Lead Me To You

Kabanata XVIII

Attention

The sound of a ticking monitor.

"We're losing her! We need more blood!"

I can't see the clouds anymore.

"Page the relative and inform them that we need more blood!"

I was at the mall parking earlier but this place is different.

"Stay with us, Miss Carluccio. You can't die."

I closed my eyes because of the throbbing pain in my sides. Little did I know where I am but all I could think of right now is to sleep. I can't feel my body anymore and I'm in no control. I can't talk nor I can't move.

I don't know how much sleep I had but I was in another room again. All white and quiet. The cold from somewhere hits my bare skin. I moved my fingers just to check if I have control of my body again. I can feel it. I fully opened my eyes but all I can see are blurry things.

"I will take her to Manila. Sa akin siya titira. We didn't know if she's still safe here."

"Matteo, you know how dangerous it is to move back to Manila for her. Mas delikado pa kaysa dito na dalawa tayong nagpoprotekta sa kanya-"

"But we can't protect her! She's lying helplessly in that fucking bed! Unconscious. We went too easy for her and they took advantage of it."

"We were too busy to even care about her. What kind of protector are we if we left her side? We know how stubborn she is."

"Francis, I can't lose her. I made my promise to Uncle Massimo."

"We all did. And we will keep that until she's safe."

Are they still fighting over me? I thought they were in Manila?

They noticed that I was conscious already. My cousin hurriedly called the doctor and came back with five healthcare providers. They checked my vital signs, my movements, my speech, and everything. Francis insisted to check it twice so they all did.

"She's all normal. We just have to be careful with her sides as it is not yet fully healed. The nurses will visit her every day to change her dressing." The doctor said.

"Thank you, doctor."

"Thank you, doctor."

Nang makalabas ang doktor sa aking kwarto ay agad na lumapit sa akin si Matteo at hinalikan ang aking noo. Hinaplos ang aking buhok ng paulit ulit habang nagsasalita. Naduduling ako sa sobrang lapit ng kanyang mukha sa akin.

"I'm so sorry, Monica. I shouldn't have left you. If I know that this will happen to you, I shouldn't have left." He apologized.

"I would be willing to quit my job to be with you,"

I pushed his chest with all my might and made him back out. My sides begin to hurt because of that so I twitched. Francis attended to me when he noticed that I'd like to sit up. He pressed a button on the remote to make my bed into an obtuse angle.

"Are you crazy? Your job provided your lifestyle. You can't just quit it because of me."

"But you shouldn't go without anyone on your side! Carter was on his day off and you should have brought another bodyguard with you! And who told you to drive by yourself?" He nagged off.

"Matteo, I am not eighteen years old anymore. I can go to whatever place I want. I can drive whenever I want. And I don't need a bodyguard."

"Look what happened to you. Look at yourself! This could not have happened if you listened! You are so stubborn. The surgeons risked everything just to save you!"