Soulmates (Pinoy Boyxboy story)[COMPLETE]

CHAPTER 35

2 weeks ago

LIAM:

I can’t help myself get depressed for the past days. Naalala ko pa ang nangyari na parang kahapon lang. Dinala namin si Riko sa hospital sa emergency room. Kasama ko sina Evan at Gerald.

“Riko gumising ka,” Gerald was choking in tears.

I can’t blame him, I’m f*ckin crying myself. Ang bigat sa dibdib, now I know how some people felt and said that mas gusto pa nila makitang masaya ang mahal nila kapiling ang ibang tao rather than seeing their love one suffer like this or worse die. I bite my lip on that as I forced myself not to break down in front of the nurses and doctors trying to check on Derick.

Evan stood there silently watching the scene na obvious nagaalala din kay Derick.

“He’s not breathing we need to intubate him,” one of the doctors shouted.

My jaw dropped as we get ushered out of the room by one of the nurses. Gerald seems out of it and mukang konti nalang e magbrereak down na rin siya. 

“Start 1 liter of plain NSS stat now, get some IV access, his blood pressure is dropping,” we watched just a few feet away as nurses and doctors are trying to revive him.

Di ko namalayan I lost all my strength and cried, kneeling down on the floor. Nakapang basketball attire pa din ako and it would’ve been weird for them to look at me like now. I’m breaking down, I failed to stay strong for Derick. Please God, save him, I love him so much. I love him too much that I wanted him to be happy with someone else, bakit pati ba naman yung tiny part of my happiness to see him smile everyday is now being taken away from me. 

I can’t help my tears falling down my cheeks. My heart is being torn to pieces as I can still hear the doctors shouting some stuff just to revive Derick. 

I felt a warm hand that caressed my back, si Evan pala. I tried not to look at his eyes as he knelt down beside me. He was also hurting but he’s trying his best to stay strong for Derick? Or was it for me? Whatever it is, somehow I felt a little bit of the weight from my heart get lifted. 

Gerald is unusually quiet now and I can’t blame him. He loves Derick just as much as I do. I can just imagine the pain he is going through. I sighed.



A few hours later Derick’s family arrived in the hospital as we wait on the waiting area. Derick was transferred to the ICU and we’re all here in the lobby waiting for the doctor to update us on what happened to Derick. No one dare to speak up, everyone was quiet. 

I saw Derick’s dad standing near the door of the ICU, patiently waiting for the doctor to come out. From the looks of his dad, isa nga siyang ex military official on the way he carry himself but there’s no doubt he’s a family man with the way his stoic face is masked by a concerned look beneath it.

“Mga kaibigan ba kayo ng kapatid ko?” his brother who I know well from the video phone asked.

“Ah oo, ako nga pala si Evan, Evan Colinares, and sila pala sina Gerald and Liam” since nobody answered. Para kasing the world ended from the way Gerald and I are behaving.

“Ah yes kilala ko na sila, ako nga pala ang kuya ni Riko, you can call me kuya Ton and this is our dad,” pero di nagsalita ang dad ni Riko and kept staring at the door, “ ano ba nangyari sa kanya bakit siya naisugod sa ER?”

We were still quiet except for Evan who stood us our voice at the moment. I’m still on shock and my heart is aching badly, for sure Gerald feels the same way right now or even worse. I’m thankful we have Evan here for us. 

“Di ko nga rin alam e, nasa gymnasium kami nanood ng laban sa basketball para suportahan si Liam then bigla lang natumba si Derick at nawalan ng malay, pagpunta namin dito sa ER narinig namin hindi na daw huminga si Derick and kailangan pa intubate,” his voiced waivered at the end. My face pained as I recalled that scene. I felt totally helpless and I hated it.

It was like a few moments of uncomfortable silence passed afterwards that, nobody spoke, just patiently waiting for news about Derick’s status.

God why are they taking so long? I just hope he is ok. My heart ached again, desperately wanting not to lose hope.

We all stood up in unison as the door to the ICU opened and one of the doctors came out. We let the family step forward first.

“Mga kamaganak ba kayo ni Derick Villafuente?” he asked.

“Ako ang ama niya and ito ang kapatid ni Derick, mga kaibigan niya sila,” he gestured his hand towards us.

The doctor nodded and continued to talk to Derick’s dad as we listened.

“Sa totoo lang we still don’t know what happened sa kanya, nang isinugod siya sa ER he was on respiratory arrest and konti nalang e magcacardiac arrest na rin siya. We manage to put a tube in for artificial airway, naka ventilator siya ngayon and yung machine ang humihinga para sa kanya. Stable sa ngayon ang vitals niya pero ikinalulungkot ko mukang comatose siya at the moment,”

My world crumbled to pieces upon hearing that. Umiyak si Gerald sa tabi and my tears wont stop falling down as I forced myself to take it all in silently. I clenched my fists so hard that my knuckles turned pale white. 

“Anong ibig mong sabihin comatose siya? Magigising ba siya soon?” his dad asked wth obvious pained expression on his face.

“Di po natin masasabi Mr. Villafuente, we ordered tests and labs sa kanya and so far inuna ko muna ang EEG and MRI sa utak niya, so far walang abnormality which is good kasi walang permanent damage sa utak niya. If it were a few minutes late nang di siya na resuscitate baka nagkadamage na ang brain cells niya sa lack of oxygen. He is still lucky and sa ngayon hintayin nalang natin kung kelan siya magigising.”

“Magigising pa ba siya? Bakit nagkaganito siya?” his dad continued to ask.

“Mr. Villafuente ikinalulungkot ko po sabihin pero we also don’t have any idea yet bakit siya nagkaganito but as soon as the tests and blood works come sasabihan namin kayo agad kung ano ang makikita namin, sa ngayon he can have visitors pero isa isa lang muna and di dapat kayo magtagal nang makapagpahinga siya, yun lang muna sa ngayon, I’m sorry,” and with that as his cue he walked away from us, leaving us both relieved because Derick is alive and distraught because we don’t know kung kelan siya magigising. 



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It’s been days now and di pa rin nagigising si Derick. We visited him almost everyday. I particularly didn’t bother about school and my basketball team. They said nanalo daw kami pero I wasn’t on the mood for celebrating. Instead here I am in a rather spacious room kung saan nilipat si Derick per family’s request. I can hear the monitor beeping monotonously as the ventilator makes this sound synchronized to Derick’s breathing. I’m sitting beside his bed and holding his hands. He looked so fragile and his hands are soft and lifeless but warm.

Derick’s family is at work right now and his dad entrusted his son to us, and by us I meant Gerald and I because we’re the frequent visitors for his son. 

I heard the door creaked open and I know that must be Gerald now.

“Tol magpahinga ka naman, nauna ka pa ata sa akin dito,” Gerald spoke.

“Ah yeah sorry, I couldn’t stay sa condo mag-isa,” he understood me, wala kasi akong family here. My relatives are in Naga and in the states so he knew how hard it is to stay in a place na mag-isa ka lang while worrying for someone close to your heart. I think Gerald knows how I felt about Derick but he never said anything about it. He respects the friendship we have together plus nagpaubaya na ako for their happiness. He knows all that, I mean he knows I won’t get in between their relationship unless he hurt Derick himself. 

He placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently, letting me know that he understands. 

“Di pa rin ba siya gumigising?” he asked. 

“Di pa rin e,” I said sadly.

“Magigising din siya, alam ko yan,” he’s making himself believe his words.

I nodded. 

He approached Derick on the other side gently looking at Derick’s pale face with a tube on his mouth. He brushed Derick’s hair to the sides of his face. He did this almost like he’s so gentle on touching a delicate flower. I can see his pained look that I know too well coz I feel the same way. 

The pain of looking at someone you love who is sufferring and you’re helpless to do anything about it. 

I saw Gerald’s eyes became misty and watery but he kept it all in. He’s staying strong. 

“Magigising din siya Gerald,” I broke the silence, “Derick’s a bad ass fighter, he’ll be ok.”

I convinced him and he nodded. He smiled at me and said nothing else. We stayed in the room like that for another hour before the nurse throws us out. It’s been like that almost everyday. Sometimes Gerald will be the first one to visit him and sometimes we both come at the same time. It’s almost a routine for us for two weeks until...


2 days ago

Riing

Riing

I saw Erick calling me, that’s odd, what does he want from me ?

“Hello?” I greeted him.

“Uy bro buti naman sumagot ka, tinatawagan kita for the past few days di kita makontak,”

“Busy lang,” tipid kong sagot.

“Yea well, pinapapunta ka ni Coach sa school ngayon,” 

“I’m quitting the team,”

He became silent over the phone. I really don’t have any plans on staying on that team right now. I just don’t have the drive or the motivation to do it. I guess because my motivation was Derick who never fails to show his support whenever I have a game. I was saddened by the thought until I realized I was still on the phone with Erick.

I heard him sigh.

“Liam pumunta ka nalang ng school ok? Sabi ni coach related din to sa grades mo, kung bumagsak ka, uulit ka ng sem kaya for once pumasok ka mamaya at makipagkita ka kay coach, sige bye.”

He didn’t even wait for my reply and just hanged up. Siguro alam niya tatanggi ako kung naghintay pa siya ng reply ko, smart dude. Kaya eto napilitan pumasok sa school this day.

Pumapasok naman ako sa school for the past week kaso hindi regularly, kung kelan lang sumpungin because I hated being alone in my condo. I hated being alone because all I can think of is Derick and it’s killing me inside so what better way to take my mind off things than just go to school kung wala ako sa hospital.

I guess today I’ll have to stay late in school which means di ako makakadalaw kay Derick. May visiting hours kasi sinusunod yung ICU and they’ve been very strict about it. If today I’ll spend most of my time at school I bet visiting hours will be over once I finished with whatever I need to do at school. 

Ok I decided to text Gerald that I can’t make it today para naman alam niya. 

He replied saying it’s ok, I guess he’ll take care of Derick for the both of us for now. 


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Yesterday


Gerald didn’t reply to me when I texted him about Derick’s status. Binaliwala ko nalang yun. I’m going to school again because of some extra stuff I need to do since I missed out on some of the important school related things to finish.

I usually just walked towards the school since my condo is just nearby, just a few blocks away. 

I was about to enter the gate when I saw Gerald standing there. It’s not that he is standing outside of the school that baffled me but he was talking to a guy. This guy seems a little bit taller and chinese looking and from the looks of him, he is very rich as well. I didn’t approach him just yet and instead stared at him from my spot which was a good few yards away from them. I’m not spying I swear, geez.

I can’t hear their conversation but I can see what their doing. I was about to step forward to finally call him when I got shocked at what the guy did. 

He leaned close enough to Gerald, hugging him and since di ko makita ang muka nung guy kasi nasa kabilang balikat ito ni Gerald, I’m not sure if he’s kissing his cheeks or whispering. 

What shocked me most was that, Gerald let it happen. He’s not even trying to push the dude away. I thought he loved Derick? What’s going on? 

My fist clenched into a tight ball. Fury heating up my veins as I witnessed Gerald letting the guy invade his personal space. I know di dapat ako humusga agad but from the looks of it, Gerald is letting it happen. I will give him the benefit of the doubt kaya lumapit na ako sa kanila.

Gerald was shocked to see me as I eyed him so heatedly that I might burn holes on his forehead. The guy saw me as well but kept one of his arms swung along Gerald’s shoulders. 

“Sino to?” I asked venomously.

I didn’t see Gerald made any effort to speak up so the guy beside him introduced himself instead, offering me his free hand for a handshake.

“My name’s James Tanjuanco, and you are?”

“none of your godd*mn business!” I spouted.

Hinila ko si Gerald away from his grip but I was schocked when Gerald slapped my hand away from him. I don’t understand?

“Why?” he knows what my question is for so he just glared at me and didn’t answered back.

“Uhm mukang you need to sort things out Gerald, I’ll see you later ok?” James called out for him bago pumasok sa kotse niya na nakaparada just in front of us. I was expecting Gerald to ignore him but I was shocked again when he actually acknowledged the guy.

“Sige mamaya nalang,” he replied and walked inside the campus.

He left me standing there confused and felt betrayed. He betrayed my trust on him to take care of Derick. He betrayed my friendship for him for what? For this guy? 

I need to talk to him. If he hurts Derick, I’ll personally beat him to pieces by my own hands. 

I was about to run after him when my phone rang again.

“hello?”

“Ah Liam si Kuya Ton ito, gising na si Derick,” and just as that I was overwhelmed with many emotions, relieved that Derick is ok.


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I told Gerald this morning when I caught up with him that Derick is awake pero binaliwala lang niya yun. I have to admit, I’m hurting for Derick’s sake sa inaasal ni Gerald. Kung di lang siya bestfriend ko kanina ko pa siya nasapak. I’m just controlling my temper pagdating kay Gerald coz I know Derick will be furious and sad at the same time if makipagaway ako kay Gerald. I sighed and went to the hospital to visit Derick for the first time when he is awake on my own. I won’t tell him about Gerald’s b*tchy personality lately, I don’t wanna upset him. I just want him to be happy and get better soon. 

I’ll cover him up as much as I can just for now. Ayoko masaktan si Derick and I’ll make sure it stays that way. Gagawin ko lahat for Derick’s sake. 



To be continued...