No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 43- Gone

Hearing that made my heart clench painfully.

Aiah always had a way of loving fiercely—even when it hurt, even when it seemed impossible.

I brushed my fingers against her cold hand. “Ngayon, ako naman ang lalaban para sa kanya,” I whispered. “No more running. No more what-ifs.”

Just then, the door opened, and the doctor walked in.

We all turned to face him, our breaths catching in our throats.

“Doctor,” I forced myself to speak. “How is she?”

He sighed, checking the monitors. “She’s stable for now. But we need to wait.”

Wait.

The one thing I hated the most.

I looked at Aiah’s face again, then leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

“You hear that, love?” My voice trembled. “We’re all waiting for you.”

And I prayed—harder than I ever had before—that she would come back to us.

Days passed, but Aiah still hadn’t woken up. Every second felt like an eternity. But I refused to leave her side.

Meanwhile, Jho had been working tirelessly, handling the legal battle against Adrian. She was more than just a friend—she was a damn good lawyer, and if there was anyone who could make sure Adrian paid for what he did, it was her.

One evening, she walked into Aiah’s hospital room, a thick file in her hands. Her expression was serious.

“I just came from the prosecutor’s office,” she said, setting the documents down on the small table. “We’re officially filing multiple charges against Adrian.”

I sat up straighter. “What charges?”

Jho exhaled sharply. “Attempted murder—for both you and Aiah. Illegal possession of firearms. Domestic abuse. Kidnapping. And we’re also pushing for child endangerment dahil sa nangyari kay Aurora.”

Hearing it all laid out like that made my blood boil. He wasn’t just a monster—he was a criminal. And he was going to rot behind bars for what he did.

“Is he still in custody?” Gwen asked.

Jho nodded. “Yes. The police arrested him right after they found Aiah and you. Right now, he's being held without bail.”

A sigh of relief escaped me, but it wasn’t enough.

“He deserves worse,” I muttered, my hands clenching into fists.

Jho’s gaze softened. “And he’ll get what’s coming to him. I’ll make sure of it.”

I looked at Aiah, still unmoving on the hospital bed.

“Do whatever it takes, Jho,” I said, my voice low but firm. “He doesn’t get to walk away from this.”

Jho placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I promise you, Mikha—Adrian is never going to hurt her, or you, ever again.”

The quiet hum of the hospital machines filled the room, the steady beeping of Aiah’s heart monitor the only thing keeping me grounded. It had been days, but she still hadn’t woken up. The doctors said she was stable, but that wasn’t enough. I needed her to open her eyes.

I leaned forward, gently taking her cold hand in mine. “Aiah…” My voice trembled. “Please wake up.”

No response.

A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t take it anymore. Carefully, I shifted closer and wrapped my arms around her, resting my forehead against her shoulder.

I held her as if my warmth could bring her back to me. As if my love alone could be enough to pull her from the darkness.

Tears slipped down my cheeks, soaking into the hospital gown she wore. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “For everything. For not fighting harder, for letting you go, for not seeing how much you needed me…” My grip tightened. “Please, Aiah… give me another chance to love you.”

I felt her chest rise and fall with each slow breath, but there was no movement, no sign that she heard me.

I shut my eyes and pressed a shaky kiss to her temple. “I love you,” I murmured, voice cracking. “I never stopped.”

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest as I stepped outside the hospital. Aiah still wasn’t waking up, but I needed to believe she would. I just needed to clear my head, to get her something—food, flowers, anything to remind me that life was still moving forward.

I promised I’d be back soon.

The city outside felt unreal. People walked past me, lost in their own worlds, unaware that mine was crumbling. The world didn’t stop for pain.

I took longer than I meant to. The line at the café dragged, my hands trembled as I paid, and for a few moments, I just stood outside the hospital, gathering the courage to go back in.

Then I finally did.

And everything was wrong.

The moment I stepped into the room, I knew. Stacey, Jho, and Sheena were silent. Too silent.

Stacey’s shoulders shook as she turned to me, her eyes red and filled with something I refused to understand.

I took a step forward. “What…?” My voice wavered.

She swallowed hard. “Mikha…”

“No.”

“The doctor—”

“No.” My heartbeat roared in my ears.

Jho wiped her tears, her lips trembling. “Her body was too weak.”

My vision blurred.

Sheena sniffled, her voice barely above a whisper. “Aiah’s gone.”

The bag of food slipped from my grasp, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Everything inside me shattered.

“No… no, no, no.” My voice broke as I stumbled toward the hospital bed.

Aiah lay there, impossibly still. Her face was peaceful, as if she were merely asleep—but the deafening silence of the heart monitor told me otherwise.

I collapsed beside her, my trembling hands reaching for her face. “Aiah, please…” My voice cracked, tears spilling freely. “Wake up. You promised me—” A sob tore through me as I gripped her hand, pressing it desperately against my chest.

“I love you,” I whispered, my body shaking uncontrollably. “I always have. I always will.”

I leaned down, pressing my forehead against hers, my tears wetting her skin. “I was supposed to protect you,” I choked out. “I should’ve gotten to you sooner—I should’ve fought harder for us. For you. Please, Aiah… don’t leave me like this.”

But there was no response. No warmth in her fingers, no fluttering of her eyelids.

Just unbearable, suffocating silence.

I clutched her tighter, as if I could will her back to me. As if my love alone could bring her back. “Come back to me, Aiah,” I begged, my sobs echoing in the room. “Please… just come back.”