The Light of Midnight (BxB)

Chapter 35

After what happened last night ay hindi na kami muling nakapag-usap pa ni River. Natutulog na ito nang pumasok ako ng kwarto. Kaninang paggising naman ay agad na itong nag-asikaso para sa pagdating ng magulang niya. At hanggang ngayon ay nasa labas lang ito, sa likod ng bahay kung saan tanaw ang siyudad at nagpapahangin. Ayaw ko naman na gambalain pa siya kaya ipagpapaliban ko muna ang mga dapat kong sabihin. Kailangan niya ng oras para sa sarili niya, ng lakas para lumaban. 

His parents arrived after a while. Sinalubong ko ang mga ito at nagmano bago kinuha ang mga dala nilang gamit. 

"Tara po sa loob at naghanda po ako ng makakain." 

"Salamat, Pierre." Ani ng nanay ni River.

"Walang anuman po. Tawagin ko lang po si River sa likod dahil nagpapahangin po ito." 

"Sure, Pierre." Ang tatay ni River. 


"Hey, your parents are here." Agad kong sabi kay River matapos itong makitang nakapikit ang mga mata habang nakasandal ang buong katawan sa upuan. "Do you still want to sleep? Sasabihin ko nalang sa kanila." 

"No, I'm okay. I'll go." 

Naglakad ako sa likod nito at nakatingin lang dito palabas ng bahay. Agad siyang sinalubong ng mga magulang niya at kinumusta ang kaniyang lagay. 

"How are you, my son? You look well compare to the last time I saw you." Ani ng Tatay niya. 

"I'm okay, Dad." 

"Yeah, inalagan ka nang mabuti ni Pierre, anak. I'm so glad." Then his mother smiled genuinely in which I did too. It's good and heartfelt how I heard that from them. River's is my only priority from the past weeks, so yes, you're welcome, Ma'am, Sir. 

I can do more by the way. One of these days I'll prove that. 

The talk went on an on until we finished eating. I had fun conversing with them dahil tahimik lang naman ang anak nila. Madalang magtanong at kung sa kaniya naman mapupunta ang usapan ay agad niyang iibahin. 

"We'll just rest and we'll go to your doctor after. Are you okay, anak?" River's Dad asked.

"Yes, Dad. I can't wait for all these shits to finish." 

"We will do everything we can, anak." His mother assured him which he responded with a simple thank you and a smile. 


Months passed by and everything is going well with his treatment. He lost weight and somehow got pale during the whole procedure. He slowly lost his hair too so we decided to just cut them off fully. It will grow back anyway. He's still attractive and all. Masungit pa rin kung minsan. His overall health according to his Doctor became better than it was before. Marami lang itong pasa pero nagiging mabuti na ang kalagayan niya at konti-konti nang nawawala ang mga cancer cell sa katawan niya. 

It's almost ten in the evening and looking back with what happened in the past months, I can't help, but to feel sappy about it, sad because he's going through all the changes with his body and doing everything he can to continue living and happy because he's one step closer to healing. Marami rin ang bumisita sa kaniya. Bumalik ang mga kaibigan niya sa Manila at halos linggo linggo rin na nandirito sila Lucas, Benjamin, at ang mga kaibigan nila. Even Milo and Jackson's family visits. Nakita na rin siya ng mga teammates namin noong nakaraang linggo lang at lahat sila ay may nakalaan nang plano sa paggaling ni River. 

I hope he gets better soon because I can't wait for that to happen. I have so many things to tell him. Explain everything that happened between us, because since that night with Thamarra, he rarely talks to me. I understand it and I won't force him to. He need to focus on himself first and we can settle things through after. Besides, we have all the time for that when he's already well and getting back to his life slowly. And I will be with him with every step of the way. 

Nahinto ako sa pag-iisip nang makarinig ako nang marahang katok mula sa pintuan ng kwarto ko. Nag-iisa ako ngayon dito dahil nasa kabilang kwarto silang pamilya. Agad akong tumayo at ibinukas ang pinto. Gulat ang rumehistro sa 'kin dahil sinalubong ako ng inaantok na si River dala ang dalawan unan sa magkabila nitong braso. 

"Hey, River. Are you okay? May nangyari ba sa 'yo? Dadalhin ba kita sa hospital?" Sunod-sunod ko'ng tanong dito. 

"I'm okay. Hindi lang ako makatulog, Pierre." At umiwas ito ng tingin sa 'kin. "Uh... C-can I s-sleep here?"

"Yes, you can. Come here." Then I fully open the door for him. "Which side do you prefer?" 

"Anywhere, I guess?"  

"Alright, I'll be on the left just like the last time." 

"Okay. Thank you, Pierre." He said as we both lay down the bed. 

There's so much comfort right now that I can't understand. The amount of longingness suddenly vanished and everything that's left is like, home. I thought it's just my bed all this time, but I think it is more of River being away from me. I can't loose you again. I'll do everything I can. Contact every doctor all around the world if I have to. 

"How are you holding up, 'Ver? We rarely talk these past months." 

"Yeah, we haven't had the chance." Then he heave a sigh. "I'm okay, Pierre. Thank you for always being there kahit puyat at pagod na pagod ka na." 

"Hey, don't tell that. I'm okay. You don't have to worry about me, River. Just focus on your recovery, okay?" 

"Okay, Pierre." 



It's been minutes since the last time we talk. I am now on the verge of sleeping when I heard him sigh and talk. 

"Pierre, can you please leave tomorrow?" Napaupo ako sa kama dahil sa sinabi niya at gano'n din ang ginawa niya. 

"What? Why are saying that, River. Help me understand, can you?" 

"I am interfering with your relationship. I can't take that. Nasa huling buwan naman na ako ng treatment kaya ayos na, Pierre. Nakapag-adjust na rin sila Mommy't Daddy dito sa Bataan kaya sa tingin ko ay ayos na. Huwag kang mag-aalala dahil nasabi ko na sa kanila ito. They will pay you a great amount, Pierre, for everything that you've done for us." 

"No, River. Matulog ka na. Hindi ako aalis sa tabi mo." 

"But, Pierre." 

"No, buts. I am the one who will decide when I leave. Hindi ikaw, desisyon ko kung bakit ako nandito at desisyon ko kung kailan ako dapat umalis. Mahalaga ka sa 'kin at hindi ko kakayanin na wala akong ginagawa habang ikaw ay hirap na hirap na." 

"Naiintindihan ko naman, Pierre. Dumalaw ka nalang madalas pero kasi nahihirapan ka na rin sa lagay ko at hindi ko kayang dalhin iyon araw-araw. Lalo pa dahil napipigilan kita na sumaya." 

"Thamarra and I are not a thing. Wala kaming relasyon, River. Kaya kung dahil d'yan ka bigla-biglang nagdedesisyon ay nagkakamali ka, wala kang mapapala." 

"You don't have to lie, Pierre. Gaya nga ng sabi ko ay naiintindi..."

I have been wanting to do this for so long, so I did let him finish talking. I just sealed his mouth with a kiss. 

Oh, how I missed this. 

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Hello! I am not knowledgeable in any way to all the medical information that were written in this chapter and the following. Just doing it for the sake of the story. Thank you!

Stay safe everyone!