She Will be Loved (Completed)

Final Chapter

YOSEF

I woke up with the smell of IV fluid and the sickening ambiance of a hospital. My body felt so weak. Ni hindi ko maigalaw ng ayos ang braso ko.

I close my eyes and tried to remember the last fragments in my memory.

Hindi ko maalala kung paano ako nadala rito sa ospital. The last thing that I can remember is when we are trying to escape from Harold and his men. The next scenes were blurry.

Iginala ko ang aking paningin sa kwarto na aking kinaroroonan. Chen is no where to be found. Sinubukan kong tumayo ngunit nabigo ako dahil sa mga galos na natamo ng aking katawan.

My legs felt numb. Napansin ko rin ang mga pasa sa aking braso. Even my face is a little bit swollen. Few days ago I was kidnapped and tortured. Akala ko katapusan na ng buhay ko.

I was ready to die but the thought of leaving her again terrified me. Gusto kong itama ang lahat ng pagkakamali ko. Gusto ko siyang makasama muli.

I knew I love her before and I still do. Marami na akong nasayang na pagkakataon noon na ayaw ko ng maulit pa. But when I saw her tears because she has to choose between me and his father, I know I have to be coward. Kailangan kong isantabi ang nararamdaman ko because I don't want to ruin her life again.

I stare blankly at the ceiling. I wonder if things between us will turn out right again. I wonder if there are still chances.

I heard a knock from the door. I was expecting her but it's a nurse whose doing her rounds.

"Kamusta na po ang pakiramdam n'yo, Sir?" she asked.

"My legs where numb." I simply answered. She just nodded and change my IV fluid.

"Dr. Sanchez will do his rounds later Sir. Huwag po muna kayong gumalaw masyado. Your wounds aren't healed." she politely. Inayos na n'ya ang kaniyang mga gamit.

"Nurse saang ospital ba ito?" I asked before she leaves.

"Ayala Med, Sir." she answered.

"Ahh. Do you know Dra. Ayala? Narito ba s'ya?" muli kong tanong.

The nurse suddenly became uneasy. There was something flustered in her face that I can't figure out.

"I-I heard Dra. Ayala is in the ICU. She was shot by someone two days ago and she's currently in coma. I'm sorry Sir but I still have some errands. Excuse me."

I was dumbfounded and cannot think clearly for seconds. When I came back to my senses I suddenly got the urge to get up.

Hindi ko inintindi ang iniinda kong galos at mga sugat sa katawan. Tumayo ako at paika-ikang naglakad palabas sa aking kwarto.

I asked someone kung saan ba ang ICU. Pinigilan ako ng mga staffs but I insisted. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. I want to confirm it myself kung totoo nga ang sinasabi ng nurse.

Halos madapa na ako sa pagmamadali but I didn't care anymore.

Pakiramdam ko'y gumuho ang mundo ko sa aking nakita. She was there, lying on that bed. Napakaraming tubo ang nakasaksak sa kaniya. She looked lifeless as I stare at her from the glass window.

Bakit kailangang sa kaniya pa ito mangyari?

Napaupo na lamang ako sa sahig habang tumutulo ang aking mga luha.

This is more painful than my wounds and bruises.

Naramdaman ko ang mga kamay na pumatong sa aking balikat. I looked at the person who tried to comfort me.

"Khaleb..." hindi pa rin tumitigil ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha.

"Don't cry that hard, pre. My sister is a fighter. She will overcome this one. Siya ang pinakamatatag na taong nakilala ko. Hindi siya susuko agad."

Napayuko ako. I don't want him to see my tears. "This is all my fault."

"As much as I want to blame you alam kong magagalit lamang ang kapatid ko. She never blame anyone for all her pain. Kahit ako na naging dahilan kung bakit nasira ang pamilya nila ay hindi n'ya nagawang sisihin."

Inalalayan niya akong tumayo at muli namin siyang pinagmasdan. "Lalaban tayo para sa kaniya, Yosef. We will pray hard para magising na s'ya. It's been two days when the doctor declared that she's in coma. Hindi pa rin ito alam ni dad. I don't want to tell him yet dahil grabe rin ang physical trauma na natamo nya."

Tahimik lamang ako habang pinagmamasdan ang babaeng labis kong nasaktan noon. She has gone through a lot because of me. But despite of all the pain she still chose to stay and suffer.

Gusto kong pagsisihan na minahal namin muli ang isa't isa. Gusto kong pagsisihan na nagkrus muli ang mga landas namin. This ill fate made her suffer. This ill fate might take her life. Iyon ang kinatatakutan ko.

"Pre bantayan mo muna s'ya. Aasikasuhin ko muna si dad." nagpaalam na siya at naiwan pa rin akong nakatayo.

Napagawi ang aking paningin sa doktor na pumasok sa loob ng kaniyang kwarto kasama ang isang nurse. I watched as they do some check-up on her. After a few minutes ay lumabas na rin ang dalawa. Hinarang ko ang doktor. I want a definite answer from him.

"Doc, magigising pa siya di ba?" I tried to sound strong but his gloomy face weakened my facade.

"A miracle is our only hope for now. She surpassed a fatal condition nang maalis namin ang bala sa kaniyang utak. Pero nangyari ang kinatatakutan namin. Her brain suddenly became unresponsive after a few hours ng matanggal namin ang bala. Her heart is still beating but the chance that she will wake up is not guaranteed. We did our best during her operation pero sadyang fatal ang kan'yang kondisyon. She had 3 gunshots each on her head, stomach and shoulders." paliwanag niya.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Hinigit ko ang kaniyang kwelyo at sinigawan siya. "Gawin n'yo ang lahat ng makakaya n'yo! Save her! After all ang pamilya niya ang nagmamay-ari ng ospital na ito! Make your salaries worth it!"

Aawatin na sana ako ng nurse pero agad ko rin siyang pinakawalan. I get down on my knees and beg him. "Please save her, please." My eyes were so cloudy and I know my body's tired too.

IT'S been three days. Three long days of waiting for her to open those precious eyes. Hindi ako nagsasawang bumisita at magbantay. Kung pwede nga lang na dito na rin ako matulog ay ginawa ko na. But I need to heal my wounds. Kailangan kong magpagaling para hindi na s'ya mag-alala sa'kin once na magising na s'ya.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya. I held her hand. It was pale and cold. Para akong sinasaksak ng milyon-milyong kutsilyo habang tinititigan siya.

I just want to love her freely. I just want to make her happy. This is not what I want. This is not what I dream of.

Our love for each other is tragic. Simula pa lang parang ayaw na ng tadhana na maging masaya kami.

"Please wake up, Chen. I won't ask for anything. Gusto ko lang na gumising ka na. They are waiting for you and I missed you so much."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagbagsak ng aking luha. I cried silently and beg her to wake up.

I was like that for a few minutes. Hindi muna ako umalis. I just stared at her hoping for a miracle.

"Y--Yo-sef..."

I was shocked when I heard her faint voice.

It was a bliss for a moment.

She just called my name once, opened her tired eyes and weakly held my hands.

I was so happy but that happiness fades when I heard a beeping sound from the machine.

I looked at the monitor and saw a flat line.

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Up next is the epilogue. Thank you so much guys for waiting. 💚