End Game 53
"All will be alright in time"
Sheliah Santibañez
Agad na ipinasok sa emergency room si Lucas. Hindi na kami pinayagan pang makalapit sa pintuan nito nila Kuya, nila Autumn at Art..
We are all in the brink of losing our minds. Natatakot kaming lahat para kay Lucas, natatakot ako para sa kaniya. I'm not willing to lose him like this, not like this.
He loves me.
He lied that he already moved on, he lied for his brother's happiness. My happiness. He sacrificed for me and Art. He gave me up on Art because he knew what my heart speaks. It speaks the truth that I've been so afraid and ashamed to say.
I broke him.
And I don't know what hurts more. To be hurted for a long time or to cause pain to someone who stood there by your side when you were at the deepest ocean floor of your depressing thoughts.
He was there when no one had the temerity to look after me. He saw the broken part of me, he saw me when I started to pick up the pieces of the mess my life has made. Nasa tabi ko si Lucas palagi, kahit ilang beses ko pa siyang ipinagtabuyan noon. Nanatili pa rin siya sa tabi ko, hindi man pisikal. But he was there.
He saved my life. My child's life.
Napansin kong may bumagsak na namang butil ng luha mula sa mata ko. I wiped it off. Lumapit sa akin si Autumn at kinuha niya ang dalawa kong mga kamay. Napatingin ako doon. "Bish, don't cry. He will be fine soon. Kilala mo naman 'yang si Lucas diba? He's a strong man."
I laid my eyes on her face. "He is." I answered. Pinagmasdan ako ang pintuan ng E.R. "Dahil kung hindi, baka ako na yung nasa loob ng kwarto na 'yan."
Autumm hugged me. "He loves you, he's a good friend."
A good friend...
He's more than any good friend, there's no exact words that I can utter to express my gratitude of having him in my life.
Humiwalay na ako sa yakap ni Autumn. My brothers looked at me. Kuya Jonathan has stepped forward. "H'wag ka na umiyak baby, magiging ayos din ang lahat." ngumiti siya ng pilit.
"Monica will pay for her crimes. I will make sure of it." Divina said at hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Kuya Jonathan. I didn't responded. She will definitely pay her debts of cruelty.
While they are discussing thing about that woman. I glanced at Art, he's in total silence. He's staring in a void, losing his mind, his sanity.
I am so sorry that this has to happen. Hindi ko kayang makita siyang ganito. Ang hirap makakita ng isang tao na nasasaktan ng sobra.
People should not check on me, people should check on you Art. I can handle myself at this situation, but I am completely sure that you can't bare to this. You've loss two people already, hindi mo na kakayanin pang mawalan ng kaibigan at kapatid. Hindi ko din kakayaning malugmok ka sa kalungkutan.
"Sheliah, gagaling din siya." Trina said to me and I just nodded at her. Nakatingin pa din ako kay Art. Lumapit sa akin si Trina at may sinabi siya sa akin sa isang napakahinang boses. "I want to give comfort towards Art but he seems unapproachable at this moment. He's in deep vain, nakakalungkot dahil hindi niya deserve 'tong mga nangyayari sa buhay niya. I am so hurted for him."
I agreed on her, siguro ayon nga talaga ang dahilan ng iba, maging ako. Leaving him alone to think with himself could at least help... Or not. Hindi ko alam Art.
Art has suddenly broke his silence. "I need air."
Kuya Trip placed his hand on his shoulder. "We'll stay here. Go, you need it bro. Your brother will be fine. You will be fine." hindi na siya sinagot pa ni Art at tuluyan na itong umalis.
I watched him leave until he completely vanished in our sights. Kumirot ang puso ko. He is the one who's more hurted here.
He had loss both of their parents at the same time. At ngayon, si Lucas ay nasa bingit naman ng kamatayan. I don't know how can I ease the pain he is suffering to right now.
Napahawak na lamang ako sa ulo ko out of frustration. Why is this all happening all at once? We need a break from chaos, we need a long-term break from conflicts.
Art needs a break from heartbreak.
And I need it to. I want and I need it for the both of us.
"You should go check your fiancé Sheliah." I took a glance at Trina and the rest of them agreed.
Fiancé...
"You're the one that he needs the most right now." Kuya Ryle said.
I know, and I need him too.
"Follow your heart princess. Ikaw lang ang pakikinggan ni Art, ikaw lang ang may kakayahang mapagaan ang loob niya. Help him lift his spirit and hopes up. Shelter him." Kuya Trip added.
I looked at them, I didn't say a word but my eyes speaks for me and they understand what it tells.
I looked at the door of the emergency room once more and I walked my way out of the place. You need to fight this Lucas.
The people in the hospital recognizes me as I walk through the hallway. Some people attempted to take a picture with me but I moved myself away. I heard curses and some other more violet reaction.
Do they know the meaning of respect?
I am very much aware na alam na nila kung ano ang nangyari ngayong araw. Alam kong pumutok na ang mga pangyayari na 'yon sa buong bansa, at pati na rin sa ibang parte pa ng mundo.
Or are they just dumb to know the boundaries between the public and the private life. Celebrities are humans too. I am only a human, we are only human.
Habang patuloy ako sa paglalakad. Laking gulat ko nang makakita ako ng isang grupo ng media na naka-abang sa pintuan patungong roof top.
Art is up there. Paano na ako makaka-akyat doon? I am pretty sure that they will shoot questions at me.
"Liah." napatingin ako sa likod ko at si Director Josephone iyon. I gasped.
"Director..."
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "I know a way, nag-shoot na kami dati dito. Let's go." I let her guide me onto the rooftop.
Nagtungo kami likod ng ospital, there is a door. Pagkapasok namin doon ay tumambad sa amin ang isang napakahahang hagdanan patungo sa rooftop. It will be a long climb for us.
Binitawan niya ang nga kamay ko at hinawakan niya ang dalawa kong braso. She looked at me and smiled. "I am happy that you and Art doesn't have to hide anymore. But I am also sad to know that his brother is heavily wounded. Liah, samahan mo si Art sa itaas. Iparamdam mo sa kaniya kung gaano siya kahalaga sa'yo at na kailangan niyang maging matatag."
I nodded at her. "Kahit hindi niyo na po sabihin 'yan... Gagawin ko. Salamat Director." bumitaw na ito sa pagkakahawak sa kamay ko. Narinig ko na naman ang ingay ng media na papalapit sa labas ng pinto. "They are here."
"Ako na bahala, umakyat ka na."
Umakyat ako sa hagdanan gaya ng sinabi niya. This hospital has 7 floors, nakakapagod umakyat. My hands are hurting and my chest is pounding so loud. Maaari akong mahulog dito isang maling hawak o apak ko lamang.
I stayed focus while climbing. I need to see Art.
Nang maka-akyat na ako, I saw him at the railing while looking at the sky. He is crying.
Parang sinasaksak ang puso ko sa tagpong ito. Hindi ko inaakala na makikita ko na kung paano siya masaktan, hindi ko inaakala na makikita ko na ang isang parte ni Art na ayaw na ayaw niyang ipakita sa amin. Ang pagiging mahina at malungkot.
Inihakbang ko ang aking mga paa palapit sa kaniya. Nang marating ko na ang likuran niya. Ipinatong ko ang kamay ko sa kaniyang balikat, napalingon siya sa akin. He was shocked.
"Sheliah..." he uttered. I hugged him tightly.
The wind is like a mixed harmony of a tragedy and calming song. Its soothing sound created a soothing sensation to us while our heart are attached the moment we crashed into an embrace. It is the moment that we felt that we are a one person that is divided into two. To love one another because we can't love ourself.
I let him drown himself on my body to serve as a comfort. I let him feel that I am here to cry with him. To let him know that everything will be better, that he will not be alone. That his brother won't leave him like this. That they will be happy.
Naramdaman kong mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakayakap sa akin ni Art. Umiinit na din ang pakiramdam niya, at naramdaman ko na din ang init ng mga luhang pumapatak sa batok ko.
I closed my eyes in pain. I am here.
"I am scared..." his voice cracked.
"He will be fine. You know your brother more than I do, alam mong malalagpasan niya 'to."
"Life is unpredictable Sheliah... Life is fairly unfair." I opened my eyes, he's right.
"If it's fairly unfair, then why are we here? Together? Life can have different odds, we are here to choose the right one. And I choose to recieve happiness and fulfillment. It includes my friend, Lucas in that odd." iginalaw ko ang aking mga kamay sa kaniyang likod para pagaanin ang loob niya.
"I am sorry that you've loss both of your parents, I am sorry that I never had the chance to meet them and personally ask for their permission for you to be mine. I am sorry that we have to endure our agony with ourselves. I am sorry that he has to sacrificed himself in order to save me. I am sorry that I was too naive and stubborn to not think of what the world is doing to us... I am sorry if I'm saying sorry way too much."
"I'm sorry that I hurted you. But this time is not about us, it's about him. You and Lucas. Ang kapatid mo." hindi ko na kaya pang bitawan si Art sa pagkakayakap, I am at ease.
"He'll be safe right?"
Ibinaon ko ang mukha ko sa pagkakayakap ko sa kaniya. "He will." I said in a determined tone.
"That's all I need to know."
"Promise me this Art. Kapag gumaling na si Lucas, mas magiging open at attach ka na sa kaniya. Pahahalagahan mo na siya bilang tunay mong kaibigan at kapatid. I know that you are still in wonder and pain of having a stepbrother. Pero alam kong unti-unti niyo nang nabubuo ni Lucas ang samahan niyo. At dahil don, you and Lucas still have a purpose to continue living. You have to reconnect with each other in a more stronger form. Pagsubok lang 'to Art."
Unti-unting bumitaw sa pagkakayakap si Art at ibinigay niya sa akin ang isang halik. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata para damhin ito. We will be okay soon hun.
Nang maghiwalay ang aming mga labi, makatitig pa din kami sa mata ng isa't-isa. Halatang halata ang pamamaga dahil sa pagluha. Hinawakan niya ang dalawang pisngi ko at ipinagdikit niya ang dalawang noo namin.
"I'll never let you go again Sheliah. I will f*cking lose myself if I ever do that again."
"Promise me that you'll stay strong. For Lucas, for me, for us." humiwalay ako sa pagkakadikit ng mga noo namin.
I drowned in his deep brown eyes. The Sun sparks as it hits its surface. "Promise me the same, Shels."
Napatakip ako ng aking bibig nang marinig ko ang ngalan na 'yon. It brings me back on highschool. My nickname that he created when we first met inside the classroom. It's so nostalgic and heartwarming.
He really knows how to make me emotional. Damn you Antonio.
"I swear it." I replied to him. He cracked a soft smile and it melted my heart. "I loved you in secret. I will love you forevermore."
Yumakap na namang muli si Art. This time, ramdam kong ibang yakap na 'to. Hindi na siya init ng isang nalulungkot na mga tao. It's a hug of burning love. An electrifying love... An enchanting love.
"Salamat Sheliah."
Nanatili kami sa rooftop ng ilang saglit. Pagkatapos naming makapag-usap ng mga bagay-bagay, napagdesisyunan namin ni Art na harapin ang mga reporters sa lobby. Nagtataka pa din ako kung paano sila pinayagang makapasok doon.
Magkahawak kamay kaming bumaba ni Art, dumaretso kami sa main lobby ng ospital. Nasabihan kami ng head security na pinalabas na nila ang mga iyon dahil nakaka-abala na sila sa mga pasyente at tao sa ospital.
Lumabas kami at naroroon parin at nakaantabay ang napakaraming kawani ng media. It looks like a presidential speech if you're going to look at them. I am not even exaggerating. Kahit gabi na, nandito pa din sila.
Natanaw kami ng mga ito at agad silang nagsitungo sa pwesto namin ni Art. Mabuti na lang at may security na nakapalibot sa amin in case na may mangyaring hindi inaasahan.
Art holds my hand tightly and he squeezes it three times then he leaned closer to my ears. "Don't give them too much." I looked at him and I nodded. Kinapa ko naman ang kwintas na suot-suot ko. It's the infinity necklace.
There's nothing to hide now. Now that everyone knows what's real and what's fabricated. Our reputation will go back from where it should be.
We face them together. Halo-halo ang boses na mga maririnig mo at halos hindi na namin sila maintindihan pa. Art looked at a one reporter and he chose him to do an interview with us.
"Good evening Liah and Art, I am Ford Callas of The Proclaimer News. You've got a lot to explain to the whole nation right now, don't you think?" he asked and we both nod at him.
"What can you say about the scene that we've witnessed earlier in Art's supposed to be wedding? We are all horified while watching it on our screens."
Si Art na ang sumagot dito. "There are parts that were not broadcasted. To make the story short, I never stopped loving this woman beside me from the bery first day that I've laid my eyes on her. Monica Luzarli manipulated and threatened us. Liah's life was in indeed danger if I'm going to marry her, so instead. I was trapped with Monica and was bound to marry her instead in order to save Liah. What you heard and what you saw are enough. We would like to be excluded from all of the tabloids as soon as this issue has been put into its rightful place. In the court."
I stepped forward to answer. "In behalf of all that was innocently involved within this strange and unacceptable event. Hinihingi ko po ang kapatawaran ninyo, hindi namin kailan man na hiniling na umabot pa ang problema namin sa ganito. We would rather suffer in private than being watched by a lot of people who supports and hates us. What happened is such a traumatizing event for some people, I would like to take all the responsibilities for the odds that has come into place..."
"What?—No, h'wag mong akuin 'to. Wala kang dapat akuin sa mga nangyari." sambit ni Art. Nginitian ko lamang siya. "Sheliah..."
I faced at the camera as I'm about to say my words. "The damage has been done, all we have to do is to move forward. We've got a lot of changes to face in a brighter matter after that catastrophic storm of yesterday..."
"Ang mahalaga, alam niyo na ang katotohanan sa hindi. You now all know that I am loving this man from now on and for the next years to come and until my very last breath. Art Antonio is my man."
Tahimik na nakaabang ang mga ito sa mga susunod ko pang sasabihin. After this statement, I hope that there will be no more to come.
"And I am his woman."