Ruthless Love

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE: BROKEN SOUL

It was already five in the morning when Chloe heard a soft, cracked and painful whisper from behind. Mula sa pagkakadungaw sa malaking glass window ng silid ay lumingon ang dalaga sa pinanggagalingan ng basag na boses.

Only the lamp on the side table of the hospital bed was the source of the light. Nakita niyang mula sa pagkakahiga ay hirap ang lalaki sa pag-abot ng intercom sa gilid. His middle finger were rested on the black button of the device, you can sight the paleness and trembling of it.

Agad naman siyang dinaluhan ng dalaga na may kaunting pag-aalala na makikita sa mukha. Ayaw kasi ng binatang makita ang pag-aalala nito para sa kanya kaya naman pilit nalang tinatago iyon ni Chloe sa sarili. Her heart was pounding and slowly crashing inside upon seeing her bestfriend's condition.

"Jake, what is it? Are you in pain, do you need anything?" questioned overflowed over her mouth.

For almost six months she never leaved Jake's side. Ito nalang kasi ang natitira sa kanya, ang matalik na kaibigan. Kaya naman ng malamang may malubhang karamdaman ang binata ay siya ang labis-labis na naapektuhan. Parang unti-unting bumabalik ang takot at sakit na naramdaman niya noon na pilit niyang iniiwasan.

At sa loob ng anim na buwan ay andito na sa hospital namalagi si Jake. He has stage 4 Leukemia and worst is there's no cure for it. Siya lang tong' nagpumilit na ipa-admit sa ospital ang kaibigan dahil malaki ang pananalig niya na may milagrong gagaling pa ito.

"Hey, are you hungry?" Itinaas ni Chloe ang palad saka mahinang pinatong iyon sa dibdib ng binata. It feels like she's comforting him.

"Uhmmm..."

"It's Chloe, Jake. Naririnig mo ba ako?" Hindi na maikakaila sa boses ng dalaga ang sobrang kaba. She placed her left hand to Jake's neck.

Not cold. Not now, not so soon..

From leaning side view, his eyelids slowly open but there's a hint of pain in it. Bawat kilos na ginagawa ng binata ay tila ba babasaging bagay sa paningin ni Chloe that anytime it could broke him in pain. Nang tuluyang maibukas ni Jake ang mata'y kahit papano nakaramdam ng relief sa sarili ang dalaga.

She managed to flashed a fake smile. He knows she can't smile at him because of his worst condition but seeing his special girl smiling, its a pain reliever for Jake.

"C-Chloe.." he mumbled but still in pain. "I think..it..-i-ts my end.." he added.

"No!" Agad na inagaw ni Chloe ang tyempo. She shooked her head as if it will be distrangled from her neck. "Hindi mangyayari yan. You're not leaving me, you promised me that thing Jake."

You can't leave me. You can't go..I won't let you leave this so soon. I need you!

Paulit-ulit na sambit ni Chloe sa isip. Everytime his telling her how he wants to end his life, it's like a dagger that keeps on stabbing her deeply on her left chest.

Umiiling siyang nakatingin sa binata. Saying silently that she's not favor of what he said awhile ago.

"No Jake. It's not your end, not now nor ever." Kinuha niya ang mga kamay nito saka hinalikan. She wanted Jake to feel how much pain she also felt.

If sacrificing everything means not letting her bestfriend gone, she will do it. She would hold him, take care of him and love him. Jake is her life, her family and her companion.

"I can see that you're in pain. Wait, I'll get your medicine." Tumayo ang dalaga para abutin ang isang medicine kit na nasa side table.

Nanginginig ang mga kalamnan nito sa paghakbang dahil narin sa nagbabadyang luha na aalpas mula sa mga mata niya. Pinipigilan lang niyang humikbi at pilit nagpapakatatag para sa kaibigan.