A Close Second

Forty Eighth

I was about to give up, when I saw your message of encouragement in your board.
Dedicated to you po since I've been a fan! Sana mabasa mo rin po ito.

---

Courtney Beatrice.

Beeps.

That's what made me float into consciousness again when I heard it. I could hear it clearly. That machine generated interval beeps that was hovering into the air. I could feel cold air pushing through my nose.

I opened my eyes, a little blinded by the white lights overhead.

Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ako, but I let my eyes wander and I figure out that I was in a hospital. A hospital room to be exact. The thing on my nose was an oxygen line, helping me with breathing. A drip was attached to my left hand and yun pala yung nag bebeep. Yung pump na nakalagay dun.

To my right was someone that I knew exactly who the minute I saw him. Nakatungo pa siya sa kama ko, a hand on holding my right one as he slept in his arms.

Noong una nalito ako kung bakit ako nandito, then a flashback of the accident that we had just flashed through my memories. Nagaasaran pa kaming dalawa ni Jacob when it happened.

"I'm curious." Sabi ni Jake habang nagdadrive.
I frowned. "If it's about me having sex, then forget it."
Nailing siya. "Ayoko nang marinig yan. Ang weird lang na naiisip ko pa ngang may nangyari sa inyong dalawa." He shivered a bit, as if emphasizing his point. "But I was gonna ask, how it all happened sa inyong dalawa. I mean, you two aren't exactly the closest."
"So you're saying you're not gonna be mad if it's Greg?"
"Baka mas magalit ako." Sabi ni Jake, shaking his head. "Greg's one of my best friends, pero gago yun sa babae. Wag muna. Hayaan mo munang matuto."

This was one of the reasons why he's so good. Jake really cares about his friends. Tanggap niya ang mga ito, but he's never runs out of hope for the better of everyone.

"Hmmm..." I hummed. "I don't know... There's a lot of it to tell you."
Nangiti siya. "So I guess, you've been keeping all these in from me that long huh?"
I blushed. "Sorry."
"It's fine, Bey." He gives me a smile, turning to the road agad. "I guess I was kind of asking for it being that busy with Thea na hindi ko na napansin ang lahat. Sabi mo pati ang mga kaklase natin?"
Tumango ako. "The whole school too." Sabi ko sa kanya. "It was amazing how it all escaped you."
Nailing lang siya ng nakangiti. "I'm like a horse with blinders. One track mind."

The silence enveloped us habang mahinang tumutugtog yung radio ng sasakyan. Medyo umaambon ng kaunti and we're still a bit of ways to Quezon City where their houses were currently located. I still felt a little scared though, on how I'll be facing Keith Andrew. 

But I was tired of everything and I just want to say that I loved him and nothing else.

"It's funny how we both end up with two people so alike." Sabi ni Jake.
Napangiti ako. "How's Thea nga pala?"
"She's fine. A little more rest, okay na siya. Hindi gumagaling kasi hindi sumusunod. Sinabing wag nang magpuyat, ayan parin." He answers, smiling. "Nagaalala siya sayo though, baka daw nacreep out ka niya. Hindi mo pa siya kinakausap mula noon."
I bit my lip. "I forgot about that" Sabi ko. "Hindi naman ako nacreep out sa kanya. It's just all the drama with Keith Andrew and then what she said struck a nerve. Talaga bang—"
"—No. We're not having sex. I actually know how to control myself."

He gives a knowing smirk while he passes another green light. We got stuck on a traffic jam though kaya naman nasa gitna kami ng crossing, just waiting for a car ahead who was taking a right into another intersection. Namula ako sa sinabi niya.