Between Distance (Between Series #1)

CHAPTER 20

"I don't know, baka family member ang nandon. She never cried like this before." I told her.

Her eyes look so worried as she guided Clara slowly. Unto my mini bed, we lay down Clara there.

"Kawawa naman po si Attorney... Mukha po talaga siyang nasaktan ng sobra," She said, admiring Clara.

I stared at Clara for too long, I forgot I had job to do. I let her in my bed. She slept due to crying, maybe her eyes were tired already. Who would not sleep after crying that long and hard? 

That day was a very busy day. I had no breaks or lunch. I bought Clara some food pero hindi parin sya nagising. Maybe this was the longest sleep she had since college.

It was 8 pm when Jagger went to pick me up and saw Clara.

"What happened to her?" he asked. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako. "I was in the media kanina, she was linked to someone named... Jere? You know him?" I shrugged and shook my head. Haven't heard of that name.

Ginising ko na si Clara, I had to wake her up since maiiwan sya rito.

"You want us to send you home?" Jagger offered.

"No, I'm okay," she said the took her cellphone from her pocket. "Shoot, dead bat."

"Oh, powerbank," I gave her my extra. Dali nya naman agad itong kinuha at chinarge ang telepono.

I and Jagger are just standing there, watching her cram. When her phone opened she was instantly bombarded with calls and messages. 

"Shit," she massaged her head. "May hearing pala ako ngayon." She started pulling her hair out of frustration.

"Hey," I said then stopped her. "Gusto mo session bukas?" I raised a brow.

"Gago, ano inom?" Masungit nyang sabi. I laughed at her.

"Tanga, therapy kase." I rolled my eyes.

"Ah, wag na. Malakas ako 'no!" she said then flexed her muscles. She told us that someone will pick her up, so we decided to leave already,

Jagger went to a drive-thru to order some food. He must have noticed that I didn't have my break since I ordered too much.

I was about to eat when Jagger stopped me. He said we'll go somewhere. He brought me to Paco Park and he even placed a picnic mat for us. He's now bringing some food and utensils from the backseat. I didn't notice that.

"What's this?" I asked him, smiling. 

"You'll see." He said then winked. He brought out a guitar and started strumming. He was singing like he could even though hirap sya. I appreciated his efforts.

"Aww," I said as I adored him. "Thank you!" I told him and hugged him tightly.

I could never ask for more. I'm so blessed with this man, who accepts who I really am.

Please, don't leave me....

"It was then, I knew. Shouldn't have done that..." My patient said laying on the recliner couch. According to him, nawala sya sa sarili nya when his daughter and wife left him. He regretted that he should have stopped them because he said he couldn't contain living by himself. Without the love of his daughter.

"I told her," he laughed. "I'll get them once I'm successful," then he cried. "I listened to my friends, they told me that I don't need them and let them suffer for leaving me. Things fucked up, hindi ko pala talaga kaya ng wala sila. I was in the U.S. when we met, I was rich. She loved me even though my parents died and that was my worst time. Siguro hindi nya na kinaya nung pati yung pangkain ng anak ko wala ako. Kaya ko siguro hindi pinigilan, para.. mabuhay sila ng maayos..."

"We all had our reasons, yours is that you don't want them to suffer anymore," I told him.

He was shedding tears. Maybe this is why I chose this job. I wanted to help people with their mental health since nowadays, people tend to have it as a joke. Arte arte lang daw kasi ang pag memental breakdown sa buhay. Which is not true, mental breakdown actually makes you strong. Because you had the ability to let go of things. Iyak then let go. Simple as that.

Weeks have passed since nung huli naming interaction nila Ysa. We all are busy in our lives. Instead of clubbing as I do before, I just lend my time with AJ and Jagger. Life is short, live your life to the fullest.

I also tried looking for the possible patient Clara had brought last time. It seemed confidential. I even pulled some strings para lang malaman, pero wala. Tagong tago.

"Hey," Jagger said when I went inside his car. AJ is in the backseat.

"How are you?" I asked the both of them. Me and Jagger switched places. I'm the one driving now. I promised them that I'll take AJ to Enchanted Kingdom. We are also going to visit his siblings in Laguna. Siya lang pala ang lumipat sa kanila.

"I want to ride horses with beautiful hairs, tito!" She said jolly. 

"Really? I'll take you there then," I smiled at her. She started to giggle, satisfied with what I said. 

I drove to Laguna. AJ fell asleep at the backseat, while Jagger stayed awake with me.

"What if..." He suddenly said. I just looked at him. "Hindi kita iniwan noon?"

I stared at the road blankly. "Kung hindi moko iniwan noon?" I asked myself. "You wouldn't be successful," I stated, a matter of fact.

"I'm lucky to have you." He just said then positioned himself to sleep. I smiled at him.

Everything happens for a reason. And that reason can be a good influence to you. Don't rush things. Eventually, you'll have it your way without yourself knowing it.

We got to Enchanted Kingdom in the afternoon. Ginising ko na ang dalawa. We ate lunch first after the long drive.

At 2 pm, the sun isn't that hot anymore so we decided to ride na. We went to some child-friendly rides since AJ is with us.

She looks so happy as she went to the carousel. We took a lot of pictures of her. 

Later on, AJ became tired. She really wanted to ride extreme rides but her height doesn't reach the height requirement.

We ate dinner at a restaurant. Jagger said that AJ isn't fond of fast-food chains, but it's okay. Eating in a restaurant is healthier than fast-food meals.

We went to their house. Actually, this is the first time I went here. Matagal kami noon pero kailanman di ako nakapunta sa kanila. I was a student back then, money for this is hard for me. I had my priorities too that time.

Jagger told me about his best friend. I know the four girls would like to see him again because of her attitude.

"Maven!" I shouted as I saw him. "You moved?!" I asked. He was living in Valenzuela back then, I don't know what changed his mind.

Ah, I remember my high school life. Me and Jagger's first meeting was because of Maven. Good old days.

"Yeah! Laki mo na ah! I heard you are a doctor?" He said, brows raising up.

"Yeah. So why did you move?"

"You know, the province is better than Manila. No traffics and peaceful life." I smiled at that. Which is true. If I'm gonna choose where will I live in the near future. I would probably choose province. Also, the land is much cheaper.

We had few talks in the house of Maven. We left AJ in their house with his sister. Maven has witnessed Jagger's hardships. 

"Love," he called me from the bed.

"Yes?" I shouted while cleaning my face.

"Can you come here?" He said like he was in a hurry. I washed my face immediately because I had the feeling that I should.

As I walk out of the bathroom I saw Jagger on the bed holding his laptop showing me the night lights of an American country. I frowned my brows. Looking confused.

"Will you leave with me? Let's go, and build our dreams together," he said, holding plane tickets on his hand.