YESHA POV
I opened my eyes as I felt a squeeze on my hand. The place is not familiar but I was in awe looking at the vast amount of different flowers that greeted me. Different colors and sizes. I sat up from the hammock I was lying on and can't help but smile.
The place is just so beautiful. It has a relaxing and calming effect. I feel like all my burdens, all the hatred, all the hurt were lifted away from my body. I feel so light and at peace.
"Do you like the place?" A familiar voice asked. I turned to face him and immediately smiled seeing the man I love the most.
I nodded enthusiastically. He once again squeezed my hand and stared lovingly at me.
"Do you like it too?" I asked him.
"Very," he replied.
We just sat there quietly and looked at the scenery in front of us.
He put his arm around my shoulder and I rest my head on his. He then kissed my hair. I smiled.
I'm contented with us just being with each other.
"Yesh?"
"Mmmm?"
"You know that I love you so much, right?"
I turned to face him. I felt my forehead creased seeing he looked lonely. "Yes, I know that. I feel it everyday." I answered.
"You won't ever forget that, right?"
"Of course I won't. I'd forget everything but not the love you have for me."
He then caressed my face as tears shimmered on his eyes.
"Why?" Terror is already creeping my body. It seems something is not right.
"I'll go somewhere---"
"Where?"
He smiled. "Somewhere." He just replied.
"Okay, I'll come." I pouted when he shook his head. "Why?" But he just smiled at me again.
"You can't come with me."
I just stared at him, clueless. But my heart, it's already aching so badly. My tears immediately fell. "But I want to go with you." I whispered. "I want to be with you. You said you won't leave me. You promised."
More tears flowed from his eyes. "I love you, Yesha. My days with you, though so little, were the best that I had." He cupped my face. "Promise me. You will fight, okay?"
I shook my head. "No, I want to be with you."
"We will be together again, but not now."
"Why not?" I almost shouted. "I'll leave everything for you---"
"No. Remember what you told me? You have your own life, live that. I want you to live."
"But you are my life. How can I live without you?"
"You'll know if you fight."
"I'm tired of fighting. I just wanted to be with you now."
He wiped my tears. "I love you. So much. My Destiny." He whispered and my eyes closed as I felt his soft lips on mine.
When I opened them, he was already away from me. I immediately stood up and followed him but also heard some voices calling my name from the other direction. I stopped and turned but no one is there.
It's as if those voices are hindering me from following Chase. I ignored the voices and followed him again. But my feet felt like a thousand pounds. I can't move them even an inch. Those voices...
"Chase!!" I called at the top my lungs.
He faced me and mouthed, "fight, Yesha."
"No!!" I shouted as he smiled and turned his back on me.
Those voices... Again... It's getting louder and louder. I shut my eyes and tried to drown all those voices.
When I opened my eyes, I was on a different place already. White walls. Blinding light. And the voices... lalong lumakas, lalong dumami.
"Yesh..." It was Ellie.
I scanned the room. My parents were there. My friends were there.
Lucas is on the floor. Both hands on his head, he looks devastated. Seb and Ken are beside him.
And then a cry of agony got my attention. It was Tita Olivia.
Naupo ako. Tiningnan ang katabi kong kama. A doctor is reviving the patient lying there.
"Yesh..." marahang hawak ni Ellie sa pisngi ko at hinarap sa kanya. Parang iniiwas na tingnan ko ang nag-aagaw buhay sa kabila.
Nag-angat din ng tingin si Lucas at mahigpit akong niyakap. Inalis ko ang mga kamay niya. "Si Chase?" Tanong ko.
I saw the fear and pain in his eyes.
Marahas kong inalis lahat ng nakakabit sa 'kin at bumaba sa kama. Agad siyang humarang pero hinawi ko siya.
Nagbagsakan ang mga luha ko nang makita kung sino ang nasa kabilang kama.
LUCAS POV
Nagpumiglas si Yesh nang pigilan ko siyang makalapit sa kama ni Chase. Natatakot akong mawalan ulit siya nang malay. Kanina pa nila nire-revive si Chase at hanggang ngayon bigo pa rin sila.
"No." Aniya. Sa umpisa ay bulong 'yon. Hanggang sa sumisigaw na siya. Nagpupumiglas. Nagwawala. "Let me go!! No, Chase!! Don't leave me!"
Lalong nag-iyakan ang mga tao sa loob. Her cry was heartbreaking. Parang pinupunit nang dahan-dahan ang bawat himaymay ng puso namin. I can't blame her, kulang pa ang salitang masakit para ilarawan ang nararamdaman namin habang pinipilit ng mga doktor na isalba ang buhay ni Chase. Ako man ay gusto nang sumuko pero hindi pwede. Nangako ako sa kanya.
"Please! Please!" Pakiusap niya. "I can't go through this again. Not you. Please!"
Lumapit na rin si Ellie at niyakap siya. "Ellie, nangako siya. Sabi niya hindi niya ako iiwan." Sumbong niya.
Walang nagawa si Ellie kundi yakapin ang kaibigan.
Suddenly, the doctor stopped. "Time of---"
"No! Don't say it!" Nakawala siya sa hawak namin at dumiretso sa kama ni Chase. Niyakap niya ito at doon umiyak nang umiyak.
Si Mama tuluyan nang napaupo sa sahig. Dad was hugging her but was also crying. Hawak naman ni Dustin si Hunter na umiiyak rin.
Binalot ng pighati ang bawat sulok ng kwarto.
"Ang sabi mo hindi mo ako iiwan. Ang sabi mo kahit gaano kataas ang mga alon hindi ka bibitaw. Lalaban tayo, di ba? Please fight, Chase." Bulong niya rito. "Please fight for me. For us. Hindi ko kaya. Please lumaban ka. Please bumalik ka sa 'kin."
Napatungo na lang kaming nakakakita sa kanya.
Naupo siya sa gilid ng kama ni Chase. Hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi nito. Tears run down her face like waterfalls. "Please, lumaban ka at bumalik sa 'kin." Ulit niya.
She then leaned towards him and whispered something on his ears. Saka siya pumikit at niyakap na lang ulit si Chase.
"You should have brought me with you." Aniya. "Di ba I jump, you jump. I die, you die. You were right, Chase. Living in this world without you is worse than dying. So please, take me with you."
Hindi ko na kinaya, nilapitan ko siya at marahan siyang itinayo. And my heart broke again seeing her eyes. They are lifeless. "How can this world be so cruel?" Tanong niya. "Why do I always end up being left? Am I really not enough for them to stay?"
I just hugged her. Because that time, 'yon lang ang kaya kong gawin. I know I can't take away the pain.
But as the nurses were about to remove the machines attach to him, a sound once again filled the room.
The flatline...
The sound...
It's now different.
His heartbeat came back!
Sandali kaming natigilan lahat. Hindi makapaniwala.
Mabilis na kumilos ang mga doktor at mga nurse sa pag-asikaso sa kanya.
Mama rushed to his side. "Anak?"
"Layo po muna tayo para ma-check po siya nang mabuti ni Doc." Payo ng isang nurse.
Lumayo kami but happiness filled our hearts especially when Chase slowly opened his eyes. Nagyakap-yakap kami nila Mama. Even our friends hugged each other.
After a few minutes, the doctor said kailangan pa rin siyang obserbahan but he's now stable.
Everybody in the room rejoiced.
We went to his side. "Yesha," was his first word.
"She's okay now. Don't worry." Saad ni Mama at hinaplos ang mukha niya.
Mama then went to Tita Reese and hugged her. "They're okay now!" She said happily. "Pareho nang ligtas ang mga anak natin."
But Tita Reese's tears still kept flowing. "Reese?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Mama.
Doon ko lang napansin na wala na sa kwarto si Yesha. Maging si Ellie at Tita Lucy.
Lumabas ako at hinahanap siya. Nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa bleachers sa hallway malapit sa labas. "Yesh!! Gising---"
Hinarangan ako ng tatlong kalalakihan. Hindi man nagsalita, sigurado akong sandatahan sila.
At hindi nga ako nagkamali. Dumating din si Rekx. Tumayo sa harap ni Yesh. Napaangat siya ng tingin rito. Kitang-kita kong lalong rumagasa ang mga luha niya.
Akala ko magkakagulo but I was dumbfounded and when he sat beside her and hugged her. Yesha then cried on his chest.
"Ako nang bahala dito." Napatingin ako sa nagsalita.
Captain.
Nilingon din niya sila. "Rekx is worried about her." Wala sa sariling napatango ako. "How's Chase?" He asked at naramdaman ko naman ang sinseridad sa tanong niya.
"The doctor said he's stable now."
"That's good to hear. How are you?" Sunod naman niyang tanong na pinasadahan ako ng tingin.
"Wala lang 'to. Gagaling din agad."
Tumango-tango siya. "Thank you." Lahad niya ng kamay.
Nangunot ang noo ko. "For what?"
"For your friendship with her. For genuinely wanting her happiness. For not leaving her. For making her move on from Yuri's death. On behalf of all of us, thank you."
Biglang kumabog ang dibdib ko. Iba ang dating ng mga salita niya.
Muli kong nilingon sina Yesha. Nag-uusap na sila ngayon ni Rekx. And he is wiping her tears.
"Why is he here?" Tanong ko kay Captain.
"Why not? He has all the right to be here. Yesha's life was endangered. And that's the last thing we want. Oo, naging masaya si Yesha. Maybe even the happiest she's been... pero ilang beses rin nalagay sa panganib ang buhay niya. We can't tolerate it anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll take it from here, Captain." Rekx interjected. "Take her now."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa tinuran niya. "Wait," but he blocked my way. The power he's exuding is undeniable but hell I don't care. Chase just woke up literally from the after life and is looking for his Yesha. They can't take her. Not now. Not ever. They are each other's life line. "You are not taking her." Madiing kong saad.
"We need to."
"Wala ba kayong puso? Pareho nilang nilabanan ang kamatayan makabalik lang sa isa't isa tapos paghihiwalayan niyo sila?!" I know it's rude to question and shout at him. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali halos kaedad niya lang si Daddy. Pero hindi talaga niya pwedeng kunin si Yesh.
Nilagay nito ang mga kamay sa magkabilang balikat ko. "I understand where you're coming from. Masakit ang pinagdaanan mo, niyo ng kaibigan mo. Pero sana maintindihan mo rin na masakit din para sa amin na nalalagay sa panganib ang buhay niya. And this isn't the first time. Pang-ilan na ba 'to? We can't just watch anymore."
"Pero..."
"Aside from that, she's broken. Again. Alam kong napasaya siya ni Chase. Alam ko rin na kailangan nila ang isa't isa. Na mahal nila ang isa't isa."
"Then why are you taking her?"
"Because she needs it. Unti-unti na siyang inuubos ng sakit na paulit-ulit niyang nararamdaman. Kailangan ko siyang ilayo. Hindi para paghiwalayin sila, kundi para hayaang buuin ang sarili niya. At para na rin masiguro ang kaligtasan niya. Lahat kami nagdusa at nasaktan nang mawala si Yuri. We can't let that happen to her. We can't lose her. I can't lose her. Not again."
"Pero kailangan siya ng kaibigan ko."
"Kailangan din namin siya." Mataman niya akong tinitigan. "Desisyon ko pa rin ang masusunod, Lucas. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, nakikiusap ako. Hayaan niyo na siya. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa lahat ng nagawa niyo para sa kanya. Pero nakikiusap ako, ibalik niyo na sa amin si Des. Let her go."
Akala ko tapos na ang mga problema namin nang magising sila, pero wala pang isang oras ang nakakalipas, may panibago na naman.
Muli kong nilingon si Yesh. Nasa labas sila at kaharap si Captain. Nagsasalita si Captain pero nakatungo at tulala lang si Yesh.
"Can I... at least talk to her?" Pakiusap ko. Sa kanya sigurado akong hindi ko mababago ang isip niya. Pero kay Yesh... Baka. Sana.
Mabilis akong naglakad palapit kina Yesha nang tumango si Rekx.
"Yesh?" Nag-angat ito ng tingin. Mugto na ang mga mata nito pero gano'n pa rin---walang buhay. Walang ningning. Sobrang lungkot. Kung paanong malungkot ang mga iyon no'ng una ko siyang makita, mas malala ngayon.
"Iwan ko muna kayo." Paalam ni Captain.
"Sabi ng doktor... stable na si Chase. Nagmulat na rin siya kanina. Ikaw una niyang hinanap." Kwento ko pero hindi man lang siya nag-react. Blangko lang siyang nakatingin. Nakatingin pero tumatagos lang. Hindi ko alam kung narinig ba niya sinabi ko.
I held her hands. "Balik na tayo sa loob. Hinahanap ka niya."
And once again, my heart were shattered when she shook her head. Napapikit ako.
"Please, Yesh. He needs you."
Doon na siya umiyak. "Can you... promise me something?"
Binitiwan ko ang mga kamay niya. Tumalikod saglit. Nahilamos ang mukha gamit ang kamay.
"No!" I snapped.
Damn! Ayoko na! Why do they keep on making me promises!
"Yesh," muli kong hawak sa mga kamay niya. "Nandito ka at okay na siya. Okay na kayo. All you have to do is go back to his room."
Muli siyang umiling. "Maybe your Dad is right."
Natigilan ako. My dad?
"I bring danger---"
"Yesh! Ano ba?! You said it yourself, you don't care my dad!"
"But I care about the people around me."
"Yesh naman... Kasalanan namin ang nangyari. Sa amin galit ang mga gagong 'yon. Nadamay ka lang."
And for the nth time, she shook her head. "Kayo ang nadamay. Oo galit sila sa inyo pero hindi 'sing tindi ng galit nila sa akin. Oo, noon pa sila galit sa inyo, pero never umabot sa point na papatayin nila kayo."
"This is still about you blaming yourself for Yuri's death, isn't it? Bumalik lahat?"
She slowly nodded.
"Then we'll fix it again. Magtutulungan tayo. Tayong lahat---"
Umiling ulit siya at gusto ko nang magwala!
"Please," pakiusap niya. "I need to do this alone. I need to fix myself alone. I need to heal these wounds inside my heart."
"Can't you do that here?" I reasoned.
"I am here because I wanted to forget. I wanted to run away from the pain but I need to face it now."
"How about Chase?"
"He deserved to be loved by the complete me, not the broken me. He deserved to be loved not by the pieces of me, but the whole of me."
"He's looking for you."
She cupped my face. "Please, take care of him. Make sure he recovers well. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
"You're really leaving him?"
Napatungo ito at muling umiyak. "I am not leaving him, but I need to fix myself. I can't go on living like this."
I held her chin with my index finger and made her face me. I looked straight into her eyes.
Wala talagang buhay ang mga iyon.
Maybe what happened to Chase really took a toll on her.
Right there and then, I knew I have to let her go.
"I promise to look after him. On one condition... promise me that you will come back. Na babalikan mo siya."
Nag-alangan siya pero ngumiti rin. At sa halip na matuwa, nasaktan ako sa ngiti niya. Ni hindi kumislap ang mga mata niya. Wala akong nakitang kasiyahan. Puro sakit at lungkot lang.
"I promi---"
"Yesh, it's time to go." Biglang dumating si Captain.
"Saglit na lang." Pakiusap ko.
"Sorry, Lucas." Paumanhin niya at hinila na si Yesh at pinasakay sa kotse.
"Please, Captain. Tapusin lang namin pag-uusap namin." Harang ko sa daan niya.
"Please din, Lucas. Hayaan niyo na siya. Please naman. Ilang beses na siyang nasaktan. Ilang beses na siyang umiyak. Ilang beses na siyang nalagay sa panganib. Alam kong ginagawa mo 'to para sa best friend mo kaya alam kong naiintindihan mo ako dahil pareho lang tayo. Ginagawa ko rin 'to para sa best friend ko...na kapatid niya. Sa akin siya inihabilin.
"Kung nandito pa ang kuya niya, masasaktan siya sa nangyayari sa prinsesa niya. Durog na durog na siya, Lucas. Kaya nakikiusap ako, kalimutan niyo na siya." Nilampasan niya ako pero mabilis kung hinawakan ang braso niya. Ni hindi ko na ininda ang mga pasa at sugat ko.
"Anong kalimutan?" Tanong ko.
He just stared.
"Anong kalimutan?!!" Nanggagalaiting tanong ko at binalibag siya sa kotse.
"Mas makabubuti sa ating lahat kung kakalimutan niyo na lang siya."
Akmang bubuksan na niya ang pinto ng kotse pero hinampas ko ang kamay ko roon. "Hindi namin gagawin 'yon."
"Your choice."
"Please," pakiusap ko. Kung kailangan kong magmakaawa at lumuhod, gagawin ko. "Hinahanap siya ni Chase. Ang bawat isa ang hinahanap nila bago sila nawalan ng malay, kahit mag-usap lang sila saglit." He didn't respond but no was all over his face. "Kahit silipin lang niya si Chase. Please, kahit 'yon na lang."
"That's a bad idea."
"Kailangan din niya si Chase."
"Once na nakita niya si Chase, hindi na siya aalis. Sigurado ako do'n. Kailangan niyang umalis, Lucas. Maawa naman kayo sa kanya. Let her go."
I am torn. Alam kong kailangan niyang umalis. Naiintindihan ko rin kung bakit pero hindi maalis sa akin ang takot.
"Ikaw na bahala sa kanya." Utos ni Captain sa nasa likod ko.
I saw Ellie standing there. Tumango lang siya kay Captain.
Mabilis na binuksan ni Captain ang pinto at sumakay.
Kinalampag ko ang bintana. "Please, Captain. Please! He needs her. They need each other!"
Pinigilan na ako ni Ellie at tuluyang nakaalis ang sasakyan nila.
Marahas kong binawi ang kamay. "I thought you won't report?!"
"I didn't. But Rekx has his own ways of knowing what's happening to her."
"What will happen now? Hindi pa tuluyang magaling si Chase."
"We'll be sending the finest doctors to help with his recovery."
"Si Yesha ang kailangan niya. Alam mo 'yan!"
She pursed her lips and sighed. "Pwede bang tama na?" Seryosong aniya. "Ibalik niyo na siya amin."
"Pati ba naman ikaw?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
Her tears fell. "The pain you felt when you thought Chase was gone, we went through that when Yuri died. At hanggang ngayon nandito pa sa puso namin ang sakit na 'yon. Can you imagine how I felt when Yesha's line was dropping?"
"I felt it too, Ellie." Halos manumbat na ako. Nasaktan din ako do'n pero bakit gano'n ang tanong niya. Para bang sinasabi niyang wala lang sa akin ang nangyari kay Yesh.
"Exactly. You know how much it hurts. At ayoko na, Lucas. Oo, ako ang nakatalaga sa kanya. Pero kaibigan niya rin ako. Nasasaktan ako sa tuwing nasasaktan siya. Sa tuwing nalalagay sa panganib ang buhay niya."
"Gusto mo ring ilayo na si Yesh?"
"She needs it. Kung sa atin pa lang, ang sakit na no'ng nag-flatline si Chase, paano pa sa kanya?"
"Hahanapin siya ni Chase."
"Her request has been declined. And yes, ayoko na rin na nandito siya. Akala ko noon, mas magiging okay siya rito. But I was wrong. It's worse here."
"Ellie..."
"You saw her. You saw how lifeless her eyes were. Everything is too much for her, Lucas. So please, ibalik niyo na siya sa amin."
Hindi ako nakapagsalita dahil alam kong tama siya.
Hinawakan nito ang balikat ko. "Kung sakali na gustong bumalik dito ni Yesha sa mga susunod na araw, linggo, buwan o kahit taon pa, I'll support her. You have my word. But for now, please let her go."
"Saan ka galing?" Bungad sa akin ni Seb pagbalik ko sa kwarto ni Chase.
Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal na nakatulala ako sa garden ng ospital. Nag-iisip paano ipapaliwanag sa kanila lalo na kay Chase na umalis si Yesha.
Iniisip ko kung paano magre-react si Chase. Paano kung makasama sa kanya?
"Diyan lang." Pagsisinungaling ko. Mukhang wala pa siyang ideya sa nangyari.
Pumasok ako sa loob at naupo sa gilid ng kama ni Chase. "Kumusta ka?" Tanong ko sa kanya. "Gago ka. Tinakot mo ako. Huwag mo na uulitin 'yon ah."
He nodded. "Ikaw? Pinagamot mo ba mga sugat mo?"
Ako naman ang tumango. "Sorry sa lahat ng nangyari. Kasalanan ko---"
"No!" Agad niyang putol sa sasabihin ko. "Wala kang kasalanan. Wala sa atin ang may kasalanan. Nasa mga gagong 'yon. Ayoko na ulit marinig sa 'yo 'yan."
I forced a smile. "Kung gano'n salamat na lang. Salamat sa pagliligtas sa 'kin pero ayoko na ring gawin mo ulit 'yon. Nakakasira ng ulo."
Siya naman ang ngumiti. "Kapatid kita. Kahit paulit-ulit gagawin ko 'yon. Saka di ba sabi naman sa 'yo gagawin ko lahat para makaligtas ka. Nangako ka na aalagaan mo si Yesh eh."
Kumabog ang dibdib ko.
"But you were right, makakaligtas taong dalawa. So off na 'yong deal ha?" Biro niya.
I fought my tears back. "Hindi 'yon off kasi aalagaan ko pa rin siya. At gusto ko pa rin maging masaya siya. Pero alam natin kung kanino siya masaya di ba?"
"Sa akin... at sa kanya rin ako masaya. I love her so much. I really do." Kitang-kita ko ang saya sa mga mata niya.
How the hell am I going to explain to him that they took her.
Then he smiled as if remembering something. "I heard her. I heard everything she said. It was her voice that made me change my way. It was her words that made me fight. It was her who made me come back. Where is she? I want to see her."
And my heart sank.
***
Thank you for reading!
Next update on Saturday. See you!