[MESSAGES]

Mila ❤️

08:15

Jachin
Baby, nasa hospital na ako. Saan ka?

Mila
Here sa labas ng ER.

Jachin
Okay. May pagkain kayo ni Tita? Pwede akong bumili.

Mila
No, Mom can't eat.

Jachin
Ikaw? Anong oras na di ka pa kumakain

Mila
I'm not hungry

Jachin
So pag nagdala ako ng paborito mong spaghetti di ka kakain?

Mila
:(

Mila
May dala ka?

Jachin
Yeah, by. We can eat together kasi di pa rin ako kumakain.

Mila
Okay

Jachin
Otw na :)

* * *

[DIALOGUE]

< EMERGENCY ROOM. EVENING. >

Mila couldn't help but let out a ragged breath after shutting off her phone. Her mother's condition had worsened over the last hour and she was afraid that she was getting out of remission.

She recognized Jachin's perfume before she heard his footsteps as he approached her.

Mahinang natawa si Mila sa itsura nito. Suot pa niya ang Halloween costume niya at may bitbit na paperbag ng fastfood restaurant na paborito niya.

Jachin
Hi, by.

Mila stood up, approached him, and took a step inside his warm hug.

Mila
Thank you for coming. . . and sorry.

Marahan na hinalikan ni Jachin ang noo ni Mila.

Jachin
Sorry? Ba't ka nagso-sorry?

Mila
Kasi—kasi dapat nasa party ka.

Iginiya siya ni Jachin para maupo bago hinagod ang likod niya.

Jachin
Don't worry about that. Sabi ko naman sa 'yo 'di ba? Tumawag ka lang.

Mila
Did they ask?

Jachin
Oo, pero sabi ko naman sa kanila may emergency ka. Alam naman nila sitwasyon mo. Maiintindihan nila.

Mila
I owe them a lot. I owe you a lot.

Umiling si Jachin, hinawakan ang kamay ni Mila, at inilagay doon ang lalagyan ng spaghetti para makapaghapunan na ito.

Jachin
Mamaya na 'yan, by. Kumain ka muna. Tsaka mo na alalahanin kami. Sarili mo muna at si Tita. How is she?

Mila
I'm afraid, Jach. I'm so afraid. I'm afraid that she'll go back. . . and be sick again.

Jachin couldn't help but stop and think about what he wants to say—but nothing comes to mind.

Mila
I don't want to be in the same situation again. Helpless. I can't do anything for her.

Jachin
You are doing something. You're here for her.

Mila shook her head and turned her head away from Jachin because she didn't want him to see her tears.

But Jachin was quick to hold her face so she can look at him in the eyes. He wiped her tears with his thumbs.

Jachin
Let's hope for the best, baby.

* * *

#ATSWHIwp