A Flower With Seven Thorns

CHAPTER 83: THE RISE AND FALL

"W-Wala na si mama. . ." his voice was firm pero ramdam ko ang pagpumilit nyang maiayos ang pananalita nya. His hands are shaking kaya alam ko ang ginagawa nya.

"James. . ." then I snapped out of it. No time for drama. We need to go right away. Pero di pa nakakabalik sina Cas at kung maghihintay pa kami sa driver it will take time. Shall we get a taxi? But. . .

"Tatawag na lang ako ng taxi." it's the fastest choice I have. I know I can't ask James because he's still trying to steady himself.

"Hey." napalingon ako sa boses ni Ranchee. Hindi ko namalayan na nakasunod pala sya sakin or maybe he's just about to go back inside.

"I brought my car. . .I can take you." pagboboluntaryo nya. Mukhang narinig nya ang nangyari.

"Then. . .please." sagot ko. Mag-iinarte pa ba ako na kelangang-kelangan na?

James didn't say a word so I took the lead. Inantay namin si Ranchee dito sa labas while he take his car sa pinagparkingan nya. Nagtulungan na din kaming dalawa ipasok si James sa loob at hindi pa din sya umiimik, not a single word. Para bang kung magsasalita sya ay kakawala din ang mga luhang pinipigilan nyang tumulo.

Nang makapwesto na kaming lahat sa loob ay agad kong tinawagan si direk.

"Hello, direk? Ano kasi. . .we got an emergency at the hospital so we're bringing James there right now. Sorry if we have to leave na di nakakapagpaalam ng maayos. We really enjoy the food and the company, so please extend our gratitude to Sir Franz."

["Ha!? Nako, sige sige ako na bahala. Did you call your manager?"]

"I'll call Cas after this but you don't have to worry. Ranchee is with us. . .he's. . .taking us. . ." there was a moment of silence kay direk but the background is still lively.

["Really nice to know Ranchee's taking you. Oh sige, balitaan nyo ako, okay? Mag-iingat kayo."]

"Yes, thank you, direk." pamamaalam ko.

I don't think telling him about James' mother is a right thing for me to do.

Pagkababa ko sa tawag ay agad kong tinawagan si Cas but in no luck he wasn't able to answer. Instead, I decided to let the driver know kaya sya na ang tinawagan ko and informed him. He assured me naman na makakaabot kay Cas lahat na mga sinabi ko.

I ended the call and took some seconds to compose my mind on the situation at hand.

"James?" tawag ko sabay lingon sa kanya sa backseat.

He's still trying to keep himself on focus. Sadyang pinapahirapan nya lang ang sarili nya sa ginagawa nyang to. Naiisip ko tuloy kung tama bang dito ako umupo sa passenger seat instead of sitting next to him. He might need a hand on his shoulder.

With that thought, inabot ko ang kamay nya and suprisingly, napakalamig nito. Sobrang lamig na pwedi nang mapagkamalang kamay ng bangkay only if our eyes aren't locked at the moment.

I gripped his hand and gave him a small smile.

"I get it na nagpapakatatag ka, but I hope you won't be too hard on yourself like this. Alam kong iniisip mo ngayon na kelangan ng mga kapatid mo ang katatagan mo. But that's not always the case. They're your strength too, so go easy on yourself when we get there, okay?" I try assuring him. Medyo lumambot ang mukha nya at alam kong gusto nya ding ibalik ang ngiti ko sa kanya but I also know he can't push himself to act fine dahil alam ko ang hirap ng mawalan ng pamilya.

"We'll take a shortcut, kapit kayo." hindi pa rumerehestro sa utak ko ang sinabi nya and he already stepped on the gas pushing me back to my seat.

Humugot ako ng napakalalim na hininga to stop myself from scowling at him.

He gave up on the highway at pinagsusuot na ang mga eskenitang nadadaanan namin. With this speed, malamang sa malamang ay baka maticketan kami sa pag-ooverspeeding. It's like riding on a car doing a drift. I did some drifts before pero iba pala yung pakiramdam kung ikaw yung pasahero. Napakapit na din ako sa seatbelt and checked James at maski sya'y napapakapit na din sa upuan kahit na may seatbelt nang nakapalibot sa bewang nya.

In no time ay nakarating na kami ng ospital. Di na nakapagtataka if he can drive like that. Ranchee also belongs to our world but still it wasn't enough to make me conclude that he's really the Rider.

Nagtulungan ulit kami ni Ranchee sa pag-alalay kay James. The moment we got him seated ay agad ko nang tinulak ang wheelchair at binilisan ang paglalakad papasok ng ospital. I heard gasps the moment we stepped in. Probably from shock when two idols just walked right in.

There's an exclusive elevator for VIPs to be used papuntang VIP floors. Dire-diretso na agad kami sa elevator na yun kahit na rinig na rinig ko pa din ang iilang mga bulungan at konting tilian.

Nang makapasok na kami sa elevator, dun ko pa lang napansin sa repleksyon namin sa pinto na kasama pa din pala namin si Ranchee. Or he followed us? Which ever it is, no wonder we got that kind of looks from the people we just passed by. Two rebels and one angel, the two archenemies walking together.

I look down on James' shoulders and I can still sense his tension kaya hinawakan ko na lang ang balilkat nya at pinisil ng onti.

"We're almost there." bulong ko, not sure kung narinig ba nya ang sinabi o hindi but surely we are surrounded by silence.

Nakarating kami sa 21st floor na walang ibang kasabayan. Aside from VIPs, doctors and nurses can also access this elevator.

Nang marinig na namin ang tunog ng elevator, pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng pinto ay nagmadali na ko sa pagtutulak sa wheelchair ni James. Kung gustuhin ko lang ay tinakbo ko na ang napakahabang hallway na to but I know I can't, considering James. Funny though, the last time I walked on this hallway, it seems short. To think na at ease lang ako nun na naglalakad, unlike now na mas mabilis pa sa regular na lakad ko.

Pagkakita ko pa lang sa numero na nasa pintuan ng kwarto ni tita Aimee ay agad ko nang inabot ang knob at binuksan ito. And because we didn't bother to knock, biglang napatingin lahat ng mga mata sa amin.

"Kuya!" tawag agad ni Jiramae sa kuya nya at lumapit sa amin. Binitiwan ko na agad yung hawakan ng wheelchair at umatras.

"Ate. . ." bati nya sakin kahit na punung-puno ng luha ang mga mata nya.

Tumango na lang ako at hinayaan na silang lumapit sa wala nang buhay nilang ina sa hospital bed nito. May doctor at nurses na nakapalibot sa higaan ni tita Aimee at mukhang nirerecord na lang nila ang dapat na irecord. May nakita din akong defibrillator sa tabi and it seems they already did everything they could.

Biglang nagvibrate sa bulsa ko ang phone ko kaya agad ko tinignan kung sino ang tumatawag. Nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Cas sa screen ay lumabas na agad ako para sagutin ang tawag.

"Cas?"

["Where are you? I already heard what happened and Lino said you took off with Ranchee."]

"Andito na kami sa ospital and things are really not looking good here." sagot ko.

["Alright, we're on our way now. Stay put with James and wait for us."]

"That's a given. What about Ren? I forgot to call him and James' team. . ." habol ko.

["I already called Ren and he took the responsibility to take care of things on his side. We'll send you back with the driver."]

Well, I trust Ren-

"Wait, send me b-"

["Let's talk about it when we get there."]

And he dropped the call.

Send me back? How could he send me back in this situation? Not that James needs me here. I just have this feeling that I need to be here. Yung pakiramdam na kung aalis ako, I'll miss something.

Well anyways, that is that. I'll just have to wait for them then.

As I turned back, Ranchee's leaning on the wall beside the door.

Right, he's still here.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at liningon nya naman ako.

"Cas called and. . .said they're on their way so. . .thank you for driving us here. Though he said he's going to send me back but. . ." buong senseridad kong pagkakasabi.

"You don't want to." tumango ako sa pagtatapos nya sa gusto kong sabihin.

"You're no surprise as always." mahina lang pagkakasabi nya nun pero rinig ko pa din and before I could comment about it, he shifted his body so he could face me as he crosses his arms.

"Tumutulong lang." simpleng sagot nya at makikita yung maliit nyang ngiti sa gilid ng kanyang labi.

Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Well, Cas' coming. . .I think we'll be fine now. You can go back." his playful expression changed to an unhappy look.

"Why do you think I'm out for a smoke?" tinaasan ko lang sya ng kilay.

"Anong konek?" dahil sa tanong kong yun ay napabuntong-hininga sya and shifted his position again. This time naka-sandal na ulit ang likod nya but he kept his arms crossed.

"I'm not a party person. I hate crowds. And I still don't see your manager here so might as well take my time?" tinaasan nya ako ng kilay with matching smirk.