COME BACK TO ME, SLAVEN | #Wattys2019

Chapter 15 - Not without my song, it's my life.

"Good evening. Mabuti at gising na kayo. Mahigit twelve hours na rin kasi kayo'ng tulog." Ang nakangiting bungad ng nurse sa kanya.

"Twelve hours??!" Napatingin siya sa bintana. Nakababa ang blinds pero makikitang madilim na nga sa labas.

"Opo. At ang nobyo nyo, twelve hours na rin d'yan." Panunukso pa nito.

"N-Nobyo?" Napababa ang tingin niya sa lalaking natutulog hawak-hawak ang kamay niya. Gusto sana niyang bawiin iyon kundi lang siya nag-aalala na magising ito. " Hindi ko siya nobyo." Alanganin ang ngiting tanggi niya sa nurse.

"Naku, naiintindihan ko kung ide-deny n'yo iyon. Syempre, sikat na international celebrity ang boyfriend nyo. Nakakainggit ho kayo, ang gwapo at super sikat pa ng nobyo nyo. "

"Eh. . Hindi nga kami mag-boyfriend ni Slav - Teka, kilala mo siya?" Bigla'y naalala niyang binanggit nito ang pagiging 'celebrity' ng lalaki. Akala niya eh siya lang ang nakakakilala kay Slaven.

"Hindi ho. Pero, ang gwapo kaya niya kaya siguradong celebrity 'yan sa Korea. Wala ho akong hilig sa Koreanovelas, pero p-in-icturan ko ang nobyo nyo kanina Miss. Ipinadala ko 'yong picture sa pinsan kong addict sa Koreanovelas at Kpop at kung anu-ano pang may K. At confirmed, idol niya ang boyfriend mo. Nagpapahingi nga po ng autograph. Pero wag ho kayong mag-alala. Bawal na bawal makapasok sa private wards ang hindi bisita ng pasyente. Kaya hindi dudumugin ang gwapo ninyong boyfriend."

"H-Hindi ko nga siya boy --"

"Miss, kung ako ang may boyfriend na ganyan ka-gwapo hindi ko lulubayan kahit isang segundo 'yan at baka maagaw pa ng iba. At hinding-hindi ko ide-deny sa iba ang relasyon namin. Syempre proud ako sa kanya. At isa pa Miss, itanggi nyo man , mabubuking pa rin kayong dalawa. Sobra-sobra ang pag-aalala niya sa'yo kanina. At ni minsan hindi ka niya iniwan. Nagsiuwian na ho 'yung ibang kasama ninyo pero si fafa Slaven, nandito lang."

"A-Ano??"

"Hindi ho siya umalis sa tabi nyo, holding hands pa kayo palagi. 'Yan ba ang walang relasyon?" Hindi nalang siya kumontra sa makulit na nurse. Hindi rin naman ito maniniwala kahit anong paliwanag niya.

"Marami ba'ng nakakilala at nakakaalam na nandito ang -- si Slaven?"

"Ay, oo Miss. Marami kasi ang nakakita nang dumating kayo kanina'ng umaga. Pero nagawan na ho yun ng paraan ng hospital management. Lalabas na rin naman ho kayo bukas at sa bahay nalang magpapagaling. Mabuti nalang naagapan at hindi na kayo kailangang salinan ng dugo. Malalim ho kasi ang sugat n'yo sa talampakan. Six stitches." Nanlaki ang mata niya sa sinabi nito. Six? Naka anesthesia kasi siya kaya hindi niya yun naramdaman. But seriously, 'six'?

"Bakit nga pala kayo nasugatan sa talampakan?" Pag-uusisa nito.

"H-Ha?" Hindi siya makasagot. Anong ida-dahilan niya?

"O sige ho Miss. Hindi ko na aalamin, sa inyo nalang 'yon. Malamang masyado na ho yung personal. Pasensya na ho kayo sa ka daldalan ko. Inumin na ho ninyo ang mga gamot ninyo. Mamaya ho kasi magpapa-pansin na yang sugat ninyo." Ibinigay nito sa kanya ang tatlong tableta at capsule ng gamot at isang basong tubig.

"Para saan ho ang mga ito?" Mausisa talaga siya pagdating sa iniinom na gamot. Ayaw kasi niyang uminom sana ng gamot kahit may sakit na siya noon pa man.

"Yung isa ho pampawala ho ng sakit, ito anti-infection, at ito pampagaling ng sugat." Turo nito isa-isa sa mga gamot. Napipilitang sinubo niya ang mga iyon at inisang lagok sa tulong ng tubig. Napangiwi siya sa pait. "Sige ho Ma'am, hindi ko na kayo iistorbuhin ng fafa handsome n'yo. Babalik nalang ho ako mamaya para sa gamot nyo, after 4 hours." anito habang nililigpit ang mga dala-dala. Then she went out of the room.

"Oh my god!" Bigla niyang naalala na may duty na siya mamayang madaling-araw!Kanina lang ang day-off niya. Sa pagkataranta eh nahablot niya ang kamay na hawak-hawak ng natutulog na ' elfprince'.

Supalpal ang mukha nito sa hospital bed dahilan para magising ito. Napangiwi siya ng makitang namula kaagad ang mukha nito.

"S-Sorry.. .I-I didn't mean to, w-wake you or --" Why in the world is she stammering?

" It's okay. I guess I deserve that because of what happen to you." he managed to smile. And fix himself.He really look godly and enchantingly handsome. Naipilig niya ang ulo para alisin ang agiw sa utak niya. "You need something Ella? Are you hungry? How are you feeling? Is your foot okay?" Sunod-sunod na tanong nito sa kanya.

Tumayo pa ito sa upuan at akmang susuriin siya.

"I-I'm fine!" Pigil niya agad sa kamay nito nang akmang hahawakan nito ang mukha niya. Wrong move. Her nerves went crazy! She immediately released his hand. Gulat na tiningnan siya nito ng nakakunot-noo.

"Here. Eat this to replenish. You need energy. Leah should be back now with dinner." Inabot nito sa kanya ang isang apple. Tinanggap agad niya iyon, avoiding contact.

"T-Thanks. But I need to go. I have work to attend to." She said without looking at him.

"You know you can't go to work with that foot. The doctor advised 2 weeks of rest. If you use that foot, it'll get worse and wouldn't cure. You'll be ailing yourself more."

"T-Two weeks?" She turned around so fast, her neck may have snapped. "I haven't been absent from work for the last nine months of working for that company. Now you're telling me that I should rest that long?? Are you serious?"

" I really wish I was, but I'm not." He sighed and look at her with those beautiful chinky eyes. "Ella, I wish I could make it up for what I did. It was my fault, but can you hear me out at least, before judging me?" His eyes are pleading her. What choice does she have but to nod? "I know you might be thinking how selfish I am for trying to push you to come to Korea to save my ass. But you don't know, it never was and is the case. It's not just about the contest or my come back. I could live without my career Ella but not without my song, it's my life.

I didn't tell anyone about this, but I think you have the right to know. I want you to be convinced. Are you willing to hear me out?" He sounded so hopeful, she could not simply brush him off and say 'no'. She believes she doesn't know him at all. But she understands him through his song. Why not know the singer's thoughts and know him better? She had always wondered what's inside Slaven's mind when he made the song. How is he feeling at the moment? The song is so beautiful, she wants to know the meaning and the story behind it. Now is her chance to have answers to her questions.

"I-I personally don't know you, so I guess I should give you at least half the chance to speak your part. You are in a democratic country, you have your . . . sovereign rights, I suppose, even if you are not a citizen from this country. But let me remind you. This does not mean I am coming to Korea to show up for your fans. My decision is unchanged and will be final." She looked away from him avoiding his eyes. She's afraid she might gave away what she really thought. That by giving him the chance to speak would mean she's considering the offer!

"Thank you, that's all I need." He beams at her and holds her hand.