The Man I Chose To Let Go (Under Editing)

Chapter 15: Second Chance

March 2022

"Your vital signs are intact. Your laboratories are good as well. Tomorrow we can already discharge you," Sambit ng doctor sa kanya.

Her parents held her hand so tight, "Hindi ibig sabihin niyon ay hindi ka magpapahinga. Kailangan mo pa rin makapagpahinga nang mas maayos."

"Thank you, Doc." Ani Simon. Lumabas na ito at naiwan sila ng magulang niya at si Fred.

"It's already March 12?" Iyon ang nakita niya sa kalendaryo sa gilid ng kama niya.

Tumango ang magulang niya, "Halos isang buwan na pala ang lumipas..."

"May gusto ka bang kainin, nak?" Her mom asked, "Ipagluluto kita."

"Tinola, Ma." Her voice is still hoarse, kaya naman pinainom siya ulit ng tubig, "Yung may atsuehe po,"

Isa sa favourite dish niya na luto ng Mama niya. Agad naman na pumayag ang mga ito. Naiwan siya kay Fred dahil umuwi muna ang dalawa para mapaghanda siya at maayos daw ang silid niya para bukas ay nakaayos na.

"Do you want to go out?" Tanong ni Fred sa kanya, "Huwag mo muna akong tulugan ulit, ha?"

She chuckled and nodded. Kumuha ito ng wheelchair para sa kanya, "Kaya ko naman maglakad, Fred."

"I know, but you just woke up. Huwag natin biglain ang katawan mo," Inalalayan siya nitong makabangon. True to his words, she can't still feel her legs.

Nanginginig iyon at tila naninimbang. Fred held her hand and put it on his shoulder, pagkuwa'y ang kamay nito ay nasa bewang niya at umaalalay. Dumedepende siya sa lakas na binibigay nito. She can fully depend her own weight on him and he would never let her go.

"Thank you,"

Bumaba sila hanggang sa Café France, she was excited to taste the coffee and some pastries, "I never thought coffee would taste this good! Pati itong cake."

"Just slow down, okay?" He chuckled and wipe the icing from the side of her lips. Ano ba iyan, Fred! "How are you feeling?"

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya. 

"I still feel tired," Pag-amin niya, "Alam mo iyong kapag nasobrahan sa tulog parang pagod pa rin," Tumawa siya pero napansin ang pananahimik ni Fred.

Something is bothering him. Sure siya. Hindi naman mahirap basahin ang tao, lalo na kung mahal mo pa.

Yes, she loves him. Hindi na niya iyon kinakahiya sa sarili. Hindi na rin niya pipigilan ang sarili, she has to tell him about Camilla maybe she will get the chance.

This second life was a wake up call.

"She's married," Diretso niya rito, "Camilla. She's already married, Fred."

Napatingin ito sa kanya. Wala man lang bahid ng pagkagulat. "You knew?" Pumungay ang mga mata.

"Alam mo rin?" Siya pa ang nagulat rito. "Did Mandy tell you?" Bago pa ang araw na maaksidente siya ay binilin na niya kay Mandy na ipadala sa bahay ni Camila ang cenomar.

Umiling naman ito, "She didn't tell me anything. How did you know?"

I bit my lowerlip and looked at him. I explained how I figured it out. Mula sa Mayor's Office at sa pagkuha ng cenomar nito.

He just nodded. Commend her for the effort. Nagbiro pa ito na parang hindi nasaktan kahit na taliwas sa expresyon ng mukha.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"Camilla called me." He let out a sigh, "She went to Cebu. Then yesterday, she told me she can't marry me because she is already married."

"I-I'm sorry, Fred." She said, "I was about to tell you, too. Noong bago tayo maaksidente, I was gonna tell you. Kung hindi lang ako naaksidente sana hindi ka na nahihirapan ng ganito."

Napakunot ito ng noo, "I don't know, Amanda. I didn't feel anything yet. Hindi ko pa rin nasasabi kila Lola at Dad."

Nakadagdag pa siya ng problema. 

"Sorry, ha?" 

"For what?" He asked.

"Kung hindi ako naaaksidente. Hindi sana--"

"No, Amanda." He cut her off, agad na pinutol kung ano ang nasa isip niya. "No, it's not your fault. Okay?"

She sighed, "You looked bothered. If I just told you sooner, you wouldn't hope like this... I know that you are looking forward for this wedding."

"Hindi dahil kay Camilla." He answered, "I know its weird but I know her husband... She's in good hands, Aims. Mas nagaalala ako sa 'yo."

Muntik nang mabulunan si Amanda sa sinabi nito. But, she has to keep it low. Kalma lang, bes.

"Then what are you thinking?" Aniya pagkuwa'y napalunok, "Noong tulog ako, ang dami mong kwento. Ngayon makakasagot na ako, hindi ka nagsasalita."

He was surprised. Napaawang ang labi nito, "You heard me?"

"Yes," She said, "I think I got to hear you after a week of the accident. Narinig ko lahat, pati iyong pagliligtas mo sa akin sa manyak na pasyente." Para itong nakahinga nang maluwag sa sinabi niya. "Iyon ba ang pinagaalala mo?"

Tumango ito, "I-I was just scared, am I too late, Aims? Did he hurt you?"

"You were right on time, Fred." aniya, "I could just feel him around, I could smell him. I know that it's not you or my parents, but the only time he really did come close was the moment you saw him."

Nakahinga ito nang maluwag. Parang nagliwanag ang mata, "Thank you for saving me, Fred."

"I almost lose you, you know that?"

She smirked, tinago ang ngiti sa labi. "I also know that you knew about my resignation..." She added, "I'm sorry you had to figure it out that way.. and Fred," She locked her eyes on him, "It's not your fault. It was an accident."

"Aims..."

Paulit-ulit niyang naririnig itong nagsosorry. He was blaming himself for what happened. 

"Hindi lang kita mabatukan noong mga panahon na umiiyak ka at sorry nang sorry dahil nga comatose ako." She let out a chuckle, "pero gustong gusto kong sabihin sa 'yo na wala kang kasalanan. Hindi lang naman ako ang naaksidente. Ikaw rin, hindi ba?"

"I was driving, Aims. I could have seen it. I could have done something."

"But, it was an accident. Paano mo makikita, preno na ang may problema." She said, "I'm alive. I was given a second chance," Biglang nag-init ang pisngi niya sa huling sinabi.

Second Chance. 

Hindi lahat nabibigyan niyan. Hindi lahat mapalad yet she was given one, and she will take it.

Sumimsim siya ng kape para naman kabahan siya pero hindi iyon ang epekto na naramdaman niya. Sa nakalipas na taon, tila marami siyang iniwan sa pagtulog.

"Second chance for what?"

"Fred," Matapang niyang sinalubong ang mata nito. Binubuka niya ang labi pero walang lumalabas na salita kaya naman umabante na lang siya at kinabig ang batok nito.

Hindi niya nakilala ang sarili. Parang may sumanib sa kanya na ibang espiritu. 

She kissed him. 

She took her time because maybe it would be the last time, and if indeed it is, then at least for once she could rest with the thought that she has given her first kiss to him.

He didn't respond. Surprised is an understatement. 

He froze. 

But, when she was about to pull away Fred pulled her back, and responded with equal fervor.