Diana couldn’t fall asleep, not only because she felt guilty leaving Albert alone on the table at the barbecue stand, but also because of what Albert had said. She expected a confession from him, yes, but it felt different when he finally said it on her face.
‘I think I have fallen in love with you Diana Pangan.’
She groaned and covered her face with her pillow, as if it would help her cover the embarrassment she’s feeling right now. But unfortunately, the darkness that’s covering her sight only made Albert’s face clearer in her mind while he was saying he’s fallen in love with her.
She removed the pillow on her face, throw it on the side, and took her seat on the bed. She wiped her palms on her face and brushed her hair with her fingers. She didn’t know what to do! She should have said to him that she likes somebody else. And she can only offer him her friendship because that’s the truth, but she coward. She just stood and walked away. She didn’t even bother to look back.
She reached for her phone and browse on her messages. She will just text him. She doesn’t have the courage to talk to him. She’s embarrassed. She promised him nothing will change after he said it, but she just left him there. She’s a dumb ass… yes, that’s what she is. And yes, she’s acknowledging that to herself.
She found her and Albert’s conversation in her messages. She opened it and sent a dot. That’s the only thing she could compose right now. She just wanted to be decent. She put down her phone on the bedside table. She’s not expecting for a reply, she just wanted to let him know that she felt guilty after ditching him.
She almost jumped out of the bed when her phone rang. She took the phone on the bedside table and looked at the caller ID: it’s Albert! She hesitated at first but she answered it before the ringing stop.
“H-hi Albert, about a wh---“
“Diana, this is Albert’s mom. I’m sorry dear, he won’t be able to talk to you right now.” Albert’s mom cut her midsentence.
“Good evening, ma’am. I-is there something wrong ma’am?” she asked.
Albert’s mom sniffed at the other line.
“We uhh… we rushed him to the hospital. He said he couldn’t breathe and we thought it was just his asthma but then he passed out grabbing his chest. W-we’re at the hospital right now.” Albert’s mom said.
“Which hospital are you in, ma’am?” she asked.
“Here at our municipal hospital, dear.”
Diana felt guiltier than she did a while ago. She can hear that Albert’s mother is really worried.
“Dear I will call you back, okay? The doctor’s calling me.”
“Yes ma’am. I will just call some other time.” She said and she hung up.
She stared at nothing for a while. Did his illness became more serious? She got up and changed her clothes. She will go to the hospital. She might not be the reason of his sudden attack but she knew she’s a part of it. She went out of her room. Her father and her brother are still watching tv and they both looked at her.
“Where are you going?” her father asked.
“I’ll just go to the hospital, pa. I’m going to check on Albert.” She said.
“Albert? Why, what happened?” her father asked surprised.
“His mom called me using his cell. She said they rushed him to the hospital because he couldn’t breathe and he passed out.” She explained.
“Janwill, go accompany your sister. Use the bicycle.” Her father said.
Janwill stood up and went to grab his hoodie.
“Let’s go sis.” He said and went outside.
“I might spend the night there pa.” she said.
“How about your classes tomorrow?” he asked.
“I will just go home early tomorrow.”
Her father nodded. She went outside. His brother was already sitting on the bicycle, waiting for her. She started to walk towards the pavement.
“Hey sis! Don’t you want to ride at the back?” Janwill asked and went beside her.
“No, I will just walk. I need to think.” She said.
“What happened to Albert? I just saw you two together a while ago.” He remarked.
Diana looked at her brother.
“You saw us?” she asked.
“Yup! You were eating barbecue and talking. I was about to go there too, to buy some barbecue too, but when I saw you, I didn’t proceed. I went back home.” He said.
She nodded. They continued their way towards the hospital silently. Janwill didn’t ask anything and just rode his bike until they reached the hospital.
“What time will you go home?” her brother finally asked.
“I will go home tomorrow morning. Be careful on your way home.” She said.
“I will.” He said and went back home.
When Diana couldn’t see her brother anymore, she went inside the hospital. She went to the nurse’s station.
“Hi, I am looking for a patient.” She began.
“What’s the name, ma’am?” the nurse asked.
“Uhmm… Albert Esguerra.” She said.
“He’s on the private area ma’am. Room number 3.” The nurse said.
“Thank you.” she replied and went to the private area.
When she arrived there, she looked for the room number 3. She knocked on the door. She waited for a few seconds before knocking on the door again. She heard a chair being pulled backwards and an approaching footsteps. And the door opened.
“Diana, dear?” Mrs. Esguerra wiped her tears when she saw her.
“Good evening ma’am. My house is just around the corner so I decided to visit.” She said.
“Come in, dear.” The woman invited her inside. She went inside the hospital room. She saw Albert sleeping on the hospital bed. “Thank you for visiting. I know you’re friends so I really appreciate your presence here my dear.” The woman said and hugged her. She was startled but she hugged her back and rubbed the woman’s back. The woman pulled back.
“It was so sudden. He just arrived from somewhere when he suddenly grabbed his chest and he turned red and struggling to breathe. I panicked and I think that made the situation worse. Oh dear… I do not know what to do a while ago. It’s good that his father was around.” The woman sniffled and wiped her tears.
“Let’s just hope he wakes up later or tomorrow, ma’am.”
“Yes… he will be okay tomorrow. I know he will.”
She smiled a bit to show that she agrees with what she hopes for.
“Have you eaten already, dear?” Albert’s mom said.
“Yes ma’am. I ate already. “ she said.
“I will just go out to buy some food. Is it okay if I leave you alone with Albert? Call me immediately if he wakes up, will you?”
“Yes ma’am.” She said and.
She went to seat on the chair beside the hospital bed. She stared at Albert and guilt slowly cloud her. She remembered the time she first found out about his illness.
***FLASHBACK***
Diana texted Albert if he’s going to travel back to Cauayan with her and Nez. It had been their routine whenever the three of them would go home. She waited for his reply. Her phone chimed. She checked her phone and the notification was from Albert. She opened the message.
‘I WILL JUST TRAVEL EARLY TOMORROW. I STILL HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DOCTOR.’ –Albert.
Diana laughed. She replied back.
‘APPOINTMENT? ARE YOU A VIP OR SOMETHING?’ she mockingly replied.
‘IT’S A CHECK UP APPOINTMENT. I CAN HEAR YOUR MOCKERY FROM HERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION.’
‘CHECK UP? ARE YOU SICK?’
‘YES.’
‘WHAT COULD IT BE? LOVE DEPRESSION OR HEART FAILURE?’
‘SERIOUSLY, DIANA? YOU’RE NOT FUNNY AT ALL. AND BY THE WAY, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO DO WITH LOVE OR HEART. MY HEART’S FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DOC.’
She suddenly felt guilty because she can sense the sarcasm on Albert’s reply. And Albert wasn’t the sarcastic type.
‘I’M SORRY. WHAT’S YOUR ILLNESS?’ she asked.
‘ACUTE BRONCHITIS.’ He replied.
‘ACUTE BRONCHITIS? IT’S ACUTE SO IT MEANS IT’S QUITE SERIOUS!’
‘AND SHE SUDDENLY CARES. DON’T WORRY, I’M GOING TO HAVE MY CHECK UP SO I WILL BE FINE.’
Diana didn’t reply immediately. She knew she hurt Albert’s feelings and she needs to make up for it. She typed a reply.
‘IF YOU HAVE ACUTE BRONCHITIS, WHY DO YOU INVOLVE YOURSELF WITH EXHASTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES LIKE BASKETBALL?’
She waited for his reply.
‘BECAUSE I DON’T WANT OTHERS TO SEE ME AS A WIMP. A WEAKLING. IMAGINE SEEING A JOCK-BUILT GUY LIKE ME WHO IS AS FRAIL AS A STICK. I DON’T WANT TO BE A LAUGHING STOCK.’ – Albert
‘BUT YOU CAN STILL INVOLVE YOURSELF WITH NON-PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES.’
‘I’LL TEXT YOU LATER. I’M DRIVING.’
***END OF FLASHBACK***
Diana woke up, she’s still sitting beside the hospital bed.
“Diana dear, we’re just going to get some things. We’ll be back in 30.” It was Albert’s mom.
She nodded and they went out. She checked her phone: it’s 5 in the morning. It’s still early. She’ll just wait for them. Albert moved a little. She looked at him and he slowly opened his eyes.
“Albert… how are you feeling? Do you need anything?” she asked.
“Diana…? How…? Why - ?”
“Your mom called me last night after I texted you. I don’t want to be rude and I am still your friend so I went here. I will just call the doctor, okay?” she said and went out for a while.
When she came back, she’s with a doctor and a nurse. They checked him up and when they got his vitals, they went out. Albert looked at Diana and smiled sadly.
“I’m fine now. You still have your classes, right? Don’t worry, my parents will be here in a minute so no need for you to worry.” He said with frail voice.
“Are you sure you will be okay?” she asked again.
He nodded. The door opened and Albert’s parents came in.
“Oh Albert, thank God!” his mom exclaimed and went to hug him.
Diana looked at Albert. He nodded so she excused herself and went out. She went home.