Xyla’s POV

Ginawa ko muna yung assignment ko habang naghihintay kay Dr. X. Nakadapa lang ako’t hindi ko na magawang tumayo dahil sa sobrang sakit.

“Bel… di ako ulit makakapasok bukas. Pakiabot nalang ‘to kay Nerdy okay? Pakisabi, pag-ingatan niya yan kung ayaw niyang mamatay ng maaga.” Tumango-tango naman siya. Hinimas-himas niya lang yung likod ko’t napapakagat nalang ako sa labi ko tuwing matatamaan niya yung sobrang sakit na parte. We soon heard a siren outside.

“Andyan na yata. Bababa lang ako.” Tumango lang ako. Kinuha ko yung phone ko’t saktong nagbukas ang pinto ko. I saw our private nurses with our private doctor coming towards me.

“Hija, san ang masakit?” Tanong ni Dr. X.

“May whole back, doc.” Hinawakan niya yon at pinisil kaya napasigaw ako’t naiyak. Asar ‘tong doctor na ‘to kaya ayaw ko sa kanya eh. Tatanungin kung saan yung masakit at dahil masakit ay pipigain niya para makasigurado siya.

“Get me the braces.” Rinig kong sabi niya sa isang nurse at wala pang isang minuto ay kinakabitan na niya ako ng kung ano man sa likod ko. Dahan-dahan nila akong binuhat at inihiga sa stretcher atsaka binuhat pababa.

“Doc… ooperahan ba ako?” Ngumisi siya nang nakakatakot kaya nanindig ang balahibo ko. Sinubukan kong bumangon pero sumakit lang ang likod ko.

“AHH! JUST PUT ME DOWN! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!” I freak out and kick the nurses beside me. Nakita ko pa yung mga nag-aalalang mukha nila Luhan but I didn’t bother to look at them.

“Ms. Laurene, I’m just kidding okay? Titingnan ko lang yang likod mo’t yun lang.”

“Make it sure doc or I’ll kill you when you don’t.” Lumapit si Bel sa tabi ko.

“Samahan pa ba kita Xyl?”

“Ako nalang ang sasama.” Napatingin ako at nakita ko si Lay.

“Ms. Laurene, you bother to call me but you have my son as your doctor here.” Napatingin ako kay Dr. X tapos kay Lay.

“Your son?! Lay is your son?!” I and Bel asked in disbelief.

“Yes.” He said and I look at Lay and he’s looking at me seriously. Iniwas ko lang ang tingin ko.

“I don’t care if he’s your son. The mere thing is, you’re our FD and you should be the one looking at me right? Besides… mukhang ayos naman kasi ako kanina.” I felt a pang of sulk.

Pinasok nalang nila ako sa ambulance at nasa gilid ko ngayon si Lay habang nasa gilid yung ibang nurses. Di ko siya tiningnan at nakatingin lang ako sa kisame ng ambulansiya. My phone suddenly rung so I answered it.

“… Just a little accident. … I’m not okay Laurence. … Go if you want too. … Okay, I’ll wait for you. … I love you too. Bye.” Ipinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko. Nakakasilaw kasi yung ilaw sa taas. I then felt someone caressing my hair. Sino pa bang gagawa niyan kundi si Lay di ba? Alangan namang yung mga nurse na ‘to eh takot sakin ‘tong mga ‘to. Nagtatampo ako sa kanya. I really do. Ni hindi man lang ako atleast tiningnan kanina di ba?Sinugod na nila ako sa hospital at bahala na kung anong mangyayari sakin dito. Dinala lang nila ako sa emergency room. Good to know it wasn’t an operating room dahil baka saksakin ko ang Daddy ni Lay kung magkataon. Pinadapa lang nila ako.

“Teka hija, you need to remove your clothes.” Remove what?!

“Can’t you just check it with my clothes on?”

“Di pwede Xyla. Kailangan mong alisin yang damit mo.”

“How could I if I’m in this situation where I can’t even move half of my body?”

“Then let us remove it for you.” I felt blood rushed to my cheeks. This is a hell crazy idea right? Lalaki lahat ang nandito sa loob. Like duh? I was the only girl here at lalaki pa ‘tong dalawang doctor na ‘to. Aish! I know it has no malice but… d^mn it!

“Can’t it just be another doctor? A woman I suggest?”

“Nurses and other doctors were all busy.”

“Lucky me then.”I mumbled. Pano ba ‘to? Mukha pa namang excited ‘tong mga nurse na ‘to. Kaasar ano ba?

“Laurene the time is running.”

“Whatever. Dr. X can you just leave us all here and let Lay help me?”

“Why not the nurses assist you?”

“Mas may tiwala ako sa anak niyo kesa sa iba.” Sorry not sorry for them to hear but it’s true. Mas may tiwala naman ako kay Lay ano. Duh? I heard a sigh and soon everyone leaves. Di ko matignan si Lay. This is so embarrassing. I felt hands on the clothes and my heart was pounding. Parang ayoko na. Kahit si Lay pa ‘to lalaki parin siya. Aish!

“Ugh! Can’t you just cut my clothes?”

“Napakareklamador mo alam mo ba yon?” I pout. Nakakaasar ka Lay.

“I would demand because I’m the patient here. Besides, bakit ba andito ka eh hindi naman kita pinayagang sumama?”

“Because I care okay?” Napahinto ako at mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Naramdaman ko nalang yung tunog ng punit kong damit at ang malamig na paglapat ng kung ano sa likod ko.

“Sorry for unlocking your---”

“Aish! Just shut up Lay and do it okay?!” Kailangang ba magpaalam pa? Sapakin ko kaya siya? Nanahimik lang kami. Wala naman akong sasabihin eh.

“Your skin is so sensitive you know that? Konting tusok lang minsan mamumula agad. Look at your back now, it’s a bit purple.” He said. Is he stupid? How can I look at it if it was in my back?!

“Just-- AHHH!” Pinisil niya yung masakit eh.

“Lay, kung wala lang akong nararamdaman, sasabunutan talaga kita! You know why I hate your Dad so much? Because everytime when he asks where the part that’s hurt, he will pinch it even he knows that it was the painful part and now you’re doing it!”

“Sorry… just checking it.” I rolled my eyes.

“Sorry. Lagi nalang kayong nagsosorry. You know why I didn’t say sorry to all of you? Because a sorry can’t do anything anymore. Hindi na maibabalik non ang nangyari na.”

“Hey, are you finished?!”

“Done Dr. X!” I yelled and they did what they want to do on me. Minassacre nila ang katawan ko. Joke. Chineck lang at nilagyan ng icebags. They even put me into CT Scan. Nilagyan din ako ng braces sa likod para kahit magalaw ko, hindi gaanong masakit. Dinala nila ako sa private room ng family namin at naabutan ko doon lahat. Ba’t andito na ‘tong mga ‘to? Even Papa and the whole family were there, the boys, Nerdy, Mey, Treshia, Creature and even Kyle. Kumunot tuloy ang noo ko.

“What’s with the sudden visit?”

“Bel told us what happened.” Papa said. I averted my gaze.

“So?”

“Xandria Laurene?” Asar akong tumingin kay Papa.

“Ayos na ako Pa, is that enough? I want to rest. Bakit ba andito kayong lahat? Para namang napakaconcerned niyong lahat sakin para dayuhin niyo pa ‘tong hospital na ‘to.”

“Thank that there’s still others worries about you.”

“Thank you. Even you gave me your cold treatment, thank you. Naapprecitate ko grabe.” I said full of sarcasm without looking them. Nahahawa na ako kay Treshia. I heard Papa heaved a sigh.

“I invite them all here to inform you that I’ve invited them for your birthday party.” Napatingin ako kay Papa. Pero nagkibit balikat lang din ako.

“Don’t care. Invite anyone you want. Si Xylo lang naman ang mag-eenjoy dahil debut niya yon.” Hinawakan ko yung kamay ni Xylene at nilaro-laro. She’s standing beside my bed and smiling at me.

“Ate, you okay now?”

“I became okay when I saw you and Ate Xytee, baby.” She then hugs me.

“Wanna sleep beside Ate?” Tumango naman siya’t inalis ang sapatos niya at tumabi sakin.

“Talk what you want to talk Pa. I want to rest. And… Tito, Tita, Kyle, thanks for visiting.” Ngumiti lang sila at pinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko. I don’t want to talk to others right now.

~~~

A/N : May rason na para makapunta sila sa big day ni Xyla. Pero… pano ba yan e mukhang iwas silang lahat sa kanya?