Chapter 29 – Here for you.

"Hindi pa ba nagkakadevelope-an ang dalawang iyan?" amused na tanong ni Ally habang nakamasid kina Leio at Shanna na nakikipagbiruan sa ibang pasyente ng shelter.

"Hmn, about that, I am not sure kung gusto kong ipagkatiwala ang pinsan ko kay Leio," Ethan answered, masuyo na inayos nito ang pagkakahilig ng ulo niya sa balikat nito.

"Bakit naman? Ain't Leio your friend? Best friend pa nga."

"Yes. And so I know how he treats women. Ayokong mapasama sa listahan niya ang pinsan ko. You know, Shanna is so dear to me. Like a sister, actually," he explained.

"Para namang wala ng chance magbago si Leio," Ally said, chuckling a bit. "I still think they look good together."

"Ah, don't encourage them!" Tumawa rin nang bahagya ang binata. "On a serious note, kapag nga nagkagustuhan ang dalawa na 'yan, sa tingin ko okay na rin. Shanna is being picky. Wala siyang magustuhan sa mga admirers niya."

"Baka nga kasi si Leio talaga ang para sa kanya."

"Kapag narinig ka ni Shanna, lagot ka," biro ni Ethan.

"Lagi ko namang sinasabi sa kanya dati pa. Para kasing mga aso at pusa. Pero lagi namang magkadikit," Ally giggled. Siguro nga kapag nagkatuluyan sina Leio at Shanna, magiging sobrang saya niya.

"Let's see about that. Kung sakali, I don't see any reason why Leio wouldn't like my cousin. She's sweet. Kahit napakabilis mang-away."

Tumawa siya nang mahina. Tama si Ethan, sweet si Shanna. Ito 'yong kahit na lumaking mayaman, ni hindi ito nagdalawang-isip noon na kaibiganin siya kahit first time siya nitong nakita. And maybe she was the poorest Shanna ever encountered in her life.

Naging totoong kaibigan ito sa kanya. At nito lang nga, she paved the way for her to be back into Ethan's arms.

Sana lang, may magawa pa siya rito para ibalik ang pabor.

"Will I still be able to see them develop feelings for each other?" mahinang tanong niya matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan.

"Oo naman. I think they always had it. Hindi pa lang sila aware," sagot naman ng binata na maingat na kinintalan ng halik ang ulo niya. "Magpalakas ka para kapag nauwi sa kasalan ang dalawang 'yan, isa ka sa sasaksi sa sumpaan nila."

"I'm scared, Ethan…"

"Ally," inayos ng binata ang pagkakayakap sa kanya. "I'll be here for you. Hindi kita iiwan."

"Hindi mo ako iiwanan, pero ako, hindi ko maipapangakong hindi kita iiwan." Nagkabikig ang lalamunan niya habang naiisip ang posibilidad. "Natatakot ako. Akala ko handa na ako."

"There you go again. Allison, don't put a time limit to your life. It's not yet over," Ethan gently said.

"Noong ako lang, tanggap ko na," she continued, tears starting to moisten her eyes. "And then all of you came, and I realized, I still wanted to spend time with you. Ayoko pang mamatay," humihikbing dagdag na amin niya. "Natatakot na ako."

"Sshhh…" Ethan planted gentle kisses on her head. "Sinabi ko na sa'yo and I thought we already agreed on this. Na hindi mo laging babanggitin ang tungkol d'yan? Ally, don't be scared. I will fight with you. But just stop thinking about it, alright?"

"I'm trying." Isiniksik niya ang mukha sa dibdib ng binata.

Gusto niyang humugot ng lakas dito. But wouldn't that be unfair?

"I love you, Allison. And I am not giving you up to your illness. Please tell me you will fight. It's not yet over. Honestly, I still see my future with you."

"Future could be tomorrow or the next few days—"

"Or the next fifty years," he cut her.

"My tomorrow is not even guaranteed, Ethan."

"My heart tells me you will be the one whom I'll grow old with," patuloy ng binata na hindi alintana ang mga sinasabi niya. Ni hindi niya mabakasan ng pagdududa ang tinig nito.

Ethan was calm. How did he manage to do that? Like he was so convinced that he was talking about a very certain future with her?

"I love you, Ally," he said.

But would it be alright to succumb to that future that he was creating for the both of them? Would it hurt if she would let herself believe that indeed, they still have a lot of time to be together?

Okay lang kayang sabihin niyang mahal niya rin ito at kaya siya natatakot na mawala ay dahil gusto pa niya itong makasama?

"I love you too, Ethan," she replied before she changed her mind.

Naramdaman niya muna na tila natigilan ito sa pagkasorpresa bago masayang hinalikan siya nito sa pisngi.

"You just made me the happiest," sabi nitong bakas sa tinig ang labis na kasiyahan.

"The love of a dying person makes you happy?" Kunwa'y 'di siya makapaniwala.

"No, Allison. It's your love. Period."

She smiled a little to herself. Sana kaya niya ring paniwalaan na okay lang ang lahat. By then, maybe it wouldn't be too painful to leave him.

–

Ethan was so happy hearing Ally say that she loves him too. Pero kalakip ng kasiyahan na iyon ay ang matinding sakit na naramdaman niya sa puso niya.

Because that only meant one thing, she did lie when she said she never loved him. A lie he believed. A lie that made him hate her with passion. A lie that brought them to this painful present.

And yet, hindi siya pwedeng magpakita ng kahinaan ng loob sa dalaga. He could only allow her to see his happiness, but the pain he had to endure alone.

So it wouldn't add to her worries and her own pain.

He kissed her head nang maramdaman niyang iginugupo na ito ng antok. He would let her sleep in his arms. Sana magkaroon pa siya ng maraming pagkakataon para gawin iyon. Sana gumaling pa ito.

When Ethan was sure that she's already sleeping, pinangko niya ito at ibinalik sa silid nito. He gently laid her down on her bed.

Tapos ay naupo siya sa gilid no'n at ginagap ang isang kamay nito. Pinagmasdan niya si Ally nang buong pagmamahal.

"No, I'm not yet ready to lose you, Allison…" he whispered bago kinuha ng nagva-vibrate niyang cellphone sa bulsa niya ang atensyon niya.

It was Michael. Nabilinan niya itong 'wag siyang tatawagan kapag naroon siya kay Ally unless napakaimportante ng pakay nito.

Kaya binitawan niya ang kamay ng dalaga at lumayo nang bahagya rito bago sinagot ang tawag ni Michael. The call must be important.

"Mr. E, I'm sorry to disturb you. But Mrs. Montenegro is here now," bungad kaagad ng assistant niya.

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa cellphone niya. What was his mother doing in his office? Rather, what brought Andrea Montenegro to the country?

"I'll be there," sagot niya at tinapos ang tawag.

He looked at the sleeping Allison. Maingat niya itong hinagkan sa noo bago siya lumabas ng silid nito.

Ethan knew his mother very well. Hindi ito basta-basta umuuwi ng bansa nang walang pakay. Madalas, kapag bigla itong umuuwi nang walang pasabi, may problema ito sa kanya.