Chapter 34: Aftermath

I opened my eyes and the first thing that greeted me was a white ceiling.

My whole body hurts. The last thing I remember was crashing on top of the Kalayaan Bridge after Brian Tiu fired on the helicopter.

Aya.

I looked around the room and saw my brother dozing off on the hospital bed beside mine. Sinubukan kong tumayo and was met with pain shooting up my arm. Ah, shit.

"Duke," I called out to my brother. "Hoy!"

Bigla siyang inalimpungatan at napabalikwas tapos tinignan ako ng masama. Kung hindi lang masakit ang katawan ko ay pagtatawanan ko siya.

"Grabe kuya, akala ko kung ano na," he rubbed a hand on his face. "Teka i-text ko lang sila mama." He brought out his phone and started composing a message.

"S'an nga pala yung gamit ko? Yung phone ko?"

"Hmm... nabasag yung LCD kaya ewan ko kung gumagana pa." He took it from a side table and handed it to me. Shit, mukhang hindi kinaya yung paggulong namin ni Lex sa concrete or I must have crushed it when we crashed down sa bridge. Fuck, I need to call Aya.

"Si Aya, nagpunta ba dito?" I asked him. Biglang natigilan si Duke at hindi ako matignan sa mata. "Hoy, kinakausap kita. Si Aya..."

"Kuya, pinagbawalan ni Mama si Ate Aya na pumunta dito." What the fuck?

"Ha? Bakit daw?" I started to get up from the bed and winced.

"Nagkasagutan kasi si mama saka yung mommy ni Ate Aya kanina," he looked uncomfortable discussing the matter.

"Ano? Bakit daw? Anong nangyari nung tulog ako?" Naguguluhan ako. Bakit mag-aaway si Mama at Mommy ni Aya?

"Alam mo naman si Mama, ayun nung nalaman na nadamay ka sa rambulan sa bar kasama yung mga kapatid ni ate Aya nagwala na," he scratched his head.

"Rambulan sa bar?" ANO? Ahh... the fuck. Siguro gumawa sila ng kwento para hindi ma-compromise yung secrecy ng mission ni Kuya Ali pero what the hell...

I took out the simcard from the phone. Time to buy a replacement. "Duke pahiram naman ng phone, please?"

"Pasok mo na lang yung sim mo, dual sim naman 'tong akin," he handed his phone to me and I quickly put my sim card in. "Baka kasi magalit si mama pag di niya ako makontak. Ang tapang din pala ng mommy ni Ate Aya."

Hindi ko masyadong inalintana yung sinasabi niya. I quickly dialled Aya's number. Gusto kong marinig ang boses niya at makita siya. The fear I had a few hours ago is slowly creeping up to me once more. Gusto kong ma-reassure na okay ang baby ko at safe siya. Makailang ring at nagmumura na ako bago may sumagot.

"Prince ko," rinig ko ang impit na pag-iyak niya sa kabilang linya at tila hinihiwa ang puso ko.

"Baby okay ka lang? Asan ka? Pupuntahan kita," I realized my hand is shaking. Gusto kong lumipad kung nasaan siya nang marinig ko yung hikbi niya. "Aya baby, asan ka? Gusto kitang makita." Mga hikbi lang ang naririnig ko at para akong mababaliw. "Aya, please?"

"Huwag daw muna Prince. Magulo pa. M-magpahinga ka na lang muna," Pero naririnig ko yung pagtutol sa boses niya. Alam kong hindi yun ang gusto niyang sabihin sa'kin.

"Aya naman, please. I can't sit here knowing na umiiyak ka diyan. Please baby, asan ka ba? Okay ka lang? Anong nagyayari?" Sunod-sunod yung tanong ko at natahimik siya sa kabilang linya. "Aya!" Untag ko at narinig kong parang may kaluskos bago sumagot si Kuya Alfredo.

"Hello Prince, sorry ha. Magulo pa kasi ngayon. Andito rin kami sa St. Luke's. Nasa ICU si Aidan." Shit.

"Kuya kamusta na po si Kuya Aidan?" Gadh. Gusto kong makita si Aya. Alam ko tiyak sobrang lungkot niya and she's probably blaming herself.

"He's under observation. Malaki yung pinsala niya galing dun sa blast. Third degree burns. He needs surgery." Rinig ko yung pagod sa boses ni Kuya Alfredo.

"Sorry kuya, uh... pupunta po ako diyan," nakita kong kumunot ang noo ni Duke.

"Kuya magagalit si mama," he warned me but I held up a hand to shush him. "Tigas ng ulo..." he muttered.

"Kuya si Aya po, kamusta?" I heard him let out a long breath. "Kuya yun pong nangyari alam ba niya?"

"I'm not the one in the position to explain. Gusto ko si Ali ang magpaliwanag ng lahat. He's out in the field right now. He's on a man-hunt operation for Brian Tiu," Napapikit ako. So, nakatakas pa rin pala ang animal na yun.  "Prince wag ka munang magpunta dito. Medyo hindi maganda yung sagutan nila mama kanina. I hope you understand."

"Kuya naman, after nung nangyari sa atin these past few days I just can't let something like this get in the way," alam ko impulsive ang ginagawa ko. I've been on the impulsive roller-coaster for a long time pero I just can't stop myself. Parang baliw na ako na hindi mapakali kung di ko makita si Aya. "Kuya alam ko may nangyari kanina kila Aya. Kuya, please?"

"Nabaril si Kiko. He's confined to the hospital right now." Shit. All the more reason para damayan ko ang baby ko. Even her bestfriends nadamay and can't be there for her at alam ko ring sobrang mahal niya ang mga kuya niya.

"Kuya kahit five minutes lang please? Let me talk to Aya." Narinig kong may incoming call si Duke.

Mama calling...  

"Prince ko?" I want to reach across the empty space and touch her face, hug her tight, and tell her how much she means to me. "Magpahinga ka na lang muna okay. Gagawa ako ng paraan para makita kita. I love you."

"I love you too. Mahal na mahal kita. Gusto ko andiyan ako sa tabi mo ngayon." My voice is thick and I wiped at my eyes. Shet, kelan pa ako naging ganito ka-emotional?

 "Basta magpagaling ka. Kakausapin ko si Mommy. Basta wag mo 'ko iiwan," she broke down into sobs after that.

"Hindi kita iiwan. Bakit kita iiwan? Aya naman,  after what happened do you still doubt my feelings?" Nasasaktan ako. Bakit mo sinasabi yan Aya?

"Basta mahal na mahal kita," I wanted so badly to reassure her. Kulang ang maka-usap ko siya. She sounds really shaken. "Magpapaliwanag ako sa Mama mo."

"Aya walang mawawala okay. Hindi ako papayag. Kakausapin ko rin si Mama. Gahd baby, mas lalong gusto kitang makita." I confessed. The incoming call alert kept on repeating.

"Sorry Prince, sorry... ang dami nang nadamay sa gulo."

"No baby. Okay na ako. Don't feel guilty or anything okay? Ako ang nag-volunteer and lahat naman kami pumayag na sumama. It's not your fault, okay? Don't blame yourself."

"Pero Prince..."

"Shhh... tahan na Aya. Ako ang dapat mag-sorry dahil ikaw ang nadamay sa gulo ko. I should have dealt with Mel sooner. I should have made sure na maliwanag na tapos na kami before I courted you. " But I can't help myself. 

"It's not your fault Goddess. Ako ang dapat mag-sorry. Mahal kita Aya, so please wag ka nang umiyak."

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"Diosa tahan na," I held her while she cried softly. Hinagod ko ang likod niya, just like the way I used to comfort her when we were kids. Hindi ko kayang umiiyak si Aya.

"Sorry po Kuya Alfred," sobrang maga na yung mga mata niya. I cupped her cheeks and wiped her tears with my thumbs.

"Baby girl wag ka nang umiyak. Ayaw nila kuya na nakikita kang malungkot di ba? Pag nagising si Aidan magagalit yun na umiiyak ka."

"Oo nga Diosa. Tiyak magagalit si Kuya Aidan na iniiyakan mo siya," Adam tucked her hair behind her ear and hugged her. We all looked like hell pero hindi rin namin magawang matulog lalo na't hanggang ngayon ay wala pang balita sa operasyon kay Aidan.

Shit na Brian Tiu yan. I know Ali will make him pay dearly for this. Kilala ko ang kapatid ko. You don't mess with him at all.

I looked at the seat opposite us at pinagmasdan ang babaeng kanina pa rin tahimik na nakatayo doon at naghihintay. Her long red hair is matted with what I think is dried blood at madungis ang kanyang suot na damit mula sa pag-gulong nila ni Aidan sa kalsada. She refused to get treated until maipasok si Aidan sa ICU and the nurses had to literally pry her hand off his kanina para lang maipasok na si Aidan sa loob ng burn unit.

"Red," I called her name and she looked at me. Emotionless or too emotional? The black pools were deep and unfathomable. "Pwede kang umupo."

She just stared at me and then turned her head to look at the vacant seat. Still she did not budge from her position na naka-lean sa wall. I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. Damn, this is exhausting work.

Up until now hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong magbalik-tanaw sa mga nangyari kanina. What could I have done differently para walang nasaktan? Fuck, ako ang kuya nila pero I could just watch as Aidan got hurt with the blast and I couldn't even be there para kay Aya when she was attacked.

At ngayon sumasabay pa 'tong issue with our parents. Kanina nag-pang-abot na naman ang mommy namin at mama nila Aidan. Adam and I had to literally drag the two of them apart. Nabuhay na naman yung mga past issues at I think ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit mabilis nag-init ang ulo ni mommy kanina nang yung mama naman ni Prince ang nakasagutan niya nung sumaglit kami sa Makati Med kung saan naka-confine si Prince. Shit, ayoko nang nagsisinungaling but I had to follow Ali's instructions para hindi kami mahuli sa covert operations na sinalihan namin.

Gahd what a mess.

At alas-singko pa lang ng umaga.

If this was an ordinary day, I'd just be waking up and preparing the menu for the day. That reminds me...

I took out my phone and dialled my sous chef's number. She's probably awake by now too. After two rings Bleu answered.

"Hey, beautiful did I wake you up?"

"No," she answered in a husky voice and I smiled. Sus, halata namang kakagising lang talaga niya.

"I won't be able to open today. Ikaw na muna ang bahala sa kitchen. Soup of the day is Lentil and sausage." I heard her move around. She's probably looking for a pen to write down my instructions, "Baka mamayang gabi na ako dumaan. I'm at the hospital."

"What?! Anong nangyari? Are you alright?" I could hear the panic in her voice. Hay Bleu... panic mode na naman.   

"I'm fine. Yung kapatid ko ang naka-confine," I reassured her.

"Should I bring you some food? Saang hospital kayo?"

"That's great. We're here at St. Lukes BGC. Thanks Bleu."

"No problem. Just give me an hour," she replied before she hung up.

"Kuya," I felt Adam put something warm on my hand. The welcome scent of coffee assailed my nostrils.

"Thanks," I replied and took a sip. Hindi ko man lang napansin na umalis siya para bumili. My senses must be getting dull from all this fatigue. "Hindi ka ba uuwi muna? Ako na magbabantay kay Aidan. Iuwi mo muna rin si Aya."

"Ayoko po..." Aya mumbled and I heaved a heavy sigh. I cupped her cheeks and gave her a frown, "Diosa, uwi ka muna baby," she shook her head. Ang tigas ng ulo. "Sige na please, request ni kuya."

"Gusto ko dito lang." She pouted. "Ayoko po umuwi. Paano pag gumising na si Kuya Aidan?"

"Baby girl, ikaw naman magkakasakit pag di ka nagpahinga. Promise, tatawagan kita pag gumising na siya."

"Tama si Kuya Alfredo. Uwi muna tayo Diosa." Adam tried to convince her too. "Mamaya sabay tayo na bumalik. Tulog muna tayo sa inyo, okay?" She looked really reluctant pero napapayag din namin ni Adam.

"Kuya gamitin mo muna yung kotse ko," Adam handed his car keys to me. Fuck, another reminder why this is such a hellish day. Argh. I can't believe what happened to my Lady. Parang gusto kong balatan ng buhay si Brian Tiu. And she's been just upgraded. Ni hindi ko man lang na-enjoy nang husto yung modifications nila Ali. I took a mental note to ask Trixie later.

"Sige, mag-ingat kayo ha. Alam mo na," The situation last night has made me more than a little paranoid. Alam kong patay na si Hernandez but as long as Tiu is still alive, I still can't shake the idea na may bigla na namang mang-threaten sa mga kapatid ko.

"Are you kidding kuya? I won't let anything get past me," Adam replied coldly. I grinned when I remembered kung paano niya isinabit ng grapnel sa tulay yung tauhan ni Tiu kanina na bumato kay Aidan ng bomba. Adam has his own vicious side if he wanted to.

"Sige na. Stay alert, baka makatulog ka habang nag-dri-drive." He nodded and threw his arm around Diosa' shoulders. I watched them enter the elevator and waved good bye. I took out my phone and dialled Prince's number.

"I need to talk to you," I told him as soon as he answered. I didn't give him time to reply and disconnected the call.

"Hey, can you call me if there's any news? Any news at all." Red met my eyes and gave a brief nod. "Babalik ako agad."

This is the first time in my life that I wished the day would end even before it started.

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"Prince ayoko sa pamilya ng babaeng yan," Napapikit ako sa kirot na naramdaman ko sa aking ulo. Pagdating pa lang ni Mama ay nagagalit na kaagad siya. Gusto kong magpaliwanag pero alam ko naman na kapag ganito ang mood niya ay hindi siya handang makinig.

"Sinabi ko na sa'yo ang gusto kong mapapangasawa mo yung maayos at hindi ka dadalhin sa gulo. Ano 'to? Mas malala pa pala yung ngayon. Anong mangyayari sa susunod, paglalamayan na kita?" Napahagulgol si Mama at yumakap kay Papa.

"Mama okay na po ako," I tried to reassure her. "Saka hindi po kasalanan nila Kuya Alfred. Ako po ang dahilan kaya nagkarambulan kagabi."

"Anong hindi sila ang may kasalanan? Dinala ka nila sa bar para mag-inuman tapos wala silang kasalanan? Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo, unahin ang pag-aaral. Anong inaatupag mo? Inuman?"

"Mama kapatid ni Mel yung nakaaway namin sa bar. Siya po ang sumugod sa amin. Sila Kuya ang nadamay sa rambol, hindi ako," I badly want to see Aya. Kung hindi lang biglang dumating sila mama, kanina ko pa sana dinischarge ang sarili ko. Kuya Alfredo came here earlier and filled me in on the details ng excuse namin. He looked like hell. Mukhang wala pa sa kanila ang nakakatulog. Sabi niya yung apartment ko rin daw ay parang dinaanan ng bagyo so that means wala rin pala akong mauuwian for now. Kuya Ali's people are working on the clean-up pero it might take a day or two bago maisaayos ang lahat kaya okay na rin na mag-stay ako dito sa ospital in the meantime.

Pero I have to admit, I feel better na wala na si Hernandez. Ngayon pa lang talagang nag-si-sink-in sa akin kung gaano kalaki yung issue na nangyari mula sa bagay na sa una ay akala ko maliit  lang. Hindi ko akalain na ang pakikipaghiwalay ko would trigger these chain of events. Na ang simpleng buhay ni Aya ay madadala ko sa ganitong klase ng gulo from my thoughtless actions.

I feel so selfish. Pero siguro hindi naman masama ang magmahal. Hindi naman naging masama ang intensyon ko kay Aya kahit kailan. I feel like I want to be a better person pag kasama ko siya. At kahit kailan hindi nila ako ginawan ng masama ng pamilya niya. Nahihiya ako sa kanila.

"Sinasabi ko sa'yo Prince hangga't maaga pa tigilan mo yang pagbubulakbol mo. Akala ko nawala na yang ugali mo na yan at nag-mature ka na." I could hear the disappointment in my father's voice.

"Pa, hindi po ganon. Matino po ako." He just shook his head. "Di ba nangako ako na gra-graduate ako on time. Gagawin ko po. And please, don't blame Aya. Hindi ko 'to sinasabi dahil mahal ko siya, kundi dahil wala talaga siyang kasalanan. Ako ma, " I turned to plead with her, "ako po ang may kasalanan. If I didn't mess up with Mel hindi madadamay ang ibang tao. Ma, I'm convinced that she needs professional help."

"Prince pwede ba? Paano ka namin pagkakatiwalaan ng Papa mo kung parati na lang ganito? Nagkulang ba kami ng pangaral?"

"No ma, hindi po. Nakikinig po ako sa inyo pero this time, makinig rin po kayo sa akin," I hated these kinds of talks. Hindi ako sanay sa madramang usapan and if I were the same person I was before, siguro nag-walk-out na ako or I've shut myself inside my room. I really feel like an asshole. I realized my recent brush with death has made me realize so many things.

"Please Mama, give me a chance to prove to you na nagbago na ako and I've made the right choice. Aya is my choice."

"Kakakilala mo lang sa kanya pero kung ipagtanggol mo siya sa akin ganun-ganon na lang. Ano bang pinakain sa'yo ng babaeng yan?"

"Mama please," Hindi ako mahilig sa drama. "Alam ko naman that you've had such high hopes for me my whole life. Alam ko rin na I've been nothing but a big disappointment since I've entered college. "

 "Pero gusto ko pong ayusin 'yon. Siguro sa ngayon hindi niyo pa po nakikita kung gaano kalaki yung ipinagbago ko pero give me another chance." Nakasimangot sa akin si mama and I know it would take more than a few words to convince her. 

"Marami na po akong ginawang mali. This time let me do the right thing."

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"Thank you kuya," I hugged my Kuya Adam tightly and he ruffled my hair. Nagulat na lang ako kasi akala ko babalik kami kay Kuya Aidan sa St. Lukes matapos naming makapagpahinga ng ilang oras sa bahay kanina pero dito kami sa Makati Med tumuloy para puntahan si Prince.

"Alam mo naman di ka namin kayang tiisin," he kissed my cheek. "Sige, pero bilisan lang natin ha kasi kawawa naman si Kuya Alfred. Kailangan din niyang magpahinga. Mamaya daw si Kuya Alphonse naman ang pupunta."  

Bumaba na kami ng sasakyan at nagulat ako kasi andun na agad si Prince sa lobby at naghihintay.

"Goddess ko," he hugged me as tight as he can with only one arm. Naka-sling yung isang braso niya. Halo-halong emosyon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon habang yakap siya pero isa lang ang nananaig. Masaya akong makita siyang ligtas. He bent down and kissed me right then and there.

"Okay ka na?" I cupped his cheeks when we parted and was surprised to see his face wet with tears, "Anong nangyayari? Bakit umiiyak ka?" He shook his head and smiled while reaching up and wiping his tears.

"Wala. Akala ko kasi kagabi may nangyari na sa'yo. Hindi ko mapapatawad yung sarili ko," I've never seen him cry before at parang kinukurot yung puso ko.

"Okay na 'ko," I gently shook my head. "Basta okay ka na talaga? Sabi mo walang mangyayaring masama sa'yo pero nasaktan ka pa rin."

"Hindi wala 'to," He pulled me close again. Narinig kong tumikhim si Kuya Adam mula sa aking likuran.

"Thanks, bro" Sabi ni Prince.

"Wala yun 'tol," I heard my brother say at kumalas ako sa mahigpit na yakap ni Prince.

"Upo muna tayo," Prince led us to sit sa mga upuan doon sa lobby. "Kamusta? Anong nangyari kay Kuya Aidan?"

"Wala pa ring balita. Naka-schedule siya for skin grafting. Ilang months na recovery din yun. I-co-cover ng Agency yung lahat ng cost pero discreetly para hindi malaman nila mama."

"Sorry Adam."

"No. Hindi mo kasalanan yun. Si Brian Tiu at Hernandez ang dapat managot sa lahat ng 'to," i've never seen my Kuya Adam lose his cool before pero kanina sa ospital mukha siyang papatay ng tao. Hindi nila binigay sa akin yung detalye kung ano ang nangyari pero alam ko na matindi yung pinagdaanan nila kumpara sa nangyari sa amin nila Kiko.  

"Patay na si Alex Hernandez," Kinilabutan ako sa pagkasabi ni Prince. I touched his cheek and he leaned into my hand. "Safe ka na baby. Wag ka nang iiyak okay?"

I nodded to him. "Ano bang nangyari? Sinong bumaril sa'yo?"

"Aksidente lang Aya," I narrowed my eyes at him. "Si Mel." My eyes widened at his admission. Wala na talagang ginawang tama ang babaeng 'yon! Sinaktan niya si Prince?

"Wait Aya wag ka nang magalit. It's over okay? Nagbayad na siya. Nagbayad na sila," He kissed my hand. "I actually pity her. I think she needs help."

"Prince kahit anong tanggol mo hindi ko mapapatawad ang babaeng 'yon," I scowled at him. 

"I'm not asking you to baby. Marami siyang nagawang maling desisyon pero hindi na ako galit sa kanya. I know she's suffering right now too. She just lost her brother." Napatigil ako. Syete, hindi ko yata kaya na may mawala sa mga kuya ko.

"Well ano nang plano mo ngayon?" Kuya Adam asked.

"Pwede na kong lumabas bukas pero yung apartment ko kasi mukhang hindi pa maayos. Baka sa hostel na lang muna ako."

"Dun ka na lang sa amin," I blurted out. "Bakante yung kwarto ni Kuya Albert at Alphonse kasi may-asawa na sila."

"Sure ka baby?" He frowned at me, "baka magalit si mama mo."

I shook my head. "Isa o dalawang araw lang naman. Saka kasama naman natin si Yaya Maring sa bahay. Kakausapin ko si Mama." I know I'll feel better na kasama siya after what happened. "O kaya dun ka muna sa'min Kuya Adam."

"Diosa baby buti naalala mo 'ko. Malapit na kitang kurutin diyan eh." Kuya pinched my cheek.

"Kuya naman eh. Sige na please? Mag-be-behave po kami. Dun tayo sa living room matulog nang magkakatabi." I hugged kuya Adam. Alam ko na papayag siya.

"Ikaw baby girl, kung di lang kita kapatid naku iba iisipin ko sa'yo. Sige, mamaya dun ulit ako uuwi sa inyo para may kasama ka. Tapos bukas sunduin natin si Prince. 

"Yes. I love you talaga kuya," I kissed him soundly and I looked fondly at Prince. He smiled for the first time and hugged me from behind with his good arm.

End Chapter 34

A/N: Filler chapter. This story needs to breathe after all that action. Medyo drama muna tayo. If you are waiting for Ali's badassery, I've reserved it for Star-Crossed. XD

Thank you everyone for reading! Sweetness at comedy naman next chapter. Sorry no AlfRix or Reidan moments here. Next time na. I wanted this one to be for Aya and Prince.