(A/N: Pasensya na guys at natagalan ang ating update HAHAHA! Ang saya ko lang these past few days dahil unti-unti nang bumabalik passion ko sa Arts. Naka-focus ako ngayon sa pag-eenhance pa lalo ng skills ko sa sketching at watercolor painting then kaunting calligraphy. It feels so good talaga when you've brought back what you had loss.)
End Game 54
"Step into the daylight and let it go"
Sheliah Santibañez
Matapos kong sabihin iyon, hinawakan ko na ang kamay ni Art at inilalayan ko siyang pumasok muli sa loob. Marami pa din ang nagtangkang magtanong sa amin ngunit hindi na sila nakakuha pa ng tyansa. Pinigilan na din sila ng security para hindi na sila makapasok pa.
When we entered the lobby Art moved in front of me. "Don't blame yourself." he said.
"You heard Monica earlier. You heard her story. Hindi naman talaga mangyayari ang lahat ng 'to kung hindi dahil sa akin."
"I am the one to blame Sheliah. I am the one who fell for her before, I hurted her. I am aware of the stupid things I've done when we were young."
Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at nagtungo kami papuntang cafeteria. "Then let's blame ourselves."
He didn't bothered to reply back at my statement. It's better off this way.
We sat on a vacant table and I asked if what he would like to eat. "Gutom ka na. What food would you like?"
"Kung ano yung sa'yo." akma na sana akong tatayo para bumili pero pinigilan niya ako. "Ako na ang bibili. I want to serve you just like before." my heart went into craze. He still can make my broken heart into whole by his words.
Sinabi ko sa kaniya na gusto ko ng Fish fillet with rice at orange juice bilang drinks. Agad naman siyang umalis para bumili.
I looked around the place, kakaunti na lang ang tao dito dahil gabi na. Nagsisiuwian na din ang ibang bisita ng mga pasyente.
A sudden thought has crossed my mind. Kamusta na kaya ang surgery ni Lucas? My friend, my brothers? Are they still in there? Ilang oras na din ang nakakalipas at wala pa din kaming balita sa kanila.
Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa at nag-message ako kay Autumn sa kung ano na ang lagay nila doon. I waited for almost 20 minutes at wala pa ding respond. I tried calling her pero binababaan niya lang ako.
"BISH!!!"
Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang biglang sumulpot si Autumn at Divina. Kinurot ni Divina si Autumn. "What happened? Kamusta na si Lucas? Is he fine? Tell me."
Autumn looked at me with a worried face, gano'n din ang ginawa ni Divina. Please God, please tell me that what I am thinking is not true.
"Autumn... Divina?" pagtawag ko sa kanila ngunit hindi nila ako sinagot. Nagsimula na akong kabahan sa inaakto nila. "F*cking answer me."
"You better come with us, nando'n na din si Art..." nag-aalangang sambit ni Divina. I didn't made a single move so she grabbed my hands. "Sheliah."
"Ano ba kasi 'yon? Hindi ako sasama hangga't hindi niyo sinasabi sa akin."
"It's complicated to explain. It's better kung yung mga doctor na lang ang magsasabi sa'yo. I myself can't process does things Sheliah. I can't say it you in a most appropriate way." Divina added.
My hands were shaking in fear, ano ba kasi yun? What happened to Lucas?
Wala na akong sinabi pa at hinayaan ko na dalhin ako ng aking mga paa sa tapat ng emergency room. Nang makarating kami, natanaw ko ang seryosong nag-uusap na mga kapatid at kaibigan ko.
Nagtinginan silang lahat sa aming tatlo. I moved near them. "Where's Art? What happened to Lucas?"
Nagkatinginan silang lahat bago ako sagutin. "Sheliah... Lucas is still in a critical state." Kuya Trip answered.
"...What now?" nag-aalala kong tanong. Ramdam ko ang unti-unting pagbalot ng takot at inis sa buong sistema ko. Why can't they just tell me? I am freaking out here.
"At si Art..." pagsabat ni Autumn.
"What about Art? Where is he? Akala ko ba nandito siya?"
Dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin si Autumn at hinawakan niya ang magkabilaang braso ko. Tinapunan niya ako ng isang nag-aalalang tingin na siyang nagpa-doble ng kaba ko.
"Lucas has to under heart surgery..."
Please tell me that it's not what I am thinking right, please tell me.
"Sheliah..." napatingin ako sa likuran ko at naroon si Art. Agad ako nitong yinakap.
"Oh God, I thought you gave your heart. Hindi ko kakayaning mawala ka Art."
Hinawakan niya ang likod ng ulo ko. "What do you mean? I have a great news for you." I broke our hug and my eyes are filled with hope. A hope that Lucas is now fine, a hope of fast recovery for the guy I love.
Ngumiti ito sa akin. Hinampas ko nang mahina ang braso niya. "Ano ba? Pakaba kang hayop ka eh."
He chuckled and his eyes says how happy and relieved he is. "My brother is now in a stable condition." napatakip ako sa bibig ko dahil sa sobrang saya. Lucas is alive! He didn't left us. He didn't left his brother.
Thank you God. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for answering my prayers.
"Bwiset ka naman Antonio. Kita nang pina-prank yung tao eh."
I slowly turned my head behind my back. I gave them a piercing look. Lahat naman sila ay nakayuko maliban kay Kuya Trip. Lumapit ito saaming dalawa at ipinatong niya ang kaniyang mga kamay sa balikat namin ni Art. Nagpabalik-balik pa ang tingin nito sa amin.
Ngumiti ito sa amin habang pareho kaming masamang nakatingin ni Art sa kaniya. Bigla itong tumakbo palayo sa amin. Napahawak na lamang ako sa noo ko sa sobrang stress.
"Guys. Next time... Ugh—it's not a good prank. You guys made my heart sunk into my stomach, hindi kayo nakakatuwa. I almost lose my mind earlier! Well... UNTIL NOW! Nakakainis naman kayo eh. Alam niyo namang napaka-seryososong bagay
nito at nagawa niyo pang i-pull up 'yang biro niyo. IT'S LUCAS AND IT'S ART. Mga bwisit kayo."
Napasimangot ako at minasahe naman ni Art ang mga balikat ko.
"Sorry na bish huhu, we thought it was okay to at least put a tension then reveal that he's now well." malungkot na sambit ni Autumn.
Napabuntong hininga naman si Divina. "Yes, that was a really bad move of us. Pasensya na Sheliah, it's really immature."
"Stacey kasi eh, daming alam." paninisi ni Kuya Axel. "Hay nako Stacey Aisles."
"Hoy anong ako?! Tarantado ka ah." ibinaling naman ni Stacey ang tingin niya sa akin. "Liah, don't believe this dimwit. It's really Trip's plan and we all jumped into it. At ikaw namang punyeta ka." hinatak niya ang tenga ni Kuya Axel.
Umangal ito sa sakit. "Napaka amazona mong babae ka!" inda nito.
"Nyenye, feel my wrath." she mocks A character from Kuya Axel's favorite game. Mobile Legends. Tsk, ilang taon na nakalipas, ML pa din kina-aadikan.
Loyal. Swerte mo sa kaniya Stacey. Ang swerte din ng kuya ko sa'yo.
I left a heavy sigh, these people are grown ups and yet they still act like little kids.
But it's alright, at least now, we are happy. We are complete. Kasama ko na sila at siguradong sigurado na ako na walang sino man ang makakasira pa sa relasyon naming lahat. Sa relasyon namin ni Art.
"It doesn't matter now." a small smile grew within my lips. Napahawak naman sa dibdib sila Autumn dahil sa ginhawang inihatid ng sinabi ko.
"We're really sorry." sambit ni Trina at Lindsay.
My face softened. "It's fine. Okay na, basta 'wag na kayo umilit pa ng kalokohan gaya nito. The world is sensitive enough for us to be insensitive." nagkatinginan si Trina at Lindsay at sabay silang nag-curtsy. Mga loko.
Naramdaman ko ang paghaplos ni Art sa likod ng ulo ko. "Your mind never failed to amaze me."
I am pretty sure that my cheeks are now burning.
"Uy! May kinikilig na babaita!" Stacey teased habang hawak pa din niya ang tenga ng Kuya ko.
I rolled my eyes at her and then I heard Art chuckled. "We can go visit him right now. Susunod ba kayo?" tanong ni Art sa mga kapatid at kaibigan namin.
"Oh of course. Bish—"
"No, we will go there later. You guys needs some privacy. Pambawi na din sa inyo dahil sa nagawa naming insensitive na joke." pagputol ni Divina kay Autumn. Tinaasan niya ng kilay si Autumn.
Biglang sumulpot sa harapan ni Autumn at Divina si Kuya Jonathan. "Divina is right people. Syempre, Divina ko 'yan eh."
"AYIEEEEEEEEE DIVINA LANG MALAKAS!" napalakas ang pagtulak ni Autumn kay Divina na siyang ikinatumba nito. "Ay mahina ka pala girl."
Sinamaan ng tintin ni Divina si Autumn. "Bwisit ka talaga! Pag ako nagka-sugat—"
"Ki-kiss ni Jonathan yung sugat mo." pang-aasar pa nito at nagsitawanan kami. Siraulo talaga 'tong si Autumn.
Tinulungan ni Kuya Jonathan sa pagtayo si Divina. "Ki-kiss ko din yung nasugatan." we all teased them.
"SANA ALL!" malakas na sambit ni Lindsay at nagsitinginan kami sa kaniya papunta kay Kuya Ice.
Kuya Ryle and Kuya Jonathan looked at each other. "Ooof!"
Inakbayan ni Kuya Axel si Kuya Ice. "HAHAHAHA mahina ka pala pare." habang nakahawak pa din sa tenga niya si Stacey.
"Tsk."
Here you go people, the golden "tsk" of Mr. Ice Santibañez. Inalis ni Kuya Ice ang pagkaka-akbay ni Kuya Axel na siyang naging sanhi para mabitawan ni Stacey and tenga nito.
Agad na tinakpan ni Kuya Axel ang dalawa niyang tenga. "Not today girl. Not f*cking today." Stacey rolled her eyes.
Dahan-dahang lumapit si Kuya Ice patungo kay Lindsay na ngayo'y naka-kunot ang noo. I can read her mind saying the heck are you doing?
Nang magtama na ang paningin nila, Kuya Ice smirked. "I'll kiss you with or without reasons... On bed."
Oh my...
Tama ba narinig ko?
Kuya Ice, what the hell?
My innocence has died.
"Wala na, may bumanat na. Tara na nga. Grabehan bumawi si Boss... Sana all si Lindsay." nadidismayang sambit ni Autumn.
"Wild naman ng kapatid ko. Manang mana kay Trip." natatawang sabi ni Kuya Ryle.
"Oo nga eh, may tinatagong ganiyan pala 'yang kupal na 'yan. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Ice, Ice baby naman eh." Kuya Axel said.
"Tara na nga mga panget. I am so happy that we are slowly stepping out of the dark." hinawakan ni Kuya Jonathan si Divina.
"Sige na aalis na kami." sabi ni Kuya Ryle at hinawakan niya naman kamay ni Trina.
"Bye Liah and Art! Kitakits mamaya." pagpapaalam ni Lindsay na ngayon ay hawak-hawak na ang kamay ni Kuya Ice. Sana all pa din.
"Tara na tsk." tinangkang hawakan ni Kuya Axel ang kamay ni Stacey pero inirapan lang siya nito. Napa-awang ang bibig niya sa tinuran ni Stacey. "Aba, hoy babae!"
Ipinulipot ni Stacey ang braso niya sa braso ni Autumn. "Tara na nga." ani ni Autumn. "Kakainggit mga tao dito. Sana all hindi iniiwan."
"Hoy! Stacey shoo! Dun ka kay Ryle. Sa'kin lang 'yan." biglang sumulpot si Kuya Trip out of nowhere. Ngayon, magkasama na silang umalis habang sila Kuya Axel at Stacey naman ay magkalayong sabay na lumisan.
Art and I both watched our friends left. This day will be the start of our new beginnings. The one that doesn't have an awful ending. The one that Art and I will build together.
The happy ending we both longed a long time ago. The end of all the sad endings.
"Shall we, mademoiselle?" I raised my sight to see the perfect view of a handsome man.
"Let's go see him, monsieur."
I grabbed Art's arms and we walked through the door of Lucas' room. Here we go.
The doctor greeted us. "Good evening Ms. Santibañez and Mr. Antonio. Just call us if anything happens okay?"
"Thank you doc, we certainly will." si Art na ang sumagot. Tumango ang babaeng doctor at lumabas na ito kasama ang dalawang nurse.
I closed the door and we sat beside Lucas. Para lang siyang natutulog nang mahimbing at walang iniindang sakit.
"He's in a coma." Art said.
I looked at Art with disbelief. What? No way...
May bahid ng lungkot ang mukha nito. "W-when will he wake up?" I asked.
Tumingin si Art sa mukha ng kaniya kapatid. "I don't know, in weeks? Months? Years? Depende sa trip niya."
I started crying. Art is in total shock when he saw me crying. "Sheliah—"
"Lucas... Para ka namang tanga eh. Wake up! H'wag kang matulog nang matagal." I wiped my tears as I struggle to continue my words.
"Hindi ako makakapayag na, na... Na hindi mo makikita yung araw na pinakahihintay ko. Yung araw na ikakasal ako sa taong mahal ko. Hindi ba gusto mong makita akong masaya? Paano na Lucas? Paano mo na makikita kung gaano ako kasaya sa araw na 'yon? Mahal mo ako diba? Siraulo ka talaga. If you love me then don't let me go like this. Talk shit ka naman eh. I freaking hate you! Usapan natin gising ka lang dapat, why did you sleep? Magtatagal ka pang ganiyan? Hell no Lucas. GUMISING KA!"
"Eto na gigising na." my heart felt like it's stop functioning.
I wiped my eyes and I opened it to see Lucas smiling weakly at me.
"Good eve Liah. Hehe." he slowly raised his hand to form a peace sign.
Nagpabalik-balik ako ng tingin kay Art at Lucas.
"P*t*ng*n* niyo."
"Hindi ko mapatahan si Liah, woy Art. Do your thing." Art looked at him with hesitation and he looked at me and I gave him a sharp look.
"You good?" tanong ni Art kay Lucas. Tumango ito. "I'm good too. You good hun?" tanong nito sa akin and I raised my middle finger to the both of them. "Yeah she's good."
Patuloy pa din ako sa pagpunas ng mukha ko. Nagmistulang waterfalls ang mga mata ko kanina. I will really freaking pull this dextrose and let him die in despair.
Tumayo si Art at lumapit ito sa akin. He bend both of his knees and he hugged my waist. "I'm sorry." nakapatong ang ulo nito sa tyan ko. "I'm sorry too baby, we stressed your mommy so much."
I covered my mouth with both of my hands. "Bakit?" tanong ni Lucas sa akin.
I looked down at Art still resting his head on my stomach. "I f*cking forgot that I am pregnant for a moment."
"Pfffttt!" pagpipigil nang tawa ni Lucas.
"What the?" gulat na tanong ni Art. "Are you serious?"
"I am stressed right now. If it affects my baby, I will murder all of you."
"H-hey! Sheliah! I'm fine, look!" I looked at him. "I am breathing, I am alive. Makakapunta pa ako sa kasal niyo ng kapatid ko. Makikita pa kitang masaya tapos makakasama ko pa mga anak niyo ni Art soon tapos magiging mag-bestfriends sila ng mga magiging anak ko. HAHAHAHA! That would be so freaking cute right? They will live together in harmony and ooh, ah-ah. There will be no fire nation to attack us. We will all live happily ever after like in that commercial of Hansel. Diba Art?"
Art stood up and he held both of my hands. "Yes hun, we will. Lucas is right. Kaya ngayon, we have to leave this human alone so that he can rest and we could rest. Do you want me to turn off the lights so he could shit on his pants?"
"Hoy walang ganyanan gag* ka." kinakabahang sambit ni Lucas. Takot kasi siya kapag nakapatay ilaw.
I rolled my eyes. "You're both crazy. No, we'll stay for a little bit more."
"Thank God." Lucas said. "Pasensya na talaga Liah, I just wanted to surprise you. Alam mo na? Kaunting thrill para sabay-sabay na excitement sa huli."
"Nag-usap ba kayo ng kapatid ko through telepathy? Bakit pareho kayo ng takbo ng utak?"
"What do you mean?"
"THEY. PRANKED. ME. TOO."
Gulat na napatingin si Lucas kay Art. "Yeah they did—but forget about that. Let's not put a weight on my baby."
"Which one?" tanong ni Lucas and he smirked at Art.
Art plays my hair at the back. "My first baby."
"Ayieee-- t*ngina." tinangkang bumangon ni Lucas pero ininda niya ang tama ng bala. "Ouch."
Napa-lapit kami pareho kay Lucas. "Hey, Lucas! Ayos ka lang?" tanong ko dito.
Nakapikit siya habang pinapahupa niya ang pangingirot nito. "Yeah, it'll fade soon. Nakalimutan kong binaril pala ako."
"Well, we both forgot a major part of our lives today, I forgive you." I said to Lucas.
"Ayan, wala na. Magaling na." Lucas said and we all laughed.
"I'm hungry." sambit ko.
"I'll go get you food." paalis na sana si Art but I stopped him.
I smiled devilishly at Lucas and back to Art. Tumayo ako at kumapit ako sa braso ni Art.
"No, we'll eat together. Alis na tayo. Kailangang magpahinga ni Lucas."
"Sige, later na lang kung gising pa ako." Nakangiting sambit ni Lucas. Ngingiti ka pa kaya?
"Tara na hun, don't forget to turn off the lights." I said to Art.