About You

XXIII.

"Hello Renea to Aristotleo, naririnig mo ba ako?"

"Kahapon ka pa ganyan?! Hoy pansinin mo naman ako!"

"Aris! Hoy Kuya Leo-" I hugged Nea before she finished talking.

"T-teka okay ka lang ba Kuya?" Hindi ako okay. I let go of her and smiled weakly. "Okay lang."

Umupo sya sa tabi ko with questioning expression. "Hindi ka okay, ano bang nangyari? Kahapon ka pa tahimik, you even skipped your meals. Mom cooked a lot before going to Hong Kong with Dad pero di mo din kinain." bumuntong hininga sya.

"I asked your friends already pero they said that they know nothing too. Pati sila worried na sayo. What's really going on ha Kuya?" I ruffled Nea's hair.

"Ang daldal mo." Hinampas ako ni Nea at inirapan.

"Huh! I hate you Kuya! Ako na nga worried sayo tapos ganyan ka pa? Psh."

"Hahaha sorry na." I put an arm around her shoulder. "Anyway, thanks sis. Pero okay lang si Kuya. I'm the best right?"

She pouted "You sure?" No, but I don't like the idea of saying it. "Of course."
My sister stood up "Okay I'll go now. Anyway nagpaluto ako kay Manang ng sinigang na hipon, you should eat na okay?"

Tumango lang ako kay Nea before she walks towards the door pero bago pa sya makalabas nagsalita uli sya "I hated you for kidnapping Ate Heart yesterday, pero dahil mukhang problematic ka sige pinapatawad na kita. So please fix yourself okay?"

I can't help but smile. "Thank you lil' sis."

When I was already alone, I let myself fell heavily on my bed. Kinuha ko ang phone ko and dialed Heart's number. Fortunately she picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Heart."

"Uhmm bakit ka napatawag?"

"I love you, Love."

*

"God I'm so sorry Heart. I'm here love."
I hugged her so tight, ayoko ng bumitaw.

"Shh.. It's not your fault okay?"

"It is! I'm so sorry, kung hindi kita sinaktan you won't do those stupid things that you did. Kasalanan ko to!" she patted my back to calm me down.

"No, please don't blame yourself." Heart held my face with her delicate hands. "Wala kang kasalanan. I already had this disease, and my doctor said that I am still lucky to have it detected earlier. Kung tutuusin nakatulong pa nga yung ginawa mo e, cause sooner or later I'll still face my illness. Wala naman akong takas, sinaktan mo man ako o hindi, I'm still dying."

"No! You're not dying! Di ba sabi mo you're taking medications, you'll be okay soon right? Gagaling ka. Accept me again Heart, let's fight together okay?"

"My lil' orangie... I'm sorry. I am taking medications, yes. But my body is declining it already. The symptoms became bold compared before. You see the only thing that can save me is to undergo heart transplant." Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang kamay nya.

"Then do it! Kung yun yung kailangan para gumaling ka, then go. Sasamahan kita in every step of your operation and your recovery. I'll be with you till the end and I promise not to leave you ever again."

Ngumiti si Heart sa akin, pero nagsimulang tumulo ang luha nya."No. Hindi naman kasi ganun kadali yon. Paano kung hindi maging successful yung surgery? Paano kung mamatay ako in the middle of it? Paano kung ma-coma ako after? Paano kung hindi kayanin ng katawan ko? I have no confidence with my body. Paano kung ako naman ang mangiwan sayo bigla? I'm so damn scared Cahel. Ayokong paasahin ka sa wala. I'm also afraid that I might hurt you in the end, kaya layuan mo na lang ako please. Humanap ka na lang ng ibang babae, please Cahel? Hmm, you deserve the best."