Just by the Window (COMPLETED)

Chapter 40

"Tangina, Tori. H-Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko," Drex said, crying. We're both sitting on the stairs here at the fire exit. Ayaw kasing magpakita ni Drex sa mga magulang ni Celestine dahil pakiramdam niya, kasalanan niya.

Pagdating namin dito sa hospital kanina ay hindi namin agad nalapitan si Celestine. Nalaman namin na nakunan siya due to stress, hindi naman daw kasi alam ni Drex na ganun pala iyong nararamdaman ni Celestine dahil lagi naman daw naka-ngiti nung nagkasama sila. This is why we shouldn't just believe that when a person is smiling it means she's fine.

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault, okay?"

"T-Then, whom? Kung sana naalagan ko man lang siya nang maayos ay hindi mangyayari 'to."

"But recently mo lang naman nalaman... at saka na-surprise ka lang din naman, diba?"

According to Drex, matagal na rin silang magkaibigan. They saw each other again sa club and they get drunk... and something happened.

"H-Hindi rason 'yun, Tori... I-Inaamin ko na mismo sa sarili kong n-nagkulang talaga ako. K-Kung sana hindi ako gago... S-Shit."

I caressed his back because that's the only thing I can do now for him. Wala na akong masabi dahil totoo naman talaga, if hindi naman talaga siya gago, hindi talaga mangyayari 'to... pero hindi naman niya kasalanan kung bakit namatay iyong anak niya...

"I'm gonna call Dee and Xyll, okay? Tapos bibili na rin ako ng water sa baba. Wait me na lang, ah," sabi ko saka tumayo.

Tinawagan ko si Dee na nandito kami sa hospital nila. I'm actually scared of hospitals... himala at na-overcome ko iyong fear ko dahil sa nangyari ngayon kay Drex.

Matapos kong tawagan si Dee ay nagpaalam na ulit ako kay Drex. Nasa second floor lang naman kami kaya hindi naman siguro ako matatagalan. Drex really need a water kasi. Kanina pa siya humihikbi at wala man lang kaming dala bukod sa phone namin.

I was walking nervously down the hallway nang biglang nakasalubong ko iyong Mommy ni Dee. Mas lalo pa akong kinabahan dahil naka-tingin siya sa akin na parang nagtataka kung bakit ako nandito sa hospital nila. Siguro iniisip niya nang ang kapal ng mukha ko dahil nandito iyong anak ng babeng dahilan kung bakit lagi siyang umiiyak.

My lips slightly parted in surprised when she smiled at me. "Why are you here?" she asked, smiling. Napahinto tuloy ako sa paglalakad.

"Uhm... Si D-Drex po k-kasi..." kinakabahang sagot ko.

Her forehead creased. "Are you with Drex?"

I nodded. "Y-Yung girlfriend po k-kasi niya..."

"Is Deandrew here also?"

Umiling ako. "H-He's on his way po..." Gosh. I know it's obvious that I'm fucking nervous.

Dee's mom held my shoulders. "I'm glad to meet you, Victoria," she said, smiling.

"Likewise, ma'am," I replied.

She chuckled. "Ma'am? You can call me Tita, okay?"

"B-But—" hindi ko na natuloy pa ang sasabihin ko nang yakapin niya ako bigla.

"I know you're worried about it... but it's done now, okay? I'm happy that my son's happy, and I can see that it's all because of you..."

Napahawak ako sa batok ko dahil nahihiya na talaga ako. Hindi ko magawang magsalita dahil natatakot ako sa Mommy ni Dee. Okay naman iyong awra niya ngayon, mukhang hindi naman siya mananabunot dito.

"Yes, I didn't like you at first, honestly. But Deandrew's really persistent, and it's very new to him because alam mo naman na kapag 'yun alam niyang hindi niya makukuha, hindi niya na talaga kukunin," she said, smiling. "And this time..." she took a deep breath. "I even saw your videos taken a while ago that you're dancing with him. Pinakita sa'kin ng nurse ko and it really makes me happy seeing him like that."