We Said Never (City Series #3)

Chapter 30

Padabog na tinapon ni Ezra ang kaniyang cellphone sa likod pagkapasok ko.

"Hindi sumasagot sina Mommy," malamig niyang sabi.

I sighed and buckled my seatbelt. I know he's worried. Of course, it's his brother. It's Raffy. Atska, pamangkin niya rin ang damay.

Ako mismo, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko kung makita kong nararanasan ni Raffy ang naranasan ko noon. I would never want to wish that pain upon anyone.

"Are you sure you can drive?" tanong ko sa kaniya. "Ako na, Ez.. kung hindi mo kaya."

Umiling siya. "Kaya ko."

True to his word, we got there in less than fifteen minutes. Nandoon na ang ate ni Raffy at ang kanilang mga magulang.

"Anong nangyari?" tanong ni Ezra kay Franco.

Margaux was talking to her mom and Paul, habang kami naman ay nasa kabilang table. Binigyan sila ng kape ni Franco para maka-kalma.

"Claude and Raffy are both still unconscious." Franco sighed. "It was a drunk driver, I think. Truck daw."

Umiling ako at nagpigil ng iyak.

I can't imagine the worst right now. I just can't.

"Tinawagan na nina Ma sina Tita Jenny," Franco said. "Luca, stay still."

"Come, Luca!" I smiled at Franco's 2 year old son. "Are you hungry?"

Tinignan lang ako ni Luca. He then sat on my lap and started playing with the toy his dad just gave him. He looks just like Margaux and Franco combined.

I smiled bitterly as I thought of what it would be like to have a child of your own. A child that's a half of you, and another half of the person you're completely in love with.

Lumingon ako kay Ezra na seryoso ang mukha habang kausap si Franco. The concern on his face was evident. Alam kong hindi masyadong maganda ang history ni Ezra at Claude, but Ezra is a good man. He genuinely cares for his family, and for other people. He just does a good job at hiding it.

That's the man I'm completely in love with.

"Tulog na?" tanong ni Margaux sa akin.

I nodded and smiled at Luca who was peacefully sleeping in my arms. I handed him to Franco, at dinala niya kaagad ang kanilang anak sa sasakyan nina Tita.

"Bye, Paul. God bless sa exams." I smiled at Paul who was in the front seat. Nahihiya siyang ngumiti sa amin at kumaway.

Ang naiwan sa hospital ay ako, Ezra, Margaux, at Franco. Dumaan na pala si Lia bago pa kami makarating, at babalik rin daw siya mamaya.

Margaux could not stop crying, and I felt her worry. Hindi ko alam kung paano sila tutulungan, kaya nagdasal na lang kami doon sa waiting area. I didn't even realize that we were already there for hours until Natalia and Vale came.

Mabuti nga at nakarating na si Natalia, because Margaux seemed to relax once they started talking. Iniwan na namin sila doon para makabili kami ng pagkain. Vale and Franco also went with us, since the doctor just updated that Claude's already awake.

"Uwi muna kayo, gusto niyo?" tanong ni Vale kay Franco. "Magpahinga muna kayo."

Franco sighed. "Thanks for the thought, man. Pero hindi rin ata papayag si Margaux na umuwi kami, eh."

Tumango si Vale habang naglalakad kami patungo sa parking. "Kayo ba? Ez, Ena?"

"Huh?" I asked immediately.