Last Shot at Love

CHAPTER TWENTY

A/N: Did not proofread.

MAKI LOPEZ

I was in full-on crying when I dropped my phone. Sensing that I received a bad news, agad namang kinuha ni Alex ang phone ko at siya na ang tumuloy makipag-usap sa police officer na tumawag sa akin. Immediately after the call, Alex booked me a ticket to Los Angeles and we did not even tried to pack our suite cases.

Every minute seemed to be dragged slowly. I feel like every minute pass like an hour. To say that my mind was playing with me is an understatement. My brain is picturing Mj on a hospital bed, hooked with different machines and almost lifeless. Having my parents killed on a accident doesn't help at all hence why my brain is thinking about the worst. Alex squeezed my hands as a faint sob escaped my lips. I look at the girl beside me who sent me a sad smile, quietly assuring me that everything will just turn out fine.

17 hours later, Alex and I made our way from LAX to the hospital where Mj was brought. I was awake for more than 24 hours now dahil hindi ako nakatulog sa eroplano. I became more and more nervous as our Uber gets near the hospital. Alex guided me because everything was seemed to be a blur for me.

"Hi, we're looking for Margaux Julian Ross? She's involve to a accident yesterday?" Alex asked the receptionist on the hospital as I stood there beside her. The woman nodded and typed something on her computer.

"Room 307 on the third floor, Ma'am." The woman said in a soft tone. We said our thank you and went on the elevator. Even the ride felt long. Halos tumakbo ako palabas when the doors opened. I immediately looked for 307 and burst the door open. My breath hitched and sobbed really hard as I feel on my knees.

"Katrina? Alex? What are you doing here?" Confused at gulat na tanong sa amin ni Mj. There she was, on her usual white button down shirt and faded jeans. The only difference is she has a gash on the right side of her forehead which is neatly covered and clean. It was Alex who recovered from the shock first and spoke.

"Oh, thank God you're okay! A police officer called Maki yesterday saying that you were involved in a collision. We rushed from the office to the airport. Buti na lang may open na chance passenger on the flight here to LA kaya nakalipad kami agad." Explain ni Alex na agad na yumakap sa Mj and she motioned Mj to come and get me from the floor and excused herself to give us a moment.

"Katrina?" She cautiously said to get my attention, I looked at her, tears streaming my face and a long sigh of relief escape my lips as I attacked her with a very bone crushing hug.

"I thought of the worse. When I heard the officer said you were involve in an accident, I-i c-can't--- I was--- I thought--- " There was a very large lump in my throat that didn't allowed my words to come out and then Mj interrupted me.

"Hey now, I'm here, all good although this gash might turn into a scar but I'm fine. It wasn't that serious. Just a gash, that's all." She said trying to comfort me.

"W-what if it was not?! W-we aren't o-official yet and I-i a-almost lose y-you again? W-what if the worst h-happened and t-then----" I cried out but my speech was interrupted with a very soft lips that I missed for the past two weeks.

"I'll take more than a car accident for the world to take me from you. Hush now, I'm all good. You don't have to cry. I don't like seeing you crying, it hurts me as well."

----

Alex came back after a few minutes as we waited for the doctor to discharge Mj. She was confined for a day just to make sure that all is well. The our other friends was assured that Mj is okay and they don't have to fly from Manila to LA anymore because we'll fly back home in a few days.

Umalis ulit si Alex to shop for our clothes dahil hindi na kami nag-abala na mag-empake when we heard the news. Hindi ako pumayag na umalis sa tabi ni Mj. Maya't maya ko siyang tinatanong kung may masakit ba o ano.

"Did you know that Kean and Pia is already official for a few months now?" I asked Mj randomly.

"They are what now?" She raised her eyebrow and I explained.

"Di ba Pia picked me up on work when we went dress fitting? She was alone when she arrived so nagtaka ako, kasi di ba lagi namang magkabuntot iyong dalawang iyon? So I asked her where Kean is." I said I I cuddled up to her on her bed.

"Then?" She inquired.

"Then she said that Kean was stuck on a meeting but was already on the way to the shop as we spoke. So sabi ni bilisan namin and said, her own words not mine, that we should not let her baby waiting." I laughed lightly remembering how red Pia was when she realized what she said. "Then Kean called and Pia was already driving so she answered the call via bluetooth from her car. They were so cute. Halatang under na under si Kean. I mean, I haven't heard her that soft for someone."

"Well, when I thought about it. They where oddly too close ever since. Kean never liked anyone for Pia and Pia never approved of anyone that Kean introduced to us. Pia was always the only one who can calm down Kean in any situation. I thought Pia was just really nurturing to anyone but then naisip ko, parang extra nurturing nga siya kay Kean." Kwento ni Mj as she played with my hair.

"Ang cute lang nila. I just knew Kean to be this badass, though and bitchy girl. Tapos para siyang bata kapag nung andoon kami sa dress shop. She would kiss Pia on the cheek every now and then tapos bigla na lang niyang niyayakap. I think partly, they felt that they are free around me since alam ko na. I just did not expect Kean to be like that."

"How long are they official?" Tanong ni Mj.

"Six months na raw according to Pia."

"As soon as we're home I'm taking you on a date. I have this whole plan of asking you, you know? The girls even help me set it up. But I'm not telling you details." She softly said as she kissed my forehead. She has this glint in her eyes that I really find adorable.

"No. I don't want you to ask me to be your girlfriend anymore." I said in a very serious tone and I saw how her face dropped.

"W-what? Y-you don't want me to be your girlfriend?" She asked in an almost a whisper and her voice was laced with confusion and pain.

"I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."

"O-okay, I-i understand, i-if t-that's what you really want. I can't force you. I love you too much so I'll-----" She was about to pull out of our embrace but I held her tighter.

"I think we've already lose and waste a lot of time. I want to get married now, here in Los Angeles."