The next evening, Gio sat with Mica, Jo, and Cole at their favorite café, her mind replaying the encounter with Sari over and over.
She hadn’t slept, the image of Sari’s tear-streaked face haunting her. Her friends could see the exhaustion and sadness in her eyes as she finally opened up about what happened.
“I saw her last night… Sari,” Gio began, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked down at her coffee cup, fidgeting nervously.
“She was on the beach, crying, and… I couldn’t help myself. I went to her, sinubukang kausapin, pero hindi niya ako pinakinggan. She just… walked away.”
Mica reached across the table and placed a hand on Gio’s shoulder, her face sympathetic.
“Gio, baka nabigla lang si Sari. Six years is a long time, but sometimes wounds don’t heal as quickly as we hope.”
Jo leaned in, her gaze steady. “Nasabi mo ba sa kaniya ang dahilan kung bakit bigla ka nalang hindi nag paramdam?. Maybe that’s what she needs to understand what happened.”
Gio shook her head, guilt evident on her face. “No… I mean, I tried, pero… mukhang ayaw niya nang mag paliwanag pa ako.”
Cole, who had been quiet, finally spoke up, her tone firm but gentle. “Gio, siguro ang kailangan natin ngayon ay, hayaan muna si Sari. Baka nga nabigla lang talaga siya. Dadating ang panahon na magiging ready siya ulit na harapin ka at pakinggan lahat ng paliwanag mo.”
Gio took a deep breath, her friends’ words sinking in. “sana nga... But you’re right. I have to try, even if it’s hard. She deserves at least that much.”
Mica squeezed her shoulder. “One step at a time, Gio. Just be there for her in any way you can. And if she’s meant to forgive you, she will. But it’s her choice, not yours.”
Gio nodded, grateful for her friends’ support. She knew they were right; the road to mending things with Sari would be slow and difficult. But she was willing to take it, one step at a time, hoping that someday, she could show Sari how much she still cared.
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Sari stood at the side of Miyuki’s hospital bed, her heart breaking as she looked at her daughter’s pale face.
Miyuki’s once-bright eyes seemed tired, her skin a shade too light, and the little girl’s frailty was a constant reminder of the battle they were facing.
Sari’s parents stood quietly behind her, each struggling to hold back their own tears, but Sari knew she had to stay strong, at least on the outside.
Miyuki opened her eyes slowly, looking up at her mother with a weak, curious expression. “Mommy… what happened to me?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sari’s chest tightened, and she felt her own tears threatening to spill. Forcing a gentle smile, she reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from Miyuki’s face.
“You’re just… a little sick, anak,” she said gently, her voice calm and soothing, though every word felt like it was breaking her.
Miyuki looked up at her, her brow furrowing. “Will I be okay, Mommy?” she asked innocently, her gaze trusting and hopeful.
Sari’s parents exchanged a glance, both of them visibly struggling to stay composed. Sari’s father subtly wiped a tear away, while her mother pressed a hand to her mouth, her own sorrow evident.
Sari took a deep breath, steadying herself as she nodded, leaning down to kiss Miyuki’s forehead. “Yes, naman anak . We’re all here for you. You just need to rest and get stronger. You’ll be okay.”
Miyuki gave a faint smile, her eyes slowly closing as she drifted back to sleep. Sari watched her, feeling the weight of each word she had spoken, knowing the truth she couldn’t tell her daughter.
When Miyuki’s breathing steadied, Sari finally let a tear fall, and her parents stepped forward, each placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
As Sari stood silently by Miyuki’s side, her phone buzzed. She glanced down and saw Zach’s name on the screen, his video call request bringing a small moment of relief amidst the heavy silence.
“kamusta kayo Sari” Zach greeted, his voice gentle. “How’s our little fighter?”
Sari held up the phone so that they could see Miyuki lying in bed. The girl stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering as she caught sight of her uncle and aunt on the screen. A faint smile appeared on her face.
“Hi, tito dad… tita mom,” she whispered, her voice soft and weak, but her smile genuine.
Kiera waved, her eyes already glistening. “Hi, our baby! We just wanted to see you and send you all our love,” she said, her voice warm and filled with care. “You look so brave, Miyuki. We’re so proud of you.”
Zach grinned, doing his best to keep things light. “You know, I was telling Kiera that you’re probably the bravest girl we know. Way tougher than me!”
Miyuki giggled softly, her laughter fragile yet heartwarming. “tito dad… you’re silly,” she murmured, a tiny spark of joy lighting up her face.
Sari’s heart ached seeing her daughter smile, even if just for a moment. She glanced back at her parents, who were watching with quiet smiles, though their eyes were still tinged with sadness.
As the call continued, Zach and Kiera took turns telling funny stories, trying their best to lift Miyuki’s spirits. They promised to visit soon, bringing her favorite treats and toys, and kept telling her how strong she was.
Eventually, as Miyuki’s eyelids grew heavy again, Zach’s face softened. “Take care, little fighter. We love you so much, okay?”
Miyuki nodded, her eyes slowly closing. “Love you, too, tito dad… tita mom…”
When the call ended, Sari looked down at her phone, the warmth of her family’s love lingering in her heart. Despite the ache she felt inside, she was grateful for this moment of light, knowing that even in the midst of her pain, she wasn’t alone.
YOU ARE READING
MY FIRST AND MY LAST S2 (HAMBEBE AU)
Fanfiction(🐰) and (🐨) A couple deeply in love and committed to building a life together. From the early days of friendship that blossomed into romance, they face life's highs and lows side by side, showing what it means to be partners in every sense.
