Chase Pastor, Chase!

Chapter 20

There was a light that made me open my eyes. I saw a figure of a man but when I fully opened my eyes, it was a doctor. Beside me was my friend Wena who was talking to the doctor. There was also another man who was holding my hand, I couldn't see his face slowly.

"Zac?..." I cried.

I started crying but he wiped my tears. Wena held my other hand and pressed it softly enough to comfort me.

"It's Axel, Celést. Zac's not here"

What? He should be here. He's going to come back, why is he not here? I should call him and tell him I'm in a hospital, I'm sure he'll come fetch me.

I tried to get up but I couldn't. My back hurts. No. My whole body hurts.  What the heck happened? Axel got up and helped me to sit and gave me water.

"What happened?" I asked and looked at Wena.

She looked back at me and her eyes were weary. She was holding her tears back and she made me look at my wrist. I suddenly felt it aching and there were two bandaid on it.

I finally remembered what happened.

"The cut was deep and you lost a lot of blood. Ikatlong araw mo na dito"

"But I'm fine now. Can we go home? Ayoko dito. I have to go back to Zac's house, he told me to wait for him" I removed the blanket and tried to stand up but my body was too weak.

Wena sobbed. I lay on the bed once again. Fuck this.

"Ilang beses na silang naghanap ng Zac sa bahay na iyon pero wala talaga. Celést please, maawa ka naman sa sarili mo. Wala nang Zac ang babalik sayo"

He promised me that he will...

I will fucking recover and I'll search for him myself.

The next day came. The nurse said I can go home. I feel better now, but my body still aches a bit. My wrist still hurts when I touch it but they told me it'll heal. It just needs time.

Axel drove us home and when we arrived, I felt uncomfortable. It used to be my home, but now I'm afraid to go inside.

When we got inside. It was just the same as before. I sat on the couch and rested my head, Axel sat beside me and patted my head.

"I'll be here for you"

But Something's missing. Where's Mom? Did she know what happened? I quickly stood up and walked into our kitchen to see if she was there but it was only our helper who was cleaning.

"Where's Mom?" I turned to look at Axel.

Even though she's not my real Mom, I still think of her as my real Mom. She took care of me when I was a little kid and treated me as her child. Now I'm also worried.

Axel didn't answer me. I know something is going on that he doesn't wanna tell me.

"What happened to Mom?"

Wena came to hug me, I didn't know what was going on so I just hugged her back with confusion.

"She's in jail..."

I was speechless. What I heard was clear. Why is she in jail? I wanted to say something but my mouth isn't cooperating. What is happening with my life now? What the actual hell is happening...

She grabbed my hand and we sat back on the couch. She was holding both of my hands.

"Yesterday, she was put to jail. The police said she was corrupt"

"What? How long is she gonna be there?"

"15 years" Her voice was soft and low.

I breathed out. So now I'm all alone? Everyone just disappeared and now I'm the only one left in this empty house. I bit my lower lip when I started to feel the tears coming out of my eyes. I tried to stop it but I failed. It dropped.

She hugged me and I began to cry for the hundredth time. Why is this happening to me now? Where did I go wrong to deserve all of this shit? For fuck's sake why is this happening to me?

Everything happened so fast. If I didn't go to investigate Dad's office, this wouldn't happen. Everything is my fault. Zac would still be here. I wouldn't have to cry every second.

I want to give up. It's too much for me. Sunod sunod na silang nawawala. I just hope these two won't leave my side. They're my only friends and I can't afford to lose them...

"It's okay... andito lang kami para sa'yo. Gagaan din ang lahat. It might be heavy right now but as the day goes by, everything will be fine" Axel's hand touched my hair.

Well, maybe I'm not alone. I still have these two and they're here for me.

Pinalinis ni Wena ang room ni Daddy. She asked my permission first but since he's gone, I told her it was okay. I don't even wanna see his body again. Mamatay siyang mag-isa. They threw everything away but I kept some pictures of my mom. It's the only thing I can have.

Mom's room stayed the same. I planned on visiting her tomorrow and having a talk. I miss her. It's been a while since we talked.

I went to visit Zac's house. I promised myself not to cry but I did. Every time I come here, it feels like he's just here beside me, wrapping his arms around me while showering me with his kisses. And I miss him even more.

His paintings were still there, hanging on the wall. Fuck. I shouldn't have come here. I still can't accept everything that had happened and how fast it was. I wasn't ready to lose my all. I quickly dried my face from my tears and locked the door. Hindi naman siguro masama kung ako ang hahawak ng susi niya diba?

"Mom...? What happened to you?" I couldn't even recognize her anymore. Her hair was fuzzy and her face was dirty. When she heard me, she couldn't even look at me.

I held her hands and pressed them with care and gentleness. Even though you're not my real Mom, you're still the Mom I've spent my years on. She started crying and I tucked some strands of her hair into her ear.

"I'm sorry Cle... I know I wasn't a good mother to you. This is my karma now" She looked at me with eyes full of tears.

"No. You're still the best Mom who took care of me when I was a child. Even if you knew I wasn't yours yet you still loved me and cared for me"

She held my hands and kissed it. "Be a good girl, okay? Take care of everything else in our house, bisitahin mo lang ako kung kelan mo gusto. Always remember that there are no days that I spent not thinking and loving you"

The police took her and I was left silently crying. Gosh, why am I such a crybaby? I should have bought a tissue with me.

I guess I'll be the one to take care of everything now. I'm left with all of these responsibilities that I wasn't even ready for. But I know that I can do it. I will.