You Were Mine

Chapter 4

"Zynth, don't get offended pero I think it's best if you stop visiting my brother already." Ate Clara came back from States yesterday. It's been a year since we last saw each other personally. She has her 2nd baby already.

"Ate, sorry pero alam mo naman sagot ko." I said while getting her baby from her. She named her Xynthia and I just cried when she told me that on Skype. Talking to me is something but naming her baby after our names? Just wow.

"Don't get me wrong. But it's been a year already and Xander's brain dead. You know that. Life support nalang ang bumubuhay sa--"

"Ate..." I don't wanna hear the truth. I know he'll wake up anytime soon. Even though he's brain dead, as long as he's alive I'll be fine with that. I can't let him go.

"No. Let me finish. I love my brother. Pero let's get to the point here. You have your own life. Yung shop mo balita ko kay Jasper malapit na magsara! Ano ka ba naman. Hindi puwedeng lagi ka lang nasa hospital, noh!" She said while putting the fruits inside the ref. Xander's family is rich, kaya syempre private room sya.

"Ate, gusto ko ako yung una nyang makikita" kinuha na nya si baby Xynthia sa'kin at pinainom na ng gatas.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Binabawi ko na. Hindi na kita gusto for my brother dahil martyr ka!" She joked and we both looked at each other before we laugh. I didn't expect we'll become this close.

Jasper and Ate Kayla have their own work but they visit here every day. Wala namang ibang magbabantay kay Xander so I let Alex manage the shop. Nadadalaw ko lang 'yon when either Jasper or Ate Kayla is here. Mga one hour lang, kasi I always want to be by his side.

As for Ate Clara she has her own family waiting for her in States. Bumalik sha 2 weeks after Xander's accident. Halos one month na din kasi sya dito nung mga panahong 'yon. She would call us every week or Skype us and see Xander's condition. Minsan maluluha din sya kasi di pa din nagigising si Xander. Then when she gave birth to a girl, naisipian nyang Xynthia nalang ang ipangalan kasi true love daw kami. It made me so happy back then kasi ibig sabihin tanggap na nya ako as a member of their family.

I remember her reaction when she first called us on Skype 2months after Xander's accident. She used to call Kayla but she didn't know I'm always by her brother's side. Sobrang nagulat sya noon na hindi pa din ako naggigive up kay Xander kahit dalawang buwan na ang lumipas.

Ate Kayla told her I would shave his beard and brush his hair. She showed Ate Clara how I wipe their brother's body and change his clothes. I didn't know that they were skype-ing back then. I was shocked when I heard a cry and a shout from her telling me that I'm martyr for loving her brother that much.

Don nagsimula ang laging pagtawag sa'kin ni Ate Clara. Instead of calling Ate Kayla, ako nalang daw kasi mas lagi pa daw ata akong present kesa sa mga kapatid nya. We became so close and I just tried to see Xander's accident as a blessing in disguise; for me and his sister to know each other more.

When she heard the news na halos di ko na minamanage ang shop, she flew back here. Sya na daw muna ang magaalaga kay Xander since nakaleave naman ang kanyang asawa.

"Ate where's Kuya Kevin and Damien?" Asawa at panganay na anak ni Ate Clara.

"Nagpapahinga sa bahay may jetlag pa. Si Xynthia kasi ang aga nagigising kaya sinama ko na" then she gave her to her yaya then asked me to sit down on the sofa.

"Zynth, ako na ang bahala sa kapatid ko. He's our responsibility. Please, get a rest. Ang payat payat mo na. Yung shop mo, I heard from Kayla mahal na mahal mo yun. Do you want to see it falling?"

We were silent for minutes. I'm thinking on what I'm about to say. I get their point and I'm happy they let Xander live.

Six months ago, we were asked by his doctors if we want to remove his life support 'cause it'll become a burden for us even if he wakes up daw. Mahal ang hospital bills and it'll be hard for him to walk since he's in coma and is bedridden for so long.

Ate Clara was firm in saying no that time. Kaya nya daw bayaran kahit magkano pa ang bill, madami kasing assets ang naiwan from their parents and Ate Clara has her own savings. She said to never bring up that topic again 'cause she'll sue them.

I'm glad they think that way kaya kahit paalisin pa nila ako to rest or go to my shop, kampante ako sakanila. They love Xander as much as I do and they have no plans on giving up. They just want me to rest.

"Alright ate. You win. Pero I'll sleep here pa din"

She nodded and answered "Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko. Basta asikasuhin mo shop mo."

We talked about how's her stay abroad and giving birth to Xynthia. Then about Xander's condition.

"I have an idea. How about we contact all of his friends to visit him? Let's schedule them every day para mas comfortable ka na may magbabantay sakanya? Also, it'll help him to recover faster if naririnig nya friends nya" she suggested and I agreed.

I slept there the same night Ate Clara and I talked about my shop. She has to go home because Kuya Kevin and Damien are waiting for her. Tomorrow, she'll sleep here with me.

"Sige na Ate Zy, punta ka na sa shop mo ako na dito" Jasper is already in the hospital at 5 in the morning. Pinagsabihan daw sya ni Ate Clara na maaga para maasikaso ko ang shop ko.

I kissed Xander's forehead then left the hospital. Sa bahay ako dumiretso para maligo at kunin ang mga gamit ko.

The first thing I did was to check our inventories and sales record. Oonti na lang and stocks and sales dahil oonti din ang nabebake ni Alex kasi sya lang ang magisang nagmamanage ng shop. She didn't bother to hire anyone kasi gastos nanaman daw.

"Ate sorry talaga I did my best naman. Mas gusto siguro nila bake mo" she kept on apologizing to me.

"Alex ano ka ba! Okay lang. Ikaw na nga napapagod lagi e. Thank you for keeping up with me." I winked.

We went to our supplier and picked new stuffs for my shop. I tried a lot of things and experimented on hybrid sweets. I also changed the motif of our shop since it's already February, heart's month. Alex updated our websites and posted promos to attract a lot of people. We started at 6 in the morning and finished everything around 5pm.

"Ate, galing mo talaga magexperiment. The best!"

I smiled at her remark. That's what I do best. As long as you know the components, you can manipulate the baking. You also have to put your heart in it; you've gotta love what you're doing to make it perfect.

"Alex, I have to go na ha. Girlfriend duties. I'll be back tomorrow. Sorry! And loveyou!"

"Sige ate, ako na ang bahala dito. Say hi to Kuya Xander for me. I hope he wakes up soon"

"I know he will"

With that, I left the shop. I went home first to take a shower but my heart's pounding again. It's exactly one year today after that tragic incident, meaning, it's supposed to be our anniversary.

Eto nanaman 'yong naramdaman ko noon. Bat ba gan'to. God please keep Xander safe. Nagmadali akong magbihis kasi hindi ako makampante when I received a text from Ate Clara.

"Come here ASAP!!!"

Mas lalo akong kinabahan. I drove as fast as I can to the hospital.

"Shit ang tagal ng elevator" I kept on cussing when it finally opened. I pressed the 5 button then hurried to his room.

When I opened the door I saw Xander with his eyes open.

Shit. Gising ka na.

My knees were in jelly again.

But what made me fall into my knees was what he said next.

"Yassi, what happened? I missed you, hun."