Alejandro's Hombre

Ch.49: Three of Swords

"I know that you still love him, but it's over mate.

It doesn't matter, put the phone away.
I know it's not easy to walk away,

let him go.

It'll be alright..."

"never get too attached on people. for the harsh reality is this;

the people you couldn't live without---

can live without you."
******************0o0***************

"Xander, hindi pwedeng ganito ka na lang palagi. naiintindihan kong nasasaktan ka ngayon, pero may responsibilidad ka na dapat harapin." Chandler said as he look at his cousin who did nothing for the past few days but hold his cellphone, waiting for a certain someone to drop a call but never came. "Xands, magpakita ka sa ospital. sa mga staff, sa board of directors. with your absence, mas lalong tumitindi ang tension doon. I even heard a rumor that they're going to file a lawsuit against us, if the hospital's situation won't improve. Xander naman, makinig ka naman sa 'kin!"

pero daig pa ni Chandler na kinakausap ang pader dahil wala man lang naririnig ang kaharap nya. nasa screen lang ng cellphone ang atensyon nito, still staring anxiously at it while biting his nails. Chandler let go of a pissed sigh, thinking of how much his patience will be stretched right now---dahil nung isang araw pa ito ganito, na para bang wala ng rason na mabuhay.

"Xander, ayokong umabot sa demandahan ang lahat. kaya sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, sasama ka sa 'kin sa ospital ngayon." wika nya na hinila ito patayo. Xander did obliged, and got himself ready. ngunit bakas sa mukha nito na wala itong gana na kumilos man lang.

naaawa sya sa pinsan, ngunit hindi nito maaaring talikuran na lang ng ganun lang ang ospital. now that the old Chairman has passed away, nasa mga balikat na ni Xander ang responsibilidad sa pamamalakad ng conglomerate. and his presence is needed in dire situations like what they're dealing with now, dahil kung patuloy itong magtatago, mas magiging komplikado lang ang lahat.

on their drive to the hospital, Xander's attention is still on his smartphone. the degree of burden after what happened is seen visibly on his poor cousin's face and physique: the dark circles under his eyes, the unnatural paleness and dryness of his complexion and his obvious lose of weight. Chandler heaved deep sigh, and can't help but feel a deep sense of pity towards the guy. kung tutuosin, biktima rin lang si Xander sa kasakiman ng kanyang Ama at sa kawalang-hiyaan ng peke nitong kapatid at dating kaklase. If that mentally unstable and son of a bitch Marco Jimenez didn't steal the steering wheel that night, wala sanang aksidenteng mangyayari. and if not for Teodorico's greed, buhay pa sana ang ina ni Gabriel.

and speaking of the man---Xander's assistant filed an immediate resignation right after what happened. and Chandler understand her decision, though he knew that Xander was extremely affected by it. ayaw tanggapin ng pinsan nya na ang tanging tao sana na maaaring nitong maging tulay sa kasintahan nito ay hindi na rin nito malapitan. Chandler can't help but wonder how unfair life is towards his cousin. mabuti itong tao, yet ito ang ibinalik ng mundo sa kanila.

The reporters, protesters, and activists swarmed Chandler's car the moment he pulled over. they're so aggressive and violent, the hospital security and the bodyguards struggled to keep them safe from harm and keeping these people at bay. kamuntik pang mapukpok si Xander ng isa sa mga cameras ng isang TV station dahil nagpupumilit itong makalapit sa kanila.

Xander is almost out of breath as they step in the lift. He exhaustedly lean on the wall, looking at his reflection. He's a mess, he could even see stubbles starting to grow on his face. not just a mess, but he looked pathetic as well. napabayaan na nya ang kanyang sarili, ni wala na syang matinong direksyon sa buhay. ever since Gabriel didn't responded to his messages and calls, all things became so bland to him. kahit nga si Jordan, napabayaan na nya. si Khairie na nga ang nag-aalaga sa anak nya ngayon, dahil kahit sya mismo hindi nga maalagaan ang sarili nya.