Love Next Door

9 - Found

At the hospital...

The maintenance was finally able to open the OR door and everyone saw Mika lying on the floor with eyes closed, her hands and uniform drenched in blood.

"Oh my gosh! Mika!", sigaw ni Tori sabay lapit sa kaibigan. She carefully placed her friend's head on her lap and touched her face.

"Magigising din po siya.", Tori assured the other people in the room. "She must have been really scared.", pagpapatuloy nito.

"Pero nagawa niya ng maayos ang operation. That's what matters. See, heroes have fears, too. But Mika, she's always been the brave one. If not for her courage, hindi natin masasabi kung anong mangyayari kay Angkong.", Dr. Espi said proudly as everyone watched the old patient being transferred to the private room. The good doctor followed after him.

With tears in her eyes, Ama hugged the sleeping lady on the floor.

"Thank you... apo...", she whispered in her ear.

Outside the room, Jeron remained standing as he couldn't take the intensity of the emotions going on inside him.

He felt ashamed of himself. Ashamed of the decisions he made in the past. Ashamed of his actions towards the lady who fainted, the same lady who saved his beloved grandfather's life.

"Apo..." He felt his Ama's tight embrace. The moment she touched him, he couldn't help the tears from falling.

"Ssshhh... It's alright, hijo... Bakit ka ba umiiyak? Buhay nga ang lolo mo oh. Pagagalitan tayo nun, sige ka.", she lightly joked as he stayed silent.

"Sige na, umuwi ka muna. Ako nang bahala dito.", Ama said.

"Sorry... Sorry po, Ama...", the words came with a broken voice.

"Don't be... I know you're capable of making the right decisions. Pero sa ngayon, sige na. Magpahinga ka na."

"Pero si Mika...", mahina niyang sabi.

"Wag ka nang mag-alala. Her friend volunteered to bring her home."

Jeron couldn't do anything but nod. After another hug with his Ama, he left the place.

But instead of heading home, he chose to drop by the bar near their village. It's the place which Mika told him about before when he tried to interrupt her study time by playing loud music.

This time, he wanted to drown in it. He wanted to drown in a sea of people where no one else would care. He needed a time off for himself.

"Ngayong gabi lang. Pagkatapos nito, aayusin ko ang lahat."

At #3 Mapayapa St. ...

"Maygulay ka talagang babae ka. Buti na lang matangkad din ako.", sambit ni Tori sa natutulog na kaibigan habang inaakay niya ito papasok ng bahay. Binihisan na niya ito sa ospital bago ihatid.

She had a difficult time looking for the keys since Mika kept them in the innermost part of her bag.

Luckily, she was able to find them and was able to carry her friend inside her unit.

"Naku Ye, sorry ah. Hanggang dito na lang sa baba. Sofabed naman 'to. Hindi na kita kayang buhatin paakyat ng kwarto mo eh."

Naglatag siya para sa kaibigan. Inaayos niya ang pagkakahiga nito nang bigla siyang tinawagan ng Mommy niya at nagmamadaling pinapauwi.