A/N:
I was going to write a sequel with Donny's POV but time won't permit me at dahil may bagong story na nagaantay. So here you go...
Donny's POV
I was staring at her beautiful face. She's asleep and stable but I can still see pain right through her face. How is that possible? Ang sakit na ba ha, love?
I'm holding her hands. I've never let them go since she was brought from the ER. Kiss, please, ako na lang magkasakit, wag lang ikaw...
Tears were about to fall from my eyes when someone knocked at the door.
"Come in" Agad kong pinunasan mga mata ko.
"Donny"
"Marcus". I immediately texted him when Kisses passed out. He'd kill me if I didn't.
"How is she?"
"What's going on Marcus? Why is this happening to us?" My tears betrayed me. I can't help but to cry in front of him.
"Donny, everything will be okay. Kayong dalawa ang pinakastrong na taong nakilala ko."
"I just can't lose her." I lost it. I cried really hard when those words came out of my mouth.
"I feel you. We almost lost her too, you know." Marcus joined me in holding Kisses. He's on the verge of crying too.
"What do you mean?"
"Hindi mo ba talaga naaalala?" Umiling ako. I heard him sighed. "Maliban saaming pamilya nya, ikaw lang nakakaalam ng kalagayan nya."
I looked at him with confused face.
"Cardiomyopathy. She had it since we were kids. Few months after mamatay si Mama, halos mawala din sya samin. Lagi akong nandon sa bahay nila before, pinagbilin kasi sya sakin ng mom dahil nga sa sakit nya. "Treat and protect her like your own sister" she said." He wiped his tears while saying that. "One day, after playing, a group of boys came to us. Tinutukso sya dahil sa ngipin nya. She cried hard...so hard and I can't do anything about it hanggang sa makauwi kami sakanila. Pagdating na pagdating namin ng bahay, she had difficulty in breathing and fell unconscious afterwards. They said it was dead on arrival. I left her room crying and wanted to get lost because I failed my mom and thought that I'm going to lose her too. The doctor tried to revive her. It took 7 mins to get her heart beating again."
Sunod sunod yung mga luhang tumutulo sa mga mata namin. Bahayang sumakit yung gilid ng ulo ko at napapikit.
An image flashed in my mind. I remember...I can remember her telling me that....
"She's a miracle, Donny. Since then, hindi na sya sinumpong ng sakit nya. Since then, I always made sure that no one hurts her. I made sure to be the best Kuya I can to be her, protecting her, saving her. Kaya nga nung andami ng umaaligid na suitors, pinush na kita sakanya kasi alam kong matagal mo na syang crush at dahil kampante ako sayo na hinding hindi mo sya sasaktan. Bestfriend kita eh." We slightly chuckled.
"Pero gago ka din eh. Sinaktan mo pa din. Alam mo bang gustong gusto na kita suntukin noong nakikita ko sya gabi gabing umiiyak nang dahil sayo? But she told me not to...kasi she's fine daw and she doesn't want to ruin our friendship..."
How can she be the nicest, kindest, purest girl...
"I agreed for once dahil sabi nya okay sya at dahil hindi na nga siya sinusumpong ng sakit nya...but now it's back...it's back, Donny." Napahagulgol sa pagiyak sa Marcus. "I'm just as scared as you are but we all need to be strong. Ayaw nya pa sana ipasabi sayo but I guess, walang sikreto ang hindi nabubunyag right? I told her to take care of herself and to not let her emotions get into her then I won't tell anybody...but you deserve to know."
I pulled her hands close to my lips. "What am I going to do without you?"
"Donny, she'll be fine. Alalahanin mo din sarili mo. I heard you have a mild brain injury. Magpalakas kayong dalawa. We still need to witness your wedding." He let out a sigh. "We're here for you bro." He said as he tapped my shoulders.
"Donny, Marcus"
Napalingon kami sa bumukas ng pinto.
"Son, please let's talk."
Hindi ko sila pinansin. Binalik ko lang yung tingin ko kay Kisses at mas lalong hinigpitan ang hawak sa kanyang mga kamay.
"Donny, anak..." Mommy
Galit ako. Gusto kong sumabog. Maybe if not because of them, if not because of me, Kisses wouldn't be here.
Hindi ko namalayang napapalakas ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ni Kisses. Hinawakan ni Marcus kamay namin at doon ko lang napagtanto ang panggigigil ko. He looked at me as if telling me to talk to my parents. Unti unting nawala ang kunot ko sa noo. I don't know why but at some point, I saw Kisses in him. Maybe, if Kisses is awake, she'd do the same thing. She'll urge me to talk to them.
I breathed deep bago ako tumayo sa kinauupuan ko.
"I'm giving you 15 minutes." I said as I walked pass by my parents.
Lumabas kami ng kwarto at dumiretso sa private lounge kung nasaan kami naghihintay kanina para sa test results ko.
Pagkaupo ko, inabot sakin ni Mommy ang isang maliit na lalagyan. I was confused at first but decided to open it. What is it?
It was a ring...a beautiful emerald ring.
I stared at it for quite a while then biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
Memories flashed again...memories.....
This ring....
