Cassidy Hurdiss intentionally broke the heart of the one man who has always loved her. She had to set him free so he could fulfill his lifelong dream to be a successful business tycoon in New York City.
Four years later, Aaron Ceyx Monteverde come...
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Aaron draped his arm on my shoulders. "I know you're still thinking about what she said. Don't let it get to you, chief."
Tumango ako kahit binabagabag parin ni Aria ang utak ko. For five years, we've been friends. She taught me how to bake and we built C'est la vie together. And just like Drei, she loved my kids.
Whatever decision I make, someone will always hate me. Someone will always get hurt in the end.
"Tingin mo, maiintindihan tayo ni Drei?" malumanay kong tanong kay Aaron.
He looked away, into the retreating sun and heaved a sigh. "I honestly don't know. You say that he's a nice person, but people can do unimaginable things for the ones they love. It's hard to tell, because based from experience, I know that love has the ability to make someone do something completely otherworldly."
I don't know what to make of his answer.
"You're right. We should go home," he said.Nagligpit kami ng mga gamit at sumakay ng jeep.
I was about to sit on the bamboo sofa when his phone rang. Tumayo ako para tingnan kung sino ang tumatawag. Si manang pala.
"Hello, Aaron! Nasaan si Cassidy? Kailangan niyo nang umuwi rito! Si Drei!"
I was abruptly struck with guilt and fear. "Manang, this is Cassidy. What happened?"
Manang was sobbing on the other line now. "Nandito ako sa ospital, anak. Si Drei may kausap kanina sa telepono tapos bigla nalang humandusay sa sahig. Takot na takot ang mga bata, Cassidy. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, bumalik na kayo." Her voice quivered. Mas lalo akong inatake ng kaba sa sinabi niya.
Halos hindi ako makapagsalita sa takot at pag-aalala. Ibinaba ko na ang tawag at parang lantang-gulay na napaupo ako sa sofa. Nasapo ko nalang ang ulo ko at hindi ko mapigilang mapahikbi sa kaba. Drei has been a very good and trustworthy friend. And he is important to me. Hindi ko kakayanin 'pag may masamang nangyari sa kanya.
Nadatnan ako ni Aaron na ganoon ang itsura. Agad niya akong dinaluhan at napayakap ako sa kanya.
"Shit, Cassidy, tell me why you're crying."
"D-drei is in the hospital right now. We have to go back, I have to see him. I have to make sure he's safe now. He needs me."
Aaron stiffened for a bit then his muscles relaxed. He gave me an unreadable look before nodding gravely. "Okay."
"Everything's gonna be okay," he mumbled.
I doubt it.
---
"M-manang." My voice cracked when I saw her on the hospital hall.
Nagtaas siya ng tingin at agad na tumayo upang yakapin ako. "Anak, si D-drei..."
Tumango ako at hinalikan siya sa noo bago kumalas sa yakap niya. Pinihit ko pabukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ni Drei. Nang makita ko ang itsura niya ay lumubog ang puso ko. My hand immediately flew to my mouth to suppress a sob. Nanginig ang katawan ko habang nagpipigil ng luhang nakatingin sa kanya.
Inalalayan ako ni Aaron. Tahimik lang siyang nakatingin kay Drei na walang malay na nakahiga sa hospital bed. Ang dulo ng mga kamay ni Drei ay halos violet na ang kulay. Ang putla- putla niya pa at may machine na nagbubuga ng oxygen sa bibig niya.
Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinaplos ang kamay niya. "D-drei, I'm sorry," nauutal kong bigkas habang nakatingin sa mukha niya.
"Sa labas lang ako. Call me in case you need anything. I... I love you," mahinang saad ni Aaron.
Hindi ko siya nilingon, nanatiling nakapako kay Drei ang mga mata ko. I can't bring myself to say I love you too right now. It just feels too cruel. Kahit hindi maririnig ni Drei ay hindi ko parin maatim na sabihin 'yon.
Pinisil ko ang kamay ni Drei. "I'm not sure if you can hear me, but if you can... Then gusto kong mag-sorry. Sa l-lahat." Tumulo 'yong luha ko sa palad niya.
A doctor came in and examined him. Kinausap ko 'yong doktor.
"Will he be okay?" tanong ko.
The doctor gave me a sympathetic glance before speaking. "He's doing better now. Honestlyakala namin talaga mawawala na siya kanina. He had a severe asthma attack. He is experiencing Cyanosis, 'yong pagbu-blue ng daliri dahil 'yon sa kawalan ng oxygen sa katawan niya."
Napasandal ako sa wall at napalunok. God, it was a close call.
"Sobrang bumagal din ang tibok ng puso niya. Palagi ba siyang inaatake ng asthma niya these past few months?"
"Hindi po. 'Yong huling atake was three years ago, pero hindi ganito kagrabe," paliwanag ko.
The doctor nodded.
"Then maybe something triggered his asthma. Baka na-stress or na-depress siya lately. Or naka-experience siya ng strong emotions tulad ng galit o lungkot. I advise na iwasan ninyong makaramdam siya ng mga emosyong ganoon dahil makakasama iyon sa kanya. He was lucky this time, pero hindi ko na alam kung sa susunod ay susuwertehin pa siya. We need to be cautious."
Nang matapos magsalita ang doktor ay bumuhos ang luha ko. Lumabas ito para maiwan ako sa kuwarto. Napahagulgol ako sa tabi ni Drei. It was my fault. It was our fault. Aaron and I.
We were too selfish to think about Drei. Hindi ako nag-iisip. Hindi ko iniisip na maaring ma-stress siya dahil dito at atakihin siya ulit ng asthma.He loved me but this is what I caused him. A near death experience.
Kinulong ko ang kamay niya sa dalawang palad ko. Tumulo roon ang luha ko pero wala na akong pakialam. "Sana mapatawad mo 'ko, Drei."
Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si manang. Inabot niya sa akin ang cellphone at nakita kong tumatawag si Aria. I was hesitant to answer it at first but in the end I accepted the call. I thought she was gonna shout at me and blame me, but she was sobbing on the other line.
"I called Drei to tell him about what I saw. Tapos hindi na siya sumagot. Maya-maya ay tinawagan ako ni manang para sabihin na inatake siya at nasa ospital siya. I know that it's because of what he found out. Because he can't handle it. Because he loves you too much."
Suminghot ako at nagpatuloy lang sa pakikinig sa kanya.
"I want to go there pero wala pang free na flight. So pakiusap, bantayan ninyo siyang maigi. Please. You know I hate you, but this is my brother we're talking about. At alam kong ayaw mo rin namang may masamang mangyari sa kanya. Please,'wag mo siyang pabayaan."
Lalo siyang humagulgol. "Please, Cassidy. 'Wag mo nang saktan pa lalo si Drei. Ayokong mawala siya . Mahal ko ang kapatid ko. Hindi ko alam na aatakihin siya nang dahil sa pagsumbong ko sa nakita ko. If I could undo it, then I will. Ayoko siyang mawala, Cassidy.."
Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa phone habang tulo nang tulo ang luha ko. She was right and I hate it.Napapikit ako para harangan ang mga luha pero wala akong magawa. Naririnig ko parin ang mga hikbi ni Aria sa kabilang linya.
