Shanaz ang braso ng kapatid kaya napanguso ang binata.

"How long does it take to be fully recovered, My?" Shanaz asked.

Leanna reassured her daughter, "I'll take care of it. As far as I know, it will take 6-8 weeks if it's a minor injury alone, but we can hope, as long as Gemini will take care of herself, her leg will recover quickly. Gemini also requires physical therapy, but don't worry, I'll matake care of it." She smiled softly. "Oh siya, you can visit her in her room. Inilagay ko na siya sa isang private room."

"Is she awake, Ma?" Tanong ni Weather.

Umiling si Leanna at napabuntong-hininga. "We sedated her. Masyado siyang magalaw at nagwawala so I had no choice but to put her on sleep. She's too hard-headed, ayaw makinig." Leanna chuckled at her own statement.

Weather commented, "Of course, she wouldn't be a Gemini if she wasn't a hard-headed brat."

Shanaz laughed, "Wait 'til Gemini hears this. She'll burn you again!"

When their mother pulled Weather's ear, he was about to grab his sister as he glared at her and reached out to grab her. Nagpaalam ang Ina nila na pupunta muna siya sa kanyang opisina at isasama niya si Weather.

Leanna tugged on Weather's ear, "You brat!" he groaned.

"Ouch! Mama!"

"Shawn, stop fighting with your sister, Leanna snapped. Weather made a pouty face.

Lumingon siya sa kanilang likod habang naglalakad, he saw his sister smirking at him while waving.

"Bye, Shawny-waney!" Shanaz teased. Weather glared at her.

Nang mawala na sila sa paningin nina Cawie, dumiretso sila sa kwarto ni Gemini.

They saw her peacefully sleeping on her bed. Nakita din nila ang binti nito. Nakaramdam sila ng inis kay Gemanie, nang dahil sa kanya ay napahamak si Gemini.

They won't argue that Gemini is a b***h and a mean girl, but they will concede that she has a nice heart. She covertly sent food and toys to a government-run orphanage, and she also provided a destitute family with clothing and food.

Sabay na napabuntong hininga ang dalawa at tahimik silang umupo sila sa sofa na nasa gilid.

In the middle of the silence, Cawie gasped.

"Oh my!"

"Huh? Why?" Shanaz asked, confused.

"Sis, may laro pala ang SJEangle kanina! Damn, hindi ako nakahabol!" Mangiyak-ngiyak na ani Cawie.

Shanaz face-palmed at her friend. "Seriously? 'Yan pa talaga ang naisip mo?" Singhal niya. Kinuha ni Shanaz ang kanyang cellphone at kinalikot ito.

While Cawie, keeps on murmuring 'hindi ako nakaabot', while staring blankly at nowhere.

"Nabaliw na nga." Ani Shanaz at napailing.

"Hanggang 8 na daw sila ng gabi magpa-practice." Shanaz put her phone in her pocket. "Tinext ko si Kuya at 'yon ang sabi niya."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Cawie at napangiti ng malawak sa tuwa. "OMG! What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Cawie grabbed Shanaz's wrist and pulled her up.

"Hoy, teka, si Gemini!"

"'Wag ka mag-alala. Hindi siya mapapahamak dito!" Cawie thought of something. "Hmm...wait."

Kinapa niya ang kanyang bulsa at nahawakan ang marker na ginamit nila kanina. Inilabas niya 'yon at lumapit sa kama ni Gemini.

She signed Gemini's leg cast while giggling. When she's done, she hand the marker to Shanaz. "Ikaw naman." Kaagad na sumunod ang dalaga.

Mahina silang tumatawa habang sinusulatan ng kung ano ang cast ni Gemini.

Before they left, they kissed Gemini's cheek. "Bye, sissy! Get well soon!" They bid their goodbyes.