Chapter 1

After discovering what happened to her son, Stacia wouldn't leave the side of Kian's hospital bed. Hawak-hawak nito nang mahigpit ang kamay at hindi binitawan. The fact that she's seeing him in a coma, she's regretting all the decisions she made and she knows that her decision might've led to her son's life-threatening situation.

Seeing his son on a tube, she's just relying on the doctor's words that he still has a chance of getting his consciousness back.

"I was thinking about you earlier..." she muttered, looking at his face talking to him. "I should've called you."

A moment later, someone came into the room. Hindi iyon napansin ni Stacia kaya naman kumatok ang lalaki na nasa tapat ng pinto saka lamang lumingon si Stacia para tingnan kung sino iyon.

She found Jordan showing a little smile on his face with two bottles of water on his hand. He walked towards her and handed over the bottle of water.

"Thanks," she muttered, but didn't open the bottle. Napahugot na lamang siya nang malalim na buntonghininga.

Hindi naman alam ni Jordan kung anong gagawin niya. He's seeing Stacia's son in a coma and his condition is so bad that sooner or later, he could be gone, but she prayed he'll make it.

"Jordan," she called him. "I apologize for the trouble. I didn't—"

She wasn't able to continue what she would say when he interrupted her explanation. "No, don't say anything. You don't have to. If you think there's something I could do, just tell me. It would be a pleasure for me to help you."

"You've done much already, Jordan," Stacia said. "Bringing me here to the hospital is enough for you to do. And... you don't have to stay. I'll be fine. I don't wanna put so much trouble with you."

He shook his head. "You're not a trouble, Stacia. Please, don't say that. But if you want to be alone, I'll respect that. Can I also come again tomorrow?"

Stacia nodded with a little smile on her face. "Of course, you can. Hindi naman kita pagbabawalan."

"I know we just met today and this seems too personal for you," he said.

She shook her head. "It's okay... if Rogina asked you what happened, you can tell her what happened. It's fine. It's best for her to know what happened as well. I just couldn't get into the motion of doing anything right now."

"You should take a rest," he suggested.

She nodded. "Yeah, I will... maybe later."

A moment later, Brian showed up.

"Hey," Jordan greeted as he saw him. "I'll be going now."

Brian nodded. "Sure. Thanks for coming with Stacia," he said.

"No problem," he responded. "Hope your son will get better." Jordan tapped his shoulder before he left the room and bid goodbye to Stacia.

Brian didn't react that much, he just places the bag that has Kian's clothes on the couch and bring the paper bag that contains food on the table near his son's bed.

"You should eat," Brian said, taking out some take-out foods from the bag. "I've bought your favorites so at least you will take a bite from it."

"Thanks... just put it on the table for now. Wala pa akong gana kumain," sagot ni Stacia.

Inayos na lang ni Brian iyong pagkain sa table saka niya iniwan iyon. Napamaywang na lamang ito at tiningnan si Kian sa kama.

"How did you know about this, Bri?" Stacia asked.

He looked at her. "Someone called me using his phone. I was on his speed-dial they said. I answered his call and thought he would be just asking some random stuff, but someone else spoke to me over the line and broke the news off of me. I immediately went here and then I called you a few times."

She breathes in, nodding as she remembered what happened during that time. "Yeah... I thought it was just a random number so I didn't accept the call."

"Good thing they gave me Kian's phone and I was able to contact you," he said. "I didn't get to ask. Where were you and the guy you were with earlier?"

"That's Jordan," Stacia answered. "He was a friend of my friend's husband. I was at their wedding and we met there. When you called, he was the one who initiated to bring me here. I didn't mind. My head's going all over the place. I was having so much fun earlier... I even thought about Kian and then this happened."

"It wasn't your fault," Brian reached out to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It wasn't my fault either. It was an accident. We don't want this to happen and I know Kian's going to recover. He's a tough guy. Kanino pa ba siya nagmana, 'di ba?" Ngisi pa nito. "But don't deprive yourself, Stas. I strongly believe Kian's gonna be fine."

"I didn't say he wouldn't," she uttered.

"Of course, you don't," he replied. Umupo naman ito sa couch katapat ni Stacia. "If you don't want to eat, I think you should take a rest now. I'll watch Kian over the night. You don't have to worry about him. He'll be fine."

Even though there's no assurance that tomorrow would be fine, Stacia believes that when she wakes up the next day, he'll see Kian's smiling again.

Napahikab na lamang nang malalim si Stacia at naisipang tumabi kay Brian sa couch. She then slowly use his body as her pillow until her head lies on his legs. Even though they were divorced, both didn't mind the little affection.

"I forgot. Natawagan mo na ba si Thamara?" tanong nito.

Tumango naman si Brian. "I called her right after I called you earlier. She won't be coming tonight, but she said she'll be here tomorrow morning."

"I see... that's good. Thanks for calling our daughter."

He smirked. "Of course, they're still our child. Even though we're not together, of course, I care."

She gave a timid smile until she tried closing her eyes so she could fall herself to sleep. Even though her mind is in the chaos of everything that's going through her life right now, she still had hope that it will be better tomorrow.

The next morning, Stacia woke up found her ex-husband next to Kian's hospital bed. She slowly get up from laying down and Brian noticed her as well.

"Good morning," he greeted with a smile. May kinuha naman ito sa lamesa at naglakad palapat kay Stacia.

"Morning," matamlay na bati ni Stacia.

Inabot naman ni Brian ang kape na binili niya sa labas. Tinanggap naman iyon ni Stacia.

"You should take a sip," Brian said. "Hindi ka kumain kagabi. May binili rin ako na breakfast. You can just grab it on the table. 'Yong pagkain mo kagabi ay nandiyan pa naman."

"Sige... kakain ako mamaya," aniya saka ito sumisipsip sa kanyang kape.

Tumayo ito sa kanyang kinauupuan at nilapitan ang walang malay na anak. She grabbed his hand and caressed her thumb on the back of his hand.

"I think I should go home later," she said. "I'll go get some clothes there as well."

"Yeah, I think you should do that. I'll stay here for the meantime," Brian said.

Just a few minutes later, someone came into the room hustling and searched for Kian. Mabilis na lumapit si Thamara kay Kian at niyakap ito. Her face was full of worrisome and the fact that she was seeing him on this condition scared her that something wrong will happen.

Lumapit si Stacia kay Thamara at hinagod ang likod nito para i-comfort. Thamara mentioned a lot of things about Kian and all. She couldn't help herself to be emotional since she couldn't bear the sight of seeing Kian unconscious when she remembers that he was the fun and the energy of their family.

Hinarap naman ni Thamara ang kanyang nanay at niyakap ito nang mahigpit.

"He will be fine," bulong ni Stacia habang hinahagod ang likod.

"How are you?" she asked as she pulled herself away from her hug.

"Not good, but I'll be alright," she said. "I know Kian would be fine."

"I know he will," Thamara said. Lumapit naman ito sa tatay niya at mas nakakuha nang mas mahigpit na yakap mula sa kanya.

She watched them. Since Thamara was young, she was closer to his father than to her. Hindi rin naman maitatanggi iyon ni Stacia. She got pregnant first with Thamara and then Kian. It was just three years apart, she had gotten much closer to her son that's why she also blame herself when Kian's drifted away from her when she and Brian divorced. It was hard, but she knows she hast to blame herself.

"I... I think I should go and take a bath at home," Stacia said.

"Alright," Brian said. "Stas, take this." Inabot niya iyong paper bag na may lamang pagkain na binili nito. "Eat when you got home, alright? Or do you want me to give you a ride? Thamara's here anyway to look out for Kian."

She shook her head. "I'll be fine, you guys stay here. Babalik din naman kaagad ako. You guys catch up, alright?"

Kinuha lang ni Stacia ang hand bag niya saka ito nagpaalam sa kanila. As she walks out of the room and walked down the hallway, she felt all the stress on her shoulder. She was still on her dress yesterday and wasn't able to change from it. Some people are glancing in her direction—may be thinking that something bad happened at a wedding. But it's not. It's not at the wedding after all.

As she was about to leave the building, nagulat pa ito nang makasalubong si Jordan pagkalabas niya. Hindi pa niya ito napansin kung hindi lang siya tinawag nito.

"Hey, where are you going?" he asked. "I was about to check in on you there. I don't have your phone number so I wasn't able to text you beforehand."

She looked into his eyes. "Kian's with his father and sister there now. I'll be going home so I can change my clothes."

"Oh, I see. Let me take you home."

Umiling si Stacia. "No, it's okay. Kaya ko naman maghintay ng taxi."

"No. I insist," he said.

Wala namang nagawa si Stas kung hindi ang sumama. She lead his to his car. Tahimik lamang ito nang sumakay. Sinabi lamang ni Stacia kung saan siya nakatira at saka hinayaang sundan ni Jordan ang direction gamit ang app.

Hindi rin naman katagalan ay narating na nila ang bahay ni Stacia. Jordan discovered she's living alone. When he asked if Kian's living with her, he does, but he moved out just after when she and ex-husband got divorced. Inimbitahan naman niyang pumasok ito sa loob ng bahay niya.

Jordan stayed in the living room while Stacia finds her way upstairs to her room preparing to take a bath.

She got into the bathroom, undressed, and open the shower valve and let the waterfalls on her. Napapikit na lamang siya habang hinahayaang dumaloy ang tubig paibaba ng kanyang katawan. She doesn't know what she would do next, but whatever might happen at the end of this day, she wouldn't lose her hope that Kian would be back on his feet again.

While scrubbing her body, she heard a little noise so when she turned to see what was out there, she saw Jordan peeking his head inside the bathroom. She covered her breast with one arm and slightly twist her leg so she could cover what was under.

Without speaking, Jordan came in and started taking off his clothes leaving him nothing.

"I mean... if you don't mind I join you," he said.

Stacia didn't respond, but she just let her enter the shower forcing their body to get closer. Jordan's cornering him on the side and she felt the shower valve and turn it on resulting in them getting wet. And the next thing she did, she kissed him as if it was the only way to take out the pain nailing on her chest right now.

Cause the only thing she feels right now is that there's nothing wrong with it... nothing wrong to kiss another man when she has no ring on her finger after all.