"Hoy, Niks!" Pukaw ni Karla sa atensyon ko nang manatili ang aking mga mata sa pagtanaw sa labas ng bintana kahit na wala namang interesanteng naroon. I was staring blankly at nowhere, hindi ko na alam kung paano pahihintuin ang aking isipan sa kaiisip kay Vince. "Ayos ka lang? Inaya ka naming lumabas para kahit paano'y magkabuhay ka, hindi para magmukmok lang rin dito, ha? Eh, 'di sana pala sa bahay ka na lang gumanyan."

Dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas simula nang huli kaming magkita ni Vince. Matapos niya akong ihatid sa hotel, kinaumagahan ay umalis rin ako doon. Hindi ko gustong bumalik siya at mag-abot na naman kami, mabuti na rin 'yung hindi niya alam kung nasaan ako. Mas makakapag-isip kami ng magkalayo. Kaya dalawang linggo na rin akong nang aabala at nakikitira sa kanila Karla at Josh. Gustuhin ko man bumalik sa apartment ko ay hindi ko na tinangka, baka kasi puntahan lang ako ni Vince doon.

"Tignan mo ang isang 'to," umirap sa akin si Donna habang humihigop ng kape. "Siya ang nang-iwan pero siya itong hindi matahimik."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Hindi ko naman kasi iniwan si Vince dahil trip ko lang. I had to leave dahil baka mamatay lang ako sa sakit na nararamdaman ko kung hindi ko gagawin. Inamin ko sa mga ito na boyfriend ko nga si Vince, sinabi ko rin na I just decided to leave him. Hindi ko na nga lang idinagdag pa ang detalye ng kung bakit. Problema na kasi namin 'yun, hindi ko gustong malaman ng iba ang kung anong pinagdadaanan namin.

"Donna," marahang suway ni Karla sa kaniya bago ako muling sulyapan. "Dalawang linggo ka na namang nakakulong sa bahay, Niks. Anong balak mong gawin ngayon? May kailangan kaming balikang trabaho sa pub house in an hour, uuwi ka na lang ba at magmumukmok na naman sa bahay?"

Damn, the idea was too daunting. Ano naman kasi ang gagawin ko, 'di ba? Pupunta sa mall? Gagala? Hindi ko rin naman kayang bumalik sa art studio, wala akong maisip na gawin lalo pa't katatapos ko lang sa painting na ginawa ko na sanang regalo ko para kay Vince.

Uuwi na lang nga siguro ako. Bahala na.

"Ayos lang ako," sabi ko sa kanila. Kakasabi ko lang ay bigla namang umatake ang sakit ng aking sentido, kaya pasimple ko iyong hinilot. Nitong mga nakaraan ay napapadalas rin ang pag-atake ng migraine ko. Siguro ay iyan na lang ang gagawin ko ngayon, I would go to the hospital and have it checked para maresetahan na rin ako ng kailangan kong inumin.

"Nicole, ha? Ang guwapo guwapo na ni Vince, at De Salvo pa! Huwag mo na sanang sinasayang 'yan," irap ni Donna.

Gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya na sa buong pagsasama namin ni Vince ay ni minsan hindi ko naman binigyan ng lubos na pansin ang pagiging De Salvo niya. I loved Vince for who he was, kung paano ko siya nakilala.

Pero anong sense kung sasabihin ko iyon kay Donna? Imbes sumagot ay binanatan ko na lang ang croissant sa aking harapan. Isa pa 'yan, lately ay tumitindi ang pagtatakaw ko.

"Hayaan mo na si Niks, Donna!" Karla sighed, nagpapasalamat ako at kahit paano'y naiintindihan ako nito. Gets niyang hindi naman madali itong pinagdadaanan ko, kahit pa hindi ko sabihin sa kaniya kung ano iyon.

As Karla shifted the conversation to lighter topics, I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me. It was a welcome distraction from the turmoil swirling within me, even if it was just temporary. I appreciated her efforts to lighten the mood, even though I hadn't confided in her about what I was going through.

"Yeah, let's talk about something else," I chimed in, mustering a faint smile as I tried to push aside the weight of my worries.

We continued chatting for a while longer, exchanging anecdotes and laughter as we savored our coffee. But eventually, the time came for them to return to work, leaving me alone at the coffee house.

As I watched them bid their farewells and head out the door, a sense of loneliness washed over me, amplifying the heaviness in my heart. But I knew I couldn't dwell on it for long. I had made a decision, and it was time to follow through.

Summoning a cab, I quickly made my way to the nearest hospital. Walang twenty minutes ay humimpil na ang taxi sa tapat ng St. Lukes Medical Center. I hurried inside, my steps echoing in the empty corridors as I made my way to the reception desk. The nurse greeted me with a warm smile, but I could sense the concern in her eyes as she took in my haggard appearance.

"Can I help you?" she asked gently, her voice filled with empathy.

"I need to see a doctor," I replied, my words coming out in a rush. "It's urgent."

Without hesitation, the nurse guided me to the nearest examination room, where I waited anxiously for the doctor to arrive. My mind raced with a million different thoughts and scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last.

Finally, the door opened, and the doctor stepped inside, his expression professional yet compassionate as he greeted me.

"What seems to be the problem?" he asked, his voice calm and reassuring.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and began to explain the reason for my visit. As I spoke, the weight of my fears lifted slightly, replaced by a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out okay in the end.

With that reassurance, the doctor began to conduct a series of tests and analyses, each one designed to provide insight into my condition. I tried to remain calm as he worked, but the anxiety gnawed at me from within, threatening to consume me with its suffocating grip.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as I waited for the results, the minutes ticking by with agonizing slowness. I tried to distract myself by focusing on anything other than the impending news that awaited me, but it was a futile effort.

Finally, the doctor returned, his expression unreadable as he approached me. My heart raced in my chest, each beat echoing loudly in the silence of the room. I held my breath, bracing myself for whatever news he was about to deliver.

"Here," the doctor said, handing me a small container. "I need you to provide a urine sample for further testing."

I blinked in surprise, my mind racing to catch up with his words. A urine sample? Oh, God. How could I have forgotten about that?