It has been a week since Asteria had surgery. Her donor was her own father. Levi is recovering while my daughter still hasn’t woken up since she finished her surgery. The doctor said she was comatose and did not know when she would wake up. When I asked him why, he said her body couldn't handle it.
I was dumbfounded looking straight ahead. There is no other thought but the condition of my daughter. I have prayed to them several times but even one of my requests has not been fulfilled. I feel like I am slowly losing faith. Everything is messed up and I don’t know how to fix it.
"Hey..." I heard someone call me.
When I looked back at who it was, I saw Jaxon. I lazily nodded at him and turned my gaze back to where He was. I could feel him holding me back.
"You're still not visiting Lorraine," I heard him say so I bowed. I saw a series of tears trickle down my hand.
“She needs you, Rae. Why don’t you visit her?” He also nodded which made me shake my head.
“I... can’t, Jax. I can't bear to see her in that situation. S-she’s so... young. I can't,” I almost whispered to him. My voice is slowly crashing.
I was holding my chest because it hurt so much. The feeling that you really want to go to her because she needs you but you are afraid that she might just be waiting for you. That maybe my daughter is just waiting for me before she says goodbye. I can't afford it. This feeling is so heavy and disturbing. For a few days, it seemed like I had gained too much weight on my chest and it got heavier and heavier as it went on.
“I don’t know how to take it. I can't look at her like that. Why hasn't she woken up yet? I don't understand anything anymore, Jax. The pain... it's so hurt..." I uttered and cried so hard.
I could hear nothing but my groaning in that little chapel. It echoed and I almost cried out in great pain. I feel like my chest is burning with extreme pain. Since Ria was transferred to the ICU, I haven’t been to it because I really can’t. They have forced me a few times but I really can't.
A few minutes later, I felt Jaxon approach me and hug me tightly. I heard nothing from him, only my moans covering my ears. We stayed there for a few more minutes until I decided to go to Levi's room. I was about to open the door when I heard voices inside the room so I let myself hear that first.
“She's just a threat to you, son. You can be a father to your child without her! You don't understand where I came from. The last time you went crazy with a woman, you almost forgot your responsibility to the company!”
It was Levi's father. I heard in the tone of its voice so much anger that I didn’t know where it was coming from. He seems to be fighting with his son.
"She’s not a threat to me, Dad. Astraea is the mother of my child and I will marry her no matter what happens. I don't need your opinion about my life,” Levi replied emphatically in a tone of anger.
Next, I heard what was a crash inside along with a crash in my chest. I don't know what it is but it looks like someone fell or something so I decided to go inside slowly. I just stopped at the wall there where they couldn’t see me.
“I can see how crazy you are for that woman! Do you think she can stand you if she left you before— ”
"Yes, she is!" Levi shouted.
I almost fell to my feet in shock when he shouted. I was still holding my chest and I could feel the strong thump of my chest there. I bit my lower lip because of so much pain and anger. I don't know when it will end.
“She can stand me because she loves me! She cares for me! She can handle me in every situation! She can calm me down at times when I can no longer understand myself unlike you! Unlike you who only cares about the state of that company!” He screamed in pain. I sat there all the time while I kept my ears open and listened to what he had to say.
“Of all people, are you still the one to judge the woman I love so much? I thought we are done with this. Why are you still blaming me for the downfall? Do you think I didn't know that you paid her to keep quiet and stay away from me?” Levi uttered full of resentment.
I covered my mouth as my breathing gradually got stronger and heavier. Hearing Levi’s pain right now that he will never be able to tell me really hurts my whole being.
“You were to blame, Levi, because you left our business just for a woman. And where did your madness with Hoseah and Marichu take you? None, right? You’re still hopeless and useless. You let your heart win rather than your brain! You really inherit it from your mom!” Tito Saldy hissed to him so I quickly stood there thinking he would do something to Levi.
When I peeked at them, his dad's fist was already clenched at him so I almost screamed. Before I could get close to them, Levi suddenly laughed but I could clearly see how those tears ran down his cheeks. Its eyes and ears and neck are already red. It stood up and held his stomach. I could see there how much he was hurt by his current situation.
"And I'm grateful for that, Dad. I am thankful because I inherited it from my mom. You know how I love Astraea and my daughter so much and I have a responsibility to them now, so if I were you, if you don’t want this company to collapse again, stop trying to take them away from me. I’ll fight for them even if it cost my life,” he finally told his father and tried to leave in front of him but he was having a hard time so I approached him.
When they saw me, I saw the shock in their eyes, especially in Levi’s. I tried to smile at him but it didn’t reach my eyes. I immediately attended to him and took the dextrose attached to him.
"W-why are you here?" he stuttered a question to me so I simply nodded to him and supported him.
"Where to?" I asked him as if nothing happened, as if I had heard nothing in their conversation. “I’ll guide you. You don't have to pretend to be strong when I'm with you, Levi. I’m your... wife,” I added then smiled at him genuinely.
He suddenly bit his lower lip while his tears are continuously streaming down his face. His eyes were very red. I don’t know how I will feel from what I see now. All I know is how much I love him.
“I didn't accept that fifty million pesos just so you know, even though it's really tempting. I want you to know that my feelings for you can’t be bought by even how much I feel for you. Your mistakes don’t define who you are right now. I and Asteria will be the brightest stars in your life and that will never ever change, even with big money,” I uttered to him and finally guided him out of that room.
"But can you just give me fifty million?" I added that after we left his room, we both started laughing.
-
We stayed in the waiting area of the ICU. I still can't get Ria inside because Levi told me there are a lot of pipes attached to it. Even he couldn’t afford to look at his daughter but even more, he couldn’t afford to see it. I feel like I've had a phobia of such scenarios since Dad died.
"Aren't you still going to see Ria inside?" Yerim asked me a kind question when she came with Lucas.
I hesitated to shake her so I received a slap from her.
“You are really stupid! You know you're the only one she's waiting to hear so she can wake up. There’s such a scenario, isn’t there?” She shouted at me and sat down next to me while peeking inside the ICU where my daughter was.
I sighed lazily and leaned on her.
“I'm scared, Ye. I might not be able to cope, she might leave me too. I'm used to seeing her life so it's hard for me to accept,” I replied reluctantly and closed my eyes firmly.
Before Yerim could answer, we heard the ICU door open and Levi spat out. It prompted me to come closer. I hesitated a few more times to approach him but Yerim pulled me towards him. I could feel the trembling of my hands and knees.
“She’s fine, Rae. The pipes have been removed from her. The doctor said she would wake up sooner or later,” Levi told me softly and guided me inside.
I sighed as I entered and when I saw my daughter sound asleep, I could no longer restrain myself. Various emotions poured into my heart and I quickly approached her.
“Baby... I’m sorry. Mommy is here. Wake up already, please... Mommy misses you so much,” I uttered to her between my sobs. I could feel Levi's caress on my back.
When I was about to take her hand to kiss, I was surprised to see her holding a small black box. I wondered as I picked it up and opened it. My eyes widened when I saw what was inside. Before I could react, I next heard Asteria giggle. I immediately look at my daughter who is now smiling at me from ear to ear. Her daddy is next to her.
"W-what... I... what..." I said intermittently while my whole body was still shaking.
It was a star-moon engagement ring with pear-shaped and white gold color. I was trembling when I touched it and my tears almost dripped there.
“M-mommy...” Ria called me so I immediately look at her. I could barely answer her.
"Daddy asked my permission earlier and... I hope you say yes," she told me with a smile so I started to cry.
I looked back at Levi who was proudly looking at me and still smiling.
"I'm willing to give you fifty million... just marry me, Astraea," he told me softly so I almost laughed.
I couldn’t wait for him to put it on me because I was the one who wore it on my hand and then approached the two of them and hugged them tightly.
“I... I’m willing to dedicate my whole life to both of you, just don’t leave me and...” I paused and looked at him. “... yes, I will marry you,” I uttered between my sobs.