Stay With Me (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 43

Matthew's POV

Nandito ako ngayon sa balcony ng mansion namin. Umuwi muna ako galing hospital, kasi akong nagbabantay kay Zahaira. Ilang araw na akong hindi pumapasok, at honestly, ayaw ko munang umalis sa kanyang tabi. Gusto ko ring malaman na okay siya.

I can’t help but think about what she’s going through. I know she’s going through a lot, and it breaks my heart to see her in pain. Sobrang worried ako. I mean, who wouldn’t be? I love her and
i just want her to feel better.

Every time na naiisip ko yung mga nangyari, parang ang bigat sa dibdib. Ang dami niyang pinagdaraanan, and I feel so helpless. I just want to be there for her, pero sometimes, it feels like I’m not doing enough.

Minsan, naiisip ko rin, What if hindi na siya makabalik sa dati? It's scary to think about. I want to see her happy again, yung Zahaira na puno ng energy. I miss her laugh, and I miss our random conversations.

I know I need to be strong for her, but it’s hard. Ang dami kong naiisip, and it feels like I’m stuck in this moment. Kailangan ko siyang tulungan, pero hindi ko alam kung paano.

Pero sa kabila ng lahat, umaasa pa rin ako. Umaasa na balang araw, makikita ko siyang nakangiti ulit, ready to face the world.

But nung malaman kong may sakit siya sa puso, parang huminto yung mundo ko nung time na yon. I couldn't breathe. It felt like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Ang dami kong tanong sa isip ko—paano siya nagkaganon? Bakit siya?

In that moment, all I could do was pray na sana malagpasan niya ang lahat ng ito, and I’d be right there beside her every step of the way.

"Kuya.." lumingon ako sa likod ko, nakita ko si Maxine. As usual, wala nanamang emosyon ang mukha niya. Sanay na ako na ganon ang kapatid ko.

"Why?" tanong ko habang nag-aalala pa rin sa nangyayari kay Zahaira.

"Kakain na daw. Anyway, are you okay?" Tanong niya.

"Okay lang ako," sagot ko, pero deep down, I knew it was a lie. I wasn't okay. I was far from okay.

"Kuya, are you sure? Alam mo naman, di mo kailangan itago sa akin yan," she said, looking straight into my eyes.

I sighed, knowing she could see right through me. "I just... I just can't stop thinking about Zahaira," I admitted. "She’s been through so much, and I want to be there for her."

Maxine nodded, her expression softening a bit. "I get it. Sobrang bigat talaga ng pinagdadaanan niya. But you need to take care of yourself too."

"I know," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "It's just hard. I feel like I should be doing more."

"Just being there for her is enough, Kuya. You don’t have to carry everything on your own," she reassured me.

"Yeah, maybe you’re right."

"But seriously, let’s eat na. Baka mamaya magpuyat ka na naman."

"Okay, I’ll be there in a bit," I said, forcing a smile. As I walked inside, I couldn’t shake off the worry in my heart.

Nag-isip-isip pa ako bago ako dumeretso sa kitchen. Nakaupo na si mom and dad pati na rin si Maxine. Si kuya naman, for sure, ay may duty yon.

"Hey, Matthew! Finally, nandito ka na," sabi ni mom.

"Sorry, I just lost track of time," sagot ko habang umupo. Hindi ko talaga maalis sa isip ko si Zahaira.