My Lemon's Heart (Complete)

Chapter Thirty Two: Until Then

10 YEARS AGO

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE."

Yun ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ni Lemon sa sarili habang halos mawalan ng malay. He was trying his best to stay awake. Natatakot siya na kapag nakatulog ay hindi na siya magising pa.

"Save me please." He tried to reach for someone kahit nanghihina siya. He felt someone's hand at pinisil niya yun using his last ounce of energy. "Please... I... don't... want to--" Naramdaman niya ang pagpisil sa kamay niya. It was firm.

"Sir, you'll be fine. We'll take care of you," narinig niyang wika ng isang lalake

He must be one of the paramedics, naisip niya. The doctors here are good. They can save me. I can go home. I want to see Faye.

"Lemon, hold on anak."That was his mother's voice. Hindi niya alam kung paano agad nakarating ang mommy niya. Did she hire a helicopter?

Maybe I am dreaming. Maybe this is just a dream.

"Don't be scared. I love you, baby." It was his mom again.

"Mom....."

"I'm here... I will never leave you...."

Hindi niya alam kung saan banda ang mommy niya. He couldn't see her. He was trying to open his eyes pero mabigat ang pakiramdam niya.

"I want to see Faye..."Wala na siyang lakas na magsalita.

"Doctor, please do everything to save my boy," his mom's voice sounded distant.

Hanggang sa wala na siyang marinig pa. Everything turned black.

TWELVE hours ago ay masaya pang nag-aayos ng gamit si Lemon.

He was excited dahil makakauwi siya ng Pilipinas for several days. Sa susunod na araw pa ang flight niya pero hindi na siya mapakali at gusto niyang maayos na ang luggage niya dahil may pupuntahan pa siyang school activity sa may San Luis Obispo, California. It was a three-hour drive mula sa bahay ng tita niya pero okay lang dahil may driver naman and he could relax along the way. Actually ay sasabay dapat siya sa ilang kaklase dahil lalaban sila sa Math Wizard pero nagpaalam siya na aayusin pa ang flight at pupunta na lamang sa venue on his own.

Okay naman sana ang lahat. In fact ay sila ang nag-champion sa Math Wizard kaya nagkaroon sila ng celebration sa isang malaking restaurant after the event. Ang problema ay nagkaroon ng shoot-out sa naturang location. May isang tao na bigla na lang namaril sa lahat ng direction at nakapasok pa sa restaurant na kinaroroonan nila. And Lemon was one of those na natamaan!

Ang totoo ay hindi pa niya agad naramdamang tinamaan na pala siya ng bala. Nagkagulo na kasi sa labas nang marinig nila ang mga putok and as they were about to go out of the restaurant, sinalubong sila ng gunman! Lahat ng tao ay nagpanic at nagkagulo. He grabbed the hand of one of his classmates para makatakbo sila. He remembered falling on the floor pero nakabangon naman agad siya at nakatakbo papasok sa kitchen area. The chef locked the kitchen door at nag-barricade sila ng mga kitchen tables and anything heavy to block the door. They stayed there and waited.

After ten minutesa that felt like eternity ay dumating na ang mga pulis at SWAT team, pati na rin ang mga ambulansiya. He learned na napatay ang gunman kaya na-neutralize ang situation. Habang pinalalabas sila ng restaurant ay saka lang niya na-realize na may tama siya nang mapansin ng isang classmate niya na puno ng dugo ang tshirt niya. He was bleeding! Kinapa niya ang sarili and felt the blood coming from his chest. Tinamaan siya malapit sa puso! Doon na siya nanghina. Mabuti na lang at may nakasalo sa kanya at agad siyang isinakay sa stretcher para maipasok sa ambulansiya. Doon na siya natakot that he might actually die!