Phoenix vs Janna

Chapter 27

Phoenix was in pretty bad shape when his family moved him to the world-renowned Boston hospital for intensive treatment.

Fortunately, he was a healthy person and he was able to hang on despite everything he went through. Unfortunately it was a lot. He underwent numerous surgeries to fix the injuries to his back and internal organs.

Every time he woke up from the countless surgeries, he would always ask for Janna. His family would always assure him that Janna was fine and that she sends her love.

Janna dropped out of her Dekada gigs, because that was the time when she was in a call with Phoenix' family.

Janna was grateful for every good news they share about him.

Then the day finally came when the last of Phoenix's operations completed successfully. He would be in recovery starting this day onwards.

Janna went to Tagaytay and offered her long-delayed prayers at the Pink Sisters Chapel. It was a bittersweet time, knowing full well that she would have been here with Phoenix that fateful day so many months ago.

Nevertheless, her prayers were full of fervent hope that someday, she would come back here together with Phoenix. Someday.

Please get stronger, Rich Boy. Get better and come home to me.

-o-

Pheonix sat beside the window of his hospital room, watching the sun come up. It was also sunrise countless months ago, in a hospital room in the Philippines, when he heard Janna whisper to him that she loved him.

He was unable to respond then, since his vital signs were dropping and he was being pulled into unconsciousness. But he heard it, and never forgot about it.

Her words were what kept him alive all these torturous months. Despite the pain and helplessness as his body kept malfunctioning everyday, he struggled with all his might to hang on.

He needed to stay alive. Before every operation, he told himself that had to survive so he could tell her that he loved her.

And then last week, the last operation was done successfully. He was alive. He made it through.

And yesterday, he was finally freed from the wires and tubes attached to him while his family cheered and his heart was filled with gladness.

But only for a short while. Because when he was about to take his first walk after months of being bedridden, he fell to the floor immediately. He couldn't move or feel his legs!

A frantic 12 hours later, after a thorough examination, it was found out that his spine injury caused damage to his nervous system, and he was paralyzed from the waist down.

Whether it was permanent or temporary, the experts couldn't say.

So Phoenix, after months of staying strong and fighting tooth and nail for his survival, sat defeated in his bed.

He sat in the darkness, thinking grimly of Janna.

-o-

When the call from Janna came, his mom answered it.

"Kamusta na po si Phoenix?"

"Okay naman, Iha."

"Nakakalakad na po ba siya?" Janna felt happy for the first time in a long while.

"Oo, Iha... nakatayo na siya kahapon..."

"Ay salamat naman po! Pwede ko na po ba siyang kausapin?" She asked hopefully.

Senator Etta handed the phone to Phoenix. He shook his head and turned away to face the window.

Puzzled, his mom replied to Janna: "Uhm, Iha. He is still sleeping..."

It was the same everyday after that. He was silent every day. He refused to talk to Janna when she called.

Finally one day, filled with compassion for Janna's pitiful pleas, her mom handed the phone to Phoenix, hoping it would break through the wall he had enclosed himself in.

Phoenix once again refused the phone. Sighing, his mom turned the speaker on and placed the phone on the bedside table.

"Rich Boy..." Janna's familiar musical voice sliced through him like a physical pain.

"Phoenix, kamusta ka? Sabi ng Mommy mo, may kumplikasyon daw ang operation mo." She said worriedly.

Phoenix clenched his jaw.

"Pero okay lang yan, Rich Boy. Mas madaming magandang nangyari kesa sa masama. Ang dami mo kayang nalagpasang delikadong operasyon!"

Still he was silent.

"Rich Boy, pusa ka ba? Lagpas ka na yata sa nine lives mo!" She tried to joke, hoping to get through to the silent stranger that he had become.

"Saka magte-therapy ka pa naman, di ba? Galingan mo sa therapy para makauwi ka na dito, uy!" She said flippantly.

Phoenix turned his back from the phone.

"Sige... baka kailangan mo pang magpahinga. Tatawag na lang uli ako." She gave up and said in a forlorn voice.

-o-

As long as Janna saw Rex discreetly tagging around her, she held on to the hope that Phoenix was still watching over her like he used to.

She had to cling to this small hope because, as time went by, it became apparent that Phoenix was turning cold and distant from her. He never took her calls. He wouldn't even answer her messages.

Nagagalit ka ba sa akin dahil sa pagkabaril mo? Ako ang may kasalanan kaya ginantihan ka ni Senator Martinez. Sorry na. Umuwi ka na para asarin ako. Wash ko uli Porsche mo pati bahay mo ng isang taon. Sorry na. She DM-ed.

Phoenix saw her message and threw his phone angrily.

Don't you get it? You shouldn't stay by my side. You should live your life away from an invalid like me! He thought in anguish.

There were no more communication with Phoenix after that. His mom told called her to say that Phoenix would be moving to another hospital to begin his physical rehabilitation. That was the last phone call she ever received from his family.

A few weeks later, Janna just arrived home when a car stopped outside. It was the Porsche!

Phoenix!

Joy bubbling over, she rushed outside.

But it was Rex. He had come to tell her that he had been re-assigned as a personal bodyguard to Phoenix's sister Steph.  Because Phoenix will be staying for a long time in the States. As such he will no longer be guarding Janna.

It wasn't obvious but Rex had grown fond of Janna, and from a distance he saw her struggling painfully over Phoenix's absence. So he felt compelled to say his goodbyes and warn her that he will no longer be around to protect her.

Janna waved to Rex with a smile on her face as he drove away, but her eyes were blurry with unshed tears.

Phoenix had finally cut off whatever connection they had. And the pain was devastating.