Simply The Best

31

EMBER opened her eyes. Hindi iyon ang unang pagkakataon pero sa palagay niya ay kakayanin niyang manatiling gising sa pagkakataong iyon. Malabo pa ang kanyang paningin pero lumilinaw naman sa bawat pagkurap.

Buhay siya.

Hindi rin iyon ang unang pagkakataon na iyon ang unang sumagi sa kanyang isip. Kada magbubukas ang kanyang mga mata at pansumandaling bumabalik ang kanyang kamalayan, iyon ang naiisip niya.

Buhay siya.

He didn't kill her. He didn't kill her.

Iyon na ang naiisip ni Ember sa kasalukuyan. Buhay pa siya at hindi siya napatay.

She expected to feel the pain but she was feeling numb. Para ngang hindi niya maramdaman ang sariling katawan. Pero alam niyang mararamdaman niya iyon paglaon. The physical pain would come and it would almost be unbearable. The pain in her heart...

The smell of the place was familiar. Antiseptic. Hospital. Nasa ospital siya. She hated the smell of the hospital. She hated hospitals.

"Ember?"

The voice was familiar. It was soothing and... safe. She felt safe. She could hear him in her mind. It was just on her mind. He was not there. He left.

He left her.

Then he appeared in her line of sight. A mirage. Or a dream. Epekto siguro ng anesthesia. He was not real.

"Ember?"

It was a voice she also knew. Yael. The friend who didn't give up on her. The friend who was going to help her get away. She might also be in danger. She had to warn her.

"R-Rod," she tried to say. Hindi niya sigurado kung may boses na lumabas o kung naintindihan siya ng kaibigan. She tried to say the name again though she really didn't want to. Parang may naririnig din siyang beeping sounds mula sa kung saan.

"He's in prison, Em. He's still in prison."

Naramdaman ni Ember ang pagkalma ng sistema sa mga narinig. He was in jail. "Rod..."

"He's gone, honey. He's gone. He's gone."

He was gone. Rod was gone. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata pero nanatili ang mukha ni Ivo sa kanyang isip. Hindi niya gustong isipin si Rod o ibang lalaki. Gusto niyang isipin si Ivo, the guy who made everything special for her. The guy she shared magical love with. The guy who was simply the best...

--

"WHO IS Rod?" tanong ni Ivo kay Yael nang makita na bumalik sa pagtulog si Ember. The doctors said she's be in and out for a while. She was still doing great. Improving.

Pinahid ni Yael ang mga luha. "Not now, Ivo."

May parte naman kay Ivo ang nakakaunawa na hindi nga iyon ang panahon para mag-usisa. Siguro nga ay may mas magandang tiyempo pero gusto niyang malaman. The fear on Ember's eyes and voice. The anguish. They almost broke his heart.

"If this person is responsible—"

Yael walked out of the room. Mabilis siyang sumunod. "Yael, I'm talking to you," sabi niya pagkatapos marahan na isara ang pinto ng kuwarto na kinaroroonan ni Ember.

"You may be a ruler in your universe, Ivo, but not in this universe."

"Who is this Rod? Do the police know about him? You said he's in prison. Yael—"

Marahas siyang nilingon ni Yael. She was crying again and she was really angry. "He's Ember's ex!"

Natigilan si Ivo. Sa loob ng ilang sandali ay hindi niya sigurado ang isasagot. Hindi naman niya inasahan na walang ex si Ember. He knew she had boyfriends after him. He was not arrogant or self-centered enough to think he was the only one.