Mister Villain

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

          

Maine survived.

The doctors declared how miraculous it was that she had escaped with just as much injury as she did.

Still, they were injuries.

She had lost so much blood she went into shock during the operation. Both her legs were broken. She had broken her ribs on both sides as well. Thankfully, none of her internal organs sustained heavy damages.

The doctors, however, are yet to give a full assessment on the situation of her brain. She had a blood clot on the left hemisphere and although they were successful in removing it, they advised the family that it could cause problems in speaking, understanding, reading, writing, and remembering.

Still, the extent of the damage can only be assessed after she wakes up.

If she doesn't wake up within the next forty-eight hours, they might have to fear the worst.

RJ had not been able to sleep at all since learning the news and when he landed at Clark and saw his best friend waiting for him in the tarmac, he embraced Kris as tightly as he could and thanked him for being there.

"Tara na bro! Inaantay ka na nang girlfriend mo" the other man told him.

It re-ignited in him the fervent desire to get to her as fast as he could.

They raced towards Bulacan like the devil himself was fast on their heel.

Still, Kris took every care to make sure they both make it to the hospital intact.

RJ ran all the way to the ICU and despite the restrictions, he was allowed to see her because his Mother wouldn't take no for an answer.

After hugging everyone very quickly, he controlled himself from running to her side out of respect for all the other patients under intensive care.

He could feel his heart race and his palms sweat as he heard the beeps of several different machines inside the closed quarter.

He prayed his strength would not fail him when he sees her but as she came in to his view, covered by a slim plastic curtain, he felt himself almost break in half.

Maine looked so small and fragile you wouldn't believe two tons of metal dragged her car on the road.

Her face was swollen from bruises. Her eyes were puffy. There were bandages all over her body.

"Sana ako na lang" he whispered and looked above him, tears starting to fall from his eyes "I could take all of these damages and even worse. I might even deserve them but Father, she doesn't. Alam mo yun. You know she doesn't"

He looked back at her.

Gusto niya itong yakapin agad-agad.

Guso niyang halikan agad-agad.

Pero dahan dahan niyang nilapitan ito dahil alam niya na he needed to care for her like the treasure she really is.

He took all of her in and burned this image of her into his mind.

Hindi na siya papayag na maulit ito.

Hindi na ito kahit kailanman mangyayari pa kay Maine.

He stooped down her bed at pinagkasya ang sarili na hawakan ang kamay nito at halikan yun for more than a minute – just feeling her and making sure that it was indeed her and no one else.

Her hand felt warm against his and if he could imagine it hard enough, he would be able to convince himself she was squeezing back his hand too.

"Meng" he finally whispered to her, his voice almost faultering "Alam ko naririnig mo ako. Si RJ to. Andito na ako. Hinding hindi na kita iiwan kahit kailan."