I wake up groggily and checked my surroundings. I’m still here. Still in the room of white walls. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko and I winced instantly. That stings.
“I really wouldn’t move if I were you.” Mataray na sabi sa akin ng babaeng nakaupo sa maliit na sofa. The resemblance is so strong I can’t be mistaken. She’s Arvin’s sister, err I mean half-sister.
I inhaled deeply and sigh as the thoughts of Arvin came rushing to my mind and a tear found it’s way to my cheeks. “I’m.. I’m so sorry. I—“
“You better be bitch.” Her snide remark didn’t hurt but what hurts me is that I’m the reason why she’s like that. “YOU. KILLED. MY. BROTHER!” She shouted and came charging towards me.
“NO ALISA!” Sigaw nung lalaking kakapasok lang sa pinto at niyakap si Alisa.
“Let me go Lance! This bitch deserves to die!” She shouted. “No! Do you think Arvin would sacrifice his life for nothing? He believes in her! He chose to end his life to save her. Think of that Alisa.” Paliwanag ni Lance kay Alisa.
Napaupo na siya sa sahig at hindi lang siya umiiyak, humahagulgol na siya ngayon at nakakaramdam ako ng mabigat sa dibdib ko na parang hindi ako makahinga. “He’s.. I.. I shouldn’t have listened to him. This is my fault.. all mine. Hindi ko man lang nasabi kung gaano ko siya kamahal—“
“He loves you.” Out of nowhere the words slipped through my mouth and she looked up at me. “So much.” I whispered. “You are the last thing on his mind, he wants me to tell you that he loves you.” I saw the tears in her eyes nd she made a quick haste.
“I’m sorry. She’s just upset.” Paliwanag sa akin ni Lance. “I know, she really should be. It’s my fault.” I said.
Umupo siya sa isa sa mga sofa. “Hindi masama si Alisa, she’s just devastated to what had happened.” I nod. Pati naman ako magrereact kung sa akin nangyari yun. “Arvin is he’s only family. Her father and Arvin’s father used to be close friends before. Kaya galit si Alisa noon kay Arvin dahil hindi niya matanggap na kapatid niya sa ina si Arvin. Pero nung namatay ang tatay ni Arvin she felt pity on him kaya pumayag siya na tumira si Arvin at ang mama niya sa bahay nila. A few years later Alisa’s father died and left them a great sum of money. Being the selfish bitch their mother was, she left them. Knowing na wala siyang mapapla sa kayamanan na inaasam niya sa ex-husband niya. You can picture how devastated and hurt they are.”
“You can say that they went through a lot of deep shit. The day Arvin came to our base walang alam si Alisa. Greg handles the security of the outside perimeter pero as soon as she heard Arvin’s voice nakipag talo siya kay Greg kahit na nilagay niya ang grupo namin sa malaking kapahamakan. She really loved her brother.”
As I processed all this, I felt the pain of guilt crawling beneath my skin. Sa ilalim ng devil-may-care na attitude niya ay nagtatago ang batang namatayan ng ama at iniwan ng ina. I don’t know life can be so cruel. I felt the lump in my throat and I blink rapidly to stop the tears. ”I didn’t want this to happen.” I whispered softly.
Lance smiled reassuringly. “I know, I can understand why Arvin did this. He is a person who stands up for others.”
Napayuko ako sa hiya. I made that promise to myself pero hinayaan kong isakripisyo ng kaibigan ko ang buhay niya para sa akin. May kumatok ng mahina sa pinto at nakita ko si kuya na sumilip and I smiled weakly. “Sige, Emcee.” Paalam ni Lance bago lumabas ng kwarto ko.
“Hi.” I greeted Klein, hiding my pain.
“Hi your face. How are you?” Nagaalalang tanong niya.
“Never been better. What’s with these treatment huh?” Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ako naghihina.
“The doctor said you are over fatigue causing your heart to take all the stress. It’s why you feel so wasted. Nagalala ako ng maalala ko ang sakit mo nung bata ka pa. Akala ko nagamot ka na ni dad noon.” He frowned.
