Chapter 3

Ang n-nanay mo n-asagasaan daw.

Jov's news kept on replaying her thought while the operation is still ongoing. Tila naparalisa ang utak niya at halos hindi niya mapaniwalaan ang ibig nitong sabihin.

Oh God! Si Inay. S-si Inay! She panicked upon her realization. Unti unting tumulo ang mga luha niya. Mabilis niyang sinalubong ang mga mata ng kasamahan niya ng hilam na mga luha. She plead on the surgeon, the Anesthesiologist, the other assisting nurse, and Jov.

"It's okay, Ms. Ferrer. Scrub out." Nakauunawang inutusan siya ng kasalukuyang surgeon na si Dra. Grey.

With a nervous heart, she excused herself and immediately went out of the operating room removing her surgical garments shuddery. Tigmak ng luha na tinakbo niya ang emergency room kung saan binibigyan na nang paunang lunas ang kanyang ina.

"Jane, a-ang nanay ko?" She shouted worrying at the ER nurse. "Ganda, calm down. Ginagawa na nila ang lahat para masalba siya."

'A-anong ibig mong sabihin na m-masalba? Is she in d-danger?" Nanginginig ang boses na tanong niya kay Jane.

"She got an open wound in the chest. May tumusok sa kanyang baga nang tumilapon siya sa pagkakabang-"

"Oh God!" Tuluyan na siyang napahagulhol at tinakbo ang Emergency room. There, she saw her mother fighting death. Halos puno ng dugo ang damit nitong puti. Ang kaninang hagulhol niya ay mas lalo pang tumindi.

"Ms. Ferrer, we will appreciate if you will step out for a few moments. We will do our best to save her." Mahinahong utos sa kanya ng doctor roon.

"Beauty..." Bisig ni Jane ang kinapitan niya dahil halos mabuwal na niya sa kinatatayuan niya. Patuloy lamang siyang humagulhol habang naririnig ang mabilis na kilos at boses ng doctor, at nurses sa loob ng ER.

"Huminahon ka. Everything will be alright. Tahan na sa pag-iyak."

Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay inilabas ang kanyang Ina na may nakakabit na tubo sa bandang dibdib nito. Nakahiga ito sa de gulong na kama habang inihahatid ito sa elavator patungong Operating room sa fourth floor.

"Airways were established but we need to transfer her at the operating room to remove the object in her lungs, Ms. Ferrer."

"Doc, gawin niyo po ang lahat para sa Inay. Iligtas niyo po ang nanay ko. Please." Humihikbing hiling niya.

She was lost. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin. She was discharged from her duty early as her superior commanded. Tulala lang siyang naglakad sa kalsada.

God. Huwag po ang nanay ko. Iligtas niyo po siya sa kapahamakan. Bago siya umalis sa hospital ay pinakwenta na niya ang magiging gastusin sa operasyon ng Inay niya na umabot ng mahigit kalahating milyon, ayon sa tantiya ng accountant.

She heaved out her phone on her pocket and dialled her friend's number. "Pamu, gagawin ko na." pinal na sagot niya.

"W-what? Bukas na ang kasal? Akala ko ba next week pa?" Nanlalatang sagot niya sa kabilang linya.

"Sige fren, Kelangan ko pala yung paunang bayad." Pagkatapos makinig sa mahabang instruksyon ng kaibigan ay nagpasalamat siya rito bago tapusin ang tawag.

Kaya ko kaya? Patawarin niyo po ako, God. Kailangan ko po itong gawin para sa nanay ko. Kagat labing usal niya.

Sorry Euh Jin. Maiintindihan mo naman siguro ang gagawin ko. Piping kausap niya sa estrangherong pangalan na tila ba kaharap niya ito at nakikita.

Sana. Ipinikit niya nang mariin ang mga mata at ilang sandaling pinahupa ang pag-ulan ng luha sa kanyang pisngi pagkaraan ay nagbuga siya ng malalim na hininga. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad na tila hindi alintana ang dami ng taong kasabayan niya palabas ng Hospital.

Her thought shaken when a body bumped her. She eyed the old man who slipped on the surface and gave an apologetic gaze.

"Lo, pasensya na po kayo." She offered her hand to him and assisted him on getting up.

"It's okay, hija. All things happen for a reason." Kunot noo niyang tiningnan ito pagkatapos nitong bigyan siya ng ngiti at lumakad na palayo sa kanya.

BEAUTY went out early and rode a taxi heading to the city hall. She met her friend Pamu yesterday and was able to get the information she needed for her mission. The man she's about to ruin the wedding is Euh-Jin Austen, a 30-year-old good looking rich man. Nang ipakita ng kaibigan ang picture ng binata ay hindi man lamang niya pinagkaabalahang tingnan iyon. Surely, the one with the almond eyes at the ceremony will be Euh-Jin. Pamu told her he's a half Korean, half Pilipino.

She doesn't need a conscience anymore because she aims to finish her mission and get the remaining four hundred thousand pesos for her mother. She was holding her hands tight as if she was getting enough strength from it.

Her mother's operation was done yesterday. But until now, her vital status are still not stable. Hindi pa ito nagigising mula kahapon, so that means, the health care provider needs to close monitor her mother's condition.

Para ito kay Inay. I need to stay focus and finish this quickly!

Nakasalalay sa kanya ang paggaling ng Ina. But how can she do that if she got stuck in the traffic? She checked the time on her wristwatch. Eight O-clock. The wedding will start at exactly nine. She calmed herself and leaned her back at the seat.

Ngunit tila kinokonsensya siya ng tadhana nang marinig niya ang kanta sa binuksang stereo ng matandang driver. She bit her lower lip to suppress her frustrated moan.

I am not the kind of girl

who should be rudely barging in

on a white veil occasion

But you are not the kind of boy

who should be marrying the wrong girl

Beauty heaved lightly as she hears the next stanza. Marriage should be done out of love. You marry because you love a person. That's the most coherent reason for matrimony. Kaya gagawin ko ang lahat para hindi matuloy ang kasal mo, Euh Jin.

"Manong, wala na po bang ibang shortcut?" Naiinip na tanong niya pagkaraan nang ilang sandali na hindi man lang umusad ang sasakyan.

"Naku ma'am. Wala po, e. Rush hour po kasi kaya ganito po talaga katraffic dito."

Nanlulumong tiningnan niya ang kanyang orasang pangbisig. Fifteen minutes to go and she won't get there in time. She frustratingly answered the phone when it ring. Pamu told her the wedding is about to begin.

Shit! No way! She decided to step out of the car and started to walk.

"Miss, iyong bayad mo?" The driver yelled, but she just ignored and headed out of the traffic in the middle of the road.

Maraming busina ang kanyang narinig ngunit hindi man lamang natinag ang dalaga. She took off her white stiletto and run as far as she can.

"Hi Gorgeous! Nice legs!" Mangilan ngilan lang sa mga ito ang narinig niya sa paligid, but she's very concentrated to her goal, and that is to come right in time to stop the wedding.

Halos hingalin siya nang sa wakas ay makita ang malaking letra ng city hall. She ran swiftly until her foot landed on the second floor. When she finally saw her destination, she ran with no second thought, opens the door knob, and say her objection.

"Stop the wedding." With a shaking knees she lowered her head, hold her chest with her free hand and catch her breathe.

Nang mabawi ang normal niyang paghinga ay itinaas niya nang bahagya ang paningin. Iginala niya iyon, and for the first time, she felt intimidated seeing the stare coming from those almond pair of eyes. It was like her heart woke up from a very long sleep and she can't seemed to control the excitement she was feeling as his gaze met her.

Is this what the books used to tell? The world stops, and the hearts blow fast?

She held her chest to stop her heart from racing. She bit her lip as she is surveying the man physically. His almond eyes looked blank, but his pointed nose, red full lips, and unruly hair made him erogenous. She know that this is already Euh Jin.

"Ehem." She met the gaze of the old man who was standing beside him. She assumed it must be Euh Jin's father.

She trembles when her consciousness took over, and got distracted by the loud gasp coming from the people inside the room.

"Young lady, you were saying?" The old man snatched her attention and so she managed to fix her posture back to normal.

She swallowed hard and closed her eyes for a second. "I said, stop the wedding." She may sounds calm but her inside where shaking.

"And why should we do that, miss?" Kunot noong tanong ng isang lalaking nakapolo t-shirt na pula. Katabi nito ang kamukhang kamukha nitong may katabing isang magandang babae.

Ano nga ba, Beauty? Darn. She lost her words. She had practiced her lines, too well. Pero Iba pa din pala talaga kapag nasa actwal na siyang sitwasyon. Pinanghihinaan siya nang loob, lalo pa ngayong halos lahat ng tingin ng mga ito ay nakapukol sa kanya.

Come on Beauty! Speak up or you'll forever regret this! Your mother needs you. Piping buyo ng isip niya.

Inay... Biglang lumamlam ang mga mata ng dalaga. Her mother needs her. Higit ngayong nasa panganib pa din ang buhay nito.

"Because I love him!" Pati siya ay nagulat sa mga katagang binitawan niya.