The Business Affair

Chapter 35 The Pain. The Guilt. The Love

Chapter 35

Diana' s POV

10 years ago

Hospital

I woke up with lids so hard to open na para bang may bato sa mga iyon. My head was pounding, my heart was racing pero sa kabila niyo'y wala akong magalaw. Tanging mga mata ko lang ang nakakalandas sa lugar kung saan isip ko lang ang tumatakbo para sa akin. Kahit kilay ko nalang di ko pa mailinya. Wala akong nararamdaman. I was numb. 

I tried to look at the place through my peripheral vision. Sa kaliwa, may mga puting tela na nag-uunahan. May isa na nakanecklace pa ng isang itim na string na may metal sa isang dulo at ang isang ulo nama'y naabornohan ng dalawang maliliit na metal. Lahat ng nakatayo'y puting-puti ngunit ang nakahiga na tanging ulo lamang ang nakikita'y halos malunod na sa dugong pula. Isa iyong lalaki. His lips were like traced by a black matte lipstick.

Sa kanan, a woman was lying. My vision was sharpening and I can see three men around her. One who was holding her hand, another was touching her head and the last one was comforing another man habang ang babaeng nakahiga nama'y ng-ngumingiti.

"Hon. p-please. Hang on. Honey, I'm here. I'm still waiting."  Maingay. Maingay pero ba't naririnig ko iyong pinakamahinang bulong? Ba't nararamdaman ko ang sakit ng isang taong di ko mamukhaan.

"I love you, Damian. M-mahal na mahal" She said it with no voice at all but her lips moved like she whispered more to me than to the man in front of her.

"Kung ganun, ba't ayaw mo. Breanna?! Why don't you stay, hon. For me, for us. For your daughter. I love you so much, honey, why can't you give this to me?! "

The moment I decided to avert my gaze was the moment she held mine with hers. Slowly, her neck face my direction as if it was the most painful thing to do, I had to pity her. 

Dumidilim na ang paningin ko pero may isang taong nakakaputol niyon. The woman on the other side of the room. Her lips formed into a curved line. A faint curved line. 

"Ahh!: I screamed in pain as I clutched a piece of clothing tighty. "Ahh!" Masakit. makirot. Ba't ganun, sa loob lang masakit? 

"H-Hindi dahil ayoko na'y ibig sabihin h-hindi kita mahal. I-I LOVE YOU so much Damian but y-you can't d-dictate someone from above. He needs me now but I won't leave without  seeing my daughter---"

Napatigil ang babae't humagulgol. "I-I want to see my daughter, Damian. I-I want to leave my princess w-with all the things she deserves to have.'

"We will give it to her. Live, Breanna that's all I'm asking. Live, P-please, I'm b-begging you"

"I will"

Punong-puno ng bulak ang utak ko pero dahil sa titig ng babaeng ito'y tila di ko maisara sara ang aking mga mata. Umalis ang lalakeng kasama niya ng hindi man lang pinapatapos ang sinasabi nito sa kanya. Nguit para ba iyon sa lalake o para sa akin ba ang kasunod niyang sinabi.

"I will live but certainly not in this lifetime with you, I love you Damian. See you soon, hon"

________________

Three days later

I moved my fingers, my lids and my neck. I'm not numb anymore. I tried to race my hand and it did. I saw the bruises. "Ma--ahh-ahhh!!" sigaw ko. 

Sigaw ako ng sigaw. Blood, I saw blood. I saw scratch marks and casts and then I saw eyes. Eyes that spoke volumes of anger and another pair that was full of tender, love and care.