Remember (MaiDen Fanfiction) | Wattys 2019 Winner

Chapter XXVII

HINDI alam ni Meng kung ano ang sasabihin. Nakatulala lang siya sa kapatid. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat na maramdaman ng mga sandaling iyon.

"Kuya..." was all she could muster. Tila hindi maproseso ng utak niya ang mga narinig. She was still in denial of the truth.

"Kuya, h-hindi..." Umiling siya at pumatak na ang sariling luha. Nanginig ang buo niyang katawan. Tila nanghihina siya na hindi niya maintindihan.

"Maine," his brother called and held her hand. "I have to tell you this before it's too late. Ayoko na magsisi ka sa huli dahil wala kang nagawa para sa kanya. Dahil hindi mo nalaman na ganito na pala ang nangyayari. Alam ko na iniiwasan mo na malaman ang anumang tungkol sa kanya. But with what happened to him and his nephew, I know I had to tell you. Because more than anybody else, ikaw ang mas masasaktan at mahihirapan kapag may nangyaring hindi maganda sa kanila. I don't want you to regret everything in the end. I don't want you to blame yourself again."

Her tears continued flowing down her cheeks. Akala niya tapos na 'yung mga araw ng pagluha niya. Akala niya magiging maayos na ang lahat sa buhay niya ngayon. Ngunit nagsisimula pa lamang siyang muli ay ganito na agad ang nangyari.

"How is he? And Siegfried?" She managed to ask in between her sobs.

"Bago ako umalis, pinuntahan ko si RJ sa hospital. He had a seizure. The doctors told me that there's a possibility that he won't make it. His heart is not in a good condition too. It seems that he's been suffering for a long time before the accident. Hindi lang niya sinasabi sa iba 'yung nararamdaman niya."

She closed her eyes upon hearing that. Kaya pala nakita niya noon na sinapo nito ang dibdib ngunit binalewala lamang niya dahil nakita naman niya na maayos lang ito. Dapat pala noon pa lang ay nagtanong na siya. Ngunit nangibabaw noon ang sakit at galit na nararamdaman niya.

"And Siegfried?" tanong niyang muli sa kapatid.

Umiling ito at malungkot ang mga matang tinitigan siya. "Mababa din ang chance ni Siegfried na maka-survive."

"No," umiling siya at sunod-sunod na pumatak ang mga luha. Her silent sobs turned into a loud cry. Her hurt ache now more than ever. She can't lost them. Just not now.

"No, Kuya. No. No." She held on to her brother's arm and looked at him with so much pain. "It can't be happening to him... and to Siegfried. Hindi puwede, Kuya."

Paolo envelope her in his arms. "You have to make a decision, Maine. It's either you'll go back to see him and be on his side or you'll stay here with that Carlos guy."

Hindi na niya maintindihan pa ang sinasabi ng kapatid. Basta isa lang ang alam niya ng mga sandaling iyon. Uuwi siya ng Pilipinas.

"I want to see him, Kuya." She begged. "I want to see RJ. He will be fine. He can't die."

"Sshh..." Paolo hugged her even tighter. "You have to be brave."

Ilang minuto silang nanatili sa ganoong posisyon nang dumating si Mamita mula sa party na pinuntahan nito. The old woman was shocked when she saw her brother. Mas lalo rin itong nagulat sa ibinalita ng kapatid. Matapos niyon ay agad na nagdesisyon ito na hindi nila inaasahan.

"Book the earliest possible flight for tomorrow morning, Paolo. Or rent a private plane. Do whatever needs to be done." Tumingin ito sa kanya. "I'll come with you. I need to be by your side this time."

"Thank you, Mamita."

Mamita smiled at her and held her hand. "But you will need to talk to Carlos first, hija. Clear everything once and for all. You didn't love him anyway."