KABANATA X
Third Person's POV
Makalipas ang dalawang araw ay nagmulat na rin ng mga mata si May. "How are you feeling, May?"
Nakatulala lang si May sa kisame kaya nagkatinginan ang magkapatid. Tinanguan ng kaniyang ate si Kai. "Prepare her meal, I'll check-up on her first."
'Nang lumabas na ng silid si Kai ay tiningnan muna ng kaniyang kapatid si May bago ito napabuntong hininga.
"Can you sit? I'll support you." Tahimik na tiningnan niya ang kalusugan ni May habang ang dalaga ay walang buhay na nakasandal sa mga unan.
"I know I am in no place to comfort you, but there are many people who want you alive and they pray that you will have a good health and a happy life." Tinapik 'nito sa braso ang dalaga.
"There's nothing wrong in being happy, May. Living is part of life so you need to live to experience life... I'll go get something you can change into."
'Nang dumating si Kai ay naabutan niyang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana si May. Inilapag 'nito ang tray sa bedside table at mabilis na pumunta sa may bintana at binuksan niya ng malaki ang kurtina at pati ang bintana, para pumasok ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.
Na-upo si Kai 'kung saan siya lagi umuupo habang binabantayan ang dalaga. "Are you hungry, Jasmine? Mom prepared porridge for you. You should eat so you can regain your energy."
Lumingon sa kaniya si May kaya nginitian ni Kai ang dalaga. Huminga ito ng malalim na para bang nabunutan ito ng tinik at nabawasan ang bigat sa kaniyang dibdib. "The silence that enveloped the air around me when I watch over you was very pressuring that it scares me every second, but looking at you now looking at me... it meant me the world."
'Nang nakatitig lang sa kaniya si May ay naubo bigla si Kai at saka niya lang napagtanto ang mga binitiwan niyang mga salita. "Susubuan na lang kita, your hands are bruised. Kailangan mo 'nang kumain."
Habang kumakain si May ay napataas ng tingin si Kai 'nang hindi magbuka ng mga labi si May. "Busog ka na ba? Pero konti pa lang ang nakakain mo."
"Kai..."
Natigilan ang binata 'nang marinig niya ang boses ng dalaga.
"Kai..."
"B-bakit?"
"Why do you want me to live?"
Natigilan si Kai sa tanong ng dalaga.
"...do you want me to live?"
"Jasmine, what are you..."
"It's hard for me... it still hurts me... I don't even know what is exactly happening and what is there awaiting for me anymore..."
Hinawakan ni Kai ang mga kamay ng dalaga at tinitigan niya ito ng maigi sa mga mata, "I know it's hard to cope up with everything that had happened, and I know it's hard to accept everything right now, but you don't have to worry about what will happen in the future because I will stay with you whatever happens and wherever it is, and when you need help, I will come running. You don't have to dwell too much on the things that hurts you, all you have to know is that there are many people who is standing by your side. I am by your side, Jasmine, we will fight this battle together. You are not alone, I am here, Megumi too and the rest. We stand beside you. So tell us when it hurts, ask us when it's too heavy, and lean on us when you cannot handle it anymore. You have us."
"I... am n-not alone?" Tumango si Kai sa kaniya.
"You are not alone, Jasmine." Kai gave her a warm and reassuring smile. May suddenly got teary-eyed.
BINABASA MO ANG
Live The Present: My To Your Friend
General FictionLIFE ARC SERIES #1 COMPLETED. "On the verge of giving up. May was adopted by a household that treated her as their own. She felt like she belongs to the family. When her biological father died and left her to the hands of her abusive mother, she tho...
