Warm Hearts

CHAPTER 23

"Don't ever leave me." he said while hugging me.

He is so warm that I wanted to keep him. I admit that I hated him from the beginning but he showed me the soft side of him this time and I can't help it but to pinch his cheeks.

"Inaantok na ako." ani niya habang nakayakap parin sa akin.

Natawa ako sa sinabi niyang iyon.
Pumasok kami ng bahay at hinatid ko siya sa kwarto niya. He seems tired cause he is too feeble to even walk.

"Stay here." ani niya nang makapasok kami sa kwarto niya.

Umupo siya sa kama niya and then he gestured me to sit beside him. Umupo din ako sa tabi niya, pinatong niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko.

"Babe?" he mumbled.

"Hmm?"

He didn't answer me instead, he laughed.

Anong nakakatawa don? Is he drunk?

"You didn't whinge when I call you Babe." he muttered.

Di ko na siya sinagot. Nagagalit ako sa sarili ko dahil alam kong unti unti na akong nahuhulog sa kanya. Kinakabahan ako, natatakot ako baka dumating ang araw na siya ang makakapigil sa akin.

"Let's stay like this for an hour." he said.

"Nangangalay na ang balikat ko." reklamo
ko. Totoo naman, ang bigat kaya ng ulo niya!

"Then, do you want me to kiss your shoulders to ease the pain?" tanong niya.

"Sisipain kita subukan mo." pagbabanta ko sakanya pero tumawa lang siya.

"Babe?" he whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Do you like me?"

"No."

"Then I like you."

"I said no."

"I love you." he said at dun ako natigilan.

Hindi dapat ganito ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. I can feel my heartbeat beating so fast. I tried to calm myself.

"Matulog ka na." sabi ko.

"Babe?" ani niya.

"Ano na naman?" iritado kong sagot.

Matagal bago siya magsalita.

"Are you sick?" he asked.

At dun ako natigilan. I didn't want to answer him but I don't want him to assume that I'm really sick. I don't want him to know.

"What are you thinking?" I asked calmly.

"I saw your documents last night in Eivya's office. That's why I got myself drunk." he admitted.

Para akong iiyak dahil sa sinabi niya. I can't make excuses to him anymore. Paano na to? Ayokong umasa siya sa akin na kaya kong labanan to cause in the first place, I surrendered.

"What if I'm sick?" tanong ko sakanya.

Nanatili siyang nakasandal sa balikat ko.

"I'll heal you. Magtatapos akong cardiologist at ako na ang mag-aalaga sayo. I'll heal you no matter what." ani niya.

At dun na ako umiyak. Nanatili siyang nakasandal sa balikat ko. Pilit kong pinipigilan ang sarili kong huwag gumawa ng ingay pero hindi, I cried harder.

"Shhh" he said saka siya humarap sa akin saka ako niyakap.

"I'll stay by your side no matter what. I won't leave you." he said while tapping my shoulders.

I cried on his chest. He was the first person to ever comfort me like this. He was the first person to made me feel that i deserve to live longer. He was the fucking first person to accept me knowing my condition and he was the first person who wanted to save me from my comfort zone.

"D-don't fall for me." I sputtered.

Ayokong pati siya ay masasaktan din sa huli. No I don't want someone in my life to get hurt because of me.

"It's not too late. Babe, we can overcome this together." he sounded doubtless.

"How are you so sure?" tanong ko saka siya hinarap.

No one's sure about my condition. I already fainted few times but I didn't wanted to tell anyone. I'll keep it to myself. Natatakot akong bumalik na sa hospital, I'm scared that my prophecy will come true.

"Trust me. I will save you."

And that's when I made up my mind. Eiddwen made me feel that I still have the chance to change the world's plan. I was despondent before but now, he gave me hope and made me trust him more.

"I trusted you." I answered and then he hugged me back.

"Trust me and I'll do everything." he said.

And that's when I cried incessantly after 9  years before my mom's death.

Naramdaman kong nakatulog ako sa balikat niya. Masyadong mabibigat na ang mga mata ko para imuklat ang mga ito dahil sa kaiiyak ko kanina. Naramdaman kong inihiga niya ako saka niya ako kinumutan. He even kissed me in the forehead before I heard the slamming of the door.

I'm doomed.