The Accident (CHAPTER 2)

The Accident

Written by Adrianne Aguilar

"There are no mere accidents in life. It is just what you called destiny"

~*~

Mickey was in awe when he heard this, he was crushed, trampled. The PINK LITTLE MOLE that Joshua Prado is referring to was a birthmark that Anika had beside her “thingee” down under.

It was a bulls-eye for Mr. Black sheep. Michael was very much enraged. He then pushed Joshua back using the ball that he was about to throw.

“Tang-ina pare… Whatta fuck? What are you talking about?” Mickey was like a mad-man. A riot was about to start. The team then ran after them.

“You do know what I am talking about. And your ex-Anika, was awesomely hot. Hot in bed that is…” Joshua was not yet contented with his first statement, which he made sure, that it was an insult that Michael couldn’t sustain.

In an instant Mickey threw a punch on Jech-jech’s face.

“That wasn’t hard.” as Joshua wipe off his bloody nose.

Joshua was about to throw his counter punch when the other team mates intervene with them. Joshua was still shouting those three words, “PINK LITTLE MOLE”. Mickey on the other hand was still mad, but he tactfully had composed himself and walked away from the group.

“Hey, Michael pare…” Chester decided to follow his fiery buddy.

El capitan Jason Helguera was very displeased with what had just happen.

“Prado… Can you tell me what shit had just happened?” the team’s captain Jason asked Joshua in a very outraged manner.

“The shit on our team just left. If you wanted to know something just ask him.” Mr. Black sheep then spitted on the floor and walked away.

“Hey you Prado… Don’t leave when I am still talking to you, you asshole!” Jason was very much mad with Joshua.

Even the furious captain cannot stop Joshua “Jech-jech” Prado to leave the court that night. Meanwhile Chester had run after Michael Sy, he had this slight idea on what is running on his best buddy’s head.

“Hey bro, wait up! You’ll be driving again, and I do know how you drive when you do get agitated.” Mr. Ylano cautioned Michael.

“Don’t worry Chess… I’ll be alright…” and Michael had left behind his buddy Chester on the school’s parking lot.

Mickey was now using the family’s SUV, for his metallic blue sports car was being refurbished. For a very rough night, Michael was quite driving calmly. But after quite sometime, tears were now rolling from his eyes, to the point that his cheeks were very damp. He has nowhere to go to, he has a house but not a home, he has a father but he can’t even be with him, he had a girl, but she just left, that very girl that he held very dearly, in just a snap, have left him miserably. And now he hears those words from Prado. What a night for this hopeless romantic guy.

Miles and miles, he just then drive and drive, he went to Makati, back to Pasay, then back to Manila, to Taft Ave. then back to Edsa, then back to Manila, Michael just had the longest car drive of his life, he refueled. Then he decided to drive again, It was about 3am when he received calls… he decided to turn his mobile phone off. It has been about 4 hours of non-stop driving. It was in an intersection that he felt his exhaustion. While the red light was on, he noticed this neon white light shaped cross. He decided to go to the said cross, but he then realized that it was a hospital. It was the same hospital on where David Castillejos was admitted, Michael Sy’s car hitting victim. He then decided to pay him a visit.

It was a no visiting hour when he arrived, Imagine it was almost four in the morning, but he then decided to make a call to his Aunt Nana, who managed to pull some strings for his nephew. The head nurse Sally accompanied him to David’s private hospital room, compliments by Mickey’s dad Stanley Sy and his Aunt Nana.

“He is well taken care off here Mr. Sy. His vital signs were quite stable so it was decided that he should be transferred from the ICU to this private room. David might not be responding now, but he is fighting.” Nurse Sally explained to Mickey.

“I see… That’s good to hear… Can you give us a moment Ma’am? Just him and me?” Mickey asked the nurse.

The nurse just nodded and then left. Then he just then realized,

“What am I doing here?”

He then walked and walked across the room for almost a quarter of an hour. Michael noticed the hospital room interior, the boring green walls, the white fixtures and furnishings. And then he decided to pause. He paused at the bottom most part of the patient’s bed. There he stared at the seemingly now serene face of David. Michael then took this stainless steel hospital chair and he seated beside him. And then he broke into tears. He kept on mumbling and mumbling, uttering words which cannot be understand nor make any sense.

Then Mickey started to talk clearly. He actually started to talk to the unconscious David Castillejos. As if the latter was his silent confidant.

“Why is this happening to me? Why me? Why not instead of you, I am the one who is in your place. So that I cannot feel this pain, this tormenting pain that burns and consumes me…” Mickey told himself.

He then continued, “Do you know how much I would trade just to be in your place? Everything! Life for me is, as if, useless! My mum left me and my dad when I was still a child. My dad on the other hand was never there when I needed him. Then Anika, she was my world you know? But still she did that… That is why I do strive and give it all for the basketball team. To forget all the chaotic things that is happening in my life. I already told her all about it, about my mom and my dad, yes, I told Anika… But I thought that she already knew, I thought that she already did understand. I thought that she cared. But I was awfully wrong, she’s like my mom, she had turned her back on me… Just left me in this pit of hell, lost in the middle of nowhere, just waiting for my doom.” Michael was messed up. He wanted to shout but decided not to. His Chinese eyes are now soggy and red.

He paused for awhile, trying to compose himself.

Then he held a grip of his very chaotic mind.

He then decided to reach out for David’s hands. The swelling due to the dextrose pins were still there. Upon touching it, he felt different. It was unlike when he first touched David’s cold hands. Now it was warm, it was a very calming feeling for him. Michael could not explain the feeling. He then stopped sobbing. Then he noticed something seemingly odd. He wasn’t sure if he was just tired when he saw this. But he saw that David was a bit smiling, that very smile that seems to be comforting, comforting that it seems that it was telling him that everything would be okay. He then again cried, but those tears were different from the earlier ones. There was a sense of joy on this new set of tears. He cried and cried to the point that he had fallen asleep. It was a very emotional and exhausting day for him. Nurse Sally went back to check on him, but she saw him sleeping beside David’s hospital bed. She decided to put a blanket on the now sleeping Michael Sy and she left for her night shift.

~*~

The next morning, Mickey was waked up by the sun’s rays from the window, and there beside her was her aunt Nana. As usual David was still on his bed, recuperating.

“Do you want some breakfast?” Aunt Nana asked Michael.

“Yes, but what time is it now Nana?” he asked.

“Well I think we can still grab some breakfast at a nearby fast food. It is just about twenty minutes before ten in the morning” Michael’s aunt answered.

Before leaving, Mickey tapped David’s hands and bid goodbye. Then they both left the room.

Upon closing the door, there were three strangers whose about to pass their way. It was a man about on his thirties, and another man about David’s age, and a girl. They were carrying flowers and a box of things.

“Kindly wait for me for five minutes Mickey at the parking lot. We’ll use my car.” Aunt Nana told Mickey. Well he didn’t actually mind. Maybe it is an urgent thing about work. So he went straight to his aunt’s car.

Dr. Nina Ricafuente drove her into the nearest fast food chain. She ordered some pancakes and some hot choco for both of them. Mickey was still dead silent. Not a single word was spoken since they entered the establishment. Much to her curiosity about hi nephew Mickey, Nina started the conversation.

“So how are you now Mickey? How’s school? And driving at four in the morning? Hmmm… If you aren’t just my favorite nephew, I won’t really know that there is this problem.” Nina told his now perfectly still Michael Sy.

Then he broke down into tears. But still he didn’t spoke of any word.

“Mickey, come on. Tell me…” Nina pleaded. She really felt that something was wrong with his nephew. He is like a son to her. She never had a son, but she has a daughter who now stays in the U.S.

“Nana, “real boys do cry” right? … But to be a real man, I should be the one who is going to solve my problems. I know I can do this. Please don’t worry anymore.” And he wiped off his tears.

Of course Nina already got Mickey’s message. She does know how straightforward Michael can be. She then tossed Mickey’s hair and gave him a tap on his head. Then they both had their breakfast and they both left. Now Michael was a bit at ease. With a brief talk from his aunt and a visit to David, his stress from last night’s mess had lightened away.

~*~

After the quick chat and breakfast with his aunt, Mickey drove off to his house. He picked up some stuff and went straight to school. He has a 2pm psychology class. After about thirty minutes, Jason Helguera, the basketball captain arrived and has given Mickey’s professor a short letter from Coach Fernandez.

“Mr. Sy, you are excused for the rest of day’s class. Mr. Fernandez wants to talk with you.” Miss Villaceran the psychology professor told Michael.

Jason Helguera accompanied Michael on his way to the coaches’ office. He was still dismayed after what had happen last night.

“Mickey, what was that? Can you tell me what’s the reason behind that brawl with Prado?”  El Capitan was very curious.

“Dude… Sorry but it is a bit personal.” That’s the only answer on which Michael can give to his basketball captain.

“But how can I defend you to Coach Leon?” Mr. Helguera was a bit worried with his trusted co-player Michael.

”Don’t worry pare… Just like before, I do know I can handle this.” And then they both entered Mr. Leon Fernandez’ office.

Joshua Prado was already there, quietly seating, but he looks worried at the same time annoyed.

“Helguera, you do have a 3pm class right? I can now take it from here. Lock the door.” Coach Leon ordered. Then Jason Helguera left the office. Tension was building up inside the room.

“Both of you stand up.” Upon standing up, Coach Leon Fernandez gave the two quick blows on their stomachs. The punches were a bit hard that both of them are now throbbing.

“Now we would talk like real men do. Are you man enough for this? Or you two are just both childish jerks just like last night?” the coach was very fiery.

“Coach, it was a man to man talk between this dumb-ass and …” Joshua was not yet through when…

SLAP! Jech-jech received a tough slap on the face from the coach.

“Don’t butt in when I am still talking… And you are acting like a brat again Prado, Tsk Tsk Tsk… And if you are mature enough to think, you won’t fuck up and had picked up a fight on my court.”

Now the two jocks were dead silent, both because of the physical pain that was caused by their coaches’ blow.

“And you Mr. Sy… Indeed you are a quiet and timid man or boy, maybe sometimes you could be a brat, and maybe and jus maybe you do have a very good future in sports. But that doesn’t mean anything. Marami ka pang dapat patunayan.” And Coach Leon walked and walked across the room.

“And there you are yesterday, you were like a dormant volcano who is about to erupt. Well you already did Mr. Sy! Bravo! But no matter what your differences or disputes are… I don’t care if you are the ace player or you are just a benched player of this team… You are all equal into my eyes. So remember that you should settle things outside my fucking court.” And he gave Michael this eye to eye stare.

“I hope that I already made a clear point out of this… You’ll both leave this office as men… real men that is… Shake your hands before leaving…” Both jocks were still aloof to make the move when…

“Whattafuck? Are you both pussies? You’ll just make a simple handshake… Or you wanted to do something else? Like a hug or a kiss maybe? Start it now, then you can both leave!” for the coaches’ sake, they did shook their hands. Joshua Prado ran off the office like a lighting bolt. Mr. Fernandez asked Mr. Sy to stay.

“Michael… I know we didn’t had the chance to have a serious talk since the accident happened, but if you just needed anything. We’re just here for you… You have been really silent lately…” and Coach Leon gave Michael a tap on his shoulder.

“And please, next time no fights, Okay? Or else I’ll give you and Prado a hit on your heads…” and Mr. Fernandez gave Michael a grin.

Michael smiled in return, “Coach the punch was enough and it still hurts, I won’t ask for another one…”

“Well then go! Before I’ll give you again one last blow!” and Mickey dashed out from Mr. Fernandez’ office.

~*~

Mickey was in good spirits, he didn’t mind the scene with Joshua Prado awhile ago. Rather he was looking forward on visiting a friend, a friend that gave him a reassuring smile last night. That very smile who had given him an insight that indeed, everything would be alright.

Michael left the school at about 5pm. He arrived at the hospital at about 6pm because of the rush hour traffic. He then parked conveniently on a parking slot beside his aunt’s car. Pick up some stuff and brought it to David’s room. He then arranged and hanged the said stuff around the blank walls of the patient’s room. Then Aunt Nana arrived with Mickey’s best buddy Chester, which he texted before going to the hospital.

“So what do you both think?” Mickey asked the two, they were in awe.

“Tita? Is he allowed to do this?” Chester asked Mickey’s Aunt Nana.

NEXT CHAPTER:
The Accident - CHAPTER 3
http://boykissesbydane.blogspot.com/2012/01/accident-chapter-3.html