Five
2262 Words
I’m looking for money, not for husband, right? Fatima who keeps on rewining on her mind what pako said earlier, saying that on her self for a couple of times now. And she’s like ready to print what's on her mind already and just read it, it maybe much easier for her.
She’s drinking her coffee here in the Café near the hospital. And she’s like ‘Best friend ‘to herself now, because of that.
It can save my father. “Nakaka pang hina” aniya saka uminom sa baso niya.
Her phone beep. She opened it and she saw a message from her brother. Halos hindi niya malunok ang natitirang kape sa loob ng bunganga niya sa kaba.
Dali dali siyang tumayo at kumaripas ng takbo papasok sa hospital. Not even thinking about anything. She just ran through it.
“Hold on papa. Please “ aniya habang hinihingal na tumakbo.
Pagkapasok niya sa hospital, she saw her brother, “Mike, ang papa? “
“Te, kailangan na niyang maoperahan. Kung hindi.. Alam na natin ang mangyayari” mahinang sambit nito.
Fatima didn’t think twice, she took her phone and went to the corner where no one can hear her, not in front of her family.
“Hon, what’s wrong? “ MN said on the phone. Fatima shut her eyes. Goodbye dalaga na ako…
“Pako “ aniya sa mahina at nginig na boses.
“Hon? Tell me, what’s going on there? “ sambit nito na halatang may pag aalala sa boses.
“Marry me—no I mean, I’ll marry you.. Just… please.. Save my father pako.. Parang awa mo na—”
“—hold on hon, I’ll be there. Relax okay? Hmm? Hon? “ sambit nito habang dinig niya ang pagmamadali nito.
Dinig din niya ang kalampag ng pinto, ang mga tunog ng susi. Then he cut the call.
Fatima closed her eyes, kasabay ng paghinga niya ng marahas ay siya ding pagkaka gulo ng mga hospital staff at mga doctors.
Doctors means, they’re 5 doctors and nurses, and she couldn’t move because she saw how they’re focusing and how they’re like tornado para sa paglabas at pag alalay sa ama niya na nakahiga sa kamang may gulong mula sa kwarto nito.
Right there, she already know that MN did his best to make her father better.
King T. H Gen. Hospital is one of the best hospitals in town. MN moved her father here right after he made a proposal to her.
She was moved. Alam niyang mabuting tao ang lalaki, dahil kahit hindi siya sumang ayon agad, gumawa pa din ito ng bagay na nagpa mangha sa kanya.
Na kahit anong ayaw niya, nagawa nitong ipalipat ang ama niya dito. He talked to her mother, at naka pagtataka na sumang ayon agad ang mama niya, while she’s a kind of woman who doesn’t trust immediately.
But for Fatima, there’s nothing she can’t do just to save her father, maybe, just maybe ganoon din ang ina niya.
Napaupo siya sa isang sementadong upuan sa gilid at sinakop ng dalawa niyang kamay ang mukha niya.
Nakatalungko siya habang nag iisip kung ano at paano ang gagawin niya pagdating ng araw na magiging asawa na siya ng isang Mark Neil Bautista.
She learned that he’s fuckin’ billionaire. One of the after saught bachelor. But she doesn’t know what’s his businesses to make him that rich.
Wala naman kasi siyang paki alam dapat. Nakita lang niya sa bagong magazine na nabili niya.
And to think that he is somewhat modeling to the point that he’s showing his body on millions of people made her pissed that time. And she doesn't know why.
Napaiktad siya ng may tumapik sa balikat niya. She’s ready to look at singhalan kung sino man iyon ng maramdaman ng katawan niya ang relaxation that only pako can give.
“You okay hon? “ masuyo nitong sambit saka naramdan niyang umupo ito sa tabi niya.
Kapagkuwan ay kinabig siya nito, he let her lean on his shoulder.
Isinandig niya ang ulo dito. Then she closed her, just now that she felt her tiredness. “Yeah” aniya.
“You can relax now. Your father is in good hands. Thad is a great doctor. And just pray. There's nothing possible from Him” anito habang hinahaplos nito ang buhok niya.
Napangiti siya dahil alam nitong kumapit sa Diyos. He maybe a jerk by the eyes of some women, but for her, she can lean on someone like him—maka Diyos at hindi nakakalimot kahit pa napa kayaman na nito.
“Thank you pako” aniya sa mababang tinig. Pero magiging misis na ako sa darating na mga araw nito.. Hindi pa ako handa, pero bahala na. That’s what she’s thinking, after a while, she felt her eyelids went heavy.
MN smiled nang maramdaman niyang bumigat ang paghinga ng dalaga sa tabi niya. I’m just here hon.. Inayos niya ang pagkaka sandig nito sa balikat niya, slowly, he managed to put her head on his lap.
Sa ganoong paraan, he can freely stare at her innocent and beautiful face. Gagawin ko ang lahat, mapa saakin ka lang.
He touch her face, on a very gentle way, para hindi ito magising. Then he slowly caress her smooth and black hair.
Nasa ganoong tagpo sila nang lumapit si Thadeius sa kanila, but when he saw that Fatima is sleeping, he just nodded and gave him a thumbs up and left.
Meaning, Fatima’s father’s operation went well. Thanks God. Taimtim niyang sambit.
Fatima doesn’t know how long she was sleeping. She opened her eyes and she saw MN, who is staring at her face—lovingly.
Or maybe not, baka naaawa lang ito sa kanya. Or maybe not too. Ang gulo ng isip niya, kasing gulo ng t***k ng puso niya ngayon.
His stares are giving her a raise beating on her heart. “Pako, naduduling ka na. Try mong tumingin sa iba, sige ka, hindi na babalik sa ayos ‘yang mga mata mo” aniya. Marupok ako sa titig mo shutang ina..
MN chuckled then help her to get up.
“Tapos na ang operasyon ng papa mo— „
“—how did it go? “ may kabang tanong niya sa lalaki habang tumatayo.
“It went well. Don’t worry. You want to go to the chapel? “ sambit nito.
Tumango na lang siya. But somehow MN wants to give her the privacy, he let her go alone. Na nagustuhan naman niya.
Malapit lang naman kasi sa kinaroroonan nila ang chapel ng hospital.
After she thanked God for saving her father, she went back to where pako is, but he’s not there anymore.
So she decided to go to where her family is. She saw her mother, happiness is all over her face habang nakatingin sa ama niya mula sa salamin na dingding.
“Ma” aniya.
“O anak, salamat sa Diyos at ligtas na ang ama mo “ masaya nitong sambit.
“Yes ma. Wala talagang imposible sa Kanya” ako ang hindi ligtas sa kamay ni pako. But there’s something inside her that feels excited.
Fatima doesn’t know but, para siyang excited na kabado. Her body and mind is like having a dull moment everytime he’s not around.
Tila hinahanap hanap na niya ang presensya ng binata. That’s the thing she feared long time ago. Kasi alam naman niyang may dahilan ang binata kung bakit siya inalok ng kasal.
He wanted his company. His father wants him to be married before he can take over. At malinaw pa sa crystal na ang kasal nila will only be valid for a few years.
Definitely 1 to 2 years lang. Then after that, they can have divorce. Iyon ang sinabi nito. Madali lang naman ‘yon. Sana, kung hindi siya nasasanay sa lalaki. Bahala na..
Kinaumagahan, pumasok na siya sa restaurant. Kahit pagod pa siya sa pagbabantay, kailangan din naman niyang pumasok.
Kailangan pa din niyang kumita ng pera para sa gamot ng ama. Para sa pagpapagaling nito hindi pa kasi ito pwedeng lumabas sa hospital.
She’s carrying the tray of Italian pasta when she saw the senator’s daughter with some sort of guy.
She put the tray in the near table when she heard something. It’s like commotion. Paglingon niya, nakita niyang may kasamahan siyang sinisinghalan ng babae.
Napag alaman niyang Natalia ang pangalan ng babaeng anak ng senador. Palaaway talaga ang malditang ‘to. Sarap ingudngod sa semento ang pagmumukhang salamat dok!! Gigil na sambit niya sa isipan.
She doesn’t like to meddle in any situations like this, but hell, she’s not like a rock which doesn’t have feelings at all!
Ang ginawa niya, tumayo siya malapit sa dalawang nagbabangayan at nakinig.
“Napaka tanga mo naman, paano ka nakapasok sa restaurant na ‘to kung simpleng pag serve lang, hindi mo pa alam? “ sikmat nito sa katrabaho niya.
Then Fatima heard Natalia’s companion talk. Ah, Arabo.. Naiiling na lang siya. Paano nga naman alam ng kasamahan niya kuna anong gusto ng lalake.
Hindi siya nakatiis ng bulyawan ng maarteng Natalia ang kasamahan niya, lumapit siya sa mga ito at magiliw na kinausap ang lalaking kasama nito.
“marhaba” aniya dito, meaning ‘hi or hello’ in english. She saw Natalia’s eyes widen.
Sumagot naman ang arabo. Then Fatima asked what’s going on. “esh fi hon? What’s in here? “ aniya.
Then the man told her what he wanted. She translated it to her workmate,then she smiled at the man.
But she’s not as kind as others, hindi siya mabait, lalo namang hindi siya santa. So she asked the guy if Natalia knows how to speak Arabic. And he said yes.
She smirked “hayawan” animal. She said. The guy smiled at her.
“Sa” right. Sambit nito saka tumango.
“Madam, may order pa kayo? Kung wala na, pwede na ba kaming lumayas sa harapan ninyo? “ Fatima said, but she’s not in good mood to smile at her.
“Wala na” sambit lang nito.
“Shukran” thank you anang lalaki sa kanya.
“Afwan” welcome sambit niya saka bumalik sa kusina.
“Kainis talaga ‘yang babaeng ‘yan! Ang dami namang restaurant, bakit dito pa palaging pumpunta?! “ inis na sambit niya, kausap niya ang sarili dahil naglalakad siya papuntang rest room.
But of course, she can’t answer her own question.
Afterwards, nang sumapit ang hapon at tapos na ang shift niya, dumiretso na siya sa hospital. Dalawang araw ng hindi nagpapakita si pako sa kanya.
And she’s missing him already. But she keeps on denying ot to herself. Bakit ko naman siya mamimiss? Ano ko ba siya?!
She’s sitting beside her father, pinauwi niya kasi ang mama niya para magpahinga. Ang kapatid naman niya ay nag rereview dahil may exam ito.
She opened her phone and watch her favorite wildlife show when she received a message.
Pako: hon, how are you? Sorry. Busy ako. Kumusta ang papa mo?
Napangiti siya. Busy lang pala ito kaya hindi nakaka punta sa kanya. So she replied.
He’s fine. Message sent.
Pako: ikaw? Kumusta ka naman. Kumain ka na?
Saka palang niya naramdaman ang gutom ng mabasa ang mensahe ng lalaki. Tulog ang papa niya kaya lumabas siya at bibili sana ng pagkain sa canteen when something block her face the moment she opened the door.
“Anak ng —”
“—kabayo” sambit ng may hawak ng may kalakihang paper bag.
Fatima smiled when she heard that voice. It’s no other than MN.
“sabi ko na nga ba at nakalimutan mong kumain e” sambit nitong nakangiti nang maibaba na nito ang paper bag na hawak.
He pushed her to go back inside and entered the room. He even helped her to sit to the chair on the corner of the private room na ito din ang pumili para sa papa niya.
“Akala ko ba busy ka? “ aniya sa lalaki.
“Tapos na” maikli nitong sambit habang inilalabas ang mga dinala nitong pagkain.
Fried chicken. Burger. Softdrinks. May pizza din saka French fries. May naka box ding spaghetti.
“Thank you “ anang Fatima bago kumagat sa burger na hawak niya.
“Welcome “ sagot naman nitong sinubuan siya ng fries.
They eat together. Lagi siyang sinusubuan na agad naman niyang tinatanggap. He even let her drink on her drinks while holding the glass and she’s sipping from the drinking straw.
Weird that she feel at ease. Parang matagal na nilang ginagawa ang mga bagay na iyon, while in fact it’s only few times, and just now that he is feeding her like this. Ipinagkibit balikat na lang niya ang mga bagay bagay na bago sa kanya ngayon and continued eating. Food is life for her.
Saka na ako mag isip.. Aniya sa sarili. Tumango pa ng bahagya sa naisip.
Pagkatapos nilang kumain, sabay nilang nilinis ang mga kalat nilang mga karton ng mga fast foods. After that, they wash their hands and sit together.
Sitting side by side, Fatima look at her father who is sleeping peacefully.
She sighed of contentment. She’s happy that he’s safe now. All thanks to this man who is kind enough to help her—may kapalit nga lang.
“Let’s get married soon” kapagkuwan ay sambut nito. Mababa ang boses nito at malumanay.
“When is that soon? “ aniya.
Gusto niyang ipikit ang mga mata niya dahil sa ramdam niya ang pagod pero kailangan niyang malaman ang ‘soon’ na sinasabi nito.
“Tomorrow “ sambit nito.
That was like a bomb to her ears. Just knowing that she will be on her own jail the sooner makes her mind left bewildered.
Fatima blink, then she heard MN chuckled. “Relax, ikakasal ka lang, hindi ka bibitayin” sambit nito.
She envy him, because he's acting like what will they do tomorrow is just a game. While for her, it will be a torture —for her body and mind.
Kaya mo yan self. Hanap tayo ng paraan para hindi natin siya magapang....
G. A. B/ GAB
- Writer
