Brave Hearts

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23

Maybe it's true that once trust is broken, it'll never be the same again. Mahirap ibalik ang tiwala lalo na kapag nasira and I don't know, sinabi ko naman na sa sarili ko noong makikinig ako kung sakaling ganito but the courage I have slowly vanished while remembering the scene I saw.

I am thankful he taught me how to commute to the hospital at hindi ko na maaabala ang pagkikita nilang dalawa. Maybe they have a date today, nakikipagsiksikan na naman siguro ako.

Pikit ang mata at sapo ko ang mukha ko habang nasa biyahe.

Nawala na sa isip ko pero ngayong nakita kong muli si Yui at Atlas na magkasama ay muling bumalik sa akin ang mga ala-ala sa Cagayan. She said they'll get married after studying and now...maybe ay itutuloy nila?

How could I forget that?

I remembered the reasons why we went away, the reasons why we chose to leave our hometown.

Naalala ko si Nanay at ang Tatay ni Atlas, I remembered how Atlas' mother got hospitalized after she found out about my mother.

I don't want to be like that. Ayaw kong makasira ng relasyon. Ayokong makapanakit ng ibang tao para sa nasabing pagmamahal na 'to.

Ayoko na ring masaktan, I am afraid to risk my health. I want to take care of myself because I have no one but me...marami pa akong pangarap para sa amin ni Nanay, ni hindi pa nga ako lisensyadong doktor.

If I invest to much in this wrong love and got hurt in the end, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin.

Mabilis lang ang naging byahe ko patungo sa ospital. My eyes are blood shot because of my tears, napapansin ko nga ang tingin sa akin ng mga pasahero ng jeep pero hindi sila nagsalita at tahimik lang akong tinignan.

When I reached the hospital, I went immediately to the restroom to fix myself. Kitang-kita ko ang mata ko sa salamin at habang nakatitig sa repleksyon ay bumabalik sa akin ang ang itsura ng batang Lia, in her 18th birthday, the person she wished to come didn't and it left her young heart a small yet long lasting scar.

I remembered how my young self cried in the bathroom, touching her chest so she could breath. The young Lia who was so fascinated that her long time crush noticed her and soon told her he liked her too pero sa huli ay laro lang pala.

Lumapit lang pala para maghiganti sa mga bagay na hindi ko rin ginusto at alam.

Naghilamos ako para kahit papaano'y mapagtakpan ang pag-iyak, pagkatapos kong mag-powder at suklay ay kinuha ko ang phone nang maramdamang nagba-vibrate sa bulsa ko.

Sir Alex (LBG) calling...

My forehead creased. Why is the company suddenly calling?

Tumikhim ako at bumuntonghininga bago dinala ang phone sa tainga ko bago sagutin ang tawag.

"Hello—"

"Lia, where are you?" I froze when I heard that familiar voice.

"Sir Alex—"

"Tita Marichu said you went out to see me, nasaan ka na? I'm still here and I couldn't see you..." he said frustratedly and I gulped, realizing who this is.

Muli kong naramdaman ang pagdagan sa puso ko nang maalala ang nakita ko kanina pagkalabas.

"Are you alright? Nasa ospital ka na ba?" he heaved a sigh. "Lia, are you okay? I'm worried—"

"Nasa ospital na ako, Doc." I managed to say despite the pain I'm feeling inside my chest.

"What? A-alright," I heard him stopped a bit then sighed. "Are you okay? H-hindi mo ako inantay, sabi ko sabay tayo."