Aly is now at the hospital. She is just sitting on the sofa beside Bang's bed. And then, pumasok na yung taong hinihintay niya.
"Hi," said Den.
"Hi," greeted Aly with a weak smile.
Dumiretso si Den kay Bang. She started doing her work. It's so silent. Hindi alam ni Aly kung paano sisimulan.
Just to break the ice, Aly asked, "How was your bonding time kasama sila Dzi?"
"Uhm, it was fun. Nag movie marathon kami," lied Den.
"Drama ba yung pinanuod niyo?" tanong ulit ni Aly.
"Uh, yeah, drama. Paano mo nalaman?" asked Den.
"Your eyes told me. Alam kong galing sa iyak yan," Aly said.
"Actually, ikaw din. Mukha kang umiyak," Den told Aly.
"Nope. I didn't cry," denied Aly.
"Your eyes give you away, Aly. Kilala ko yang mga mata mo paggaling sa iyak iyang mga iyan. Anong klaseng bonding ba ginawa niyo nila Ella?" said Den.
"Alright, you caught me. We had a drinking session. Tapos iyon, usapang lasing. Went to memory lane. Nagkadramahan lang ng kaunti," Aly explained smiling.
"Ah, alright," said Den. She once again focused on her work. There's silence again.
This time, it is Den's turn to start a conversation.
"I have a good news and a bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" asked Den.
"Uhm, the bad news," answered Aly.
"Bad news is I'm not assigned to Bang anymore. There's a new intern who has the same specialization as mine. Siya na ang titingin kay Bang starting tomorrow."
"It's a bad news for me because I'm going to miss you both. Bad news ba iyon sayo?" Den said then chuckled after the last sentence.
Actually, nilakad ni Den na may ibang maassign kay Bang. She wanted to take heed of her friends' advice of forgetting Aly.
"Of course, it is. But thank you for everything, Den," said Aly.
Ngumiti lang si Den.
"Pero we'll still see each other, right?" said Aly.
Hindi makasagot si Den.
"Den?"
"O-Of course, w-we will," pagsisinungaling ni Den.
Napangiti naman si Aly. "So, what is the good news?" she asked.
"Good news is you're going to have more time with Bang," Den said with a weak smile. Aly noticed it.
Gustong gusto ng kausapin ni Aly si Den about sa nalaman niya kay Ella but she can't find the strength to initiate. Until Den has already finished her duty.
"I'm all done. So, Bang, I'll see you again when you wake up," said Den. Kausap niya yung pasyente niya.
"Aly, I'll go ahead. Thank you din. Masaya ako that we got to spend time together and be friends after everything. I'll see you around," Den said.
Palabas na si Den ng pinto. It's now or never. Aly thought.
"Den, wait," Aly said.
Den stopped walking but she didn't turn around to face Aly.
Aly hugged Den from behind. She's crying already. Gulat na gulat naman si Den.
"I already know, Den. I already know everything." Iyak pa din ng iyak si Aly. Den is starting to cry too.
"I'm sorry. Sorry for all the sufferings that I have caused you. Hindi ko ginusto yun. And God knows I would do everything at my will huwag ka lang masaktan."
"Hindi, Aly. Ako ang--" pinigilan ni Aly si Den.
"Shhh. Stop blaming yourself okay? Pareho tayong may pagkukulang. There was a time when I was so focused on myself that I didn't notice you were having your own problems."
Hinarap ni Aly si Den. Both of them still crying. "Pero sana ipinaalam mo sa akin. Den, sana kinausap mo ko."
"I'm sorry, Aly. The thought of being with you forever scared me because of the personal issues that I have that time. I'm sorry for being weak. I didn't want to take away from you the one thing that completes you."
"Ang alin? Ang volleyball? Den naman. Nothing's more important than you. You wanted me to stay complete but I have never been so broken when you left me," Aly said through broken voice.
"At ikaw lang Den. Ikaw lang naman ang kukumpleto sa akin. I thought you knew me enough. Akala ko alam mo na I can sacrifice anything for you," added Aly.
"Hindi lang ikaw ang marunong magsakripisyo, Aly. I didn't want to pull you down kaya ako lumayo sayo. I thought that was the right thing to do that time. And you don't know how much I regret that decision everyday of my life. I'm sorry."
Niyakap ni Aly si Den. "Like I've said, we both have shortcomings. Remember when I told you na naramdaman ko naman na something's wrong? Yet hindi din kita kinausap. Why? Kasi takot na takot ako. I was so scared to hear from you that you have already fallen out of love. Iyon kasi yung naramdaman ko that time. I'm sorry I was such a coward."
"Why would you even think that? To fall out of love from you, that would be the last thing that I would ever do. Actually, I don't think that's even possible."
"And I don't think that's even possible for me too," Aly said. She immediately claimed Den's lips and kissed her passionately.
Den tried to pull away but Aly pinned her to the wall. She wanted to stop Aly but her emotions are taking over her. She started responding to Aly's kisses. She started to wrap her arms around Aly's neck and the latter's arms are around her waist.
Their heads separated for a while. While Aly is staring at her, Den's eyes caught the sight of Bang. So when Aly tried to kiss her again, Den pushed her away.
"I'm sorry, Ly. This is wrong," said Den.
She was about to leave when Aly held her hand. "Den, I'm sorry," Aly said.
Den looked at Bang before leaving the room. Napansin ni Aly iyon.
Lumapit si Aly kay Bang.
"Hon, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be confused right now. Dapat ikaw lang. Pero hindi ko mapigilan," Aly said.
"I need you right now. I need you to wake up. Please Bang, wake up!" shouted Aly.
"Tell me you that miss me! Tell me that you love me! I need to hear you right now! I need to feel you!" She's crying again. Bang remained asleep.
"I don't want to hurt you. You deserve better. Please wake up. Naririnig mo ba ako? Magalit ka sa akin! Saktan mo ko! Kahit ano, tatanggapin ko. Just wake up!"
Napaluhod siya sa tabi nito. Aly held Bang's hand. "Please honey. Ayokong saktan ka. Gumising ka na. I need something to hold on to."
"Hindi ko ginusto itong nararamdaman ko but I can't fight it. I need you to save me from this," Aly continued.
Aly sat on the chair beside the hospital bed. She took Bang's hand with both of her hands. She kissed it.
She just continuously said "Sorry" to Bang while crying. Until she didn't notice that she started to drift away.
---------------------------
Aly fell asleep sitting on the chair while her head is on Bang's bed.
She woke up with her hair being stroked by someone. She held it without opening her eyes. She felt a small tube at the back of the hand.
Nawala ang antok niya. She bolted upright and exclaimed, "Bang!"
