The Waiting Game

23.

            FUCK, mura ni Exequiel.

            Nasa loob siya ng kuwarto ni Blaire sa ospital. Blaire's still sleeping. She looks like an angel while sleeping, but Exequiel knows that once those eyes open, they're going to be filled with mourning.

            Blaire lost her child.

            And Exequiel couldn't do anything but to stay by her side right now.

            Iniwas ni Exequiel ang kanyang tingin at tumingin sa kawalan habang hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ni Blaire nang mahigpit. He's sitting beside her hospital bed. Why does she have to experience this? isip ni Exequiel.

            He's hurting for Blaire. Blaire doesn't deserve any of this. Blaire has been nothing but amazing, so why her? Bakit ito ang napagtripan ng tadhana?

            Liningon ni Exequiel si Blaire at bahagya siyang nagulat nang makitang gising na ito at nakatingin lang sa kanya. From the looks of her eyes, Exequiel knows that Blaire already knows. He can see sorrow and mourning.

            "You're awake," sabi ni Exequiel nang may malungkot na ngiti.

            "I...I don't understand," sabi ni Blaire sa kanya.

            Damn it, isip ni Exequiel. He's hurting as well. Hindi niya kayang makitang ganito si Blaire, but he can't leave her. He has to be by her side.

            "I know. I'm sorry," malungkot na sabi ni Exequiel kay Blaire. Iyon na lang ang nasabi niya dahil hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin. He doesn't know how to lessen the pain Blaire feels right now.

            Exequiel stood up from his seat. He climbed up Blaire's bed. Humiga siya tabi ni Blaire and pulled the woman towards his body. He hugged her so tight that her face is already buried in his chest.

            Just like that, he felt his clothing starting to be wet—wet from Blaire's tears.

            INILABAS ni Exequiel ang kanyang phone. Nagbakasali siyang nakatanggap siya ng text mula kay Blaire, pero gaya ng mga nakaraang araw ay wala siyang natanggap mula rito. He understands that she wants to be alone.

            He knows where Blaire is. Siya lang naman ang nakakaalam kung nasa'n ito. Siya lang din ang nakakaalam kung anong pinagdadaanan nito. Well, not technically just him. Alam niyang may hint si Misty kung anong nangyari kay Blaire. At malamang alam nila Franz kung anong nangyari kay Blaire dahil nando'n ang mga ito no'ng gabing iyon.

            But nobody mentioned it to him. Walang nagtanong sa kanya tungkol kay Blaire. Everyone knows that it's none of their business at kahit gaano pa ka-concerned ang mga ito kay Blaire, they know that they shouldn't meddle.

            Hindi naman maiiwasang mag-alala ng mga tauhan ni Exequiel kay Blaire. They've all been around since Blaire and his relationship. Naging malapit si Blaire sa mga ito because Blaire treated them as family.

            "Dude, where have you been these past few weeks?" biglang tanong ni Alexander nang makapasok ito sa opisina niya. "No'ng event mo lang tayo nagkita. Are you seeing someone?"

            Malamig na tiningnan ni Exequiel si Alexander kaya naman nagtaas ng dalawang kamay si Alexander as a sign of surrender. Gets niyang wala sa mood makipagbiruan ang demonyong si Exequiel Vonn Matteo.

            "We talked to Blaire by the way," masayang balita ni Red. "Nilapitan namin siya no'ng pagbalik niya sa loob ng venue. I don't understand why you're so worried about her that time eh nasa venue lang naman siya."