Alam ni Francisco na wala syang karapatan pero hindi nya maiwasang mag alala. Looking how Cole carried the unconcious Elaine to the ambulance? Bat ba ang tanga nya. Sobra syang naging absorbed sa sariling emotion na hindi nya namalayang masama na ang pakiramdam nito.
Gusto nya itong sundan. Gusto nyang malaman kong okay lang ito. Kung kamusta ito at kung ano ang problema dito. Gusto nya pero alam nyang wala syang karapatan. For the first time after living with Elaine he felt again lost and confuse. He was so sure of what he felt for her that he decided to move forward and follow it. Now that she rejected him, what should he do next. He drove away to a bar and drowned his sorrow away.
"Wake up please , wake up" mahinang usal ni Cole habang hawak ang kamay ni Elaine. She's been unconscious for 24 hours.
Nakaramdam sya nang tapik sa kanyang balikat. " Cole hijo kain ka muna, nag luto si misis nang arrozcaldo" He didn't need to look up . Alam nyang ama ni Elaine iyon.
"Okay lang po ako Tito, hindi ako gutom. Salamat"
He sighed at umupo sa kanyang tabi "Hindi rin ako gutom pero kailangan mong kumain, magpalakas. Kanina ka pa dito mula pagkatapos nang trabaho mo. Kagabi dito ka din natulog. Hindi mo responsibilidad ito Cole. Oo doctor ka nya pero hindi mo kailangang gawin ito. Hindi ko na alam kong paano ko pa mababayaran ang lahat nang utang na loob namin sa iyo"
"Gusto ko po ang ginagawa ko Tito. Mahal ko po si Elaine. Kaibigan ko sya. Importante sya sa akin"
Ngumiti ito sa kanyang sinabi "Ang swertre nang anak ko sa iyo. Mabuti nga at natiis mo yan. Makulit, madaldal at sobrang likot.
"His shoulder started shaking at hindi na nito napigilang humagulgol sa iyak. "naaalala ko pa nga nung maliit sya may sinuntok sya na bata dahil napikon sa mga biro sa kanya" Ngumiti ito nang malungkot "nagka black eye pa yung batang lalaki. Tumawa lang sya, proud pang sabihin samin nang mama nya na ang lakas nya raw. Sino ang magaakalang magkakaganito sya ngayon?"
"Shes a strong person Tito. Nagagawa nya pa ring tumawa at maging masaya in spite of knowing her condition"
"Alam ko. Mabait na bata si Elaine. Ayaw kaming bigyan nang problema. Ayaw kaming nag aalala. Gusto nya na parati kaming masaya. Kaso alam mo ba ang hirap maging masaya , Siya ang saya namin. Sa kanya kami kumukuha nang lakas. Hindi ko alam kong paano kami pag nawala sya. Ngayon pa lang nasasaktan na ako. Hindi ko kayang nakikita sya nang ganito, na nahihirapan"
"we are trying our best Tito. Don't loose hope. I'm trying my best to find a heart donor. We can never say it's done until it's over"
"Papa" shocked registered on their faces followed by relief. Sabay silang napatingin ka Elaine . There it is again. Her bright bright smile always ready to comfort them . trying to take their worries away.
"Papa naman ang ingay mo, natutulog pa ako" She jokingly said in a low soft voice Para parin itong nahihirapan sa pagsasalita. Umiiyak na niyakap nang ama nito si Elaine.
"Papa naman ang drama mo, lalo ka tuloy pumapangit"
Instead of smiling mas lalong napahagulgol sa iyak ang ama nito.
"Papa naman. Mas mauuna kapa yatang mamatay sa heart attack kesa sa akin"
"How are you feeling Elaine" Di nya mapigilang maitanong dito.
"Okay lang ako, Papa, kuha mo nga ako nang tubig please nauuhaw ako"
"May iba ka pa bang gusto anak?" She shake her head as an answer. Her father got up , kissed her forehead and went out.
"Ahmm Cole" She started talking in a low voice."Thank you, salamat kasi parati kang nandyan para sa akin. "
"It's okay at least your safe. Would you care to tell me what happened?"
She hesitated for a while. She really didn't to talk about it. Just mentioning what happened ached her heart pero alam nya na kung hindi nya mailalabas ang sama nang loob, she will just keep hurting more. She took a deep breath and before she could say anything , a tear rolled down from her eye. Can she bring herself to mention what really happened?
Instantly upon seeing her cry , Cole hugged her and whisper "Okay lang. If you're not ready to talk about it then I will urge you to say anything.
"Hindi , okay lang ako. If I will keep this in, mas lalong sasama ang loob ko"
He patted her back giving her comfort that she needed. She started with the story and he listened keenly.
"When he asked me if I loved him, Alam ko na mahal ko sya but I cannot bring myself to tell him the truth kasi alam ko na masasaktan ko lang sya. Ang hirap. Alam mo ba iyong pakiramdam na mahal mo sya, gusto mong ipadama sa kanya na mahal mo sya pero kailangan mong pigilan ang sarili mo kasi hindi dapat. "
He just stayed silent. Yes, alam nya ang pakiramdam. Gusto nyang sabihin kay Elaine na what he feels is equal to hers. Na kung mayroon mang tao sa mundo na nakakaintindi dito sya yun.
Hindi nya alam kung paano ito aaluin as he is as well lost and hurting for what he feels for her. The least thing he can do is be there, support her and bleed for her.
He sighed. As of this moment he had to admit it. He lost his battle. The battle to win her heart.
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Embracing Sunshine (Completed)
रोमांसFrancisco lost it ALL His Family, his wife and his unborn child. When Elaine forcefully entered his life, he felt like loving again but would he let himself fall with this bubbly lady when he knows shes not staying? and he will only end up hurting?
