as the stars would have it

125

CHAPTER 125

HINDI ALAM NI JACHIN kung paano siya nakarating sa hospital. It all became hazy the moment he landed on the floor with a thud. Naramdaman niya ang pagbuhat sa kanya at ang sakit na gumagapang sa balikat niya, but everything else faded away. There were also voices which he could no longer dissect, probably from the people around them.

“Ma, bibili na lang kami ni Papa ng pagkain natin.” He distinctly heard Jenyl’s voice echoing through the white walls.

Everything smelled like antiseptic, and he instantly knew he was in a hospital before even opening his eyes.

“O, sige.” Mama J waved them off to go buy their breakfast while Jedidiah hopped off the sofa to run after her sister and father.

Dahan-dahang iminulat ni Jachin ang mga mata niya, and the bright light almost blinded him. He could feel the sling on his arm and the heavy cast that he now wore. Napapikit siyang muli nang mapagtanto kung anong nangyari sa kanya. Tangina.

The first thing that rushed through his mind was Evie. And then his injury that will affect his schoolwork and plates. He didn’t have time to let it heal because of the looming deadlines.

“Ma,” he croaked despite feeling like his throat was sandpaper, and licked his lips that threatened to crack at the movement. “Asan si Evie?”

Lumingon ang ina niya sa kanya at nanlaki ang mata nang makitang gising na siya. “Si Evie? Hindi sumunod dito.”

At that, the memory came crashing down to Jachin, his mind replaying what happened like an old tape that’s been discovered and played through a VHS.

Just stay here. Come be with me.

I need to go. I want to stay.

I don’t need you here. I do.

Jachin squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fist on the hand that wasn’t broken and hurting. He wanted to scream at someone. He wanted to take back those words before it left his mouth. He wanted to—he wanted so badly to run to her. . . but he couldn’t even do that right now.

Naramdaman niya ang paghawak ng ina niya sa kamao niyang nakakuyom at ang marahang paghaplos sa buhok niya. “‘Wag ka munang mag-isip. ‘Pag maayos na ang pakiramdam mo, doon mo siya balikan.”

Even without saying a word to her, his mother understood what he was feeling.

Jachin reached for his mother's arm, desperate for someone to cling on, and the moment that he felt his mother’s warm embrace and reassuring pat, Jachin broke down crying.

What he couldn’t tell her, he made sure she felt it.

In truth, he was so scared. Of everything. He was scared when he faced his father and when he looked at him with those same eyes that terrorized him as a child, he was so scared for the safety of his sisters and his family, and he was so scared that his father might find out about Evie and torment her the same way he did with his family.

He wouldn’t—he can’t let him ruin her peace that took her a long time to earn. He can’t let him add to the burden that she still carried with her and that weighed heavily on her.

But Jachin realized now that maybe he was the burden that she needed to let go of.

Pinahid ng ina niya ang luha niya bago siya hinaplos sa pisngi. “‘Pagdating nila sabay sabay tayong kumain para makalabas ka na rin.”

Tumango si Jachin at yumakap ulit sa nanay niya.

He found out that he was almost knocked out the rest of the night at ngayong umaga na lang siya nagising. They were also waiting for some tests and scans to make sure he didn’t hit his head too hard on the pavement. Maaari raw kasi na tumama ang ulo niya and they were just ruling out everything.