Illicit Love

Chapter 8: Hospital

CHARLES

"Ugh!" I woke up in pain all over my body. I found myself still lying on the floor. The broken vases were still on the ground. I felt a stinging pain in my back as I suffered to get up. Napa-ungol ako sa sakit ng katawan ko. My head is heavy and in so much pain that I wonder why it is still intact. I tremble, I'm so cold that I want to throw up, but when I look outside it is sunny. With the back of my hand, I touch my forehead. Checking if I really do have a fever, and by how hot it is, It seems bad.

Niliput ko ang tingin ko. Mas lalo sumakit ang ulo ko dahil sa nakita. I should just call someone to clean up this place and it seems Camille is still in her room. I looked at my watch to check the time.

"7? I only sleep for 2 hours?" I massage my temples, feeling my head almost splitting in two as I struggle standing up. I'm late for work and I have to hurry up.

Bago ako umalis, I prepare breakfast for Camille. Since, wala na ang maid, and since we've just fought she will make a big deal out of everything so I better do something. Hindi na ako nag-ayos, I'll do it in the office na lang. It would be annoying if Camille wakes up and starts shouting again. I already had a bad night. I don't want to have a bad morning.

I got in the car and sat in the driver seat. Pagsandal na pagsandal ko, I feel pain in my back.

"Ugh! F*ck! That hurts!" ungol ko sa sakit. Lumabas ako ng kotse at tinignan ang likod ko. I'm not wearing my suit because of the girl at the bar. The blood on my back was visible. It was all red, para akong pinawisan ng dugo. Napangiwi ako sa nakita. I didn't know it was this bad. I thought I had only a few scratches on my back. Napasampal ako sa sarili at agad na napangiwi nang may naramdaman din akong kirut sa pisngi ko.

I'm an idiot for sleeping on the floor when there were a lot of broken glasses and vases. I think I was too tired to care about myself, I just want to rest already. Did I find the floor too alluring that I didn't even think of how it would hurt me? I was too tired and I didn't want to see Camille. We only have only one room because Camille wants to, she was afraid I would sleep in a guest room so she decided to only have one room built.

I sighed in defeat and decided to go to the hospital. I can't be cruel to myself when everyone around me is already cruel enough. My back hurts so much from driving so I called a taxi. Ni hindi ako nakasandal kahit pagod na pagod ako, because of how painful it is.

Pagdating na pagdating ko sa hospital lahat ng atensyon ay nasa akin. They looked at my back with their eyes widened. Some asked me if I was okay which I replied with a smile. I saw a familiar figure wearing a white gown which I think didn't really fit him. He looks like an evil scientist rather than a doctor.

"Philip!" tawag ko sa kanya. He turned around after hearing his name. With big eyebags and messy hair, tinignan niya ako na may nagtatanong na mga mata na may halong pag-alala.

I remember him being a heartthrob, now, what did the med school do to him?

"F*ck, dude. You're blushing so much that your face turned violent! Let me guess. It's your wife, isn't it? Ganon ba kalala, for you to go to a big hospital?" he asked jokingly and acted like he's holding his laugh.

I smiled. "No, isipin mo na lang na binibisita na rin kita," I said, jokingly.

Nagbago ang expression na ng nakita ang likod ko. Nawala ang nagbibiro niyang ngiti at napalitan ito ng galit at pag-alala.

"Charles, what happened?" he asked, seriously.

I sighed and felt the pain in my back even more. "Let's talk in your office," I said while looking at the people around me. Napansin ko na nasa akin na talaga ang atensyon ng iba at ang iba pa ay nagbubulungan. Did they recognizer me already?

Napansin din ito ni Philip. Bumuntonghininga siya at pilit na ngumiti. "OK, haaah. Follow me," he said.

As I was following him, I saw a familiar face. I stared at her to make sure if I wasn't hallucinating or mistaking her for someone. She was wearing a different red dress, unlike when I first saw her. Her dress was flowy, her make up was light. She looks like a completely different person. She looks more decent.

Napansin niya yata ang titig ko kaya napatingin din siya. Nagulat siya pero bigla rin itong ngumiti. She waves at me as if we've met many times before. I smiled at her as a greet at hindi na siya pinansin at tahimik na naglakad katabi ni Philip. Rinig ko ang pagtawa nito pero hindi na ako nag-abala pang tignan siya uli.

What a coincidence it is. Why is she here by the way? Is she sick after drinking that much? Or maybe someone she knows is in the hospital. Her parents? I remember her shouting about that—hmm, did she? I think she said something about her being a murder—nah, not my business.

Napangiwi ako ng bigla na lang kumirot ang bandang kaliwa ng likod ko. Agad itong nawala at lumipat naman ang sakit sa kanan.

"You know her?" Philip asked.

"The girl?" I asked which he nodded in response.

"Sort of," I replied.

"She's a pitiful girl. I really feel bad for her," he said while smiling at a male doctor passing by. The male doctor also smiled back.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig. "Why?" I asked and look back at the male doctor that Philip greeted. Nakatingin din pala ito sa akin. Nagulat ito nang nahuli ko itong nakatingin at agad na nag-iwas ng tingin at bumilis ang lakad.

"Curiosity kills the cat," he replied and smirked, laughing as if he's the only one in the hospital. I shook my head and didn't ask more. Agad naman kaming nakarating sa office niya.

"I still wonder why a vet is here," I ask as a joke but also in curiosity.

He laughed and replied, "To make my family mad."

Nagsuot siya ng disposable gloves.

"Is that for dogs?" I ask.

"Any kinds of animals. You could use it on your wife. Hehe, joke. Sit, and take off your shirt," he said. I followed his directions and slowly took off my shirt. Napangiwi ako ng hindi ko masadya magalaw ang sugat ko. He gestured to me to sit on the chair and so I did.

"Wow! You should really consider getting an annulment," he said jokingly.

"I would if I could." I sighed and smiled sadly.

"F*ck!" I moan in pain as I feel something cold touch my back.

"An annulment wouldn't hurt like this. Haah, poor dog," he said, clicking his tongue.

KESIA

"Nasaan ka?" tanong ni James sa akin sa kabilang linya.

"Bakit?" naiirita kong tanong.

"The hospital called."

H-Hospital?

"Hey. Still there?"

"O-okay, papunta na ako." My heart skips a beat. I turned my palms into a fist to stop it from trembling. Binulsa ko ang cellphone ko at tumingin sa lalaki na nasa harap ko na kakababa lang ng cellphone.

"Babe, I think I should go now. My wife keeps calling me," sabi niya at bumuntong ng hininga.

"Ok, tatawagin na lang kita mamaya kung available ka," sabi ko sa kanya habang nakangiti.

He kissed me on my lips and smiled.

"By the way, you looked great today. That red dress suits your beautiful skin. I know na babagay 'yan sayo ng binili ko iyan," nakangiting sabi niya. I smiled at him back showing my dimple.

He kisses me again and hugs me tight.

"I love you, babe," sabi nito habang naka yakap pa rin sa akin. Niyakap ko rin siya pabalik.

"I love you too." It was not sincere, but it sounds like one.

Umalis na rin siya dahil ring nang ring ang cellphone niya. Na sigurado ako na galing ito sa asawa niya.

Pumunta ako sa banyo ng mall. Inilagay ko ang mga shopping bag sa ilalim ng lababo. Naghilamos ako at nagmugmog ng ilang beses.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

"How did you know?"

"No, liar. He's not cheating! He said he wasn't!"

"Sino 'to?"

"SINO KA?!"

"PAPA DID WHAT?"

"SPAM."

"Sabi ni mama, spam ka."

"Patay na asawa ko, p*ta ka!"

"Did you really f*ck my Dad?"

I can't help but read a few of the messages that keep popping out of my notification and I ignore the rest of the 100 messages. It was from different numbers, pero pareho lang ang mga sinasabi nila. I cut off my ties with men para lang sa deal na walang kasiguraduhan. It's kinda like quitting my part-time job. I shook my head and stopped myself from laughing at everyone and myself. Tinignan ko ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. I look good but beautiful? No. No way. How can a girl like me be beautiful? Disgusting. How disgusting.

Kararating ko lang sa hospital nakita ko na agad si James na naka-upo sa labas ng kwarto, naglalaro nanaman sa cellphone niya. Nang nakita niya ako agad niyang ibinulsa ang cellphone niya.

"Tsk. Bakit number ko na naman ang binigay mo? Lahat na lang hiniram mo, una bahay ko pati ba naman number ko?" irita niyang sabi sa akin at ginulo ang buhok dahil sa pagkairita.

"Anong sabi ng doctor?" tanong ko, I feel my voice getting colder.

"I haven't talked to the doctor yet. I think you should be the one asking him that," sabi niya at bumuntong ng hinga.

"Haah." Ginulo niya uli ang buhok niya at umupo ulit siya. Kinuha ang cellphone niya sa bulsa tska naglaro ulit na para bang wala ako sa harap nito.

Papasok na sana ako nang nagsalita ulit siya. "She's here. Your mom, she's here," sabi niya habang nasa cellphone pa rin ang tingin.

Bang! Bang! Reloading! Cover me!

"She's not my Mom," irita kong sagot at pumasok sa loob ng hospital room.