After Deep Sleep

Chapter 01

Nagising ako na masakit ang aking buong katawan. And when I finally opened my eyes fully, white walls and the beeping sound from a machine was the first thing that welcomed me.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa lugar. Napagtanto kong nasa isang hospital ako.

And suddenly a vogue memory flows like a river in my mind.

Agad akong nakaramdam nang pagkabalaha at kaba. Tatawagin ko sana ang aking kasintahan, doon ko lang napansin ang isang tubo na nakapasak sa bibig ko kaya hindi ako makagawa ng kahit anong ingay na gistuhin ko. Hindi ko din maigalaw ang mga paa ko. Parang paralisado iyon.

Sakto naman na nagbukas ang pinto at ang gulat na mukha nang mga magulang ko ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Sariyah! You're awake!" Mahabagin na sambit nang kanyang Ina habang papalapit sa kanyang kinahihigaan. Nanginginig ang kamay nang Ina nang hawakan nito ang kanyang pisngi. "Samuel, call the doctor! Our princess is awake!"

I badly wanted to speak bit the tube was blocking my voice to be heard! Gustong-gusto kong itanong Kong nasaan ni Bryson! We were together when the accident happens bit why I am alone in this room! Unable to move and speak!

"Thank God you're awake my baby...." Hagulgol nang kanyang Ina habang marahan na hinahaplos ang kanyang mukha.

A tear falls down from her eyes. She's aching inside watching her mom crying. Gustong aluhin ni Sariyah ang Ina pero hindi niya maigalaw ang katawan. It pains her being this useless and unable.

Maya-maya pa'y dumating ang doktor kasama ang kanyang nag-aalalang ama. Agad na niyakap nang kanyang ama ang inang panay ang iyak.

May parang flashlight ang itinutok ang doktor sa kanyang mga mata. Nasilaw siya doon.

"Your daughters vitals are now stable." Magalang na anunsyo nang doktor na ikinatuwa nang kanyang magulang. "But we need to run some tests, so I'd like to keep your daughter here for observations." Ngumiti ulit ang doktor. "Rest assured that your daughter is far from danger now."

"Please, do all the means, do whatever it takes to make my daughter away from harm. Please..." Pagsusumamo nang kanyang Ina sa babaeng doktor.

"Sure we do, Ma'am. It's our duty to cure and make people lives away from any harm."

"How about the tube on my daughter's mouth?" Ang ama nang niya ang natanong. "Can it be removed? It seems my daughter is uncomfortable with it."

Tumango ang doktor. "We can now since the patient is fine. I'll just call someone to get the tube off."

Nagpaalam na ang doktor sa kanila at umalis narin. Kinakausap si Sariyah nang kanyang magulang pero wala siyang maisagot. Kitang-kita naman sa mukha nang magulang ang pagod at galak.

May gustong makita si Sariyah. Pero hangga't may tubo pa sa kanyang bibig, hindi niya magawang magtanong.

Just a few more minutes, a guy in blue scrubs enter their room. Mukhang ito na ang sinasabi nang doctor na magtatanggal sa tubo sa kanyang bibig. At hindi nga siya nagkamali. The guy do his part and take the tube off of her mouth.

Parang nakahinga nang maluwag si Sariyah nang tuluyang natanggal ang tubo.

"How's my baby? Tell daddy where it hurts, please. Daddy will take it away..." Samuel tears fall. He can't bare seeing her only daughter in this state. Nadudurog ang kanyang puso sa sakit.

"I-I'm okay, Daddy..." Tugon ni Sariyah sa paos na boses. Parang bulong nga lang iyon, eh. Namamaos siya at tuyog-tuyo ang kanyang lalamunan.."W-where. . . Where's Bry, Dad? Did you see Bry?"

Ngumiti ang kanyang Ina habang hinahaplos ang kanyang buhok.."Bryson is fine. Nasa kabilang kwarto lang siya. And he's awake, too."

Gusto pa sanang kausapin ni Sariyah ang magulang pero bumigat nalang ang kanyang talukap. Bago pa man siya matuluyang mawalan nang malay ay ang tarantang sigaw nang Ina ang huli niyang narinig bago siya mawalan nang ulirat.

Nagising nalang ulit si Sariyah na parang may pumipisil sa kanyang kamay. Sariyah slowly open her eyes, and the handsome but worried face of her boyfriend meet her sight.

Pinipisil ni Bryson ang kamay nang dalaga. May munting luha ang tumutulo dito habang nakatungo.

"B-bry..." Mahinang tawag ni Sariyah sa kanyang nobyo.

Dali-dali naman na inangat ni Bryson ang paningin. And he felt relief seeing her woman wide awake.

"Baby... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for my recklessness. It's my fault why are you in this situation now." Iyak agad na bungad ni Bryson. "I'm sorry, baby... Forgive me."

Kahit pa nang hihina, ay pinipilit na inabot ni Sariyah ang pisngi ng nobyo at pinahid ang luha nito.

"H-hindi mo naman kasalanan..." Mahina niyang sambit. Tuyo parin ang kanyang lalamunan kaya garalgal pa ang kanyang boses. "It's an accident, love, not your fault."

"The blame is on me. I am being reckless ─"

"Don't please... Don't blame yourself. No one is blaming you." Malambing na wika ni Sariyah.

Ganito talaga palagi ang kasintahan niya. Kapag may nangyayari na hindi maganda, palagi nitong sinisisi ang sarili kahit wala naman itong kasalanan. Bryson was a selfless kind of man.

"Stop crying now. Sige ka iiyak din ako." Pananakot pa ni Sariyah. Tumahan naman kaagad ang kasintahan pero humihikbi pa rin ito.

Sakto naman din na bumukas ang pinto at iniluwal doon ang kanyang magulang kasama ang babaeng doktor. Ang doktor din na sumuri sa kanya nang unang magising.

The doctor do her works on her. She examine her thoroughly.

"How's my daughter again, doc?" May kaba sa boses nang Ina habang nagtatanong.

"Far more better, Mrs. Villaruel." Doctor said in professional way. "Your daughter might encounter some slight headache because of the collision but it's something that we shouldn't be afraid off. After 6 hours, the patient can eat but not the solid ones."

"D-doc.. why I can't move my feet? Am I going to be crippled?" Pahabol na tanong si Sariyah.

Umiling ang doctor. "Nothing to worry about that, Ms. Villaruel." Tugon nang doctor. "Your muscles are just a bit overwhelmed because of the accident and massage your feet for your muscles to adjust."

Umalis na din ang doctor. Sila nalang ang naiwan sa silid.

"Tita, I'm sorry po. I did put Sariyah's well-being into danger. I should've be so careful ─"

"It's okay, hijo." Ani ng kanyang ama. "Accidents happened all the time. And we are fine seeing you both away from harm."

Napanatag naman si Bryson. Though, he still feel guilty because of what happened. But nonetheless, he's happy that his beloved girlfriend is okay now.

"Lalabas muna ako para bumili nang makakain." Ani naman ng Ina ni Sariyah. "What do you want to eat, hijo? We will buy it for you."

"Anything is fine, tita." Magalang na sagot ni Bryson.

"Okay then." Ani Carla, ang Ina Sariyah. "Watch over our daughter, hijo. Babalik din kami agad."

Magalang na tumango si Bryson. "Yes po, Tita."

Bryson was comfortable talking with Sariyah's parents. Magkaibigan kasi ang kanilang pamilya kaya highschool palang may magkakilala na si Sariyah at Bryson.

"How about you, does your body hurts?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Sariyah. "You always asks me, baka pinapabayaan mo na naman ang sarili mo, ha."

Bryson offered a sweet smile. "I'm okay now that you're awake... Again love, I'm sorry ─"

"Shh, just kissed me and I will forgive you."

And her golden retriever boyfriend did what he told to. Bryson lean forward and kisses her girlfriend's lips. Three times.

"I love you, more than anything else, Sariyah."

"And I love you too, as how much you love me, Mr. Bryson."