Thank you for those who supported this from the first book up to here. No words can describe on how I can give you my gratitude. This is the last chapter and next is the epilogue. I hope you will also be able to support my series that I am currently writing which is the Costa Estrella Series. Once again, thank you!
As I open my eyes, the white ceiling welcomes me. I roam my eyes inside the room that I am currently at and I realized that I am in the hospital.
"Maayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo, anak?" agad na tanong sa akin ni mommy Althea nang makalapit siya sa akin. Sumunod naman sa kanya si mommy Athena.
"I'm fine po," I said with my hoarse voice I have. I can even feel the dryness of my throat.
"May kailangan ka ba? Pagkain? Tubig?" mommy Athena asks.
"Water," I managed to say.
Agad naman siyang kumuha ng baso at ibinigay sa akin. I immediately drink it all to quench my thirst.
"Lalabas na muna ako at sasabihan ko ang daddy mo," ani mommy Athena kaya tinanguan ko na lamang siya dahilan upang lumabas na siya.
A few minutes later after mommy Athena went out of my room, I heard that familiar loud voice.
"Ate Venice, how are you?" malakas na tanong ni Misha nang makalapit sa akin.
"Misha," saway naman ni Lay sa kapatid. Inismiran siya ni Misha bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin.
"Nag-aalala kami ng super nila mommy. We are so glad that you are finally awake after two days of sleeping."
Hindi ko in-expect na ganoon pala ako katagal na nakatulog. Kaya naman pala uhaw na uhaw ako pagkagising ko.
"The doctors said that there are so many blood na nawala raw sa'yo," saad ni Misha kaya napatingin ako kay mommy Althea upang malaman pa ang nangyari.
"Luckily ay walang natamaan na vital organs sa katawan mo kaya hindi naman nagkaroon ng complications. God! I am so worried, Venice. I don't want to lose you again," ani mommy Althea at niyakap ako nang mahigpit.
Gusto ko sanang magprotesta dahil nahihirapan ako pero pinili ko na lamang na huwag na lalo pa't naiintindihan ko kung bakit ganito siya. I can feel the warmth of her hug. Sahalip ay napangiti na lamang ako. Maybe, God didn't take me because I still needed to be with my family more.
Napatingin ako kay Lay sa gilid na kanina pa walang imik. Sabagay, he is always like that. And maybe he is just giving this time for my mother and Misha to asked me if I am fine.
Nang bigla kong maalala ang nangyari bago ako napunta rito sa hospital ay labis na galit ang naramdaman ko. She ruined my life. Up until now I still can't fathom why she hated me that much. Kasi ako, kahit galit man ako sa isang tao ay ni minsa'y hindi ko hiniling na manira ng buhay.
It wasn't my fault about the things that happened in her life that's why I still couldn't comprehend why she is blaming me for those. Siya ang gumawa ng mali. She even managed to set me up with a whole crime before.
Dapat siguro ay pinakulong na talaga siya dati para hindi na niya nagawa ang mga bagay na ito. Kawawa naman ang kapatid ko. Kailangan niya pang mamaalam nang dahil sa babaeng 'yon. Kailangan niyang pagbayaran lahat ng kasalanan niya.
I am lost with my thoughts about that wicked girl and because of so much anger, my fist balled into a fist as my jaw locked themselves tight.
"Venice, ayos ka lang?"
Napatingin ako kay mommy na nag-aalalang nakatingin sa akin.
Maybe I should ask her. I needed to know if that girl is suffering the consequences of her wrongdoings.
"Ano na pong nangyari kay Katrina? Nahuli na po ba siya?" I asked eagerly.
"Don't worry dahil nahuli na ang babaeng iyon, anak," sagot ni daddy nang makapasok na sila ni mommy dito sa room.
"Hindi namin kayang palampasin ang ginawa ng babaeng 'yon sa'yo. Pinatira natin siya sa bahay natin dahil kay Irma, pinagpaaral namin ng daddy mo tapos ganito lang ang isusukli niya sa kabaitang pinakita natin sa kanya? She killed Paris! Now, she wanted to kill you too! Buti na lang at hindi ka nawala sa amin dahil kapag nagkataon ay ako pa mismo ang magdadala sa kanya sa impyerno," nagngingitngit sa galit na wika ni mommy.
I wanted to tell her that it's ok. I wanted to tell her that there's no point of hating and being angry towards Katrina. But how?
How can I do that if I myself feels so much wrath towards that girl?
She's beyond evil.
Hindi ko inakala na aabot sa ganito ang kaya niyang gawin. Is she that desperate to ruin my life?
"I'm glad na nakakulong na siya. Sana ay matahimik na ang buhay natin dahil hindi na niya tayo magugulo pa," I said and after that, my parents assured me our safety.
I have trust in them. Alam kong hindi nila palalampasin ang ginawa ng babaeng 'yon.
After a while, umalis na muna sila at kaming dalawa na lang ni Lay ang natira rito sa loob ng hospital room. Kahit wala na sila daddy ay hindi pa rin siya umiimik.
Naiintindihan ko kanina dahil baka hindi lang siya makasingit kanila mommy pero ngayon na kami na lang dalawa ay nakakapanibago na.
"Lay," pagtawag ko sa kanya dahilan upang agad naman siyang lumapit sa akin.
"Is there something you need?" he asked but I chose to shook my head.
"Are you feeling hurt somewhere?" he asked again but still, I shook my head.
He nodded before he looked into me. "I'm sorry."
I am taken aback at what I heard.
Why is he aking for forgiveness?
Even with confusion within me, I smiled to reassure him. "Wala ka naman kasalanan."
"No. I have also my fault why that happened to you. Ilang beses na akong pinipilit kausapin ni Katrina pero lagi ko siyang tinataboy. I don't like her. I don't want to associate myself with her. She assumed that it is because of you. I didn't affirm it but I didn't deny it either. Nakita ko kung gaano siya kagalit ng panahong 'yon. I heard how she cursed your name to death. Hindi ko naman akalain that her anger towards you will go this far."
Now, I understand.
He is guilty of what happened to me.
"Stop holding yourself accountable for someone else might feel or behave because of something you didn't do," I said and I can now feel his gaze on me.
I smiled. "Someone told me that before."
"Mira," he said softly.
"That wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself about it. Kahit ng hindi ka pa niya kilala ay galit na talaga siya sa akin. I just didn't expect that she'll go this far. Masaya rin ako dahil hindi mo isinakripisyo ang sarili mo. I don't want you to end up with someone like her. Especially that I know you deserve better."
A small smile appeared on his face. "Thank you, Mira. Take care always. I am wishing you your fast recovery."
"Salamat din, Lay," saad ko at pagkatapos no'n ay sabay kaming napatingin sa pintuan dahil sa pagbukas ng pinto.
My heart beats faster. I saw the man I love standing at the doorway while still panting and beads of sweat are dripping from his forehead. Nakita ko rin kung paano siya natigilan nang makita niyang si Lay ang kasama ko sa loob ng room.
"I better get going," paalam ni Lay at lumabas na.
Agad namang naglakad palapit sa akin si Kit.
"Bakit ka nandito? Di ba dapat ay nasa China ka ngayon?" I asked while my forehead is creased but deep inside, my heart is screaming with joy.
"I was there. Pero nang ibalita ni mama na nabaril ka raw ay agad akong nagbook ng flight pabalik dito sa Pilipinas. You can't expect me to stay in China while thinking about your condition. I wanted to see for myself na okay ka nga talaga."
Parang hinaplos ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Binigyan ko naman siya ng ngiti upang mapanatag siya. "I'm fine. Don't worry. I am a strong girl, remember?"
"Ven, I know you are but it doesn't mean that you are always safe from danger. Nawala lang ako sandali, may nangyari na agad sa'yo."
"Because you're my knight, Kit. Since you are here, I am sure that I am going to be fine now."
Nginitian niya naman ako. "Ayos ka lang ba talaga?"
Tinanguan ko naman siya. "I am."
Ilang minuto rin namayani ang katahimikan sa buong silid. He's still standing there and looking at me as if that I will disappear from his sight any moment. Mas lalo akong napangiti habang tinitingnan siya.
"I love you," I softly said to him.
I saw his chinky eyes widen while still looking at me. "What did you say?"
Inirapan ko naman siya. Gusto niya lang ulitin ko ang narinig niya eh.
"Ang sabi ko, mahal kita," saad ko at agad kong naramdaman ang mga bisig niya.
"Totoo ba 'yan? Hindi mo ko binibiro? Paano si Yves? Di ba siya ang mahal mo?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong nang makakalas na kami sa yakap at hinawakan niya ang dalawang pisngi ko upang magkatitigan kaming dalawa.
"It is all true. I mean, matagal-tagal bago ko na-realize ang nararamdaman ko sa'yo. I won't deny that I did love him but it doesn't mean that he is still the one holding the key to my heart right now because Kit James Lee, you hold that key."
"Wo ai ni, Ven."
Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti ko sa sinabi niya. He just said I love you to me.
Nothing can compares to the one that I am feeling right now. At last, I was able to told him my feelings. I was able to be more open to him.
Kung naririto lang sana si Paris ay siguradong siya ang pinakamasayang tao ngayon dahil sa nangyari. She's the one who keeps on pushing me to give Kit a chance.
She did love Kit and that love turned her blindly before. But she learned from that mistake of hers. Siya pa nga ang pinakaunang shipper naming dalawa ni Kit.
How I miss that girl?
I brushed away those thoughts in my mind. I should be happy right now. Tama na ang mga senti moments. Hindi ko na muna dapat iniisip ang mga bagay na makakapagpalungkot sa akin. I believe, I deserve this happiness and I should live with it for the moment.
Ayoko munang isipin ang katapusan nito. Ayoko munang alalahanin ang mga susunod na mangyayari dahil kahit sa pagkakataong ito ay nais kong mabuhay sa kasulukuyan.
I grew up thinking too much of the future that I tend to forget to live at the moments of today but because of him, I learn to enjoy every minute of this time being.
He never fails to visit me even just for a day in the hospital. He became sweeter yet he is still that same best friend I have. We are not officially together. He is also not courting me. It is enough for us that we know each other's feelings.
Ano ba ang tawag dito?
Mutual understanding ba?
I guess it is. Ka-MU ko ang best friend ko!
Yet sometimes those happy days flew by so quickly because now, nasa airport ako upang ihatid si Kit sa flight niya. Umuwi lang naman talaga siya upang siguraduhing maayos na ang kalagayan ko.
We needed to face this reality, he needed to go. Kailangan niyang bumalik sa China dahil nandoon na ang family niya. It is saddenning to both of us but we can't be selfish right now.
The greatest love is always the selfless one.
"Hoy. Bakit ka umiiyak? Magkikita pa naman tayo," aniya habang pinupunasan niya ang mga luha ko ng kanyang hinlalaki.
"Ma-mi-miss kita," I said in between my sobs.
"Ako rin naman. Pero kailangan nating gawin ito. My family is in there, nandito naman ang family mo."
Sinubukan kong tumango kahit nahihirapan ako. "Alam ko. Kaya nga hindi kita pinipigilan."
"Then stop crying. You know how I hate to see you cry. May text naman, chat, facetime o tawag. We will never lose our communication to each other."
"Mag-iingat ka roon."
"Ikaw din, Ven. Wala pa naman ako rito para iligtas..." hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil niyakap ko na siya nang napakahigpit.
Magkalayo man kaming dalawa, hindi ibigsabihin no'n ay kakalimutan na namin ang isa't isa. Our memories will always remain in our hearts. That we promise to ourselves.
~•~•~•~