Why Leave Me? • KATHNIEL •

XVIII: Priceless

18.

Gazer's POV

"Gazer..." I heard her whispered. She was still covered with her blood, I can still hear her heavy breathing .We were all surrounded by the crowded, waiting for the ambulance.

After a few minutes for the ambulance to arrive, finally she was brought to the emergency room to treat her.

Nasa waiting area ako habang hinihintay ang doctor, I don't know what to do. So I tried calling my mom to come over.

Kasalanan ko lahat 'to! I never really intentionally played her, I've been honest to what I feel for her. If it wasn't my foolishness, hindi sana 'to mangyayari sa taong pinakamamahal ko. I don't want to lose her this way.

My mom tried to help me contact her father and her step-mom to inform them that their daughter is in the hospital.

After a few minutes, her dad came together with her step-mom. "Hijo, anong nangyari sa anak ko?!" Her dad asked me.

"Tito, I'm sorry. She was caught an accident, so I rushed her here." Mangiyak-ngiyak kong sinabi. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko, ano nang nangyayari sakanya? Okay nga lang ba sya? Sobra ba yung injury nya? A lot of questions is going through my head.

*ring* *ring* *ring*

I heard a phone call and realized that it was Leen's dad's phone call. He picked it up, "What!? An emergency meeting right now!?" Napatingin naman kaming lahat sa pagtaas ng boses nya.

Kaya't nag-excuse sya, "Cancel this meeting today, I'm on something important." He said to the phone. "Hindi ba talaga pwede, kahit sa susunod nalang?" He continued. "Okay, I'll be there in 30 minutes."

Lumapit naman ito sa step-mom ni Leen, "Tinatawag na'ko sa office." Dismayado ang tono nito. Nag-nod lang ang step-mom ni Leen. "I'll take care of her, don't worry." Pangkakalma naman ng step-mom ni Leen.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay lumabas na sa room ang doctor. "Doc, how is she?" I asked, shaking.

Tiningnan lang ako ng doctor bago sagutin ang tanong ko, nang dumating na ang step-mom ni Leen saka lang ito nagsalita. "She is alright, mild lang ang pagkakabagsak ng ulo nya. She just need some rest until she wakes, its not necessary na pinag-ooverthink sya. Her head injury might gotten worse that might lead her into coma again or amnesia if that happen." The doctor explained.

"You heard what the doctor said, so maybe its better for you to go home now hijo." Imik naman ng step-mom ni Leen. Yumuko na lamang ako, I felt guilty for what happened.

"I can't leave her, ma'm. It's all my fault, I know it's my responsibility." I replied. Mukhang wala nang magawa ang step-mom ni Leen kundi um-oo.

Ngumiti sa akin ito, "By the way, ano nga po palang pangalan ninyo?" I asked kindly. Sa tagal namin ni Leen, ni hindi nya nabanggit sa akin ang tungkol sa kanyang mga magulang. Nalaman ko na lamang na may step-mom pala si Leen noong in-inform ako ni mama.

Hindi sya umimik, hindi ito sinagot ang tanong ko. Instead, she turned her back on me and started to walk away. That makes her weird. I thought.

"Ma'm!" I shouted, lumingon naman sya. I know bawal ang sumigaw sa loob ng ospital pero I need to do this. "Just please do me a favor." I begged.

Tiningnan lamang ako ng step-mom ni Leen mula ulo hanggang paa, "We'll discuss it while having a dinner, besides you look tired because you're worrying too much." Her step-mom told me.

* * * * * * *

Harleen's POV

I woke up feeling my eyelids heavy. I wandered my eyes on the room, "Where am I? Am I dead?" I asked myself.

Lumingon ako sa gilid ko, and there he was. Mahimbing itong natutulog habang nakaupo, hawak-hawak ang kamay ko na tila ayaw na itong bitawan. I smiled for what I saw, at that moment I knew I wasn't dead but they gave me an angel right here beside me.

I moved an inch, so I could make myself comfortable sa posisyon namin. Unintentionally, nagising sya sa paggalaw ko. Looking at his eyes widened, he instantly stand up and hugged me as tight as he could.

I hugged him back, from there on I heard him sobbing. His heartbeat fast, and alam ko na ang bumabasa pala sa aking balikat ay ang kanyang mga luha.

"I thought I'm gonna lose you.." he told me between his sobs. Oh god, I love him so much. I thought.

"I'm not gonna leave you, silly!" Humiwalay ako sa yakap nya at ginulo ang buhok nya.  Here I am, trying to joke things around. He's so emotional, what can I do anyway? "You know why?" I asked him.

He looked me in the eye, "Why?" He said with the tone like a kid. I chuckled for what I saw, his eyes are so red!

"Because I've got a life to live," I told him while looking at him. "And yes, it is you that I wanted to be with." Sounds cheesy but it is true, I'll never needed someone else, just him.

He smiled for what he heard. "I love you.." he paused a bit, holding my hands. "I love you so much."

I smiled, "I love you, too." I replied, looking into his eyes. Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya, ganoon din sakanya.

Nagdikit ang aming mga ilong, ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata. Ramdam ko ang kanyang mainit na hininga, ngunit ang halik na aking inaasahan mula sa kanya ay wala.

Nadinig ko itong bumuntong ng hininga, at dama ko nang inilayo na ang kanyang mukha sa akin sa halip ay inilagay nya ito sa balikat ko. Dumilat ako upang tingnan sya.

"Ayaw ko nang mawala ka." He whispered. "I just can't live without you."

I closed my eyes, then I leaned my head on his. "I can't, either." I told him.

"I guess this is what you call love?" He said suddenly.

"Hmmm?" I whispered still my eyes are closed.

"I can't afford losing you, you're just too priceless." I felt my lips forming a smile for what I heard.