"HELP US, PLEASE!!!", sigaw ko nang makarating kami sa ospital. Hindi ko na matandaan kung paanong nangyari na nakarating kami doon. All my attention was with Zeo who was lying on the ambulance bed bleeding to death. Sobrang daming dugo ang nawala sa kanya sa dami ng tama sa likod nya. Namamanhid ang kamay at buong katawan ko.
"Hanggang dito lang po kayo, Ma'am. Pasensya na po", sabi ng isang nurse. Agad itinakbo sa emergency room si Zeo. Nabitawan ko ang kamay nya dahil sa paghatak sa akin at dahil na rin sa dulas ng dugo sa kamay ko. I was literally shaking. My face was a mess with tears.
"Teka lang. He needs me, please", iyak ko pero hindi nila ako pinyagan.
"Kailangan po kayong matingnan,Ma'am. Sumama muna po kayo sa amin", I could see the doctor rushing to the room where Zeo was put into. Hindi ko maialis ang tingin sa pintuan.
The light on the top of that door was as bloody as I've witnessed when the gunman pulled the trigger many times at my direction.
I prayed for Gino to save me. Sya lang ang naiisip ko na pwedeng sumagip sa akin sa oras na iyon.
My heart was racing with fear. I've been shot at before, many times but this fear was different. I was setting my life now on the way I've wanted it to.
I was covering both of my ears with my hands as I crouch down when someone envelope me into a tight protective hug. It felt like an armor shielding me from the possible harm. Another loud gun shot was heard. It rang on my ears.
And the person holding me grunted in pain.
"Fuck", mura nya. He was panting. And I felt his weight leaned on me completely after minutes. Then it was gone. He pushed himself away from me and held my face. Nakapikit pa rin ako.
"Hey, you're safe now, Cresia. Open your eyes. You're safe"
He urged me but it still did not. "Shhh.. You're shaking. Tapos na. Open your eyes. I'm here". His hands pulled mine from the covering my ears. Sa nanlalabong mata ay nakita ko ang mukha ni Zeo. Agad akong napayakap sa kanya sa galak. I was wishing for Gino to save me but seeing Zeo was not but. It was not until I felt something on my hand.
It was blood.
I gasped at mas lalong nanginig ang kamay ko dahil sa nakita. Napakadami noon.
"Ahh...", I heard Zeo grunted in pain again. Agad kong tiningnan ang mukha nya at pawisan na sya, maputla at halata ang nararamdaman.
"ZEO!", bumagsak sya sa akin.
"Sorry. My body is feeling weak. Am I crushing you?", his voice was low and weak. Mas lalo akong kinabahan. Sumigaw ako sa driver na kapapasok lang sa kotse. Lumabas pala ito para makipagbarilan din. When he tried to start the car, it was not working. I couldn't give attention to the crowd and policemen who arrived at the scene. I shouted for someone to call the ambulance but a bodyguard already did. I was crying hard for Zeo. Nawalan sya nang malay at hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. There were three gunshots at his back. Tuliro na ako nang dumating sa ospital.
"Please, Ma'am, we need to check if you're alright and we need you to calm down", muling sabi ng nurse. Ayokong sumama sa kanila hangga't hindi ko nalalaman ang kalagayan ni Zeo. Hindi ko alam kung paano sya napunta doon. Ang plano namin ay magkikita sa restaurant pero ito ang nangyari.
I was terrified. At ang takot na ito ay para kay Zeo. I looked at my hands. May mga natuyong dugo na doon.
"It's not my blood. A-Ayos lang ako", sabi ko. "I need to call someone"
Naroon ang mga body guards at mukhang ay isa ay may tinatawagan din.
"We still need to check you and clean you up"
