Long, Unordinary Saturday

April 24, 2022

My Saturday went crazy. It wasn't the same random Saturday where I got to spend most of my time lying in the bed and bonding with my niece. It was my initial plan to go home for the weekend. I have already declined my cousin's invitation to a beach getaway. We were supposed to unwind and chill at the beach celebrating her birthday but mom gave me errands to do a week before. Plus, I wasn't in the mood to spend the day at the beach. Had she invited me weeks before, I would have gladly complied. You see I'm a creature who wants to program my mind first to the things that I wanted to do.

I first did my laundry before prepping things and going home. I planned to head to the supermarket to buy some essentials. My roommate shared she has something to buy there too and asked me to wait for her. To which I gladly did. After minutes of waiting, we are off to the supermarket but she asked a favour of me to take a photo of her while she wears the gear she bought online. So, we changed our route and headed to the rice field.

After which, I then headed to the supermarket and roam around the town to buy the stuff I needed to buy. Under the scorching heat of the sun, I walked around and hop into stores. Then, I bumped into a familiar face. It has been a long time since I saw him. Maybe two years? A lot has changed and at the same time, some things never change. Like the friendship that we shared. It was like the years that we didn't see each other weren't a gap. We met, smiled, caught up and picked up where we left off.

We even shared a meal at his favourite chicken wing bar. Some things never changed really. He is still into chicken wings and would never try something new and choose restos with a nice ambience. Some things never change really. He is still loyal to his favourites. After all, for him, favourites ate favourites. No more discussion.

The highlight of the day was when I was finally home. I found my mom making the same sweet delicacy she made a week ago. This time with the help of my sister. My niece also came home from school. It was informal as it is initiated by UNICEF. I think the project is for the kids to have good memories and somehow erase the trauma brought about by the typhoon.

I was elated to see my niece happy as I handed her her request- a toy helicopter. It can be recalled that I bought her a chart which shows different vehicles. She had mastered identifying them all and now she wants to have them all. She is not content with the chart anymore and would throw tantrums whenever she is reminded of the toy aeroplane and helicopter. So, partly it was my fault. And now I suffer from my consequences. Since I was the one who bought her that chart. I would also be the one who would buy the toys.

Later in the afternoon, we were having fun seeing my niece dancing. A boy came into our house informing us that grandma needs help. She had a fever the night before and now my aunt who was attending her wants her to be admitted to the hospital. Things went fast. I was having a hard time processing that grandma needs to be admitted to the hospital. She is already eighty-five. But even with my heart racing, I bravely went to her house and see how is she. I helped prepare the things that she need. My aunt, sister and cousin were with her on her way to the hospital. Glad, that my uncle's wife has a sister-in-law that owns a private hospital. Even though that aunt of mine pokes around my life, I'm still glad because she cares. Something that my biological aunts never did. She is just the wife of my uncle but she cares like my real aunt.

My sister told me just now that grandma was fighting for her life last night. She can hear the water that she drinks go through her stomach instantly. The same thing she observed when our other aunt died of breast cancer. Grandma wants to have her dextrose removed and she would tell random stories. Maybe she was hallucinating. Is that the right word? My sister told me grandma always mentioned my name. I wasn't surprised as the last time she was rushed to the hospital too she also mentioned my name. The difference was that during that time, I lived with her. Now, I only visit her on weekends.

As of the moment, she is fine now though she is still at the hospital. She tested negative for Covid. Now they are waiting for the result of DRT, as the doctor suspects that it was all because of dengue. Her two sons and daughter are with her tonight. My uncle from Albuera Leyte only saw the messages from the group chat, we thought he didn't care but he has a different approach. He is now at the hospital visiting her mom. Grandma has four sons and two daughters. The other daughter died ten years ago of breast cancer. The eldest son hasn't gone home for years. She has nine grandchildren. But we rarely get together. We weren't complete on all occasions.

My prayers, for now, would be complete healing for my grandma. I also pray that her children would settle all the issues they have. I hope that grandma would get to see all of her children and grandchildren being together.

Thanks for your time. Until the next read!