Pain And Success

"What happened then? " Allyza asked, totally forgetting that they were here for their first date as a newly - wed couple.

Ajie looked up to her, reading between the lines to find out how she was responding to the revelation that another woman was in love with him.

"I never expected that Andrew would act fast. How he found you, I am not sure. Cherry may had mentioned to him everything I told her about you. "

Ajie did not know about the part of the letter where Cherry left Allie's contact number and address. He also did not know that Cherry communicated with Allie through the Youth In Action's chat room.

Youth In Action was a youth organization facilitated by every branch of Sto. Domingo University. These were mostly composed of the university's alumni since only graduating students and officers of the student council were required to join. The objective of the organization was to help in the improvement of the society. They held anti - drug campaigns, educational programs for the out of school youths and trained volunteers for calamity rescue operations and many others.

The Youth In Action organization also held a nationwide congress to unite and motivate all the members of every chapter through their reports and testimonies on how their respective organization were faring.

Allie and Jane were one of the officers of Cebu chapter so it was easy for Cherry to locate her.

"Andrew was invited by Jane to play during one of the org's special event so that's how he transferred his membership here. "

Ajie snapped into the realization that the easier way to locate Allie was through the organization. It didn't occur to him since he was not a member yet.

"Andrew is really famous in the campus because of his talent. Not only in the campus but in the whole music industry eversince he was contracted by the hotel. He got invitations for special appearances and he also got part time jobs in music schools as tutor. "

Allie stared at him with a puzzled expression and Ajie noticed it.

"You're wondering at how Andrew could play so well yet he has a distorted way of thinking? "

"Yes. " Allie admitted, thinking back on how he met Andrew and what he did for Chloe.

"Some people find it hard to accept tragedies in life. I am afraid that Andrew may have developed a separation anxiety disorder when his parents died. No one could tell how he was treated by his new family which may had contributed to his difficulty in dealing with his anxiety. "

"Poor Andrew, we could not blame him for his behavior. "

"But I could not accept it if he succeeded in luring you out. That's why I warned you not to believe in his advances because I know those were part of his revenge. "

Then he held her hand and looked straight into her eyes.

"Allie, if I were late in coming back, was there a possibility between you and Andrew? "

Allie suddenly felt tickled. "I promised to wait, didn't I? "

The truth was that her heart was so filled with humiliation that time that she couldn't welcome another threat to break her heart.

Ajie then pulled her up closer to him and tearfully hugged her.

"I'm sorry again, Allie. My pride even dictated me to come back after I could graduate and get a job and prove to your parents that I am different. "

Allie chuckled as she recalled how she was dealing her loss and pain.

"My nightmares and my grief melted their hearts. "

___

Chloe's barium enema was finally scheduled. Allie was no longer as anxious as she was before in handling Chloe during procedures because Ajie was already there. They both watched together as the rad tech administered the barium into Chloe's ileostomy. When the imaging started which is medically called as flouroscopy, Allie went inside a separate room which had a barrier from radiation and watched Ajie as he held Chloe with his lead apron.

As the series of x - ray images flashed through the monitor which followed the passage of barium into Chloe's large intestines, Allie's heart was squeezed with pain and pity for her child. She was only four months old, too young to be exposed in radiation. What would happen to her after all these? How would all these affect her physical and mental development?

After the procedure, they brought the films to the surgeon's office. Allie and Ajie watched him anxiously as he studied each film. If there would be a continous and clear outline of the succesful passage of the barium into the intestine, Chloe's second surgery would then be scheduled.

 A barium, which is a white crystalline inorganic compound being feed to the patient before the procedure, would  show up as bright white in the picture or film when X- ray is done. It would outline the shape and contour of the colon and rectum. 

"Congratulations and thanks God! Baby Chloe is ready for the surgery! Admit him today and I will schedule the surgery at 8 am. "

When finally the morning of the surgery came, Allie's heart was in turmoil again. Even if with those signs that Chloe would live, she couldn't help herself from getting scared for the outcome. When the nurse came in to change her into a hospital gown, her tears began to race down into her face, drenching her collarbone. She then lifted her up into her arms and wailed. She couldn't stop herself from asking why it had to happen to her daughter.

Ajie's heart broke in watching them. He was already broken with the fact that her daughter, as young and fragile as she was, would have to undergo two surgeries. Yet, he was more shattered in the actual realization of how difficult it was for Allie to go through this alone in her first surgery. No money, no husband to share her fears with...

___

The success of the surgery was a great news for them. No more ileostomy and finally, she would soon return to her actual weight. But as soon as the baby woke up and asked for milk, the tearing of her heart resumed once again.

As she persistently tossed up and cried in hunger, Allie and Ajie took turns in rocking her but still she couldn't be pacified. How could they explain it to a child that she was still not allowed to be fed? Chloe's voice eventually became hoarse in so much crying and her eyes were already puffing.

Her helpless cries pierced painfully into Allie's heart, opening up her floodgates once more. Frustrated, hurt and scared, she dropped herself to the floor and cried a little less louder than Chloe until they both fell asleep.