DALE FYRON'S POV

My hands were shaking and I don't know what to do. I kept on walking back and forth in front of the emergency room, waiting for the doctor or even the nurse to come out of the room. It's been 2 hours since the accident happened but  the scenario keeps on popping out of my mind. Nawala ako sa tamang pag-iisip ng masaksihan ang nangyari. I didn't know what to do that time especially when the big truck hits her. Goddamit. I was crying the whole time and was panicking. I-It wasn't supposed to happen.

I was thinking on how to talk to her mother or even explain it to her siblings. They already lost one part of their family, I can't imagine if they'll lose her too. Fuck. Not her, not my girl. It really hurts seeing her lying on the street, bathing with blood. She couldn't even breathe because the truck gives so much impact to her.  How I wish it was just me. If I'm on her situation, she won't suffer right now.

" K-Kuya s-sorry.... H-Hindi naman t-talaga si ate ang m-masasagasaan. A-Ako d-dapat 'yun eh. I-It was my fault, I-I should be the one l-lying on that bed." Akken pleaded in front of me, crying harder.

Tears escaped from my eyes and messed up his hair." It wasn't you fault, Akki. Stop crying, everything's gonna be okay. Hmmm?." I hugged her tight and bit my lower lip to stop crying.

" She just saved you, dude. It's her decision to do that so don't be sorry. What happened was just an accident." Shael tapped his shoulders to comfort him.

" Dude, tahan na 'wag kanang umiyak. Magagalit si Katria sa'yo kapag nakita ka niyang ganyan." Cohen sat beside him and was about to cry. Nasa kabilang upuan naman si Raizer at nakatulala kaya dinaluhan siya ni Shael.

I wasn't mad nor angry on my brother. He did nothing wrong and unaware of what will happen. Kat was the only one who saw the incident so she didn't say anything and save him. Alam niya siguro na magagalit ako o hindi ako papayag sa gagawin niya kaya hindi siya nagpaalam at tumakbo nalang bigla. Maybe she think that Akken was important to us so she saved him, neglecting what will happen to her. Little did she knew, she's also important to us, to her family and friends, and of course to me. Siya ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko na kailanman hindi ko pinagsisisihan. And now, she's lying on the bed unconscious and suffering from a bad condition.

" Daron!." I immediately looked around and I saw Vera with Katria's friends running towards us." Nasa'n si Katria?! Kailangan ko siyang makita. Ano ba talagang nangyari sa kanya?!." She kept on shaking me that's why Derrick get her away from me.

" She was hit by a truck because she saved Akken. She's transferred to the emergency room and was on a bad condition right now." Napahilamos nalang ako sa buong mukha ko nang marinig ang tunog ng makina sa loob. I suddenly felt nervous and scared, thinking about what's happening inside.

They were shocked and nervousness were written on their faces." Kakamatay palang ng tatay niya nung nakaraang buwan tapos ngayon siya naman. Sana lang maging maayos ang lagay niya, hindi ko kakayanin na mawala siya." Vera's voice rattled and cried, her friends even comforted her when she cried.

" Natawagan mona ba si tita? Nag-aalala na ako baka kung anong magiging reaksyon niya kapag nalaman niyang nasa masamang kondisyon si Cha-Cha. Kahit ako, kinakabahan rin sa magiging resulta." Derrick took a deep sigh and sat on the bleachers.

I just nodded, still waiting for someone to get out of the room." I already called tita and I think she's on her way right now."

Maya-maya ay biglang dumating si tita na humahangos dahil sa kakatakbo kaya agad siyang dinaluhan nila Lucy at Aira. She immediately went on my direction as tears falling down on her cheeks.

" Hijo, asa'n na ang anak ko? Pakiusap sabihin mo kung maayos lang ba ang lagay niya. H-Hindi ko kakayanin kung pati siya mawala sa'min. Siya nalang yung gumagabay sa mga kapatid niya at marami pa siyang pangarap sa buhay. A-Ayokong iwan niya rin kami." Her mother kneeled down and all I can hear is her sobs. I sat and hugged her tight, carressing her back. How I wish I could ease the pain that she's feeling right now.

" I-I don't know, tita. The doctor and nurses were still inside of the room and never get out since they transferred her. Even me, I'm really worried on her." Maybe I'm not crying so bad right now but deep inside, I do really want to scream the pain that I'm feeling. Kung nasasaktan silang kaibigan lang ni Katria, pa'no na ako na boyfriend niya?!

" It's my fault tita. Kung hindi lang sana ako tatanga-tanga ay hindi 'yun mangyayari kay ate. She did everything for me, for us, but still she sacrificed herself to save me." Akken said while staring on the floor. He finally stopped crying but he looks so pale, maybe because he keeps on crying earlier.

Agad naman lumapit si tita at tumabi sa kanya." Walang may kasalanan sa nangyari, hijo. Diyos lang ang may alam sa lahat kaya huwag mong sisihin ang sarili mo. Alam kong gusto kang iligtas ng anak ko dahil naisip niyang hindi niya kakayanin kung ikaw ang nasa sitwasyon niya ngayon. Mahal ka niya bilang kapatid, alam mo 'yun. At gagawin niya ang lahat para sa ikabubuti ng kapatid niya." Tita hugged him that made him cry again.

The hallway was full of loud cries and sobs, even her friends started crying too. She's really special to everyone that made them cry. While I was just standing beside the door and still waiting for some information. It was already 7:00 that's why I told them to go home because they need to rest. Derrick and Aira send Vera to her house even though she didn't want to because she also wants to hear the doctor's words. After that they'll going to fetch the kids and will watch over them since tita was still here and comforting Raizer and Akken. Sinabihan ko rin sila na umuwi muna para makapagpahinga dahil may pasok pa bukas at para narin makapagpahinga sila pero sina Shawn and Cohen lang ang nakinig. The two wants to stay here to watch over Kate.

" Where is Mrs. Lyntheria?." The doctor suddenly opened the door with the nurses at her back.

Tita stood up and come closer together with Raizer and Akken."Ako ang ina niya, kamusta ang anak ko? Okay lang ba siya? Buhay pa naman ang anak ko, 'di ba?." she asked nervously.

The doctor let out a deep sigh."Sadly, your daughter was on a serious condition right now. Hindi biro ang pagkakabangga ng malaking truck sa kanya. It made a big impact that affects her brain, in short, she got a brain damage and she needs to undergo a surgery as soon as possible.

Natigilan kaming lahat sa sinabi niya kaya napahawak siya sa dibdib niya. An operation?! If that's the case, she'll be asleep for more consecutive days or even weeks.

" Settle everything for the operation, I'll be the one to handle it." I asked seriously. Wala akong pakialam sa pera o kung ano man basta ang mahalaga maging maayos ang kalagayan niya.

" Malaki ba ang perang kailangan dyan, doc? Wala kase kaming malaking pera para pambayad." She bowed her head that's why Akken hugged her.

" Yes, maam. Almost million ang kailangan para masagawa ang operasyon. We need to prepare the things needed and the documents for the patient." answered the doctor.

" It's okay, just do it. Money isn't a problem." I faced tita and gave her a convincing smile." I'll do everything so that she'd be okay. I don't care if it cost billions as well as she'll be okay. Don't worry, tita." I added.

" Kung 'yun ang desisyon niyo, ihahanda na namin ang lahat. Maybe the operation would start on Thursday. We'll go first, you can see her now." The doctor nodded and left with the nurses so we immediately entered the room to see her.

When we finally entered the room, all we could hear is the sound of the machine that was connected with many tubes and was attached on her body. There's a big bandage on her head and her face has many wounds. She's wearing an oxygen to provide air because she couldn't breathe properly. Lumapit sa kanya si tita habang humihikbi at pati narin yung dalawa. I just looked away because it hurts me seeing them like this. I know it was hard for them to accept what happened. It was so sudden, we were just having fun earlier and weren't informed that this thing would happen. Sa isang iglap lang, eto agad ang kapalit.

" Anak, lumaban ka ha? Hindi kaya ni Inay na mag-isa lang. 'Wag ka munang sumama kay Itay, nak. Masyado pang maaga at bata ka pa. Diba marami ka pang mga pangarap para sa'tin, sa mga kapatid mo. Nandito rin yung mga kaibigan na nasa tabi mo lang pati yung mga itinuturing mong mga kapatid. 'Wag morin sana kalimutan si Daron, ang boyfriend mo anak. Kaya gumising kana, hinihintay kana namin." She cried harder and I think no one could feel her better. Knowing that her daughter is lying and hovering, it's really hard.

" I need you too, ate. You told me that you'll going to teach me some of my lessons. Hindi pa ako masyadong magaling gumawa ng thesis and I still need your guide. Please wake up now." Raizer said while hugging tita from behind.

" Ate naman eh, ba't mo kase ako sinagip?! Mas iniisip mopa yung iba kesa sa sarili mo, nakakainis karin. But still thank you for saving me. I didn't expect that you'd sacrifice your life just for me." Akken wants to hug her but he couldn't because of the tubes on her body.

I insisted to stay here so that I could watch her. Shael fetch them earlier and brought me clothes that I could wear before I sleep. I just ate a little because I'm not that hungry. Nawalan ako ng gana dahil wala ako sa mood kumain. When I already changed my clothes, I sat on the chair next to her and slowly holds her hand. Hindi na nga siya masyadong makikilala dahil sa itsura niya, maraming nagbago. I kissed her hand and closed my eyes when I felt the tears falling down from my eyes.

" Love, don't leave me, huh? I don't know what to do if I'll lose you. You made me change when you came to my life and I'm thankful for that. We haven't celebrated our first monthsary so don't leave me. You're brave as what everyone knows and I know you could surpass all of this. Hmmm?." I caressed her hair gently and cried silently.

I was known as a cold and stone-hearted person but I also have weaknesses. Yeah, I'm afraid of cockroaches but what I'm afraid the most is losing someone I really love. If I started loving, I couldn't help but to keep her smile everyday and protect her at all times. Pero hindi ko nagawang protektahan siya dahil siya mismo ang gumawa ng kapahamakan sa sarili niya kase alam niya naman na may maililigtas siya. If she could just share the pain that she's feeling right now, I would willing to accept it. Because I'd rather chose to suffer than my girl, because I love her.

" I heard what happened to her yesterday, I'm sorry. Can I see her?l?." Her eyes were full of regrets when she appeared in front of the door.

I looked at her coldly and just rolled my eyes."Why do you want to see her, huh?! Did you regret for what you did to her, Stella?! She's in a bad condition right now and I'm not accepting guests especially when it's the person who've hurt her so many times." I was about to close the door when she kneeled in fron of me.

" Please Daron, I badly want to see her. She just went on my house last day to gave the reviewers that I needed so that I could take the midterm. Sinabi niya pa nga na babalikan niya ako sa Miyerkules para bigyan ako ng examination papers. I didn't know that it would turn out like this." She bowed her head a little bit and played her hands.

But.... w-what did she just say?!

" What?! Why would she do that?! You're enemies since then so why would she help you to take the exam?!." My brows frowned while thinking why she did it without my permission. She didn't even talk to me about that.

" Because she knew that you'd be angry. Hindi niya pinaalam sa'yo kase alam niyang hindi ka papayag sa gagawin niya. She even forgive me for my mistakes and told me to change myself so that I could have friends as what I wanted. Kapag daw nangyari 'yun, siya ang unang magiging kaibigan ko." She wiped the tears that fell down on her cheeks.

I couldn't imagine that she really helped her. For all the things that Stella have done to her, she still find ways just to help her. Even without telling me because she's afraid that I might get angry. Hindi ko lubos maisip ang ugaling taglay niya, kahit ayaw sa kanya ng tao tinutulungan niya parin. Damn it.

" I'll give you 5 mins. to see her and after that you can go." I let her enter the room and just waited outside. Tita will be here in a minute so I can go to the university and I'll be back right after the class so that she could take care the kids.

When our class started, I don't feel like listening to the discussion because I'm not in the mood. Whenever I think if her, I just feel sad and lonely. Knowing that I couldn't see her on lunch break and after class to fetch her on her room like what I usually do. My strength wasn't here because she's now lying on the hospital and sleeping. The doctor told us that she won't wake up unless the surgery was done. Masakit man pero kailangan kong magtiis, makakasama at mayayakap ko rin naman siya pagkatapos nito.

" Hey, Fyron. Are you okay? I'm sorry for what happened to Katria." Cheska sat beside me when I announced that our teacher won't be here because she's busy preparing the examinations for tomorrow.

I let out a deep sigh and shook my head." I'm not, Ches. She's still on the emergency room and the doctors were preparing for her operation this Thursday. I couldn't even concentrate on reviewing because I'm thinking about her."

" Saan ba siya ooperahan? As what I've heard, the truck hit her so bad. It might affect her brain if possible." she said worriedly.

I just stared at the floor, not knowing what to say." She needs to undergo a brain surgery because it's the part that was hit so hard by the truck. It affects her brain so much and... I-I'm scared what would happen after the surgery. There was a lot of blood flowing down from her head that made me panic that time. If I could just do something for her."

" Kaya mo 'yan, ikaw pa. Maybe this was just a challenge for the both of you. You can fight this together, just hold on." She tapped my shoulders and I just gave her a small smile." By the way, Ivan and I will going to visit her after class. We bought foods for her earlier, we'll bring it." she added and gave me a convenient smile.

Nung dumating ang lunch break ay naghintay lang ako sa loob ng room dahil wala akong ganang kumain. I just ate noodles for my breakfast but I'm still full. Seems like I don't feel anything because of the situation that I'm facing right now. I get my phone from my pants and stared on my wallpaper. It was the time when we won the singing contest and we're wearing a couple shirts. She was smiling on the picture while I was just staring  at her. I have some stolen pictures of her on my gallery and we even argued because she wanted to delete those pictures. Kaya nga minsan nagt-take rin siya ng stolen pictures ko para daw meron din siya.

" Zup, bro. Okay kana ba? Narinig namin ang nangyari sa girlfriend mo." I immediately put my phone back to my pants when Eron suddenly appeared at my back.

" Ano nang lagay niya ngayon? Okay na ba siya?." Jude pulled the chair and sat in front of me.

" She's not. She got a brain damage because of the accident." maikling sagot ko.

" So kailangan niyang maoperahan, ganun? Sana lang maging maayos ang takbo ng pag-oopera niya. Kailan ba 'yan?." Ryder asked and handed me a chips because I haven't eaten yet.

" Right after the midterm, Thursday. Maybe I couldn't come here because I'm going to help tita to settle everything." I answered and just eat the chips he gave.

When the classes ended, I went to the principals office to talk to Mrs. Delfuego about the incident that happened yesterday. Sasabihin ko rin sa kanya na hindi ako makakapasok pagkatapos ng midterm dahil kailangan nandun ako kapag inoperahan na siya. I'll also ask her if is it okay that she'll be exempted on the examination because she might not wake up easily after the operation. I knocked three times before opening the door and I saw her reading some papers on the table.

" Can I talk to you, maam?." I asked as I entered the room.

She removed her glasses and faced me." Of course, Daron. What is it?."

I sat on the sofa in front of her and lean on it." Have you heard about the accident yesterday? It was so sudden, right?."

" Yes. The whole university knows it and some of them witnessed the incident. We're so sorry for what happened." I heard her let out a sigh.

" It's okay, it already happened. I just want to ask you a favor, can you please postpone her examination and just gave her a special exam right after she recovered? I know how much she wanted to take it because she wants to place the highest top of their class. She even reviewed until midnight just to catch up their lesson. Can you do it for me?." I begged her and she just nodded.

" As you wish, Mr. Helveryst. She's now exempted for tomorrow's examination. Just send me a good thoughts to her mother." She wrote something on a paper, a letter I guess.

" I'll surely do it. Thank you, maam."

I immediately went to the hospital after that together with my brothers, her friends, and Cheska with Ivan. When we get into her room, we found tita sitting at the corner while talking with mom and dad. Derrick fetch them at the airport earlier because I called them last night to inform what happened. Hinalikan ko sa noo si mom at sa pisnge naman si tita, tinanguan lang ako ni dad saka umupo sa tabi ng kama ni Katria.

" Is she okay?." I asked them, still staring at her.

" The doctor said that she's on a critical condition because she just bleed earlier. We were shocked on what happened but they said that it was just some of the symptoms of her brain damage." mom answered sadly.

I bit my lower lip because I felt pity on her. She must be in so much pain that's why it happened. Mas lalo lang ako nasasaktan kapag nakikita kong ganito ang kondisyon niya. It's been two days but I misses her already. I want to hug her tight and be with her like there's no tomorrow. I wanna spend my whole time talking to her and making her laught at all times. Gusto kona talagang mapabilis ang operasyon niya para maging okay na ang lahat. Alam kong hirap na hirap na siya sa kalagayan niya ngayon.

" Kami na ang bahala dito, mom, dad, tita. Magpahinga na po kayo sa bahay." Shael said and accompanied them outside the hospital.

" Nandito lang kami para dalawin si Katria, Daron. Aalis narin kami, kailangan pa namin mag-review." Jaimie stood up and so with their friends.

" Okay, I understand. Thank you for coming here." I answered and gave them a light smile.

" Aalis narin kami, pare. Tumawag yung daddy ni Cheska eh, pupunta raw dito. Syempre kailangan kong maghanda para plus pogi points narin." Ivan laughed a little bit and I just smirked when Cheska nudge him.

" Yah, goodluck. Thank you for coming."

The nurse entered the room for a check up before midnight. I felt a little hunger so I went to the second floor where the cafeteria is located. I just buy a fried chicken and a little rice with a pair of chocolate milk before going back to her room. It was so quiet and I admit that I'm not used to it since she's always with me. Kapag siya ang kasama ko, palaging maingay dahil meron siya mga kwento na sinasabi sa'kin tungkol sa probinsya nila. She even told me that she'll bring me there soon and I hope she would fulfill her promise.

After eating, I took a half bath and wear my pajama and shirt. Hinanda ko ang tutulugan ko sa sofa at nilagay ang phone ko sa ibabaw ng table. I slowly sat on her bed and holds her cheeks and kissed her forehead. I leaned my head on her and closed my eyes, feeling her. This room is air-conditioned that's why she also felt cold.

'I love you so damn much. Please be strong for us, love'

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