CHAPTER 6: KILLING
Isabella was rushed into the ER immediately. The doctor treating Isabella told Arlene to call Paulo before rushing into the ER with the other doctors and nurses. Arlene didn’t do it immediately as she was told. She walked around the area like a lost kid for a little while and watched the patients, doctors, nurses and attendants go by before walking casually towards the counter to borrow the phone to call Paulo.
Paulo came within 10 minutes or so. He propped Arlene on his knees and waited anxiously for the results. Things were pretty hectic in the ER. With the doctors’ instructions and the nurses’ encouragement, Isabella pushed her baby out into the world while breathing heavily through the oxygen mask. As soon as the baby was born, the doctors quickly put in the oxygen mask for the baby and warmed it by rubbing it gently with clean white towels. They put the baby into the incubator and then tended to Isabella.
“Doctor…how’s my baby…?” Isabella asked weakly.
“She’s alright, Mrs. Santonio. She may have to be in the incubator for a while but she’ll be fine, don’t worry,” the doctor replied kindly. “Congratulations, you have a baby girl.”
Isabella burst into tears of joy when she saw her little premature baby doing perfectly well in the incubator. The doctor allowed her to touch the little baby before taking her to the nursery. Paulo was informed about the good news and he was thrilled. He laughed aloud as he held Arlene and Kitty high in the air.
“This is so great! You have a baby sister! Isn’t it great?!”
“Yes, Paulo, it is great,” Arlene smiled through her aquamarine eyes innocently.
“Come, let’s go see your Mama,” Paulo said as he carried Arlene in his arms towards Isabella’s room.
In her room, Isabella was sleeping. Paulo hushed Arlene and walked in quietly, trying not to make a sound. They sat as soundlessly as possible beside her bed—they didn’t want to wake her—but in the end she still opened her eyes, smiling as she said, “I’ve already awaken a long time.”
“Congratulations, Mrs. Santonio,” Paulo said playfully as he pinched Isabella’s nose.
“Congratulations to you too, Mr. Santonio,” Isabella grinned as she pinched him back.
“Where is the baby?”
“She’s being taken care of by the nurse. They’ll bring her in tomorrow.”
“How did you fall down? Arlene told me she found you at the bottom of the stairs and…”
“I must’ve lost my footing or some sort. We just waxed the stairs a few days ago. It’s still quite slippery.”
“You had me worried there, Isabella,” Paulo said as he stroked his wife’s hair. “If it weren’t for Arlene, I wouldn’t know you were in trouble.”
“At least I’m OK, thanks to Arlene,” Isabella smiled gratefully at her little mecha-child. “And the baby’s perfectly fine. There’s nothing more to worry about.”
“You rest, OK? I’ll come back tomorrow,” Paulo kissed Isabella and got ready to leave. “Arlene, say goodbye to Mama. We’ll come visit her tomorrow.”
“Bye, Mama,” Arlene kissed her cheek. Isabella kissed her back.
“Bye. And thank you.”
Arlene smiled as she took Paulo’s hand and left. Paulo walked into the nursery, taking Arlene with him, looking for his daughter. Finally he saw her in one of the incubator bearing the tag of Mr. and Mrs. Santonio. The nurse who was taking care of the baby greeted him in a friendly matter.
“She is a real fighter, isn’t she, Mr. Santonio?”
“Yes, she is. Just like her mother,” Paulo replied as he stared lovingly at his own daughter in the incubator.
“And this must be her big sister?” the nurse stroked Arlene’s coffee-coloured hair. Arlene smiled and nodded. “What is your name, little girl?”
“Arlene. Arlene Santonio.”
“She’s beautiful! And a heroine too for helping out her mother. You’re going to be a big sister now, and you’ll be more than a great hero to your little sister sooner or later,” the nurse complimented on Arlene before turning to Paulo. “Mr. Santonio, I believe your baby needs a name.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Paulo replied. “What do you think we’ll name her, Arlene?”
“I don’t know. She’s like an angel, I can’t decide,” Arlene replied innocently, her eyes staring blankly at the baby.
“That’s it! Angela! An angel with an ‘A’ at the back. She will be called Angela Santonio! Good work, Arlene!” Paulo replied happily as he clapped lightly on Arlene’s back.
Arlene didn’t answer. She just stared blankly at Baby Angela with no expression at all.
For the next few days, Paulo and Isabella’s family and relatives came to visit Isabella and her new baby. They seemed to forget all about the issue of Arlene being a mecha as soon as they met Baby Angela. In fact, they forgot about her existence completely. Only when they’re away will Arlene have any chance to be with her Mama.
“Everyone loves Little Angela, don’t they?” Arlene asked, staring at the baby in her incubator.
“She’s so pretty, of course everyone loves her. I love her too,” Isabella replied as she sat beside Arlene. When she saw Arlene’s blank face, she quickly added, “Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. You and Angela are both my prized little girls. Nothing can change that.”
“Am I? Am I really your little girl?” Arlene looked at her, her aquamarine eyes sparkled with hope.
“Yes, Arlene. You and Angela are my little girls,” Isabella smiled and hugged Arlene close to her.
Arlene’s eyes became blank once more.
“Welcome home!!!”
The Santonios were greeted cheerfully as Isabella came home with Baby Angela. The family has received news that Baby Angela was already full-term enough to be taken out of the incubator and taken home. Paulo told Arlene to inform everyone in the family so that they can throw a small welcome party. Arlene was hesitant to do so but after much coaxing from Kitty (“Mama will be upset if you don’t do it”), she finally obliged to his orders. The friends and relatives came and while Paulo took Isabella to the hospital to fetch Angela, Arlene helped out with the decorations and the food.
As soon as Isabella got home, the whole place was cheerful and bright. Everyone fussed about Baby Angela and drank to her health over and over again. Arlene was left with the serving of food and it was obvious that neither Isabella nor Paulo noticed Arlene when she was walking around helping with the food or when she actually sat right in front of her Mama trying to grab her attention with her winning smile and sparkling aquamarine eyes. It was obvious that her eyes had lost her shine and attraction when she noticed those loving eyes Isabella used to show on her were shown on Baby Angela.
Finally, she didn’t bother to serve or help out with the chores anymore. She didn’t want to join in the celebration altogether. She slowly slinked upstairs and locked herself up in her room. Kitty came to her and snuggled himself in Arlene’s arms, as usual.
“What are you doing up here? Why aren’t you with Mama and Papa downstairs playing with Baby Angela?”
“They have forgotten about me. They have Angela as their new little girl. They don’t want me anymore,” Arlene said grudgingly, holding Kitty close to her chest.
“That is not true, Arlene. You are still Mama’s little girl no matter what. She will never forget you.”
“She has now.”
“Maybe it’s for a while. She’ll start noticing you as soon as Angela grows up to be as big as you.”
Arlene didn’t reply.
The door of the nursery room creaked open. Silent footsteps were heard as someone walked on the carpeted floor into the room. She walked slowly towards the baby cot which Baby Angela slept on. She stared intently at the sleeping baby, looking so innocent, lovely and cute. She reached over and turned off the baby walkie-talkie. The click of the walkie-talkie reached the sensitive ears of the baby and woke her up.
Before Baby Angela could cry, hands reached out towards her face, one hand pinching her nose and the other pressing tightly on her mouth. Baby Angela struggled to move and shake the hands that were suffocating her but the hands were much stronger. The hands continued to pinch her nose and pressing her mouth shut quite hard—it doesn’t take too much force to hold down a baby. After much struggle, the baby stopped moving. The person who held Baby Angela down pressed down hard again for a minute or so until she was sure that the baby was completely immobile.
Slowly she let her hands go. She stroked the baby’s head and pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in as if she was still sleeping. She lowered her head into the cot and kissed the baby’s forehead. Before she turned on the baby walkie-talkie, she whispered into the lifeless baby’s ear:
“There can only be one Mama’s little girl.”
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