Chapter 31 – More than enough.

"She was in and out of consciousness last night, Mr. Montenegro. And today, she's not waking up yet. It's almost past two PM."

Halos paliparin na ni Ethan ang sasakyan niya papunta sa shelter.

He was in the middle of an important meeting when Yanah called. Nang makita pa lamang niya ang pangalan nito na nag-flash sa naka-silent niyang cellphone, inatake na ng kaba ang dibdib niya.

He let his phone ring while abruptly wrapping up the meeting. Nawala na siya sa focus at abot abot ang hiling niya na sana walang nangyaring masama kay Allison habang wala siya sa tabi nito.

At heto nga, parang patalim na sumasaksak sa puso niya ang mga sinabi ni Yanah.

"Please, be well, Ally," aniya habang blurred na ang paningin na nagmamaneho siya ng lampas na sa speed limit.

He just hoped na hindi siya masita. Ngayon lang naman. He needed to be beside Ally at once.

"Wait for me, please…"

Nang makarating ay halos takbuhin niya ang silid nito. At gano'n na lang ang paninikip ng dibdib niya sa 'di maipaliwanag na kaligayahan nang datnan niya itong nakaupo na sa kama nito habang kausap si Yanah.

He calmed himself and dried his tears. Pero nakita na siya ni Ally kaya nagpilit na lang siya nang masiglang ngiti.

"Mr. Montenegro, tinatawagan kita ulit–" tangkang paliwanag ni Yanah.

"Okay lang," he told him at lumapit kay Allison. "How are you?" He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering. Naroon pa rin ang matinding takot na naramdaman niya kanina.

"Did I make you worry, Ethan?" Ally asked.

Nag-excuse naman si Yanah at iniwanan na silang dalawa ni Allison.

"No, love," he answered, wrapping her in his arms. "So, who did you meet in your dream? Bakit antagal n'yo yatang nag-usap?"

"Hmn… I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't know I slept that long."

"It's fine." Hinalikan niya ito sa ulo. "Aren't you bored here? Labas tayo? Para mahanginan ka naman."

Tumango si Ally kaya inalalayan niya itong tumayo para makalipat ito sa wheelchair nito. Sa araw araw na lumilipas, pahina ito nang pahina. There was no denying it anymore.

Losing Allison was almost inevitable with each passing day.

"I have a good news for you," sabi niya habang tulak-tulak ang wheelchair ng babaeng mahal niya.

"Hmn?"

"I've found Katie," he said. "I've scheduled a video call with her tomorrow. Kaya magpalakas ka para makausap mo siya nang matagal."

"Does she know about my condition?" mahina nitong tanong.

"I believe so. Nagkausap na sila ni Michael. Siguro sinabi na niya." Umikot siya sa harapan nito at naupo sa bench paharap dito.

"Thanks, Ethan. Wala mang magbabago, pero salamat sa pagkakataon na makapagpaalam ako sa mga kaibigan ko," Ally said with a faint smile.

He shook his head as he held her hands. "May isa pa akong good news."

"Ano pa?" Natatawa nitong tanong.

He stared at her glowless eyes. Wala na talagang kinang ang mga 'yon. At ang sakit-sakit sa dibdib niya na wala siyang magawa para sindihan ulit ang paupos ng kandila ng buhay nito.

"Dumalaw ako kina Tita at Kyla. Your mom is recovering well. At si Ky, honor student. Nakaka-proud." He tried to lighten up the mood.

Pero sa halip na maging masaya ito, namasa ng luha ang mga mata nito as sadness reflected in them.

"Do you think I should let them know about my real condition?" mahina nitong tanong. "Baka kapag nalaman ni Mama, atakehin siya ulit. Baka mapahamak siya. Ayaw kong maiwan mag-isa si Ky…"

"Allison," he said, gently squeezing her hands. "They deserve to know the truth. Mas masasaktan sila kapag huli na nilang nalaman."

"But I don't want them to worry… Am I protecting them the wrong way?"

"Yes," aniya. "They'll be devastated, Ally. Just like how I felt when I first learned about your condition. It's not a good feeling. Don't let them feel that, Allison."

"What should I do? I'll hurt them…"

"I'll tell them," he reached to wipe her tears. "Do you trust me to let them know gently?"

Allison nodded. "Please do whatever you think is right, Ethan. And I'm sorry if you have to be the one to tell them. I just can't do it."

He smiled. "Sasabihin lang natin para alam nila. They are your family. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na isinusuko na kita. Kaya sana, lumaban ka pa, okay? Don't leave us this way," dagdag niya sa nakikiusap na tono.

Allison forced a smile. One that didn't reach her eyes.

"Thank you for staying with me, Ethan."

"I love you, Ally…"

"I hope I can still love you back longer. But whatever happens, please don't forget that you're the only man I ever loved. And wherever I go after my lifetime, I'll always love you."

He fought back his tears kahit na nakadungaw na ata ang mga iyon sa mga mata niya.

"That sounds like a wedding vow, Allison," he said as an idea popped into his mind. "What do you say about telling that to me again in front of the altar, hmn?"

Allison laughed, a faint, almost hollow one.

"Don't joke like that," sabi nito.

"Who said that I'm joking?" he frowned. "I'm serious, Ally. Will you marry me?"

Tumawa ulit ito at inirapan siya. "Not a chance. Proposing without a ring? Mr. Montenegro, if you cannot afford a ring, please, don't ask me to marry you!"

Alam niya, sinusubukan nitong magbiro. Pero ang mga hindi maampat nitong mga luha ay tanda na ayaw nitong tugunin ang hiling niya.

She was holding back because of her condition. And it hurts him that she had to feel unworthy to say yes.

"Then, I'll ask you again if I already have a ring with me," sabi na lang niya, examining her ring finger and making a mental estimate of what size would fit her. "Be sure to say yes by then."

"Puro ka kalokohan," binawi ni Ally ang mga kamay nito. Pero iniangat nito ang mga iyon para ikulong ang mukha niya. "Ethan Montenegro, having you here beside me is already more than enough. Pwede na akong mamatay na masaya."

He smiled at her, one that he knew, failed to mask the pain he was feeling.

"I don't want you to die, Ally. Don't say that again," he pleaded.

Hindi na ito nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na sumagot kasi may dumating itong bisita. And he was surprised dahil kilala niya ang isa sa mga ito. He was his schoolmate during his high school days.

"Ethan!" Ashton greeted him with a fist bump. Ang asawa naman nito na mabilisan nitong ipinakilala sa kanya na si Bea ay kay Allison lumapit.

He learned na dating pasyente roon ang babae.

"Man, what are you doing here?" tanong pa nito.

"I'm here for Allison," sagot niya habang naglalakad sila palayo kina Ally at Bea. "How did you do it? I mean, paano mo nakayanan ang ganitong pagsubok?"

"We fought together. Fighter talaga si Bea," kwento ni Ashton. "Mas mahina nga yata ang loob ko sa kanya."

"Ally already accepted defeat," nasasaktang sabi niya.

"Don't give her up, bro." Tinapik siya nito sa balikat. "Sinukuan din ng medisina si Bea. But she refused to accept it. And you know, her undying faith coupled with lots of prayers, she made it. We made it together."

Prayer. Naiwan ang isang salita na iyon sa puso at isip niya.

How exactly does a prayer work?

"'Wag kang mag-alala, Allison will be okay. Just continue lending her your strength."

He nodded as he forced a smile. He looked in Ally's direction. Masaya itong nakikipagkwentuhan kay Bea.

"You know, I always believed that Ally will make it too like Bea," sabi pa ni Ashton. "I don't see her as someone weak. Palakasin mo pa siya lalo, Ethan. If you have to be here every second of your life, do so. To let her know that someone is fighting with her."

"I will do that," tugon niya.

Kung eepekto iyon, then he was more than willing to give it a try.

For Allison, for that woman he couldn't live without.