Her Dearest Secret (V Series #2) (#Wattys2019) - COMPLETED

XL - Give My Heart To Him

Brent's POV

I woke up at around 1 am with Veronica's head resting on my naked chest. I can still remember how she gave herself to me a few hours ago. She's so beautiful and sweet. She brought me to heaven. And with that, I've loved her more.

I love her so much that it hurts already.

Kasi hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko pa siya makakasama. . .

She changed her position at napatalikod sa akin so I was able to get up. Binalot ko sa kanya ang comforter bago ako nag-bihis at lumabas ng condo unit ko.

Nag-drive ako papunta sa ospital, nakarating din ako doon after a few minutes and I immediately went to my brother's room. He's already awake when I got there.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Tanong ko habang lumalapit ako sa kanya.

"Uh, I'm fine. Medyo nanghihina na lang ako but I feel better." Sagot niya naman.

I looked at him intently and noticed how his lips turned bluish. Lalo tuloy akong kinabahan at natakot for his condition. I know that it's one of the symptoms ng sakit niya.

"So. . . Mom told me that you went home immediately after you heard about what happened." He spoke kaya napunta ang atensyon ko sa kanya.

I sighed before I nodded. "Yes. Where is she anyway?"

"Lumabas sandali to get some food for us." He answered bago niya kinuha ang phone niya sa side table. "What do you want to eat? Tatawagan ko siya."

"I'm not hungry. Eh si Dad? Pupunta ba?"

"Oo daw. He said he's on his way here."

We fell silent again. Umupo ako sa upuan sa tabi ng kama niya habang tinuloy niya naman ang panonood ng TV kaya ganon din ang ginawa ko at dun ko lang napansin kung anong pinapanood niya.

Mr. Bean.

Natawa ako kaya napatingin siya sa akin.

"I can still remember how we used to fight when we were still young dahil lang sa TV." Kwento ko sa kanya.

He smiled. "Kaya nga eh. Gusto mo kasi lagi kang nasusunod kung anong papanoorin natin."

"And the only time na nagkakasundo tayo is when watching Mr. Bean." Dagdag ko sa sinabi niya. He just responded with a smile.

Bigla kong na-miss ang mga araw na 'yon. 'Yung mag-aaway lang kami ni Kuya because of little things at maayos din namin 'yon by simply talking or agreeing with what the other wants.

'Yung mga panahong hindi pa ako galit sa kanya dahil wala pa naman sa isip ko na mas pinapaboran siya ni Dad more than me.

"Hey," Tawag ko sa kanya kaya nilingon niya ako. "I-I'm sorry."

He gave me a puzzled look. "For what?"

"About what happened to you and Veronica." I said it without even looking at him. I just can't. Nahihiya ako. "Hindi ko talaga sinasadya."

Again, he just smiled. "Pang-ilang sorry mo na ba 'yan, Brent? Sinabi ko na sa'yo 'di ba? As long as Veronica's happy, then I am too. You don't need to be sorry kasi hindi naman talaga dapat."

Why does he have to be so nice? Bakit ba hindi siya nagagalit sa amin ni Veronica? Especially to me? I want him to be mad at me kasi mas kayang tanggapin ng konsensiya ko 'yon.

And as if he read what's on my mind, he spoke. "And besides, I don't want to die angry. I want to die peacefully, 'yung walang dalang galit or grudge against anyone."

"You won't die!" Nagulat kaming pareho dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ko. At katulad kanina, natahimik na naman kami at nagkatitigan.

"I'm sorry. I just don't like hearing it." I was the first one to break the silence. "Hindi ka mamamatay, Kuya. You'll get well, I know you will. So please, 'wag mo namang sinasabi 'yon"

He avoided my gaze at tumungo. "Sorry din, Brent. I just can help thinking about it. I mean mas okay na 'yun na lang ang isipin ko than to hope that I'll survive. The doctors said that I need a heart transplant as soon as possible or else. . ."

"It's not okay at all." Kontra ko sa kanya. "You will live, Kuya. Hindi ka pwedeng mamatay. Everything will never be the same without you."

He took a deep breath. "Sana nga tama ka, Brent."

Tumingin siya ng diretso sa mata ko before he spoke again. "Pero kung mawawala man ako, please promise me that you will take care of Veronica. Love her, Brent."

●●●

Mom and Dad arrived shortly after I talked to Kuya. Si Mom pala mismo ang nagluto ng pagkain na dinala niya dito kaya medyo natagalan sila.

We all ate in silence and after that, nagpahinga na ulit si Kuya. I took the chance to talk to Mom and Dad when I saw na malalim na ang tulog ni Kuya.

"Mom, Dad. I need to tell you something." They both looked at me nang magsalita ako.

"What is it, anak?" Nagulat ako nang si Dad ang unang magsalita and I was more surprised with how affectionate is his voice.

"I. . . Gusto ko po. . ." I paused to swallow the lump in my throat pero naiyak pa rin ako.

"Anak, why are you crying? Is there something wrong?" Mom looked at me with a worried expression.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanila. Kung paano ko ipapaintindi sa kanila na this is the only way para mapatawad ko ang sarili ko sa nagawa ko sa kapatid ko.

"I-I want to give my heart to Kuya."

My vision got blurry because of all the tears in my eyes. They didn't say anything for a while hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang na niyakap ako ni Mom.

"B-Brent, you don't need to do that. We'll find a heart donor. Your Kuya will be fine." It hurts to see my Mom cry and it hurts even more kasi alam kong ako ang dahilan.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad because the sobs keep on coming out from me.

"Mom, please." I said nang mahimasmasan ako ng konti. "I can't bear to see him dying. Call me selfish or what pero hindi ko talaga kayang makita siyang nagkakaganyan."

"Brent, tama na." We both turned our attention to Dad nang magsalita siya. "Your Mom's right. Makakahanap tayo ng donor and everything will be fine. You don't need to do what you're thinking."

I shook my head. "Dad, I really want to. K-Kuya needs it as soon as possible, kailan pa tayo makakahanap ng donor?"

"I don't want to lose anyone in this family, Brent." Dad remained calm kahit kitang-kita ko na kung paano niya pigilan ang mga luha niya. "I want you and your brother to live."

"Pero mas gusto mong si Kuya ang mabuhay, right, Dad?" I asked while looking directly into his eyes.

"Anak, ano ba 'yang sinasabi mo?" Saway sa akin ni Mom but I ignored her.

Hindi kaagad naka-sagot si Dad. He just looked at me. He opened his mouth to say something pero hindi niya natuloy kaya nag-salita ulit ako.

"Tama naman ako, Dad 'di ba?"

He avoided my gaze at tumungo before he answered. "I don't know, Brent. I don't know anymore."

Mom's eyes widened when she heard him. "Harry naman! Why are you saying that?!"

"It's okay, Mom." Awat ko sa kanya. "My decision is final anyways."

Lumakad ako palabas ng kwarto pero bago pa ako makalabas, I turned to Dad.

"I want the surgery to happen as soon as possible, Dad."

●●●

A/N: Few more chapters to go. . . 😉