Eiffel in love

CHAPITRE VII

Eiffel in Love
Chapitre VII

Her fingers started to move, murmurs become voices. She could hear voices of people talking around.

"She will wake up soon. Just give her time.." Hope was evident in the doctor's voice. He was around in his mid 40s. She then felt someone was holding her hand. It was cold as ice.
"Ate.." her sister keeps on calling her. Pain and longing is evident in her cracked voice.

She heard another voice but this time it was not her sister. "Siera, wake up. Please.." It was a voice of a man. Alam niya na hindi iyon boses ni Andrei. Her ex-boyfriend's voice was more subtle and calm compared to the one she just heard. Someone is despaired while waiting for her. She wanted to see his face. 

The last time she checked she was not dating anyone else. So who is this man?

She tried to move once again her fingers and she succeeded. Her eyes are the ones she wanted to open, but she can't. It doesn't move an inch. Her eyes betrayed her and she was lost once again in oblivion.

6 years ago.
Philippines

"Bakit nakaupo ka lang diyan?" Pagtatanong ng isang batang lalaki na kakarating lang. He was holding two cans of soda drink. He gave the other one to her and she accepted it. He was wearing a light blue tshirt and shorts that perfectly matches her fair complexion. Tinignan lang niya ito at binalik ang tingin sa langit. "Alam mo, kung ano ang pangarap ko?" Pagtatanong niya sa batang lalaki. "What?" Pagtatanong niya. Pinatong niya ang hawak sa soda sa tabi nito.

"Pangarap ko makarating ng Eiffel Tower ng kasama ang taong mamahalin ko. So sweet right? That's place kung saan nagkakilala sila Mama at Papa. I wanted the same thing to happen with me." Bakas ang kilig sa boses ng dalaga habang nagkukuwento.

"Bakit naman doon? Marami namang lugar ang puwedeng puntahan dito? Bakit ka pa lalayo? Who knows that the man na hinhintay mo ay nasa paligid mo lang, right?" Nakakunot noong pagtatanong ng batang lalaki. Biglang hinampas siya ng dalaga sa balikat na bahagyang ikinagulat niya, "Alam mo kaming mga babae romantic, we love to be in a place kung saan everything seems perfect. Oo, maaaring maraming lugar ang puwedeng alternative for that pero para sakin sobrang perfect ng lugar na 'yon to say that Eiffel in love sa tuktok ng mismong Eiffel Tower.. with all those matching lights, colors, scenery and him. You know what, ang dami mong alam. Have you fallen in love already?" Bakas ang ngiti sa dalaga noong oras na iyon. He was caught off guard in the last sentence, 'have you fallen in live already?' He wanted to say yes, but he knows deep inside it is one sided love and he is not yet ready to have a heartache. Not yet. "Saka bata pa lang ako pangarap ko na talaga pumunta sa lugar na iyon.." Pagtutuloy nito.

Pinakatitigan lang siya ng lalaki and that was the time he realized that he was in love with her. So deeply.

"Ikaw? Ano ang pangarap mo?" Pagtatanong ng dalaga sa kaniya ng marealize niya na nakatitig ito sa kaniya. "Uy." Tinapik niya ito sa balikat.

"Ikaw.." Seryosong saad nito na ikinagulat ng dalaga na ilang segundo ang lumipas ay natawa. "Ano naman ang nakakatawa?" Pagtatanong ng batang lalaki sa kaniya. "Hindi ka kasi nakikinig kaya kung anu-ano ang sinasabi mo.." Kinuha niya ang hawak na soda ng lalaki at binuksan ito bago iniabot sa kaniya. "Inumin mo na 'yan baka bumalik ka sa katinuan." Bahagya itong ngumisi at kinuha ang soda mula sa babae.

My dream was to be loved back by the girl I love and that was you. Only you. His mind said in an awe.

Ilang oras na ang lumipas noong nagdecide si Siera na bumalik ito sa sarili nitong katawan. Hanggang ngayon ay mahimbing parin ang pagkakatulog nito. His mission was now fulfilled - to bring her back to life. Now, what about his another mission? Is he willing to make her remember everything when she woke up?

Siera was standing beside her at nakatingin lang ito sa malyo. Ilang minuto na sila nakatayo at walang umiimik. Tanging simoy lang ng hangin ang naririnig sa paligid. Nakakaramdam siya ng tensiyon sa pagitan nila at may nais na sabihin si Siera para dalhin siya sa rooftop ng ospital. "Siera.." pagtawag niya dito. Nilingon siya nito, "Alam mo diba ang mangyayari kapag bumalik ako sa katawan ko, right?" Tumango ito. "I want you to promise me one thing.." Seryosong saad ni Siera sa kaniya.

"What is it?"

"Promise me to hold my hands until I woke up and when I do, make me remember everything we did together.. I want you to be part of my present life."

He was still holding her hands since the time na bumalik ito sa kaniyang katawan. Ilang beses na rin niya hinahaplos ang buhok nito at hinihintay ang paggising niya.

"Siera, since that day na sinabi mo sa akin na pangarap mo pumunta ng Eiffel Tower minahal na kita. I mean it when I said I love you and I still do. I still love you. Magmula noong araw na inamin ko sa'yo na mahal kita, you left me. You chose na we should never be friends dahil sabi mo, you can't love your brother like figure dahil pamilya ang turing mk sa akin. Years had passed, pero bakit mahal parin kita? Sa kabila ng lahat, ikaw lang at ikaw pa rin."

Bahagya niyang naramdaman ang paggalaw ng daliri ni Siera. "Siera?" Pagtawag niya. Unti-unti ay bumukas ang mga mata nito.

"Doc, doc, doc.." Sigaw ng kapatid ni Siera.

"Gising ka na.. Thank you." She was trying to lift her arms and look around the room, but the only people she could see was her sister and mother.

Is everything a dream? Did I take on a ling journey? She asked herself.