[Rhea's Pov]
"Jael!!" I cried out, tears streamed down my face.
I felt a pull in the depths of my being when I found her, lying on the bed, her eyes gently closing with a faint smile lingering on her lips. Everything seemed to blur, devoid of color, shrouded in an overwhelming blackness. A darkness surrounded me, leaving only her form visible, her body resting peacefully.
I cradled her cold body in my arms, noticing traces of black liquid on her face. When I touched her neck, her pulse was fading away. Her once-warm body was now cold and motionless. My entire existence drenched in a flood of agony as a wave of shock and heartbreaking despair overcame me. I felt as though the entire universe had collapsed, leaving me alone in a wide sea of hopelessness.
As I held her, my hands shook and my fingers traced the lines of her face as I desperately hoped to sense some warmth or maybe a glimmer of life. However, there was nothing but the eerie silence of death. The truth of her absence struck me like a never-ending hurricane, ripping through my soul and leaving a gaping hole that seemed unfillable.
My cheeks were dripping with tears as they carried the burden. Each sob was a terrible reminder of the love we had once shared and the unrealized future, like a dagger piercing my heart.
“No! No! Stay with me! Jael! Stay with me! Baby, noooo! Stay with me! Please! Please! Stay with me, baby!!" I screamed, my strength giving way, plunging me into darkness. In that moment, I was consumed by fear, terrified of losing her.
"Baby...no..." I whispered amid my tears, which flowed like an endless river. It pained me deeply to see her lifeless form in my arms, “Jael...” my voice broke as I muttered her name due to the enormity of the loss.
Her lifeless body lay against me, her face placid as though she were simply dozing off. It was agonizing to see the contrast between her serene demeanor and the awful reality of her departure. I clutched to her, trying to force her to open her eyes and smile at me once more as if by pure force of will I could bring her back.
But reality persisted in being harsh and brutal. My heart broke into a million irreparable pieces as I was left alone, cradling the person I loved, her spirit gone. Her absence left me hollow, broken, and completely adrift in a world that had all of a sudden become unbearably gloomy. The pain of her absence rang through every fiber of my being.
"Frey?" a voice, soft yet defeated, trembled through the air as I sobbed, cradling her lifeless body in my arms.
"Freyja..." Vien's voice cracked as she knelt down, her tears mingling with mine. I gently wiped away the black liquid staining her eyes, noticing the small remnants of it inside her closed eyelids.
"No...Frey, no...this is my fault," she whispered, burdened by guilt. I couldn't find words to reply, my tears flowing ceaselessly, uncertain if they would ever stop.
"Rex! Wake up, this can't be! Gumising ka, Rex, tangina! Rex!" Vivien's brother's desperate cries echoed in the room. Jael's lifeless body remained in my arms, but I was numb to the chaos around us.
Her friends, Charlotte, Savannah, and Raya, stood there, witnessing this heartbreaking scene. All of us were kneeling, engulfed in the tragedy unfolding before us.
I had arrived too late...
[Vivien's Pov]
My heart ceased its beat, my breaths came heavy, and tears streamed down my face as I witnessed the girl I had always loved lying there, cradled by the woman before her.
I knelt down, yearning to embrace her lifeless form and apologize for not saving her, for failing to keep the promise I made to her fifteen years ago.
"Call me V, because my name is Vivien!" I cheerfully introduced myself to the beautiful young girl before me.
“Vivien?”
“Oo, you're Freyja? Ano sakit mo?" I inquired gently.
"I have a heart problem, but I'll be okay because my mommy and daddy are already looking for donors," she replied optimistically.
"Really? So, you'll be staying here?" I asked, although I couldn't ignore the pallor on her delicate face.
"Yes!" she replied, her happiness evident, though I couldn't help but notice the underlying fragility in her voice.
Pansamatala muna akong andito sa San Isidro Hospital kasi my younger brother got sick as both my parents were busy ako muna ang naiwan.
“You love painting?” I inquired, pumasok ulit ako sa ward kung nasaan siya. Malimit na akong bumibisita sa room niya to talk to her, and spend my spare time with her.
“Yes, I love painting.” Seryosong sagot nito sakin.
“Sunflower ʼyan diba?” I asked again. She slowly lifted her gaze on me and smiled.
“Mhmm, I love sunflower.” Masuyong sagot niya.
“Bakit gusto mo ng sunflower?” tanong ko ulit.
“Kasi...” she said while brushing the brush on the canvas, “It means, hope!”
“Hope?”
“Oo, when you see sunflower...” putol putol na sagot nito as she's engrossed and fucos on her painting, “It reminds as there will be always hope hehe..”
I nodded, “I'm not good with colors pero willing ako magpaturo sayo or paint ka ng sunflower for me.”
“Ayaw mo?” tanong ko.
“I want but mommy said we'll be going to the USA kasi they will transfer me there...” malungkot na sagot niya.
“Bakit?”
Wala akong sagot na natanggap mula sa kanya nang napahawak ito sa dibdib niya at nagsimulang umiyak dahil sa sakit.
I quickly ran outside and called for help, mabilis namang nagsidatingan ang mga nurse as I look at her from outside, I saw her pityful eyes, they were looking for hope and help. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi umiyak at patakbong bumalik sa ward kung nasaan ang kapatid at papa ko.
“Oh, Crixel? Bakit ka umiiyak?” Dad asked me, he's wearing a complete army uniform because he's a high rank general.
“Papa si Frey, ayaw ko siya mawala, gusto ko siyang tulungan.” Iyak ko sa kanya. Kilala niya si Frey kasi isang famous na engineer ang daddy nito.
“Matutulungan mo siya pagdating ng panahon, not now because you're still a kid. For now, the only thing you can do is pray for her na gumaling siya.” He said as he knelt down facing me and kissed my forehead.
Bumalik ulit ako sa ward niya after that day at napansin kong paalis na sila. I hurriedly walk towards her. I felt sad and lonely at the same time because I know this will be the last that I'm gonna see her.
“V, will I ever see you again?” she asked.
“Yes! And when that time comes, tutulungan kita.” I responded.
“Promise?”
“I promise!”
Umupo ako sa tabi niya and she scoffed closer to me and slowly wrap her arms on my body. She's hugging me.
“Let's see each other soon,” she assured.
I held onto those words for what felt like an eternity, eagerly anticipating the day when I would become an adult, believing that fate would eventually bring us together.
"Freyja Mercedez?" I whispered, clutching an enrollment certificate in my hand. Her face, etched in my memory, was unmistakable.
My joy overflowed when I discovered that she was the young girl from the hospital. Besides keeping our childhood promise, I found myself irresistibly drawn to her from the very moment I laid eyes on her.
I shadowed her, ensuring her safety. I trailed behind her to the coffee shop and even accompanied her home in the evenings, her parents recognizing me as the kid back then and entrusting their daughter's well-being to me.
Yet fate, ever playful, gradually revealed that she had fallen in love with my co-professor, though she never explicitly confessed. It became increasingly evident that something was blossoming between them.
Despite it all, my love for her persisted, intertwined with my commitment to our childhood vow. I did everything within my power to protect her, even if it shattered me each time. I went to great lengths to ensure her safety, even when she found solace in Rhea's arms,
and not mine.
Mahal na mahal ko siya, and I didn't expect my feelings for her will grow increasingly day by day.
The night I confessed to her, it was such a heartbreaking moment for me. The love that I can't have.
No matter how much I wish I could, I cannot control how she feels and I understand that.
She's not a bad person because of not reciprocating my love, Frey's not a bad person.
It is simply because she is not meant for me, and I am not meant for her.
What mattered most was the girl before us, drenched in blood, her eyes closed. I couldn't fathom a life without her, even if she doesn't ever belong to me.
“Cri...xel..” a soft voice, uttering a word in my back accompanied by Dion's cries.
Lumingon ako dito, still crying, parang binuhasan ng malamig na tubig ang katawan ko nang makitang maraming tama ng baril ang katawan ni Gab.
I hurriedly crawl beside him, anticipating for his words to come out in his mouth, his mouth drench in blood.
“For..mula...” I can sense na nahihirapan na siyang magsalita at nag-aagaw buhay na. I closed my eyes while caressing his forehead, “S-save her...”
Walang namutawing salita mula sa mga bibig ko, sadyang ang hagulhul lang at iyak ang nananaig.
“Freyja...save her..”
How? Her pulse faded...
Mariin akong hinawakan ni Gab sa collar, he used his last strength to pull me closer.
“Save her...that's my last mission, I failed. Please save her for me, that young girl.”
“Save my student...” he stated and his strength waned after that.
“Rex! Rex! No, don't do this to me! Wake up tangina gumising ka, Rex!” my brother's cradling his body.
Gab's eyes remained wide open, devoid of any signs of life or awareness. His body bore the gruesome evidence of multiple gunshot wounds, a testament to the sacrifice he had made. He shielded her, taking the brunt of the bullets meant for her, accepting his fate with unwavering resolve even before death claimed him.
He was shot while covering her body.
My own tears fell freely, mirroring the raw sorrow that engulfed us. It was a cocktail of disbelief, anguish, and an overwhelming sense of loss. The room felt like a vacuum, devoid of hope, consumed by the darkness of the moment. Their cries echoing the depths of their anguish. I could feel their pain, a tangible force that weighed on my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Every sob seemed to reverberate through the room, carrying the weight of a thousand heartbreaks.
The ambulance arrived swiftly, paramedics taking swift action at the scene.
"Ma'am tumabi na po kayo, we'll handle her body," one of the paramedics informed Rhea, who was still crying, her ear pressed to Freyja's chest, desperate to hear a heartbeat.
I rose, my eyes swollen from tears, while Rhea's cries continued.
"Ma'am, please release her body to us. We'll take care of her," the paramedic pleaded.
I approached them, slowly.
"No! She's still alive! She's not dead!" Rhea protested desperately to them.
"Rhea, let go of her body," I said, my voice soft and weary. Hinawakan ko ang malamig na katawan ng babaeng mahal ko nang lubos.
"Vien...! Don't take her away from me, no! Please no!" Rhea cried, her movements frantic, tapping Freyja's chest, gripping her hands, and pressing her ear to Freyja's mouth.
"Rhea..." I whispered, tears streaming down my face. Yet there was no sign of life from the girl lying before us.
Then, a woman entered the scene wearing a red dress.
"Kuya!?" she exclaimed, immediately kneeling down beside Gab's body.
Lumingon si Rhea sa babaeng ngayon ay umiiyak, dahan-dahan niyang binaba ang katawan ni Frey sa kamay ng mga paramedics.
In an instant, she retrieved a gun from her back and aimed it at the woman's head.
"You killed her! I'm gonna fucking kill you! This is all your doings, this is all your fault!" she yelled, prompting me to swiftly stand up and intervene, trying to reach for the gun.
"Rhea, no!" I cried out, embracing her tightly to halt her movements.
"Let go of me, Vien! Let me kill this woman, I'll take her life! I will fucking kill them all!" she persisted, her resolve unwavering.
Her struggle was fierce, and I struggled to restrain her. Fortunately, the police and backups came to our aid, preventing her from harming the woman who wept beside Gab's lifeless body.
"Vien. . please. . release me..." Rhea uttered weakly.
"Rhea..." I wept, holding her close. "You can't erase one sin by committing another...there's still hope, she can be saved. Freyja can be saved," I implored.
"I can't bear to lose her, Vien... If God takes her away, what's the point of my life without her?" she slowly sank to the ground, tears streaming down her face. I gently took the gun from her trembling hands.
"I can't go on without her..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "She's my everything, she's my life..." she sobbed, her face buried in her hands.
The responders took Freyja's body, leaving us enveloped in a profound sense of loss and despair.
Mabilis na sumunod si Rhea sa kumuha ng katawan ni Frey at naiwan akong nakatulala sa kawalan, nakatitig sa mga dugong kumalat sa sahig.
“Miss Crixel...I can help her..” It's Gab's sister, her voice accompanied by her cries, tone with guilt, despair, and loss.
[Rhea's POV]
How can I go on without her? She meant everything to me, my life, my breath, the one I cherished the most.
How can I greet each new day without her by my side?
How can I taste food without the magic touch of her cooking?
How can I relive our shared experiences when she's not here to share them with me?
I clung to her lifeless hand in the ambulance, tears blurring my vision as medics worked tirelessly around me, attempting to revive her. My prayers to God were desperate, begging for her survival. The journey to the hospital felt like an eternity, each moment passing with unbearable agony.
Upon arrival, she was rushed into the ICU, and I was left outside, sitting on the cold floor. I continued to pray, hoping for a miracle. Time dragged on, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.
Soon, her parents arrived, their faces filled with anguish and despair.
“Nasaan ang anak ko!??” Mr. Mercedez shouted as they reached the door in front of me. “My daughter, Freyja!?” they cried.
“S-she...” I uttered, my voice cracked, facing the floor. “I-insi. . .de..” I finished.
Their tears mirrored my own as we confronted the nightmare we never anticipated.
Witnessing their agony and hope for their daughter's survival only intensified my own pain. The thought of losing her weighed heavily on my heart, a pain so sharp it felt like an instant demise.
Her breath had faded away while I cradled her earlier, leaving me uncertain about the fate of her heart. I clung to the hope that it would beat again.
"Please, Jael. Stay with me, don't leave me alone, please..." I whispered amidst my tears.
As time crawled by, I refused to leave the ICU door, clinging to the slim hope of hearing positive news about her condition.
When the door finally opened, I rushed towards the doctor clad in a lab gown, desperation etched on Mr. and Mrs. Mercedez's faces.
"Doctor, how is she? Our daughter, how is she?" Mr. Mercedez sobbed, gripping the doctor's hand.
"Is my daughter going to be okay?" Mrs. Mercedez cried.
I observed the doctor, who seemed to be holding back his emotions, as he addressed us one by one. My body trembled with nervous anticipation.
"Her heart has started beating again," the doctor began, bringing a flicker of hope to my heart. Tears streamed down my cheeks, but then...
"I'm sorry to say this, but her heartbeat is irregular. She's fighting to survive, she doesn't want to give up. However, if we can't find a solution, she might not make it past tomorrow," the doctor continued, his words sending a shockwave through me. "Our machines can only support her not so long, and her eyes show signs of conflict. But the crucial issue is her heart, we need a solution for her heart."
“Solution?” my voice cracked.
The doctor's gaze bore into me. "Yes, Miss. We've discovered that the heart in her now isn't her original one—it's a transplant. Unfortunately, it can't be replaced again, and her heart is rejecting our medications and treatments," he explained, his eyes fixed on mine. "It appears her heart is searching for something, which is why it's rejecting our medicines. Whatever it is, please find a solution as soon as possible," he concluded.
"By the way, I'm Dr. Aaron Venezuella. I'll leave you here while we take care of your daughter, and..." The doctor's eyes returned to me.
"I'm her girlfriend," I interjected. I noticed the doctor's raised eyebrow and her parents slowly turning their gazes towards me.
“Your girlfriend...” then he step inside the room again.
I stood my ground, unshaken. Whatever consequences speaking the truth might bring, I didn't care. She was all that mattered to me.
I anticipated a stronger reaction from them, but all they did was sigh and smile bitterly. I watched as Mr. Mercedez sank to the floor, sit position, his hands covering his face while his wife gently patted his back.
"Where can we find the formula?" he cried out in despair.
"Anton..."
"Formula?" I questioned, puzzled.
"Our daughter needs it. Montejo has the solution. They hold the formula. I have to talk to Gustavo," he declared, his determination shining through.
"Gustavo was shot dead, Mr. Gustavo was shot dead," I informed him.
I recalled Gab's lifeless body shielding Jael's during the gunfire we heard earlier, as if he had sacrificed himself to catch the bullets.
I didn't understand why he did it, but his sacrifice was monumental. I used to perceive him as my enemy, but I was mistaken. In that moment, he saved my love even though it cost him his life.
A soldier had shot his father multiple times.
"If he's dead, then there's no hope....Pat, paano na ang anak natin?” he cried again. They're the only ones who know where it is," Mr. Mercedez said.
Pain gripped me once more, urging me to find the solution no matter what. Time was slipping away, and my love had only a short window.
Nathalia! She's still alive!
I sprinted down the hallway, my determination unwavering, with my father by my side I know he can help me.
Amidst the chaos, I spotted Vivien clutching a briefcase as she ran.
"Vien!" I called out, disregarding the bustling nurses around us.
She caught up with me, her breaths labored. "Freyja?" she inquired, desperate for news.
"Vien, her heart is beating again, but it needs—"
"I have it, let's go. She'll be saved." She revealed the case and grabbed my hand, propelling us forward.
Despite my intense dislike for this woman, seeing her efforts for the girl I loved made me reconsider my hatred. In that moment, I felt gratitude toward her.
Thank you, Vien. Thank you.
[One Week After]
I found myself at my office, attempting to fulfill my duties as a professor. Leaving my profession was not an option. After finishing my classes, I rushed to the hospital where she was being treated. It had been a week since the incident, and she still hadn't woken up. Despite my exhaustion from teaching, I dedicated myself to taking care of her. I even brought my essentials to the hospital, choosing to sleep in her room rather than going home.
Thanks to the formula, her heart had stabilized, courtesy of Vien. We all anxiously waited for her to regain consciousness.
It's afternoon, I am preparing to leave, my phone suddenly rang. I answered it promptly.
"Hello?" I said.
"Is this Ma'am Rhea?" her mother's voice came through the phone.
"My daughter has woken up—is that Rhea?" When I heard her words, my heart leaped with joy.
"She's asking for you—let me talk to her! Where is she? I can't s—" The call abruptly ended.
I hurriedly made my way to the university's ground floor and drove as fast as I could to the Venezuella hospital. A mix of happiness and nervousness engulfed me.
Why was she shouting?
Upon entering the hospital, I immediately headed for the elevator and made my way to her room, my steps filled with anticipation.
Upon entering the room, my heart fluttered with hope and fear, eager for her awakening after a week-long coma. However, the scene before me was far from what I anticipated. Clad in a patient gown, her eyes, usually full of life, now reflected sheer terror as she cried out desperately.
"Hindi ako makakita! I need to talk to her! I can't see!" her pleas hung heavily in the air, piercing the sterile atmosphere of the room.
Her parents, their faces etched with concern, attempted to soothe her, but her resistance was fierce and unyielding. An inexplicable heaviness settled in the room, amplifying my worry. As I approached her slowly, tears clouding my vision.
"Jael...." I uttered her name, she momentarily ceased her struggles, her head swiveling as if she sensed my presence. However, her vacant gaze never met mine, she couldn't perceive me.
"Jael. . .it's me...” I murmured, my voice quivering with emotion. Yet, she remained oblivious to my existence, trapped in a world I couldn't penetrate. The painful truth hit me—the woman I loved was physically present, but a vital part of her seemed irretrievably lost, leaving me utterly powerless.
“Rhea!?” she exclaimed, hurriedly took her body from the bed, as she stepped down the floor, she suddenly falls mirroring my tears.
“Rhea!?” she cried, “Hindi kita makita, where are you? I can't see you.”
“Ma'am, hindi kita makita...” she cried, again.
She attempted to rise once more, my tears blurring the scene as I anticipated her stumbling. Swiftly, I caught her in my arms, holding her tightly.
"Baby, it's me. I'm here...calm down...I'm here," I softly reassured her, my own tears streaming down my cheeks as I embraced her.
"Don't leave me..." she cried, clinging to me desperately.
"I won't. Calm down. I'm here," I whispered, my tears mingling with hers as I gently caressed her hair and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.
Her sightless eyes betrayed her, a part of her shattered again, leaving me broken into pieces.
She eventually calmed down, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude for that. As the hours passed, I found myself carefully tucking a comforter around her body. Her parents entered the room again, their expressions a mix of gratitude and sorrow.
Approaching me slowly, her father spoke, "Thank you for helping us and taking care of our daughter, ma'am," his words laced with a bittersweet smile.
I sat beside her, gently caressing her hand while facing her parents.
"Our daughter was fragile as a child, unable to play like other kids. Watching her struggle with her heart condition was heartbreaking for us," Mr. Mercedez began, his gaze fixed on his peacefully sleeping daughter. "Para bigyan siya ng hobby na makakapagpasaya sa kanya, we created a room filled with acrylics and canvases, so she could indulge in painting without straining her heart at the same time waiting for her donor. We never expected her talent to blossom this much. She developed a love for colors and art. When it was time for her to choose a course, pinili naming art ang kukunin niya, aligning with her passion and her condition."
I listened intently, fully engaged in him.
"She enrolled at Glorious because they understood her situation, providing her with the support she needed. I was surprised when she expressed her desire to transfer to another school. Hindi ko matiis ang anak ko, she's my weakness, our everything."
"We didn't overly pamper her, we wanted her to learn her limitations and be self-reliant, knowing we might not always be by her side. I refrained from giving her a car, thinking it might pose challenges for her, but she quickly mastered driving in a short time," he shared. Both his wife and I were absorbed in his words.
"My daughter...she has big dreams, but given her current situation, I fear they might be beyond her reach," his voice trembled, and I couldn't bear to look at them.
Feeling utterly defeated and speechless, their words resonated with truth. Given her current condition, her dreams seemed destined to fade away. I couldn't bear the thought of witnessing her aspirations crumble.
I want her to achieve her goals.
"The doctors informed us that she has permanently lost her sight, and our pupils didn't match," he said, his voice breaking. "God knows I would do anything to save my daughter, to help her reach her dreams, even if it means sacrificing everything."
Overwhelmed by grief, I stepped out of the room, my heart heavy with the weight of her lost sight. Tears streamed down my face, unrelenting, as I grappled with the devastating reality before me. The thought of her never seeing the vibrant colors of the world or the beauty in everyday things was a crushing burden on my soul.
In the depths of my cries, I made a silent vow. I would do anything, absolutely anything, to ensure her survival. My love for her is boundless, and I am willing to go to any lengths to save her, even if it meant facing insurmountable challenges. The determination to find a way, a solution, gripped me tightly.
After half an hour, I found myself back at her room, guided by Dr. Aaron's instructions. Inside, her friends, Raya, Savannah, and Charlotte, were sitting vigilantly next to her still form, their eyes reflecting the shared despair of the situation.
"Good evening, Maam Rhea," Charlotte greeted me with a forced smile, though the sorrow in her eyes mirrored our mutual anguish.
I acknowledged her with a smile and a nod. Moments later, a nurse entered the room.
"Miss Rhea Blee Isfaela? Positive match, Dr. Aaron called for you," the nurse announced.
Her friends and parents turned their gaze towards me, unaware flickering in their eyes. With a reassuring smile. I approached the slumbering girl I loved, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead, then her lips.
"I love you, my favorite painter..." I whispered before stepping away.
I'm ready to sacrifice my brightness to bring sunshine back into her life, even if my own world would forever remain dimmed.