Mr. Bubbly Meets Mr. Gloomy

Chapter 24

Ethan's POV

Isang magulong tanghali ang bumungad sa aming lahat. Kasalukuyang nasa loob kami ng ambulansya at inaagapan si Cherub. The medics told us na medyo hindi na kinakaya ng kanyang puso na tumibok kaya kailangan na madala kaagad ito sa hospital. Kahit hinang-hina, sinubukan ko pa rin na hawakan ang kamay ni Cherub at sinabihan na lumaban. Kailangan kong maging malakas para sa kanya. Kakayanin ko ito.

Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas at nakarating na rin kami sa ospital ni dad. Inilagay na s'ya stretcher at pinasok na. Nakasunod pa rin ako sa kanya, pero pinigilan na ako na sumunod nang marating namin ang emergency room. I watched him being taken away from me once more. Napa-upo nalang ako sa malamig na sahig at unti-unting nablangko ang utak.

Nakaramdam ako ng mga patak ng luha kasabay ng pagtapik sa akin ng kung sino. Napalingon ako dito at nakita si Matt. Naupo s'ta at niyakap ako. Yumakap na din ako sa kanya ng mahigpit habang humahagulhol sa balikat n'ya. I cannot afford to lose someone like him. Mahal ko s'ya, mahal na mahal.

"Si Eric. S'ya 'yung nagbigay ng address at lahat." Sambit n'ya bigla. "Nandito din s'ya, naka-confine. May tama sa upper-left chest n'ya. Puntahan natin?"

Wala akong imik na tumango at tumayo. Inalalayan pa rin n'ya ako dahil baka ano mang oras ay maari akong matumba. Few minutes have passed, and we reached the room where Eric is situated. Tulog s'ya habang hawak-hawak ang upper-left chest n'ya. Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang nangyari kay Cherub.

Tears started to fall from my eyes as rage ingulfts me. I will k*ll whoever took Cherub. Tinitigan ko lang si Eric habang natutulog. After a few minutes of staring, he opened his eyes. He then looked at our direction. He tried to nod at me to recognize our appearance. I tried to smile at him, but I can't. Cherub is still in trouble. If his heartbeat stopped, it's the end. I lost him once, and I don't know if I can lose him again.

"Hey, Ethan. Wanna rest first? Ako na munang magbabantay sa kanilang dalawa." Alok sa akin ni Matt.

Umiling lang ako. I want to stay here. I want to see Cherub open his eyes. I want to be the one he will see if he wakes up. So I will stay here. I will stay.

"Okay, if you say so. Mauna na ako then. Caelum is looking for me."

I went back to the metal bench near the ER. I sat there while waiting for the doctors to come and approach me. But it seems like, no one will come. No one will approach me. Unti-unti akong binalot ng antok, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. I need to stay awake for him.

I closed my eyes for a bit, and cleared every bad thoughts that had been lingering on my head. Like what Cherub said, breathe in, breathe out. Clear your mind. As I slowly open my eyes, a familiar tree appeared on my sight. The acacia tree? Wait, what am I doing here?

I stood up and saw a boy sitting on the ground. He's looking at the sunset. Kailangan ko ng bumalik sa hospital. Cherub is waiting for me. But then, I I stared at the boy. Kinda looks familiar.

He turned around and looked at me. "Oh, Mahal. You're awake. It's a good thing. Paglubog na rin naman ang araw. I think you should head home." He said.

Without further ado, I rushed to him and hugged him tightly. Namumuo na ang mga luha sa mata ko habang yakap-yakap s'ya.

"Cherub, mahal. I've missed you so much! Please don't do that again. Don't you ever dare leave me like that."

"M–mahal? Ano ba'ng pinagsasasabi mo? If course I won't leave you, silly."

Hinigpitan ko pa ang pagkakayakap ko sa kanya at ibinaon ang mukha ko sa balikat n'ya. I won't leave you, and I will never going to let you go.

Binitawan ko na s'ya at sinabayan s'ya sa pagtingin sa paglubog ng araw. It's nice to watch sunset with him. On this hill.

"Mahal?" He called me. "The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded in response. We became quiet for a while. Not until he started humming a song. It reminds me of making flower bouquet.

He stopped humming and he looked at me. "The sun is setting. The light is about to be dim. The night will come, and the darkness will engulf you my one. The moon will be your light, but that won't be enough for your sight. You better go to sleep, to see the sun rise again. With the warm light it'll bring, may your heart be filled with love—"

Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga sinabi n'ya. But the only thing I know, he's concerned about me not sleeping early. My heart starts racing as tears formed from my eyes for an unknown reason. He then stood up and smiled at the sunset.

"For the sun is setting, the light will be gone. My farewell is like this sun, it will turn your world dark my one. For it will lose its light, your world will be cold as night. Ang ganda 'no?"

"Don't say goodbye! I cannot lose you again. Don't leave me, Cherub." I pleaded as tears fell from my eyes.

"I–i have to. Babalik din ako, at hindi na aalis sa tabi mo."

Kasabay ng pagdilim ng paligid, ang pagkawala n'ya sa aking paningin. I ended up crying while staring at the night sky. My eyesight is getting blurry because of the tears in my eyes. C–cherub is gone. He i–is gone.

"Everything has its end. The night will pass, and you'll see the sun rise once more. I won't leave you again, that's a promise." Huling narinig kong sambit n'ya bago tuluyang dumilim ang lahat.

Voice echoed inside my head. Each voice, saying one word. Ethan. I groaned before opening my eyes. Tumambad sa akin sina Matt, Caelum, at Keilah. All smiling why worrying. It is then I felt a tear trailed off from my eye.

"Another bad dream 'bout Cherub?" Tanong ni Keilah sa akin. I just nodded.

"It seems like it. Umiiyak na naman s'ya." Natatawang sambit ni Caelum.

"Well, you better take a rest first." Sambit ulit ni Keilah. "Anyways, the doctor said that Cherub is okay. Patuloy na lumalaban ang best friend ko!"

"Ayaw makita ni Cherub na gan'yan ka. You better be back in shape even before magising s'ya." Sabat ni Matt.

"Does Mama Cherry know about this?" I asked.

"Ayoko sanang malaman n'ya dahil nagpapagaling pa s'ya, pero nadulas si Caelum eh. Kaya ayun, don't have any choice but to tell her everything."

"She's mad at me, isn't she?" Payukong tanong ko. I failed to protect him. I failed to fulfill my promise.

"Ethan, hindi s'ya galit. She's not even disappointed at you. She's thankful dahil niligtas mo s'ya. And sa pulis na tumulong sa inyo. Which wondered me, sino ba itong Chief Sanford na 'to? Kanina pa kasing bukang-bibig ni Caelum eh. Irita na!"

"Keilah, kamukhang-kamukha kasi ni Cherub si Chief Sanford. Mukha pa lang may resemblance na sa kanya. Not to mention his last name." Caelum protested.

Totoo naman kasi ang sinabi n'ya. Talagang magkamukha sila ni Cherub.

"By the way, nilipat na si Cherub sa isang room for special monitoring. Pwede na din ang pagbisita sa kanya." Sambit ni Keilah.

"Bro, wanna grab some coffee?" Matt offered.

"Sure." I replied.

"Si Ethan, inalok ng kape tapos ako hindi?? Aba'y hindi tama 'yon!" Biglang protesta ni Caelum.

"It is because you're my boyfriend, sleepy head. And bawal ka sa kape so stop complaining." Matt replied dahilan para mamula ang mukha n'ya at matahimik.

I smiled inwardly and stood up. The four of us went to the cafeteria to grab some coffee and foods. I need to be strong again for Cherub. It's nighttime both here and my world. Tanging ang pangako n'ya ang nagpapaliwanag ng mundo ko na parang buwan. At darating din ang oras na sisikat muli ang araw sa mundo ko.

Thoughts?