Love Charade

Chapter 29: Stay

If there was one thing I'm afraid about life, it was its unforeseeable circumstances because it slapped us with the reality of being weak. Worst, we can't do anything about it.

"A-ano ang sakit niya?" napipiyok na tanong ko kay Chantelle at halos hindi ko na kilala ang boses na pinakawalan ko.

"Ate..." naluluhang sambit niya at yumuko. Pilit na pinupunasan ang mukhang puno ng walang-tigil niyang luha.

May karapatan naman akong malaman ang totoo di'ba? Naging parte naman ako ng buhay nila sa loob ng maikling panahon. Naging importante sila sa akin, sana gano'n din ako sa kanila. Kaya ang sakit isipin na pilit nilang tinatago ang katotohanan sa akin eh.

I was left in the dark alone. I felt like a kid abandoned inside a dark hideous forest. I couldn't find my way out.

"N-naiintidihan ko kung ayaw niyong sabihin. Pero kasi... paano kung mahuli na ang lahat. T-tapos wala man lang akong nagawa..." Hindi ko na natapos ang sinasabi ko dahil hindi ko na mapigilan ang humagulgol.

"I'm so sorry, Ate." Chantelle reached for my hand and squeezed it tight. She closed her eyes, released one agonizing breath and said, "I'll tell you everything, I know Kuya will hate me for this but I'll tell you."

Magkasunod lang na tango ang naging sagot ko. Were both sitting at the waiting area. Nasa loob pa ng emergency si Archie at tinitingnan pa ng doctor.

"When Kuya Archie was nine years old, he fell from his bicycle. It was a nasty fall, he wasn't wearing his helmet and no one was with him, he hit his head on a concrete hump so it caused him Traumatic Brain Injury. The doctors suggested an immediate surgery. It was successful at first..." Chantelle paused and looked at me.

Traumatic brain injury? I couldn't grasp the bomb she just laid yet. I had a hard time digesting this information but I urged her to continue. I tried to force my confused emotions into order.

"But after years of his successful surgery, he always suffered severe headaches causing him to pass out. He grew sensitive to lights and he vomits all the time. So, they visited the doctor again and they found out something..." Chantelle sobbed. Her voice sounded so tormenting.

The ferocity of Chantelle's revelation was terrifying. The image of young Archie suffering shattered me.

Chantelle met my eyes; her eyes were so full of anguish. Anguish that she'd been keeping for a very long time. I knew because it's already there, it was only masked by cheerfulness.

"He has Cerebral Aneurysm, Ate Kai... and he refused surgery." Chantelle gasped in full terror.

The bomb exploded. I felt like my breath was cut off at this moment. I clenched by hands, my nails digging my palm but I couldn't feel any pain anymore.

I swallowed hard trying to find my voice, "W-What?"

Chantelle burst out and hugged me. "Please don't leave him. Now that you knew. Please stay by his side. He needs you, Ate."

I couldn't control the raging rain coming from my eyes. I nodded. Right there and then, my emotion for Archie intensified.

"I wouldn't. Now more than ever, I'll stay with him." I hugged her back.
Ngayon pang alam ko na ang totoo? Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa puso at pinalitan iyon ng matalim na itak.

But why did Archie choose to lie than tell me the truth?

"Girls!" Humahangos si Nana na lumapit sa amin. She finally arrived. Their parents were still in Madrid for a business expansion but they're about to take the first flight available.