Exchange of Hearts

EOH-16

He slowly turned his head.

Totoo ba naririnig niya? Or was he tricked by by the wind?

"Please stay, please," he heard her say. Mahina man ang pagkakasabi ng dalaga pero dinig na dinig ng puso niya. Lampas limang metro ang layo nila sa isa't isa, isama pa ang malakas na ihip ng hangin, pero dinig niya. Dinig ng puso niya.

But he's still unsure. He was doubting if what he's hearing is true, so he went to her. She was looking straight to his eyes, tears continuously flowing down. Her looks were begging him, silently asking him to stay.

"Sarah....."

"I know I am selfish, but please, stay Gerald. I need you to stay. Ma...."

Bigla niyang niyakap ang babae. He tried to form his words pero walang lumabas sa bibig niya. Kung kaninang nagpapaalam siya sa puntod ng dating nobyo nito, halos madurog ang puso niya sa sakit na nararamdamdaman, ngayon, kabaligtaran ang nangyayari. Halos puputok pa rin ang puso niya, pero dahil sa sobrang saya sa narinig mula sa dalaga.

Naramadaman niyang gumanti ng yakap si Sarah at ramdam din niyang wala pa ring tigil ito sa pag-iyak.

"I love you, bebe! I love you! I'm not going anywhere anymore! Dito lang ako, dito lang ako sa tabi mo!" he assured her, embracing her more tightly to let her know he meant those words.

"Mahal kita Gerald! Mahal din kita!" narinig niyang sagot mula dito.

Those words stopped him. And his breathing. Big time.

Asher must have felt he was not moving at all kaya umalis ito ng yakap sa kanya.

"Gerald.....Gerald are you okay? Tell me you're okay!"

Nakatingin lang siya dito, matagal, trying to figure if he's in the real world or in his fantasy world.

"Gerald, hoy! Bebe, please answer! Are you okay?"

Biglang nanikip ang dibdib niya, at automatic napahawak ang kanang kamay niya sa parteng iyon ng katawan niya.

"Gerald!!!" Sarah shrieked upon seeing him slowly falling down on his knees, still holding his chest. "Oh God, Gerald, Gerald! Don't die on me please! Not now, please! I love you! Gusto ko pang patunayan sa'yo yon! Please Bebe...."

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" sagot niya sa babae, ngumingiti kahit nahihirapan na siyang huminga. "Just.....just...give me a minute." Nanginginig ang mga kamay na ipinasok niya sa bulsa ng jacket at kinuha ang gamot doon. Sarah realized what Gerald wanted to do kaya ito na ang dali-daling kumuha ng botelya at ipinainom ang gamot sa kanya. She tried to search for water pero wala siyang makita. "It's okay, it's okay. Just hold me, bebe. I'll...be....okay."

Sarah quickly did as was told. Niyakap niya si Gerald hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang napaupo sa damuhan, while he started to feel drowsy and fell to sleep. He was still able to hear Sarah calling his name.

"Gerald!" pilit niyang ginigising ang binata habang unti-unting pumipikit ang talukap ng mga mata nito. Pero tuluyan nang nawalan ng malay ang binata.

She immediately took her phone out from her jeans and dialed his mother's number. Hindi pa man niya natatapos ang pag-dial nakita na niya itong tumatakbong papalit sa kanila.

"Anong nangyari?" humihingal nitong tanong sa kanya. "Nakita ko siyang bumabagsak kanina."

"Sumikip po ang dibdib at nawalan ng malay pagkatapos mainom ang gamot. 'Ma please, can you call tita Aida please?" kinakabahan na naman niya pakiusap sa ina.

Mabilis namang ginawa ng mommy niya ang ipinakiusap niya dito, habang siya naman walang tigil sa pagtapik nang mahina sa pisngi ni Gerald para gisingin ang lalake.