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Chapter 28

Hospital

I felt so weak. I can't even explain the pain when I heard that my Kuya was shot twice. And when I saw him on the hospital bed, my heart cracked into a hundred pieces.

The operation was done, but he's still not waking up... I never prayed so hard in my life. Not until now. All I want is for him to wake up.

"Wake up, Kuya! Mag-boboyfriend na ako pag hindi ka pa gumising!" I cried.

The fear of losing my brother is heart shattering. Hindi ko kakayanin. Hindi kakayanin ng buong pamilya namin.

The Doctors promised to do everything that they can. Gusto nang dalhin ni Mommy si Kuya Kairon sa states para roon siya mag-recover, pero hindi naman na siya maaaring malipat dahil sa kalagayan niya.

My Dad was coordinating with the police. They said that they have a lead already and what's surprising is that the lead suspects are studying in Garnet Academy.

Hindi lang din si Kuya ang nabaril. One student was shot too when he tried to help, but the policemen are still looking for gray areas. Baka raw kasabwat din iyon. He's in this hospital, too. Just besides Kuya's room.

A statement was release that only Kuya and Paige were kidnapped. On that statement, Paige Santiago said that my brother protected her. My tears kept on falling whenever I think about it. He just loves her so much that he's willing to risk it all for her.

Pakiramdam ko, mali ako ng unang impresyon sa kanya. Kuya won't like her if she's not a good person... Jax won't too.

"Mommy, please go home. You need to rest," I told my mom.

Wala pa siyang pahinga. Ayaw niyang umalis sa tabi ni Kuya pero nag-aalala naman ako, she needs to take a rest too. Plus the kambal probably misses her at home.

"I can't leave your Kuya..." Mommy said.

She looks really tired already, both emotionally and physically.

"But I'm here naman po. Please go home and take a rest, Mom. The kambal will be happy to see you..."

"How about you? Okay lang ba na ikaw lang ang maiiwan dito?"

I nodded at her. "Daddy said that he won't be long. Don't worry about me. I will also contact you immediately when there's an update about Kuya."

Umalis na ang Mommy. She said that she will be back tomorrow morning.

I took a deep breath and went outside. Doon muna ako naupo dahil tuwing nakikita ko si Kuya, hindi ko lalo mapigilan ang mga luha ko. And the Star Sapphires will visit too, so I'll just wait for them.

I was just browsing on my phone when someone stood by in front of Kuya's room. Agad akong napatayo.

"Who are you?" I asked the girl.

Bumaling siya sa akin at umuwang ang kanyang bibig. Ganoon din ako nang mapagtanto kung sino siya.

She looked so pretty in photos, but she's prettier in person. No wonder...

"U-umm, hi. I'm Paige-"

"Oh, I know you. The girl who wants my Kuya to be in jail."

My mouth really got its own brains! Oh my God! I didn't even want to say that! It just came out of nowhere!

She suddenly looked so nervous and seems to be finding the right word to say. I'm still a little mad about what happened before, but Kuya defended her a hundred of times. And he wouldn't be stupid enough to protect her and even risk his own life if he doesn't love her.

"Ano want mo?" I asked.

"Gusto ko sanang makita si Kairon kung pwede-

"Cali?" someone called.

I was stunned when I saw Blaze Jaxith Pereira. It felt like a long time and seeing him here makes my heart beats faster and slower at the same time.

Sa bawat hakbang niya palapit ay mas lalong naninikip ang dibdib ko. Parang masaya. Parang masakit. Parang sasabog.

I tried so hard to control my feelings. I can feel my eyes getting watery just by seeing him.

"Jax? W-what are you doing here?" gulat kong tanong.

Bago pa siya makasagot ay unti-unti kong napagtanto kung bakit. Paige is here. He's here. He's her best friend, so he's with her.

"You know each other?" Paige asked, she looked so surprised.

Jax nodded. "Yeah... schoolmate."

Oh. Okay. Of course.

"I'm just going to accompany my friend. She'll visit your, umm... brother," Jax nodded.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko roon. Friend lang?

"She's your friend?" I reiterated.

"Best friend." paglilinaw naman ni Jax.

I've got a mixed feelings about it all. They are best friends, but Jax likes her, right? I know he does... Umepal lang si Kuya. I love you Kuya.

"So, you guys want to visit my Kuya?" I crossed my arms. Acting all tough despite my weak heart.

Paige nodded immediately. "I really want to see Kairon. I hope I could see him..."

Kuya wants to see you, too. Kilala ko siya. Alam ko.

Unti-unti akong tumango. "Of course, Ate," I said and smiled. "My Mom went home to see the kambal. My Dad is with the police men. They'll be here later. You can talk to Kuya alone. Tell him to wake up, okay?"

"I will, I promise!" aniya at ngumit rin. "Thank you. Thank you talaga."

Nang pumasok na siya sa loob ay naiwan kaming dalawa ni Jax doon. I don't know how to talk with him anymore, it was suddenly so awkward.

He stared at my neck like he's finding something and got sad when he found none. Napahawak tuloy ako sa leeg ko dahil nailang ng kaunti.

"Upo tayo?" tanong niya.

Bakit ganoon? Bakit ang bilis-bilis ng tibok ng puso ko? I was moving on already, wasn't I?!

"Saan?" I asked, absent-mindedly.

Napakamot siya ng ulo. "Ah... Sa upuan sana. Sa lapag ba gusto mo?"

Napailing na lang ako. Why the hell did I miss his stupid remarks?

Pinagpag pa ni Jax iyong uupuan ko bago niya ako pinaupo roon. We sat on the bench next to each other, but I can't even start a conversation with him. Hindi ko na kasi alam kung papaano.

"How are you?" he suddenly asked me.

Napatingin ako sa kanya at saglit akong napatigil doon sa tanong. I don't want to lie... Because honestly speaking, I don't know anymore. My brother is still critical and the criminals responsible for it aren't jailed yet.

"To be honest?" I stopped and vowed my head. "I don't know."

I saw how his hand move and it's about to reach my hand, pero hindi niya itinuloy. He hold onto the chair instead.

"Everything will be okay..." Jax said softly.

I suddenly felt the familiar comfort I've been longing for. And how I missed that voice... He's still such a softie.

"Cal?" he called.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Hmm?"

His features were so soft. Ang tagal naming hindi nagkita, but he still looks the same. Nothing changed. Iyong mga mata lang niya... Malungkot kasi ang mga iyon ngayon.

He looked at me intently. "I'm sor–"

"Naiam..."

Mabilis akong napalingon doon sa tumawag.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Grant?"

Agad siyang may ibinato sa akin kaya sinalo ko naman iyon. My mouth was left wide open when I realized what it was... A freaking basahan! Gosh!

"Hinanda ko lang, baka gawin mo na naman akong basahan, e."

Natawa ako roon. For the first time in weeks, I laughed genuinely... Agad ding napawi nang maalala kong nasa tabi ko si Jax. Agad kong pinandilatan si Grant. Mamaya ibuko niya pa ako na laging nagka-cry! Hmp!

Pareho kaming tumayo nang makalapit na si Grant sa amin.

"Saavedra..." bati ni Jax habang nakapamulsa.

"Pereira," si Grant naman.

I immediately felt the tension between the two. I don't understand, I know they weren't that close, but they weren't enemies either...

Bumaling sa akin iyong tingin ni Jax. "Cal, we need to go. It's about the investigation of the case. The lead suspect will be interrogated now."

Pumasok na kami sa kwarto ni Kuya para matawag na ni Jax si Ate Paige. I think it was just right to call her Ate because of Kuya Kairon... But I would never call Jax 'Kuya'!

"Paige, I'm sorry but we need to go. Beau texted me. The interrogation will now start and the police grant us a footage." ani Jax.

"Okay, let's go now."

I was surprised when Ate Paige hugged me. "Thank you so much. I appreciate it," saad niya.

"No problem. Kuya will be happy for sure..."

Pinagmasdan ko sila ni Jax habang naglalakad palayo. I know Kuya will probably kill me with my thoughts, but what if he never met her? What will happen? Will Jax and Paige be a thing? I mean, Jax likes her...

Nang makita si Grant na nagbabasa ng libro habang nakaupo roon sa bench ay napairap ako. Agad akong tumabi sa kanya at sumandal sa kanyang balikat. I don't know why I feel like crying again...

Ipinunas ko ang mga luhang tumutulo sa sleeves ni Grant. He immediately closed his book.

"Ang laki naman ng basahan mo," aniya.

I laughed. "Thank you sa pagpunta." I appreciate it... I appreciate all my friends.

"I know it's hard," he said. I can feel his heavy breathing. "But I want you to know that you're not alone."

Mas ibinaon ko ang mukha sa braso niya para mapunasan pa iyong mga luha ko. I was ugly crying.

"Because the burden will be a lot more heavier when you feel alone," he added.

Nanatili akong nakasandal sa balikat niya.

"Did you see the girl with Jax earlier?" I asked him out of the blue.

"Yeah?"

I took a deep breath. "She's maganda, 'no?"

"Ikaw din naman," Grant said. "Maganda."

Agad akong inubo roon. Did I hear that right?! Mabilis akong napabangon at hinarap siya. "H-Huh?"

"Maganda," he repeated. "Magandang tapalan ng basahan."

Umakyat 'yong inis ko lalo na nong kinuha niya iyong rug at itinapal pa sa face ko! Argh! Kairita!

Tinanggal ko iyon at masama siyang tinignan.

"Kung ang basura ay trash... Bakit mo inuugali?!" angil ko.

Nagulat ako nang matawa siya at nakuha pang hawakan ang ulo ko. I think I will always be fascinated whenever he laughs. Because you can literally count it with your fingers. He's that expressionless!

"That's suspicious... That's weird..." a voice echoed in the hospital hallway.

Grant immediately removed his hand over my head. We were both surprised when we saw Theo. Nakahawak pa siya sa bibig niya at kala mo na naman ay may nakitang something!

"Theo!" I called him.

Agad siyang lumapit at sumingit sa pagitan namin ni Grant. What the? Talagang ipinilit niya ang sarili sa gitna namin!

Nang matagumpay na nakaupo sa gitna namin ni Grant ay siya naman ngayon ang humawak sa ulo ko. "Grant is sus!" Theo whispered.

I just rolled my eyes at him. "Nasaan na sila Cat?" I asked him.

"Paparating na rin siguro. Sumabay lang ako kay Ate, eh."

My forehead creased. "You're with your Ate? Where's she?"

"Nasa baba... 'Yong boyfriend niya ngayon, kapatid iyong kasama ng Kuya mo sa insidente." Theodore said.

Mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo ko. So... Theo's sister is the girlfriend of Paige's brother. Oh!

Sunod na ring dumating sina Gelo at Xuri. I hugged both of them, pero nang makitang wala si Cat ay nagtaka ako.

"Where's Cat?" I asked.

"Nagpunta lang sa comfort room... Pinauna na kami, eh," Xuri said.

"Bakit? Masama ba ang pakiramdam niya? Masakit ang tiyan?" si Theo na tila lubos ang pag-aalala. How cute of him!

"Naku, mag-reretouch lang 'yon!" ani Gelo.

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng room ni Kuya para roon na lang magbantay.

We were about to order a meryenda when we realized na wala pa rin si Cat.

"Kinain na ba ng inidoro si Cathaline?" pagtataka ni Theo.

"Puntahan mo na kaya?" si Gelo iyon.

Theo was about to go outside when someone opened the door and it was Cat!

"Speaking of!" Xuri said out loud. "Saan ka ba galing Cat? Nilinis mo na rin ba iyong buong CR?"

"O-okay ka lang ba?" Theo asked softly.

Parang nag-aalangan pa siyang tanungin iyon. If Jax is soft boy number 1, Theo is soft boy number 2!

Cat nodded. "Naligaw ako... Sa kabilang room ako pumasok."

My jaw dropped. Is she serious?! Doon pa siya pumasok sa room no'ng isang student na nabaril! We don't even know if he's a criminal or not!

"Pogi?" si Xuri na inuusisa pa si Cat tungkol doon sa isang patient na tiga Garnet Academy. I can't believe her!

Saglit na tumango si Cat kaya naman agad akong napatingin kay Theo. He may be Cat's ex boyfriend, but I know that he still feels something about her. He won't be that worried if he doesn't care.

"Pogi raw..." I whispered to him.

"Ako rin naman!" he proudly said kaya natawa ako.

It felt like the longest sem break we've ever had. My joy when Kuya woke up was incomparable. We were so happy that he recovered. Hindi naging madali, pero masaya akong okay na siya ngayon.

Dagdag pa ang kasayahan sa balitang nahuli na ang mastermind sa lahat ng ambushes at pati na rin sa mga nangyaring kidnapping. All the wealthy families worked together for it... Finally, justice was served.

My parents were still doing extra precautionary measures. They kept all of our body guards. Kuya will still enroll in Garnet Academy and I will enroll in Sapphire Academy.

It actually felt unreal that I'm a Sophomore already. Malalim akong huminga. Today was the first day of class, I want it be as light and positive as it could be. I did well last semester, I hope I could still be in Star Sapphire Class with all of my friends!

I put a dusty nude rose colourtint on my cheeks and lips for a fresh and subtle look. I also let my wavy hair down to complete it.

Like the old times, all of the students were gathered in the large hall. The head mistress will meet us there and then we will be seeing our new ranking right after.

Ang kaibahan lang nito no'ng mga first years pa kami, base iyon sa results ng placement test. Pero ngayon, based na sa kung anong grades namin last semester. How we did last semester will define our ranks... Star Sapphire Class or the Class A, then there's Class B, then Class C, D, E, and lastly, F.

Saka lang din maibibigay ang room assignments. If I'm still part of the Star Sapphire Class or the best of seven students, I'll be able to keep my old room. And the white coat uniform too.

Medyo marami iyong nagpapasukan sa hall kaya naman nang mabangga ako ay nalaglag ko iyong mga hawak kong books. I should've left all of these at the lobby! Gosh!

Agad akong napahinto nang may tumulong sa akin para kuhanin iyong mga libro ko. The familiar scent, the stance...

Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang tingin ko. When I saw who it was, it felt like the whole world stopped.

Pagtayo ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Why is he here? And why is he wearing a Sapphire uniform? Haven't he enrolled in Garnet?

"W-Why are you here?" I asked him.

Tears pooled my eyes as I tried to hold them back.

Jax looked at me straight in the eyes. "Umalis ako, pero wala akong sinabi na hindi na ako babalik..." he huskily said.