It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 34: Aftermath

"Hello Prince, sorry ha. Magulo pa kasi ngayon. Andito rin kami sa St. Luke's. Nasa ICU si Aidan." Shit.

"Kuya kamusta na po si Kuya Aidan?" Gadh. Gusto kong makita si Aya. Alam ko tiyak sobrang lungkot niya and she's probably blaming herself.

"He's under observation. Malaki yung pinsala niya galing dun sa blast. Third degree burns. He needs surgery." Rinig ko yung pagod sa boses ni Kuya Alfredo.

"Sorry kuya, uh... pupunta po ako diyan," nakita kong kumunot ang noo ni Duke.

"Kuya magagalit si mama," he warned me but I held up a hand to shush him. "Tigas ng ulo..." he muttered.

"Kuya si Aya po, kamusta?" I heard him let out a long breath. "Kuya yun pong nangyari alam ba niya?"

"I'm not the one in the position to explain. Gusto ko si Ali ang magpaliwanag ng lahat. He's out in the field right now. He's on a man-hunt operation for Brian Tiu," Napapikit ako. So, nakatakas pa rin pala ang animal na yun.  "Prince wag ka munang magpunta dito. Medyo hindi maganda yung sagutan nila mama kanina. I hope you understand."

"Kuya naman, after nung nangyari sa atin these past few days I just can't let something like this get in the way," alam ko impulsive ang ginagawa ko. I've been on the impulsive roller-coaster for a long time pero I just can't stop myself. Parang baliw na ako na hindi mapakali kung di ko makita si Aya. "Kuya alam ko may nangyari kanina kila Aya. Kuya, please?"

"Nabaril si Kiko. He's confined to the hospital right now." Shit. All the more reason para damayan ko ang baby ko. Even her bestfriends nadamay and can't be there for her at alam ko ring sobrang mahal niya ang mga kuya niya.

"Kuya kahit five minutes lang please? Let me talk to Aya." Narinig kong may incoming call si Duke.

Mama calling...  

"Prince ko?" I want to reach across the empty space and touch her face, hug her tight, and tell her how much she means to me. "Magpahinga ka na lang muna okay. Gagawa ako ng paraan para makita kita. I love you."

"I love you too. Mahal na mahal kita. Gusto ko andiyan ako sa tabi mo ngayon." My voice is thick and I wiped at my eyes. Shet, kelan pa ako naging ganito ka-emotional?

 "Basta magpagaling ka. Kakausapin ko si Mommy. Basta wag mo 'ko iiwan," she broke down into sobs after that.

"Hindi kita iiwan. Bakit kita iiwan? Aya naman,  after what happened do you still doubt my feelings?" Nasasaktan ako. Bakit mo sinasabi yan Aya?

"Basta mahal na mahal kita," I wanted so badly to reassure her. Kulang ang maka-usap ko siya. She sounds really shaken. "Magpapaliwanag ako sa Mama mo."

"Aya walang mawawala okay. Hindi ako papayag. Kakausapin ko rin si Mama. Gahd baby, mas lalong gusto kitang makita." I confessed. The incoming call alert kept on repeating.

"Sorry Prince, sorry... ang dami nang nadamay sa gulo."

"No baby. Okay na ako. Don't feel guilty or anything okay? Ako ang nag-volunteer and lahat naman kami pumayag na sumama. It's not your fault, okay? Don't blame yourself."

"Pero Prince..."

"Shhh... tahan na Aya. Ako ang dapat mag-sorry dahil ikaw ang nadamay sa gulo ko. I should have dealt with Mel sooner. I should have made sure na maliwanag na tapos na kami before I courted you. " But I can't help myself. 

"It's not your fault Goddess. Ako ang dapat mag-sorry. Mahal kita Aya, so please wag ka nang umiyak."

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