Full Circle

Chapter 16 - Hero

A/N: Hello! Sorry for the late update. I had a hard time writing this chapter because the emotions and flow I had in mind at first didn't really translate clearly, so I had to pause for a while until my mind was working again, especially since this is the much-awaited meeting of Pha and Yo.

This is a long one but I didn't split it into two parts anymore to keep the emotions intact throughout the chapter. Hope you enjoy!

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Phana POV

My eyes meet the eyes I've been wanting to stare into forever. They're beautiful and full of emotions. I can see love, worry, longing, anger, frustration and despair in them. Wait! Why is he feeling that way? Isn't he happy to see me? I'm really happy to see him... and hug him. Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. Why was I suffering alone again? Because I don't want him to get the disease, too. So what is he doing here? He cannot be here! All the torturous pain I went through will be for naught at the very last minute if he stays here a second longer. I'm supposed to die in peace tomorrow, assured that I kept him safe and entrusted him to good people. But now, everything I worked so hard for, all those suffering will go to waste. Baby, why are you so stubborn?

Human instinct surges through my body as anger and panic start to build up. After all the hardship and loneliness I tried my best to endure, how can he just barge in and render my efforts in vain? No!

"Get out! I don't want you here!" I yell, trying to make it sound full of hatred.

To my surprise, my baby ignores my fit and continues to approach me, determination burning in his eyes. With every step he takes, my heart drowns with the love I've held on to with my life. As he closes our distance, my resolve to keep him away slowly, but surely evaporates.

"Yo! Get away from me..." I continue to yell, but with less force and more panic. He continues moving towards my bed, completely ignoring my words. "Please," I already plead.

He's so close. I could almost hold him. My heart is beating like crazy. My mind is going crazy.

He reaches out a hand, but I restrain myself with the last ounce of self-control and reason in me. "I said... I don't want you here," I manage to mutter, but sounding so unsure. It came out like I was trying to convince him, instead of commanding him. Scratch that, it's more like I was trying to convince myself, while holding back the tears that are threatening to fall.

His hand is so close, it's almost touching me. I give in to my heart's desire. The last remaining resolve I had left me. My wall broke. My mind shut down and my body is now run by my heart. I'm anticipating the warmth of his touch that I missed. His soft hand that will caress my face and take away all the uneasiness and pain I feel. I can finally feel his...

SLAP!

I wince and look at Yo in shock. Confusion plastered on my face, unable to comprehend just yet what happened. My hand slowly moves to that part of my cheek. Then it dawns on me how stupid I was to think he would comfort me instead. Maybe because that's what I longed for, so that's what I chose to believe. What the hell was I thinking? Surely, Yo hates me. I broke his heart and left him hanging. He must be so angry. It adds to the pain I'm feeling, but I can accept that. There's no one to blame but me anyway. They're right about me, I really am full of myself for expecting, no, wanting him to hold me lovingly after everything he's been through because of me, after all the pain I caused him.

What a way to go, with the person you protected standing in front of you, putting himself at risk, rendering all your suffering and efforts in vain. And to top it all off, he's fuming mad and hates me to death. I can't possibly ask for forgiveness now. My mind once again overtakes my heart after it was overpowered and held to the ground helplessly by my emotions at the sight of my Wayo earlier. Now, I can think a little clearer again. I still have a mission - get him out of here and protect him from the virus for as long as my breath allows. My eyes well up at the thought that we would part this way, and before they start to fall, I blink them away and put on my cold, stoic face.