The Mendacious Top Tier

Chapter 14: Hospital

"That's all for today," Ma'am Lyn said and left the classroom.

I immediately got up and left the classroom. I was stopped when suddenly someone grabbed my wrist.

"Saan ka na naman pupunta?"

I looked at him. "At Swan Hospital, I have to go to Ash. So please, don't stop me anymore."

"May kailangan akong puntahan. Gusto kong samahan mo ako," he said seriously.

I grabbed his hand and removed it from the grip on my wrist.

"I helped you this lunch with your studies, and I think that's enough for today," I said and turned my back at him. I walked quickly out of the school.

***

"Ash..." I said worriedly. I can feel my heart ache so much when I see him. Lumapit ako sa kanya and sat on the side where he was lying and watched him. It's like he's just sleeping in his condition now.

I hold his hand. "The doctor told me that you didn't eat and didn't sleep. So you fainted earlier. Why did you do that?" I could feel my tears flowing down my cheeks. "You're the person that I really care the most more than myself. Don't do this to yourself, Ash. If you're hurting, I feel hurt more. I don't want you to be like this. So please treasure yourself, Ash. I always wish that you would be happy, even if I am already hurt by what you are doing."

The door suddenly opened. So I stood up and let go of Ash's hand. I immediately wiped my tears. It was only then that I noticed that the table in his room was empty. Buti naman may dinala ako.

"Can we talk outside?" Briella suddenly asked. I turned around and nodded. I left the room and looked at Ash for a moment as I closed the door.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"Can you talk to the mom of Ash?"

"Why naman? Is there a problem with Ash's mom?" I asked, confusedly.

"Because Ash's mom always says that Ash needs to be at the top of our class. Kapag nakauwi na s'ya sa bahay nila, his mom wants him to study right away. It's only three days before the exam starts, so his mom is very strict with him. Ash tells me that he can no longer eat and sleep properly because of the pressure he feels, from what his mom wants for him. I hope you can tell her mom not to put too much pressure on Ash, and just trust him," she explained, holding my hand. "Please, Lyra. Do this favor for me. It's not li--"

I removed her hand from holding my hand. "Shouldn't you talk to Ash's mom yet? You're his girlfriend, first of all. You should know how to protect and care for him. You should not talk to his friend about doing something you should do yourself."

"I won't force you to do this favor. Kaya it's ok--"

"Hindi naman ako tumatanggi. I just want you to realize something. I will tell his mom about it. Maybe later or tomorrow I will do it," I replied.

"Thank you talaga, Lyra!" She said while smiling.

"I bought some fruit and food for Ash." I handed her what I had brought. She looked surprised while looking at it. "Feed him that when he wakes up na, so he can recover immediately. Take care of him."

"Nakalimutan ko na kailangan pala ni Ash ng mga ganito. Thank you talaga, Lyra."

I smiled bitterly. "I need to go now." Nilagpasan ko na s'ya and entered the elevator. I already pressed the 1st floor button.

I hope you love Ash too much, Briella. Like the way he loves you, which I always wish had come to me.

The elevator is open, so lumabas na ako rito. Someone suddenly grabbed my arm. So I quickly turned around and ipinasandal sa wall ang humawak sa arm ko.

"Aray..." He complained. I immediately removed my arm as he held it. "Ang sakit 'non, Rara."

"I was shocked when you suddenly grabbed my arm. I didn't know it was you, Rafael. Huwag mo na rin kasi akong biglang hinahawakan."

"Tinawag na nga kita Rara, pero nilagpasan mo ako. Kaya hinawakan ko ang braso mo, para mapansin mo ako. Mukhang ang lalim ng inisip mo, kaya hindi mo kaagad ako napansin. May problema ba, Rara?" He asked worriedly.

I breathe heavily. "Okay lang naman ako."

"Hindi mo ba sasabihin sa akin ang totoo... kung bakit ka umiyak sa library?" Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya.

"Napuwing lang talaga ako 'non, Rafael. You don't need to worry about it."

He touched my two cheeks and pinched them softly. I suddenly paused and looked at him.

"Kung alam mo lang, Rara. Kung gaano ka sobrang ganda kapag ngumingiti ka," he said seriously. "Nakakalungkot lang na palagi kitang nakikitang nasasaktan at nalulungkot."

I removed his hand from sa pagkakahawak sa cheeks ko. What is he talking about?

"What do you mean by that, Rafael?"

"Madami kaming mga lalaki sa mundo at madami rin ang nagkakagusto sa iyo. Bakit mo pinipilit ang sarili mo sa isang taong hindi ka mahal?"

Can't he already know about that?

"Can you get straight to the point of what you are talking about?" I asked confusedly.

"Napagtanto ko gusto mo ang lalaking tinitigan mo sa library. May kahalikang babae, nasasaktan ka habang pinagmamasdan mo silang dalawa na gawin iyon," he answered.

"How can you be sure that's how I really feel about him?" I said seriously.

"Nakita ko ang ate ko na nasa gano'n din na kalagayan dati... Gano'n din ang naging reaksyon niya ng makita na may kahalikan ang taong mahal n'ya. Nakakasigurado ako tama ako sa hinala ko. Hindi mo ba kayang kalimutan ang nararamdam mo para sa kanya, Rara?"

I breathe heavily. I'll just tell him the truth na lang. It's useless din naman if I deny it.

"I really want to forget how I feel about him, Rafael, but my heart won't cooperate with me. Even though I still feel pain in my heart, my heart still won't give up on him. So how can I forget him, Rafael? How?" My heart suddenly felt an ache while asking that to him.

"Subukan mong magmahal ng iba, Rara. Wala naman mawawala kong susubukan mo."

                               ***

I sat down at the study table chair after I changed my clothes. I'm still not forgetting what Rafael told me earlier.

"Subukan mong magmahal ng iba, Rara. Wala naman mawawala kong susubukan mo."

"Subukan mong magmahal ng iba, Rara. Wala naman mawawala kong susubukan mo."

"Subukan mong magmahal ng iba, Rara. Wala naman mawawala kong susubukan mo."

"Subukan mong magmahal ng iba, Rara. Wala naman mawawala kong susubukan mo."

"Subukan mong magmahal ng iba, Rara. Wala naman mawawala kong susubukan mo."

I breathe heavily. Ayaw talagang mawala sa mind ko ang sinabi ni Rafael kanina. I can no longer focus on studying now tuloy.

Should I just follow what Rafael said? But if I do, who is the person I will try to love? If I really try to love someone, will he be able to love me back? What if it's still the same as my love for Ash? Hindi pa rin n'ya kayang magsuklian.