The Final Wish (English Version)

Chapter 24

When he saw the heart rate went flat, he immediately grabbed the pager in Emma's room.

"Nurse," Professor Diwa exclaimed. "Nurse! Emma's heart rate went flat!"

The doctors and the nurses tried their best to revive her, although there is nothing more anyone can do. It is done. No one can undo what has been done.

"It's over," the doctor said as they failed. "Time of death: 9:30 am."

The nurse jotted down the time of the death to be listed on her death certificate. They used a blanket to cover her dead body. They left as soon as they tried to revive her. Professor Diwa remembered the wedding two years ago. He met her at the wedding, and it was 9:30 am. He broke down into tears due to immerse pain. He embraced the lifeless girl's body for he knew that it is truly the end.

Emma's parents arrived instantly when they heard that it is done. The doctor is waiting for them outside.

"I am sorry," the doctor said to the couple. "Her suffering is over. May God bless her."

"Emma," Lerine exclaimed in disbelief that her daughter is dead. "Emma, no! She can't be dead."

Due to her shock, she fainted and the nurses came to her rescue to help regain her consciousness.

"Perhaps it's the time that he saw his daughter," Raphael thought. "Perhaps it's the time that he should see her."

Raphael contacted Arthur to inform him about his daughter's death. Professor Diwa still hasn't left and instead, he sat at the sofa of the room and mourned for her death. Moments later, Arthur arrived. He saw Raphael looking at his daughter's dead body. He approached his daughter's body.

"This is the only mistake made that can create another life," Arthur said to Emma's dead body. "A life of another that brought what she can give to the world. Time comes that it has to end soon enough. I am sorry if I never even saw you grow up. I never even saw you when the end is near."

"I can see now who taught the boy some poetry and English speaking skills," Raphael responded to Arthur's words.

"Yes," Arthur said. "I raised the boy well. Their lives entwined with one another. It's such a small world. God knows how to meet ends and tie them together."

"Wise words, old friend," Raphael said.

"Indeed," Arthur said. "Let's end our disputes. Let's also tie our loose ends."

"Agreed," Raphael said as he shook the hands of his old friend. Maritess and Reginald soon arrived to join the mourning.

"How are you," Maritess greeted sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss. We are here to comfort you for your loss."

"Thank you," Raphael said.

"So, what a reunion," Reginald said to Arthur. "We meet again, old friend."

Raphael, Reginald and Arthur have all been friends for a long time.

"What a great time," Arthur responded. "A mournful denouement with a new beginning." Sabi ni Arthur.

"Everything seems fine," Reginald said. "We found Victor again after twenty five years."

"Really, where is he," Raphael asked him.

"We crashed a car unto him," Reginald said. "He's still alive, although when he was discharged, we never heard from him again."

And then, Maritess noticed a sound that sounded like sobbing. Thus she asked who it is.

"Wait a minute," Maritess said. "Do I hear someone crying?"

"Oh right," Raphael said. "It's just Emma's former boyfriend. He's over there."

"So I was right," Maritess exclaimed. "I knew that he'd be here!"

""The real reason we came here is to check if Victor is here, turns out that he also mourns for the dead," Reginald said.

"He said his name is Jonathan, and Arthur, you have the same surname as the family that adopted him," Maritess said.

"Wait," Arthur said. "Dave is your son? The son that we adopted twenty five years ago?"

"Oh right," Maritess said. "His given name is Jonathan Dave."

"Wait," Reginald said. "He's the son that you and Catherine adopted? Wow!"

"Looks like our fates are somewhat entwined," Raphael responded.

"I know," Maritess said.

"I trust that Victor was raised very well," Reginald said. "You and Catherine must have taught him everything he needs to learn. Too bad he's a professor. I thought we can get him to the business industry."

"Well you can get him inside the publications part of your business, that way he can use what he learned in college," Raphael suggested.

"Wow, I never thought of it that way," Reginald said. "The only thing is, will he agree to that?"

While the talk of the old friend in a reunion is ongoing, Eloisa and Rose arrived after their class at school. They never heard the news that Emma is dead that's why they came to her to announce the success of their search.

"Emma, it's done," Eloisa exclaimed as she entered the hospital room. "We found him!"

They were shocked to see Professor Diwa mourning at the sofa and Emma's father talking to three strangers for them.

"What's going on here," Rose asked as she scratched her head.

"She's dead my dear," Raphael said solemnly.

"What do you mean," Eloisa asked. Tears are forming up in her eyes. Eloisa knows that what she heard is real, yet a part of her wishes that what Emma's father had said is just a practical joke.

"Don't play dumb Eloisa," Rose said as she wiped the tears forming in her eyes to prevent herself from crying her eyes out. "It's the end. Emma's dead. We never even talked to her and heard her final words.

"I know," Eloisa said. "It's just that I can't accept the fact that she's actually dead."

Professor Diwa stood up from the sofa and walked past everyone as if they never existed. He went outside the room and did not even mind them.

"Ummm...," Eloisa said awkwardly. "Sir, how are you?"

"Victor, where are you going," Maritess asked. He went outside the hospital room like no one ever talked to him. The weird thing is, he wasn't crying. He's just walking stoically.

"Weird," Rose said. "That never happens. This is the first time that I saw him this lonely. He's sad yesterday, yes, but usually, sir is a jolly person."

"I know," Eloisa wondered. "It's weird."

"Was it something we said," Reginald said.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dela Rama," Nurse Mary said as she came crashing through the door of Emma's room. "The professor you crashed unto yesterday is at the top of the hospital building. I think he's trying to commit suicide!"

"What," the dela Rama couple exclaimed.