This is a work of fiction, characeters, places, businesses, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in fictitious manners. Any resemblance to actual person's, living or dead, or actual is purely coincidental.
Please be advised that this story contains sensitive content, mature themes and strong languages that are NOT suitable for very young audience.
Read at your own risk!
***I think it's way more better if you listen to this song while reading this chapter. ( ꈍᴗꈍ)***
Catiana's POV
Mapakla akong natawa dahil sa narinig ko mula kay Liam. Ako pa itong naging matigas? Sino ba yung humabol at nakiusap sa kanila noon na parang aso?
"Easy for you to say. Hindi naman ikaw itong nagmukhang tanga eh." parang nawawalan na ako ng lakas dahil nararamdaman ko na ang mga tuhod ko ay nanghihina at nanginginig. I don't know how to hide feelings and emotions that much. I express myself too much kaya palagi na lang akong nasasaktan pero ngayon, I need to be strong.
"Cat.. let's fix this, our friendship." bakas sa tono ng pananalita ni Eleanor ang pagsusumamo.
I want to, El. Gusto ko, gustong gusto ko dahil simula ng bumalik ako dito galing US wala na akong hiniling pa kundi yung magkaayos tayo.
Kaso huli na eh...
"Too late for that El." nakita ko itong parang nawalan ng pag asa dahil sa mukha nito. Nakita ko rin yung pagdaloy ng luha nito. Naramdaman kong parang sinuntok ng paulit ulit ang puso ko sa nakikita.
Ito pa nga lang ang sakit sakit na? Paano na kapag nalaman nilang may sakit ako? Ayoko, nakakatakot na makitang iiyak sila ng dahil sakin, masasaktan sila ng dahil sakin at mahihirapan sila ng dahil sakin. Ayoko nun.
"Kasalan ko naman eh, kung hindi sana ako nakinig sa galit at emosyon ko, hindi na hahantong pa sa ganito." saad ni Eleanor.
Gustong gusto ko ng umiyak sa harapan nila, I can see pain in her eyes. Ang sakit sakit sa dibdib.
Nabaling ang atensyon ko kay Leo ng makita kong pinunasan nito ang kanyang mga mata.
Umiiyak rin siya..
Napayuko ako para pigilan ang sarili sa pag iyak.
Huwag kang iiyak sa harapan nila Catiana, please! Huwag kang maging mahina at duwag!
Kapag lumambot ako, bibigay din ako at sapilitang ayusin namin ang dapat ayusin pero ayoko dahil magiging malapit nanaman sila sakin at yun ang ayoko dahil bandang huli ay mahihirapan lang sila sakin. At ayokong umasa sila sakin lalo na kapag nalaman nilang may sakit ako at aasa sila na gagaling ako kung hindi naman.
Dahil masasaktan lang sila at yun ang ayoko. Ayoko.. mas okay na na ako lang ang nagdudusa, wag na sila.
Napakuyom ang mga kamao ko pagkatapos ay iniangat ko ang paningin ko.
"Umalis na kayo, pakiusap lang." saad ko sa kanila at bago pa sila talikuran ay tiningnan ko muli si Liam ng walang emosyon. Nakita ko ang hindi makapaniwalang reaksyon nito at ang pagdaloy ng isang butil ng kanyang luha.
"Cat.. I'm sorry." Rinig kong sabi pa nito ngunit hindi na ako lumingon pa.
Nang medyo nakalayo na ako sa kanila ay doon lang nagsibagsakan ang mga luha ko, napakagat na lang ako sa labi ko para pigilan ang paghikbi at dali daling umakyat papunta sa kwarto ko. Naramdaman ko yung pagsunod sakin ni Heidi pero bago pa siya makapasok sa kwarto ko ay agad ko iyong inilock.
Naiiyak na pumunta ako sa kama ko at doon iniyak lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman.
Minutes later, I just found myself listening to a song called "Love is Gone."
As I listened to the song, I can't help not to cry so hard, I can feel the pain inside my chest.
I'm sorry, don't leave me, I want you here with me.
I know that your love is gone..
I can't breathe I'm so weak, I know this isn't easy.
Don't tell me that your love is gone.
That your love is gone.
If someone saw the situation I'm in right now, I bet they'll say or think that I'm so stupid and crazy for crying so hard like an idiot.
"Cat? Open this goddamn door!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Heidi mula sa labas pero hindi na ako nag aksaya pang sumagot.
Naalala ko yung mga masasayang araw na magkasama kami ni Eleanor kaya lalo lang ako naiyak.
***
"That one was pretty, why don't you buy it?" Saad ni Eleanor ng makita niyang tinitingnan ko yung bracelet na may nakaukit na pangalang 'besties'. It's actually cute.
"Bibilhin ko yan pero dapat meron ka rin para twenny twenny tayo." masayang sambit ko kaya natatawang tumango naman siya.
We're in seventh grade at maraming nagbebenta ng mga ganito dito sa labas ng school, yung iba nga mga key chains pa.
"Manong, dalawa nga pong ganito." Saad ko kay Manong na nagtitinda.
"Naku! Paniguradong kayo ay isang matalik na magkaibigan. Nawa'y magtatagal ang pagkakaibigan ninyo." nakangiting saad ni manong nagtitinda kaya nagtinginan naman kami ni Eleanor at tinawanan ang mukha ng isa't isa.
"Opo naman po manong!" Masiglang saad ni Eleanor.
"I agree! El and I were like sisters! We're inseparable!" Pagbibida ko naman kay Manong kaya napangiti ito. Nang maibigay na sa amin ang bracelet ay agad na kaming nagbayad at nagpaalam na kay Manong bago umalis.
We walked at the edge of the road while talking and laughing at each other. It's our tinatawag na 'gawain' or 'bardagulan'.
***
We we're so happy back then, it was one of our happy memories together.
Pero parang hanggang sa memories na lang yun.
Napapatulo ang mga luha ko and all of a sudden ay naramdaman kong nanikip nanaman ang dibdib ko at kinakapos nanaman ng hininga.
Oh god. Not now.
Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko ng hindi na talaga ako makahinga ng maayos, feel ko anumang oras ay mahuhugutan na ako ng hininga.
I tried to grab my phone in the table near my bed to call my doctor but I failed. Hindi ko na kaya.
"Catiana? Why don't you just open the door and let's talk?" Saad nito, ngayon ko lang naalala na nasa labas pala ito. I need her help.
I tried to stand up pero natumba lang ako dahilan para makagawa ito ng ingay.
"Hei-Heid, he-help me." mahinang usal ko.
Bago pa mandilim ang paningin ko ay narinig kong kinalabog nito ang pintuan.
"God! Are you okay? What's happening, Cat? Open this goddamn door!"
Heidi's POV
"God! Are you okay? What's happening, Cat? Open this goddamn door!" I shouted loudly but I did not get any response coming from her. I heard a loud bang inside her room that's why I felt so nervous while standing here.
I didn't even know if there is some spare key here or it's inside her room.
I immediately run downstairs to ask the maids for spare key of Catiana's room and luckily they have some. It was actually from Yaya Sisa but since she's not here, she handed it to the other maids.
I also tell one of the maids to follow me uptairs.
I didn't know but as I try to unlock the door, my hands was shaking so hard.
God! I'm freaking out!
When I finally unlocked it, I felt like my whole body covered with cold and my knees weaken when I saw Catiana's body lying on the floor and unconscious.
I instantly go to her and look at her, she's so pale like a paper.
I saw the maid and she's also shocked but I didn't bother and I just quickly command her.
"Please tell Manong Roger to ready the car and tell the other maids to help. We need to take Catiana to the hospital!"
***
While we're on our way to the hospital, I can't help not to cry. I also tell Manong Roger to drive faster.
I was so worried about Cat's condition that's why I called her parents without any hesitation.
"He-Hello? Tita Aurora?" I said while Tita Aurora is in the other line.
"Oh, Heidi hija. Why did you call?" She asked. I nervously told her about Catiana's state.
"Catiana needs you right now. She's sick and now she's unconscious, were heading to the hospital right now." I said, I heard how she gasped and how nervous she is. I know that she's scared and panicking right now.
She ended up the call but before that, she told me that they on their way.
***
"Tita..." I saw Tito and Tita Aurora walking in the hallway so I get their attention.
"Where's my daughter?" She asked me and I just told her that she's inside.
I saw how her tears flow while Tito was comforting her. Tito took a deep breath and asked me.
"What happened?" I swallowed hard as I remember what Catiana told me and asked me a promise. But I think, I cannot do that anymore. I need to tell them because they need to know.
"Catiana, she's sick Tito. She's been suffering from a Congenital Heart Disease." I heard how Tita Aurora cried with in deep pain and I saw how Tito stiffened.
"She told me to keep this a secret but her condition is getting worse and you need to know because you are her parents." I said.
A few minutes later, a doctor approached us and tell us everything regarding to Catiana's condition.
"Sad to say but the patient's condition is getting worse. It's either she'll undergo heart transplant or not, still there is possibility that her life is still at stake. Even if she undergoes a heart transplant, her life will no longer be normal as it was. We can't say when, but she might be in a Sudden Cardiac Death reason for her to lose her life. I'm saying this for you to be aware."
I am on my knees right now after I heard the doctor's explanation about Catiana's condition.
"She lost consciousness because of Cardiac Syncope it is common to a patient who have Congenital Heart Disease." The doctor explained everything but the only thing that keeps on my mind was Catiana's life is at stake.
My tears were falling like a river as I remember how Catiana and I met.
I saw Tita Aurora and Tito crying so hard too. It's just pity that they have no idea about this.
What if, I didn't tell them? Gosh.
I can't lose Catiana. I can't lose my friend.