A Night to Remember (A Night Trilogy Part 1)

CHAPTER 7

I'm not at ease now as I have noticed that somebody isn't here yet. It feels like I'm totally incomplete. I can't help but to search for someone whom I usually seeing for the past few years and even yesterday. Is she okay? Is there something happened, or she's just late?

Vielka isn't here yet, and I am really worried about her and her grandmother, knowing that we rushed her grandmother at the hospital right after our graduation day, but as she told me yesterday, she has been taken good care by the nurses.

It was traumatic. I didn't witness any of those things, collapsing or having an illness of a family member.

I didn't have the chance to be with my grandparents before because I was too young when they passed away. I wasn't able to witness how unconditionally they have loved me before as their grandson.

I hope I also had the chance to meet them, to experience their love, to make them laugh, and to hear their words of wisdom like how Vielka experienced the kindness of her grandma.

I don't know everything about her, but I know how I care and love her. She knows nothing, but I always hope that she will like me as me because I definitely like her as her.

She was all in tears under the moonbeam when we sent her grandmother at the hospital on the night after the graduation. I called my dad, and we accompanied Vielka to the hospital where his friend was working as a city doctor.

I was tasked to call Vielka outside. As I ran towards the hospital's lobby, I saw Vielka at the hospital's facade, firmly gripping the railings. I strolled to approach her.

"You're looking at yourself?" I asked while I stared at the full moon. She looked at me.

"You're brightly shining like the moon," I complimented her. She then also looked at the moon, and we were both staring at it as if we are staring at each other's eyes.

"It's very ironic, Zach," at last, she spoke. I waited for her next words.

"I thought that today will be one among my best days, but look at what happened," she said and looked away.

"Never lose the chance to be the moon Vielka," I metaphorically said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Whenever I had a bad day before especially at school, I just look at you or think about you."

"You know why?" I followed.

"Because I wanted to see the beauty that shines despite every unpleasant thing that was happening around me before."

She was still silent while still looking away.

"So please be like the moon that shines at the dark sky. Please always be positive no matter how hard it would be," I ended. I saw her wiping her tears and looked at me.

"Thanks," she weakly answered.

"Thanks?" I asked her. She then furrowed her eyebrows when she looked at me.

"Of all the things I said. Do you think a single-word thanks would be enough?" I said as if I was scolding my daughter.

"What?" she said, chuckling.

"You finally smiled. Let's eat inside? My mom brought some food," I said, and I accompanied her on our way through her grandma's room.

I wanna bring that time again. Not the time when her grandmother was rushed to the hospital, but the time when she smiled despite the uncertainty she was experiencing.

Her grandma was confined because she was stroked at the end of the graduation day, but I saw her fighting for her illness. She was diagnosed with Stage IV liver cancer by my dad's gastroenterologist friend that wasn't seen by the regular doctor that Vielka visited before.

It's been two years since that night, and that's why I'm really worried as of now. Vielka was just happy yesterday asking me to go to that enormous tree. Even if that was a dare or not, I still became happy being with her.

She isn't here yet, and the class is about to start. It's the first time of Vielka not coming to school. The nurses have been tasked to look for her grandma but where is she?

The classes already started for about some minutes, and I really can't focus to listen when I am only thinking about the things that might happen at the hospital. The hell. I don't want this to happen. My heart isn't beating normally. I need to do something. I need to check on her.

"Excuse me, sir," I raised my hand.

"Yes, Mr. Ruiz?"

"May I go out? I need to check on someone," I firmly said.

"Oh yes, you may. Come back fast for you to take the quiz."

I didn't hear the last thing he said, but I was aware about the fast beats of my heart.

I ran as fast as I could. I don't care if people see me running like a thief or see me wearing a school uniform. I need to get there on time to know what's happening.

I was panting as I got in front of the hospital's glass door. I rested for some seconds, and I pushed the door. I continued running and I even bump into people who were walking around. I'm insane. I felt so selfish realizing those scenes.

I rested again for the second time on my knees, still panting because I used the stairs instead of delaying myself inside the crowded elevator.

As I saw a familiar back of a girl wearing a school uniform that matches mine, I immediately walked towards her. She's walking back and forth. What the hell is she doing here when she is supposed to be listening on her school chair right now?

"Vielka!" I called her and as soon as I got near her, she undoubtedly hugged me. I was taken aback.

"What happened?" I asked her, but all I received were her unending sobs.

"I'm sorry for being late," I apologized, but she just gave me some shook of her head.

We were both in silence, and we were feeling our own heartbeats between our hugs. I just let her bring all of her emotions out on me. She urgently needs someone to lean on just now.

I was caressing her hair and thinking about nothing when dad's friend just came out from the room where Vielka's grandma stays.

"Uncle Brile. How's her grandma?" I immediately asked after he just shut the door.

"Oh, Zach. It's you," he greeted me, but I didn't answer. I waited for him to answer my question. She then faced Vielka.

"Okay. I am sorry to tell you this, Ms. Takahashi, but your grandma didn't make it. I am really sorry. I need to leave now. Excuse me."

We were both dumbfounded outside, but Vielka entered the room to see her grandma.

I think we couldn't be able to cope up with our classes today. I need to stay by her side.