Mabilis ang pagtakbo ni Michelle sa corridor ng ospital. Kanina, habang nasa opisina siya ay biglang tumawag sakanya si Tito Adrian. Ito kasi ang bantay ni Adam sa ospital since kailangan asikasuhin ni Tita Alex at Ate Alexis ang business din nila.
"Michelle! Si Adam nasa ER, he fainted kanina. H-Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko."
As soon as she heard that news, she immediately went to the hospital. Doon dumiretso siya sa ER pero hindi niya nakita roon si Tito Adrian. Paakyat siya sa emergency exit nang masalubong niya si Tito Adrian sa corridor.
"Tito.." hingal na tawag niya rito. "Ano po nangyari?"
Huminga ito ng malalim. Inalalayan niya ito na maupo muna sila sa bench.
"Naglalakad-lakad lang siya sa loob ng kwarto niya nang magpaalam ako na bibili ng pagkain. Pagbalik ko nasa sahig siya at walang malay. Dumudugo rin iyong sugat niya sa ulo. Natakot ako, hija. A-Ayoko mawalan ng anak."
Nauunawaang tinignan niya ito. Inalo niya si Tito Adrian. "Ano po ang sabi ng doktor?"
Yumuko ito sa papel na hawak. "Okay naman daw siya. Dahil sa sugat sa ulo, magkakaroon daw talaga ng mga headaches si Adam, may ibang tolerable, iyong iba naman ay hindi kaya kailangan ng pain relievers. Natyempuhan kanina na sobrang sakit siguro kaya nahimatay ito. Natama ang ulo sa sahig kaya nadugo ang sugat. Pero sabi ng doktor ay okay na siya."
Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. "Mabuti naman po. Alam na po ba nila Tita?"
Umiling ito at huminga ng malalim. "Hindi pa. Ayoko naman mag-alala sila masyado. Mamaya ko nalang sasabihin kapag nandito na sila."
"Mabuti pa nga po. Tara na sa loob tito." aya niya rito.
Pagpasok nila sa kwarto ni Adam ay tulog pa ito. Umupo siya sa upuan sa may tabi ng kama nito at pinagmasdan ang mukha nito.
"What happened to you?" naiiyak niyang tanong sa natutulog na si Adam.
She held his hand and squeezed it. She closed her eyes and shed a tear for him.
"Babe! Smile!"
Natatawang inilayo niya ang camera na hawak ni Adam mula sakanya.
"Stop it. Ang haggard ko kaya!"
Hinila siya ni Adam at ineksamina ang mukha niya. "Haggard? Saan banda? Ganda ganda kaya ng girlfriend ko!"
Ngumuso siya. "Talaga?"
"Oo naman!"
"Hindi mo ko ipagpapalit?"
"Never!"
She smiled and hugged him.
Nagising si Michelle nang maramdaman niyang may humahaplos sa buhok niya. Pag-angat niya ng kanyang mukha ay nakita niyang gising na si Adam at pinagmamasdan siya. She checked her phone. It's already six pm at may dalawang missed calls siya mula kay Brent. Nakalimutan niya itong itext kanina sa sobrang pagmamadali.
"Gising ka na pala. Gusto mo kumain?" she asked Adam while typing a message to Brent saying she's at the hospital.
"Let's.. let's start again."
Kunot-noong tinignan niya si Adam.
'What?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya rito.
"Help me Chelle. Save me from this misery." he begged, his eyes are glistening with tears.
She surveyed the whole room. Lights were dimmed and silang dalawa lang ang tao roon. Tinignan niya ulit si Adam. Seryoso ang mukha nito pero kita sa mga mata ang sakit.
"You promised me that you would help me." he said.
Huminga siya ng malalim. "I promised that I would visit you often."
Adam held her hand tightly. "Help me forget her, Chelle. Let's start again, please.."
Isang malutong na sampal ang binigay niya rito. Umiiyak siya sa nakikita niya.
Umiiyak siya sa sitwasyon nito. Naaawa siya dahil bakit kailangan pagdaan pa nito ito ngayon. Hindi na tama ang pagrarason ni Adam. He needs to wake up.
"What happened to you?" she asked him, almost shivering at her words. "Hindi ka ganyan, Adam."
Adam looked at her with those piercing eyes. He's crying also. His lips are in a thin line, obviously holding himself with his anger. "How about you?" he shot back. "What happened to you? Hindi ka naman din ganyan, Michelle."
She scoffed because of his words.
Tumingala siya at kumurap-kurap para matigil siya sa pag-iyak niya. "Iniwan ka lang ni Jen, Adam. It's not the end of the world."
"Hindi mo alam ang nararamdaman ko." he bitterly said.
"Alam ko." she immediately answered. Nilapitan niya ito at tinignan ng diretso.
"Alam na alam ko, Adam. Dahil ganyan din iyong naramdaman ko nang iwan mo ko." mariin ang pagkakabigkas niya sa bawat salitang lumabas sa kanyang bibig.
"Chelle.." gulat na sabi ni Adam.
Huminga siya ng malalim at pinunasan ang luha niya. "Nang mag-break tayo, pakiramdam ko.. kinuhanan ako ng karapatang mabuhay. Kasi nakadepende ako sayo. Umiikot iyong mundo ko sayo.
I tried hard to get you back pero ikaw ang lumayo at umayaw kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na tigil na."
"Chelle.."
"Can I talk first?" sabi niya. Nang hindi kumibo si Adam ay naupo siya muli sa monoblock chair sa gilid ng kama nito. "I was eager to erase you in my life. Iniisip ko nga na paano mo ako nagawang kalimutan kaagad? Kasi nung mga panahong iyon, ang hirap eh. I was too desperate to forget and replace you just to show you and the others that I can do the same. That I can do much better. I wanted you to regret leaving me, hurting me, giving up on me and breaking your promises. Pero mali pala iyong pag-iisip ko na iyon. Instead of hating you, it became as if I was thanking you. Thanking you for leaving me. Kasi natuto akong mahalin naman ang sarili ko."
"I'm sorry, Chelle.."
Umiling siya at hinawakan ang kamay nito. "It's okay, Adam. I'm sorry too."
Ito naman ang huminga ng malalim.
"Time got in between us. Both of us were starting our careers. Nakain ako ng ambisyon ko na naneneglect na pala kita. I'm sorry I fell out of love. I'm sorry." umiiyak nitong sabi.
She smiled and brushed his hair. "Okay na, Adam. I'm okay now. I'm happy now."
Sandaling katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan nilang dalawa matapos silang mag-usap tungkol sa nakaraan nila. She felt good. More than she ever imagined.
She got to say to him those words she kept in her for a long time. Wala naman na rin kasi sakanya pero masaya siya at naipaalam niya iyon kay Adam.
"What happened to us?" sabay nilang nasambit. Nagkatinginan sila ni Adam at parehas na natawa.
Tumikhim siya. "We grew up." she answered.
Adam smiled and looked outside the window. "You grew up while I'm still the same idiot that neglects his girl."
Natawa siya. "Hmm, medyo nga."
Adam glared at her but she knows that he was just kidding.
"Thank you for loving me, Chelle. I know I don't deserved it but still, thank you."
"Deserve mo ang pagmamahal ko sayo noon Adam. You were a good boyfriend. You loved me with all your heart. That's more than enough."
"Pero nasaktan kita."
"And it's natural. We hurt when we love, 'di ba? Remember when you used to tell me that before? Okay na. Let's close that chapter in our life and just take the good memories and lessons to the future."
"Thank you, Michelle."
She smiled at him. "If mahal mo si Jen, magpagaling ka. Hanapin mo siya at suyuin mo siya. Ganoon talaga, lalaki ka at medyo ikaw din naman ang may kasalanan."
Inungusan siya ni Adam. "Oo na. You don't have to rub it in my face."
"Dapat lang! Para magtanda ka!"
Natawa si Adam sakanya. "Oo na. Sige na, umuwi ka na. Kaya ko naman na. Parating na rin sila Mommy."
Tumayo siya at inilahad ang kamay niya rito. "I know na sinabi ko noon na hindi ko kayang makipag-friends sayo but I take it back. Friends?"
Masayang inabot ni Adam ang kamay niya. "Friends."
Nagpaalam na siya rito at nang malapit na siya sa pinto ay tinawag siya nito.
"You don't have to come everyday, Chelle. Visit me when you can."
She nodded and waved at him. Paglabas niya ay tinignan niya ang phone niya.
To: Brent ❤
I'm at the hospital. I'm sorry, dinala kasi sa ER si Adam and Tito Adrian was panicking.
---
From: Brent ❤
Okay. Ingat ka.
If you're done there, come back to me quick.
I love you, Michelle Ford.
---
"Adam Martin? Binibisita mo ex mo?" nakataas na kilay na tanong ni Connor na hindi niya alam kung saan lupalop nanggaling at bigla-bigla nalang sumusulpot sa harap niya.
She crossed her arms and matched his stare. "Yes. Why?"
"Bakit?" he asked na may tonong tila ba napakatanga ng sagot niya.
"And why not?" she shot back.
Huminga ng malalim si Connor at tinignan siya ng mariin. "Michelle." he said in his deadly voice. Seriously, she got chills when she heard him. It's the first time that Connor used that voice to her. Nakakatakot ha.
"He got into an accident. I was just visiting him." amin niya.
"Okay. Let's go, pauwi ka na ba?"
Tumango siya. Iginiya siya nito papuntang elevator. Pinindot nito ang basement.
"Why are you here, by the way?" she asked him.
"Binisita ko iyong uncle ko." tipid na sagot nito.
Nang makababa sila ay hinarap siya nito. "May kotse ka ba na dala? Ihahatid na kita kung wala."
Itinaas niya ang car keys niya. "Thanks. Sige na, ingat ka pauwi."
Tumango ito. Tatalikod na sana siya nang magsalita itong muli. "Hindi ako nagparaya para lang bumalik ka sa taong nanakit sayo. Remember Michelle, you're a rare gem."
She smiled at Connor. "I know, Con. And i already found my owner."
Sandaling tinitigan siya nito tapos ay ngumiti na - iyong ngiting tatak Connor na alam mo na may kalokohang lalabas sa bibig.
"Sige na, umuwi ka na at matulog. Laki ng eye bags mo."
Natawa siya pero imbes na patulan ito, yumakap siya rito. "Thanks, Con." ngiti niya nang humiwalay siya sa yakap. Kumaway siya rito at tumakbo papunta sa sasakyan niya.
Connor was just standing there. His hands in his pockets. Nang madaanan ng kotse niya ito ay bumusina siya para magpaalam. He just nodded at her directiom at sinundan lang siya ng tingin.
Nagda-drive siya nang biglang naalala niya ang mga panahong magkasama sila ni Brent. Lahat ng efforts na ibinigay nito sakanya.
Iyong kulot na mahabang buhok nito.
Iyong blue na mata nito.
Iyong mga tats nito.
Tinignan niya tuloy ang tattoo niya sa palapulsuhan.
Freedom
That's what Brent gave her. Freedom.
She's free to do and say whatever she wants. He lets her do things on her own way without meddling. He was just there.. standing beside her, pushing her whenever she felt scared, lifting her spirit whenever she's losing her confidence, and most importantly, he's there continuously loving her for a long time.
She wiped her tears that she didn't even noticed that were already falling. She made a turn and drove her car to Brent's house. Alam niya na wala ito sa condo nito dahil nasabi nito kahapon sakanya iyon.
Nang makarating ay wala na siyang pakealam kung hindi man niya na-park ng maayos ang kotse niya. Mabilis ang paghinga niya habang tinatadtad ng pindot amg doorbell.
Maya-maya lang ay binuksan ni Brent ang gate na halatang naiinis pero nang makita siya nito ay kaagad napalitan iyon ng pag-aalala dahil sa umiiyak nga siya.
"Michelle.. why are you crying?" he asked.
Mabilis na dinamda niya ng yakap si Brent. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry."
"Shh. Stop crying first." he soothed her by rubbing his hands to her back. "Let's get inside." aya nito sakanya.
Iginiya siya nito sa may living room at pinaupo sa sofa tapos ay nag-squat ito sa harapan niya at tiningala siya. His thumb wiped her tears.
"Tell me what happened. Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?" he asked.
Sunud-sunod na iling ang ginawa niya. "I'm sorry." she cried.
"Hey.." he softly called her. "Why are you saying sorry?"
"I don't want you to feel neglected. I love you, Brent. Alam ko na hindi okay sayo na palagi nalang ako bumibisita kay Adam."
Hindi ito nakaimik kaya nakumpirma niya na tama nga ang hinala niya. Niyakap niya ito. "Bakit hindi ka nagsasabi?"
Huminga ito ng malalim. Umupo ito sa coffee table sa harapan niya. "Okay lang naman talaga, Michelle. Naiintindihan ko naman kasi. I don't want you to choose. I want you to do whatever you want."
Huminga siya ng malalim at hinaplos ang mukha ni Brent. "Why do you love me?"
Umangat ang gilid ng labi nito at hinawakan ang kamay niya na nasa pisngi nito. "There are a billion reasons why I love you. You got me the moment you closed your eyes, blew your candle and smiled at the bar with your friends during your twenty-first birthday. I love you because you're you. No pretense. Just you."
Tears were starting to fall again. Natawa sakanya si Brent. Lumipat ito sa tabi niya at niyakap siya. "My crybaby." asar nito sakanya.
Ganoon lang sila ni Brent hanggang sa mapatahan siya nito. Maya-maya'y nagtanong ito sakanya.
"How's Adam?"
She looked at him and sighed. "He's good." she answered then kinwento niya rito ang napag-usapan nila ni Adam. She didn't leave any bit of information behind. She told him all of it because he deserves her honesty.
Hindi nagsalita si Brent matapos niya magkwento kaya naman bigla siyang natakot.
"Why are you not saying anything?" she whispered, careful at her words.
Brent sighed and looked at her. "I.. don't know what to say."
Huminga siya ng malalim at ikinulong ang mukha nito sakanyang mga palad.
"Listen to me."
Tumango si Brent sa sinabi niya.
"I want you to know that my past is my past. It's written in stone now. It will be remembered but will never be repeated. And as for you, you are my 'now', my favorite 'what was', 'what is' and 'what will be' so please stay with me. I have you and it's more than enough, Brent."
Nakatitig lang si Brent sakanya. He tucked some loose strand of her hair behind her ear then brushed his thum across her cheek then in one swift move he is already kissing her. Slowly taking his time, devouring her lips. Sucking her bottom lip then nipping the upper. His tongue delved inside her mouth, tastinh every bits of her, making her feel that she is worth it that she is the only one.
She was the one who broke the kiss because she can't breathe. His forehead rested on hers. Their lips are touching as they catch up on their breaths.
"You're mine, Michelle. I waited for so long to have you in my arms. I promised to myseld that I will be the guy who will love you right. The guy that will be worth your love. At ngayong akin ka na, hinding-hindi kita pakakawalan pa dahil balak ko na panghabang buhay kitang mamahalin."
"Sayo ako, Brent. Wala akong balak kumawala sa mga braso mo. I love you so much."