In Another Life

14: Trust me

Tyrese

He died.

We both suffered. 

Was I dreaming? 

I gave birth, he died and I had to be alive for our girl. It was so painful, but Eisley did his best to make it easier for me. He gave me our daughter and left me with heaps of memories I would forever treasure, including the videos he recorded prior to his death. 

"Hi, T-Tyrese. Kung napapakinggan mo 'to, ibig sabihin..." his voice cracked. "Ibig sabihin, wala na ako." He took a deep breath, pain evident in his voice. "But it doesn't mean I'm your 'the one that got away' as we still exist within each other. And in another life, if there is another life, you wouldn't have to make me stay. I would be the one running after you... come what may. And have I told you that I would do everything to hold you once again? I would, Tyrese. This life... or next life... it doesn't really matter. I mean it... I would."

My tears wouldn't stop rolling down my face. I clenched my fist across my chest because the pain was suffocating. It felt extremely tight that I thought I would die. Dying? Not a bad idea if it meant I could be with him, but who was I kidding? We had Sunny, our dear daughter. 

I couldn't die. 

"Tyrese! Tyrese!" I felt someone shaking me, yet my body wouldn't cooperate. I just wouldn't stop crying. Why was it so painful? "Wake up, Tyrese. Please!" 

I tried my hardest to move, but I failed. Everything felt so real, yet it also felt like a dream. Actually, it was a nightmare. I just wanted to wake up and have someone tell me it was only just a dream. I hoped Eisley and Sunny were real though, but I wished he wasn't dead. 

As soon as I opened my eyes, Bev, who was in tears, hugged me as tight as she could. "Manay naman! Tangina naman eh. Ba't ka nananakot nang ganon?" 

I was still feeling weak, my tears just wouldn't stop. "Bev." I hugged her back. "Ang sakit. Ang sakit sakit. Panaginip lang naman 'yun, pero sobrang sakit." Nakatulog pala ako sa upuan sa labas ng room ni Eisley. Ayoko munang pumasok sa loob dahil natatakot ako. 

Paano kung sabihin nilang may life-threatening disease siya? Paano kung may sakit siya sa puso? Paano kung sabihin nilang ilang buwan na lang, mamamatay na siya? Walang hiya, kung kailan naman ako nahulog, doon siya mawawala? Akala ko ba, siya naman maghahabol? Akala ko ba, walang iwanan? 

Fudge. What if we were in a loop? What if, in this life or in another life, we weren't supposed to be together? 

"Ano bang nangyayari?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Bev. 

Kinwento ko sa kanya lahat ng mga napanaginipan ko. Gulat na gulat siya dahil parehas na parehas daw kami ng mga panaginip ni Eisley. Kinwento lang daw ni Nyle sa kanya.

This couldn't be a coincidence anymore. 

I was sure we were soulmates. 

- 

Since that nightmare, hindi na ako natulog. I was so scared. Nakatulala lang ako habang hinihintay yung resulta ng mga tests ni Eisley. Ahhh, h'wag naman sana! Ilang oras na ang nakalipas, pero wala pa ring results. 

Lumabas si Tita Juliet sa room ni Eisley. "Gising na siya. Tyrese, pumasok ka na sa loob. Hindi mo naman kailangan maghintay sa labas." 

"Okay lang po ako." Sa totoo lang, natatakot lang akong ibalita ni Eisley sa akin na mamamatay na siya. 

Yinakap ako ni Tita Juliet. "I know you're worried, but he's waiting for you. He's fine, Tyrese. Trust me." 

I nodded. 

H'wag lang talaga nilang sabihing mamamatay na si Eisley dahil magwawala talaga ako.

-

Eisley 

The night before the opening event of our new branch, I couldn't eat and sleep properly. I had been busy, and I just had no time to rest. Being ignored by Tyrese also didn't help. On top of the things I had to do, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I approached, messaged and attempted to call her multiple times, but she wouldn't respond to me. 

"Ayos ka lang?" Nyle asked. "Maputla ka." 

I gave him a nod and continued to work. 

"You can go home and rest if you're not feeling well. I won't let you down," he said. I trusted Nyle would be able to do the job well, but I didn't want to stop working. I also wanted to see her. 

When Tyrese arrived at the event, she didn't even look at me. She did tell me she had a rough past relationship, so I couldn't blame her if she wanted to be sure about us. I wasn't sure why she was avoiding me, but according to Bev, I should just let Tyrese be. 

If time was what she needed, I would give it to her. 

I went up the third floor as I needed a break from people. It was more draining to talk to them than working. When I got there, I saw Tyrese and Rhys sitting next to each other. I overheard them talking about their past relationship. 

I wanted to listen to their whole conversation, but I couldn't when it wasn't my business. It was about time they settled their past. I hoped it would help Tyrese heal from her wounds and move forward.

The last thing I remembered was going down to get some water. When I woke up, I was already at the hospital. Everyone was there except for that one person I wanted to see. My mom gave me a hug as her partner rubbed her back to comfort her. He seemed like a nice man. 

The doctor said my tests were negative, and I probably collapsed due to fatigue, stress and dehydration, so they gave me IV fluids and recommended me to rest for a few days, eat nutritious food, exercise daily and sleep properly. 

Everyone went out so I could rest. Minutes later, someone knocked on the door and opened it. 

It was Tyrese. 

I waved my hand and gave her a smile. "Hi." My voice sounded weak. My mouth was also dry. 

She burst out crying which confused and surprised me. How worried could she be? She ran to me and gave me a tight hug. I was more shocked when she said, "Tell me you're not dying." 

I couldn't help but chuckle. "No, I'm not."

"Stop lying!" 

I wrapped my arms around her. "Am I healthy? Probably not. Am I dying? I don't think so, unless you know something I don't?" 

How could I ever let her go? I would never dare.

I pushed him. "So you're not dying? Why did you faint then?"

"Fatigued and dehydrated." I grinned. "I think I really need to look after my health seeing how you're extremely worried about me."

"Grabe, mej lang naman. I mean, I guess? I mean..."

"It's fine. You don't have to say any-"

"I think I'm in love with you," she confessed. "I needed to say it before it's too late." How many times did I have to tell her I wasn't dying?

"Do you still think I'm dying?" 

She sighed. "I really hope you're not lying." 

This time, I kissed her on the lips. "Just trust me, Tyrese."