Chapter 31
☆Time☆
••Grey Leisen's POV••
I woke up or better to say na hindi talaga ko natulog dahil nakangiti lang akong pinagmamasdan si Aristia na mahimbing na natutulog sa tabi ko't nakaunan sa braso ko.
I carefully tucked some strands of her hair behind her ear at mas napangiti ako ng makita ko ang tattoo na gaya ng akin at unting pag galaw nya at mas yumakap pa.
Saying I love you to her each time won't be enough cause words won't be enough to just say it.
I kissed her hair then stared at her angelic face that I always love to watch and being with her like this is the best day of my life already na kung pwede lang ay pakasalan ko na sya agad pag gising nya ay gagawin ko but then, marriage won't be enough to be that sure that she'll be forever with me at ayoko syang ma pressure pero ako, matagal nakong handa mag settle down basta sya kasama.
She's my fiancé before everything happened na sumira sa samahan namin at ngayon hindi nako papayag na maulit pa yon. I'll protect her together with my honesty.
I stole a kissed from her hanggang sa napa atras sya't kusot ng mata na kinatawa ko ng mahina.
"Good morning wife." I softly said at napakurap kurap pa muna sya sabay pikit muli na kinangiti ko lang at kinumutan sya ng ayos.
She must be tired kaya nakontento nalang akong pagmasdan sya ulit kahit nasasabik nakong makita muli pagmulat ng mga mata nya at marinig ang boses nya.
It took another whole hour ng mag kusot sya muli ng mata dahil tumatama na sa maganda nyang mukha ang sinag ng araw.
"Good morning misis Leisen." I greeted while smiling ear to ear then she slowly blinked again and I was about to kiss her ng agad syang nag talukbong.
"Don't... I still didn't brush my teeth yet.." she shyly uttered at natawa ko dahil mabilis rin syang napa alis sa talukbong.
"How's the view?" I asked grinning.
"Appetizing." She replied back sabay lip bite pa at agad akong natawa at niyakap sya.
"Pilya ka narin ngayon wife.. delikado talaga ko sayo." Pabirong sabi ko na kinatingin nya sakin.
"Wag ako Mr.Grey Leisen dahil alam na alam kong gusto mo yan." Sagot nya habang nakangisi pa.
"Basta ikaw gusto ko." Nataas babang kilay na sabi ko at layo nya na naman ng hahagkan ko na sya.
"Time out... masyado ng maaga."
"Ahhhhhhwww... Hindi ba pwedeng isipin mong gabi pa?" Nakapout na sabi ko at kurot nya naman sa pisngi ko.
"Wag kang makulit nagugutom nako."
"Ako nalang.. appetizing naman sabi mo sakin kanina di'ba?" I said jokingly then she glared sabay lipbite.
"Do you know that you look a thousand times hotter when you do that?" I said then she rolled her eyes at bumangon na ganun narin ako at kinuha ang t-shirt ko since I'm just wearing my sweat pants dahil hindi talaga ko sanay na matulog na may damit.
Sumilip si Aristia mula sa restroom na naka bathrobe na suot.
"I need a new pair of clothes."
"Who needs clothes when I'm liking the view?" I teased then she glared again.
"Don't try me love, kaya kong lumabas ng ganito. Ikaw kaya mo bang makita nila akong naka ganito?" Pang hahamon nya at ako naman napa deathglare.
"Hell no.." I said in serious tone sabay tayo at lumapit na sa kanya.
"I'll go back to our car, kukuha kita ng bagong masusuot." Paalam ko at mabilis muli akong kumuha ng tissue dahil nadugo na naman ilong nya.
"You're nose is bleeding." I said worriedly at mabilis nyang kuha ng tissue sa kamay ko sabay pahid nya rito.
"Ayos ka lang ba? You wanna go to hospital or something?"
"No.. Ayos lang ako, nakaka nosebleed kase yang abs mo kaya shoo..." Biro nya pero nanatiling seryoso ekspresyon ko na kinatahimik nya.
"Are you hurt?" I asked.
"No.. I'm good." Then she smiled. "It's normal.. weather kase pero believe me ayos lang ako." Sabi pa nya.
I remained staring at her eyes without saying anything cause right now, I'm wishing na may kakayahan akong mabasa nasa isip nya.
"Hey.. I'm really ok.. you don't need to be worried" at hawak sa pisngi ko na agad kong kinahawak sa kamay nya.
"Ayos ka lang ba talaga?"
Tumango tango sya sabay ngiti ng malapad.
"Ayos nga lang kase ko Lovey so smile kana mas bagay sayo yon, mas gumagwapo ka." Sabi nya.
Pilit akong ngumiti at tumango nalang.
She kissed my cheek at nagpaalam na syang papasok na sa restroom at inutusan nakong kuhanan sya ng bagong masusuot.
I sighed then just do what she wants me to do at nagsuot nako ng maskara bago lumabas and I even grabbed a gun with me just to make sure although malabong may magtangka sakin rito.
The door automatically opened ng ilagay ko thumb ko sa scanner and even the elevator.
I pressed the button to lobby area dahil for sure nasa harapan parin yung sasakyan na ginamit namin.
The reapers greeted me at tumango lang ako unti habang diretsyo lang ang lakad palabas then I didn't expect na makikita ko roon si Karsen na nakasandal lang sa sasakyan namin na para bang nag aatay talaga sya.
Lumingon sya sa direksyon ko pagkalapit.
"How is she?" He asked that made my forehead crinkled cause it should be where is she hindi how is she so I played part dahil pakiramdam ko'y may dapat akong malaman na hindi pa kayang sabihin sakin ni Aristia.
My guts telling me to played the part.
"Is it that bad?" I asked although I don't have any idea what the bad means I'm talking about but the way his expression changed ay nag iba pintig ng puso ko.
He sighed then nodded.
"I think you know already anyway since kayo na." Sabi nya at libot ng tingin sa paligid at pinindot ko yung car button para ayain sya muna sa loob na mukhang naintindihan nya naman agad.
"Is it that really bad?" I asked again trying not to be so obvious na wala talaga kong alam kung ano man yon at tumango si Karsen.
"Grey.. are you sure hahayaan mo si Aristia na makipag laban pa?" Nag iwas ako ng tingin dahil baka pag tinanong ko kung ano ang ibig nyang sabihin ay mahalata nya pakay ko sa pag alam kung ano yung nalaman nya kahit na kating-kati nakong malaman kung ano ibig nyang sabihin.
"If I were you, if she listen to you ako na nakikiusap pigilan mo sya." Sabi nya na kinalingon ko.
"Her strength... everything about her when it comes to fighting, we both know na hindi na normal lahat because of what they'd done to her and the last experiments they did and I know that you already know na the more na nakikipag laban si Aristia, mas pinapabilis nya lang buhay nya.. Grey, she's quickly running out of time.. ano bang balak nyo? Bakit mas hahayaan mo syang lumaban pa ganung mas importante oras sa kanya?" He asked after revealing those info na wala akong alam.
My breathing feels like became heavy at napuno ng katanungan isip ko pero isa lang sigurado kong nangingibabaw sa lahat.
Natatakot ako.
"Is... is she still not healed?" I asked at mukhang doon na natauhan si Karsen na wala akong alam sa sitwasyon ni Aristia.
"Shit... what have I done? Akala ko alam mo?!" Anya nya at halatang namroblema at akma ng aalis ng ih locked ko yung sasakyan na mabilis nyang kinalingon sakin.
"Tell me Karsen.. umamin ka sakin kung mahalaga ba sayo buhay ni Aristia sabihin mo sakin.. ano ng kalagayan nya na nalaman mo?!" Pigil na emosyon na sabi ko.
"Nakikiusap ako hindi bilang emperador o kung sino... I'm asking you as a person na hindi sya kayang mawala." Anya ko kasabay ng panlalabo ng mga mata ko na kinaiwas nya ng tingin at tingin sa harapan.
Napahilamos sya at halatang hindi na alam ang gagawin so I assured him that I won't let Aristia notice na may alam nako kung ano man yon then he sighed.
"She's not healed yet cause it's the opposite.." He said then he seriously looked at me.
"She's dying even at this moment internally Grey.. unti-unti ng bumibigay katawan ni Aristia."
With that words ay napatungo ako kasabay ng patak ng luha sa mga mata ko na isipin na anytime mawawala sya sakin. Just that thought ay para bang mas nag doble o triple pa yung sakit sa dibdib ko.
Hindi ko kaya.. Hindi ko kakayanin.
"Is... is there's a cure?" Naasa kong tanong at lingon kay Karsen then the expression in his face and when he bowed to shook his head ay parang nalamukos yung puso ko.
Napahampas ako sa manubela.
"No... no please.. not her.. Oh God!!"
"Grey.. please, Aristia needs us.. kailangan tayo ni Aristia para kay Trisha.. she needs people to protect her daughter cause maybe she already knows that she can't do it alone."
"Arghh! F*ck!!" I yelled kasabay ng matinding sakit sa dibdib ko realizing that maybe that's why she's desperate to get back her throne as soon as possible and maybe that's why Raven seems desperate na paglapitin na agad kami ni Aristia dahil baka gusto nyang sumaya man lang kapatid nya.
And Aristia's actions.. her words.. her whole honesty..
They all know.. they all know about it at wala man lang akong alam.
"Aristia might not really want to tell anyone Grey cause she knows that it'll be harder for us but please.. please let's respect her decision for now cause she definitely has her reason why she kept it even from you.. ayaw ka nyang masaktan." Sabi ni Karsen.
I swallowed hard pero yung luha ko, ayaw talagang makisama then Karsen's phone rang at tingin nya sakin pagkakita kung sino yung natawag bago nya sinagot at ni loud speaker.
"Hey Karsen, nasa baba pa ba si Grey? Hindi nya kase sinasagot tawag ko." Aristia asked at kusa na naman tumulo mga luha ko dahil mahihimigan sa boses na nag aalala sya.
Napakagat ako sa pang ibabang labi ko at ako na kumuha ng phone kay Karsen.
He shook his head as if telling me not to tell her.
"Knight? Andyn ka pa ba?" She asked then I gathered my strength to utter a words.
"Hey wife.. ahh.. ano, si Karsen na muna bahala maghatid.. ano kase ahmm... maghahanap ako ng agahan natin." Palusot ko.
"Ha? Wait, sasama nako.. gusto kong sumama."
I clenched my fist.. i want to run to her and hug her and tell her that I want to be with her but...
"Lovey? Are you still there?"
"No..ahh .. yea.. i mean.. k-kaya ko na, wait lang ah? Lowbat na phone ni Karsen." Sabi ko sabay patay ng tawag dahil hindi ko na mapigilan emosyon ko.
I bite my lip and felt it bleed dahil sa pag pigil humikbi.
"Grey..." Karsen softly called.
Instead of saying something ay agad kong inabot sa kanya yung paperbags na may mga gamit ni Aristia at unlocked ng sasakyan.
"Give it to her.. i... i just need to be alone for a bit." I said then he sighed at ginawa na sinabi ko at mabilis na kong nag maneho paalis.
I drove the car na halos paliparin ko na sa bilis kasabay ng mga luha ko at sakit sa dibdib at kakambal non ang panalangin na this time, sana... Sana itong part nato panaginip nalang lahat.
I just got her back, we are just starting and yet this?
I quickly parked the car ng makarating ako sa ospital at mabilis na nagtungo patakbo sa loob hanggang sa nakabalik ako sa kwarto ni Raven.
I just knocked before opening it at taka syang napatingin sakin.
"Is it true? About Aristia's condition? Totoo ba?" Bungad kong tanong at halatang maski sya ay nagulat.
"She told you? Umamin na sya sayo?"
And with that words ay parang tuluyan nakong napanghinaan at napaluhod nalang kasabay ng paghahulgol ko sa sakit habang sapo yung dibdib ko.
Nadama ko pag lapit ni Raven at tumingin ako sa kanya.
"T-tell me.. sabihin mo sakin may lunas pa dahil handa ko gawin lahat mahanap lang yon.. just tell me.. p-pakiusap." Pagmamakaawa ko at mas napaiyak nako ng tuluyan ng niyakap nalang ako ni Raven ng mahigpit na wala man lang sinagot na kung ano sa tanong ko at dahil don parang gumuho bigla buong mundo ko sa sunod na sinabi nya.
"We need to be strong for her.. I need you to be strong for my sister dahil kita kong sayo, sasaya sya.. she'll be happy, she can be happy when she's with you and I'm sorry if I'm being too selfish if I'm doing this knowing it'll be painful but please.. please don't let her notice na may alam ka dahil ayaw nyang malaman mo..."
Napakapit ako sa kanya at doon humagugol dahil parang hindi ko na kakayanin.
I cried my hearts out as a lot of questions flooded my mind and worst pain is that asking myself how I'm gonna accept this?
Being with her pretending that I'm fine when the truth is I'm not and won't never be ok again, knowing I might loose her anytime and this time might be forever.
Iisipin ko palang ay parang handa nakong mamatay nalang rin kasama sya sa kahit anong paraan para magkasama kami kahit saan.
Time...
Time is too precious to stay here cause she needs me the most and time is ticking already at sa bawat pag abante ng oras, mas gugustuhin kong manatili nalang sa tabi nya.
"I'll ask Aristia to marry me." I said at tingin ng diretsyo kay Raven at halatang lahat ng sinabi ko ay hindi nya inaasahan.
"Grey.. what---"
"I'll marry her, papakasalan ko kapatid mo.. I'll stay with her no matter what happen... if she die, I'll die.. call me selfish but this is what I want and please... please don't tell her." I said then I harshly wiped my tears.
Tumayo ako ng tuwid at pahid sa mga luha ko.
"Tomorrow, we all gonna start gathering the people we all have to hunt all those people that might harm Trisha and if we need to destroy everything and kill everyone... I won't hesitate to do it." I said firmly as an Emperor.
"Makaka asa ba ako sayo King Joker?" I asked with full of authority and determination.
He looks hesitant but I remained determined.
"I need you for this mission King Joker.. you're the important piece of Aristia's deck of cards. I need you.. we need you for this." I said then he sighed.
Joker stood up then kneeled one of his knee then he bowed his head.
"As your command Emperor." He said sapat na yon sakin.
Agad nakong lumabas sa silid nya at nakita ko pa si Kuting na hindi ko na pinansin pa.
I quickly got back on the car at napatungo muli sa manubela dahil ito na naman yung matinding sakit sa dibdib ko dahil hindi ko na maisip kung paano ko sya haharapin ng ayos na hindi pinapahalatang sobrang takot ako sa bawat minutong lumilipas and speaking of her, I saw my phone kept vibrating on the floor na mukhang nahulog ko doon.
I picked it up but it went to missedcalls instead dahil hindi ko agad sinagot at imbes tawagan sya muli ay tinawagan ko si Karsen and gave him instructions of what I want to do na sinang ayunan nya nalang then he told me na umalis si Aristia at hindi nya na napigilan pa dahil hahanapin raw ako at sakto non ng mapatingin ako sa sasakyan na pumunta sa kabilang parking lot.
"I saw her.. please get it ready as soon as possible." I said then ended the call.
Lumabas ako sa sasakyan after I saw Aristia got out from Karsen's car and quickly hide my emotions inside as I watched her kept dialing my number.
I hit the bench at muntik matumba dahil nanghihina mga tuhod ko dahil maski utak ko ay parang hindi narin nakikisama ng mag vibrate muli phone ko.
I tried to stand up again at nag focus ng tingin sa kanya hanggang sa nag tama mata naming dalawa. She hung up the phone at tumitig lang sakin na parang nagtatanong habang naglalakad naman ako papalapit at hindi nilulubayan ng tingin mga mata nya at agad ko syang niyakap ng sobrang higpit pagkalapit.
"Grey.. what's wr---"
"Mahal kita... mahal na mahal na mahal kita.. Aristia.." mahinang sambit ko kasabay ng matinding kirot sa dib-dib ko dahil para bang unti-unti narin gumuguho pangarap at mundo ko na isipin na baka parang isang bula...
Tuluyan na syang mawala.