I'll Give You the Universe

Chapter 37: Hopes and Vows

Gale's POV

Akala ko sa movies ko lang matutuklasan lahat ng ito. I never thought that a day will come when I will hold the hand of someone that I love as I watched them struggle to heal before my eyes. 

Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang kamay ni Zayne at binigyan siya ng isang ngiti.

"Hey," bulong ko.

Nandito kami ngayon sa loob ng isang kwarto sa hospital kung saan nakalagay ang isang malaking tube-shaped magnets na tinatawag nilang MRI. Zayne is laying just outside of it and he's staring deeply into my eyes as he gives me an assuring smile. Seeing him like this is like getting a punch in my gut. It feels like a thousand needles are piercing into my chest, making me lost my breath as I stared at Zayne's smile that shields his sadness and pain.

I sighed heavily before squeezing his hands tightly.

No words can express how much fear and worry I am feeling right now. Hindi ko magawang makapagsalita sakaniya na parang normal lang lahat ng nangyayari. I can't even give him encoureging words, because I myself can't find my courage as I stare at him like this.

"I'm going to be fine," bulong niya na tila ba nababasa niya ang nasa isip ko.

Kinagat ko ang aking labi bago tumungo.

"I know," mahina kong bulong sakaniya kahit na alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako sigurado dito. But I need to be strong. I need to show him that everything's gonna be fine even when I'm not sure that it will be. And so I muster all my strength to gave him a smile before kissing him on his forehead.

Maya maya pa lamang ay dumating na ang doctor sa loob ng kwarto. Mas hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa kamay ni Zayne bago ako tuluyang lumabas.

Outside that room, may maliit na salamin na nakalagay sa bandang itaas ng pinto kaya kahit papaano ay nakikita ko ang loob nito. I stare at him for the last time and gave him one last reassuring smile before he was put finally inside the MRI. Nang nasa loob na siya nito ay agad agad na nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako umiwas ng tingin at umupo sa upuan na nasa labas.

Nandito rin sila Shiela, Candice, at Miguel. Nang makaupo na ako ay agad ako nilapitan ni Shiela at binigyan ng isang ngiti bago ako inabutan ng bottle water na hawak niya.

"Thank you," bulong ko bago ko agad ininom ang inabot niyang tubig.

Pagkatapos ko maka-inom ay mariin kong ipinikit ang mata ko bago ako tumingin sa kawalan.

"You know what?" bigla niyang sabi, napatingin ako sakaniya.

"Tuwing tinitignan ko kayo ni Zayne magkasama, I can't help but feel jealous of what you guys have," she said before heaving a sigh.

"Kitang kita ko sa mga mata niyo kung gaano niya kamahal ang isa't-isa. It's like you guys are meant for each other. You both reminded me of Hazel and Augustus in The Fault in Our Stars. Uh, minus the tragedy......I know, i-it's silly, but that stupid movie really gets into my head," natatawa niyang sabi, napangiti ako.

"Sa lahat ng movies na pwede mo kaming ihalintulad bakit sa pangit pa yung ending?" naiiling kong tanong sakaniya, natawa siya.

"But you get my point, right?" tanong niya sa akin, napabuntong hininga ako.

"Let's just hope that our story will have a happy ending," I said with a shrug before staring blankly at the ceiling.

~~

"Hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyayari na ito," mangiyak-iyak na sabi ni Cris habang nakaharap sa salamin.

"Just don't cry, it'll ruin your make-up," biro ko, napatingin siya sa direkson ko at natawa.