“The operation is successful. We have removed the bullet buried in his head. For now, he needs to rest and expect him to wake up after 24 hours,” we heard the doctor said.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Trace in everyone's eyes how happy they are because of the result of Uncle Saldy's operation. I just watched them while crying while still thinking about what happened and suddenly the latter agreed to have surgery.
Later, Uncle Saldy was moved to his new room. I heard nothing else from them but crying and gratitude. Even Levi doesn't seem to see me. He just followed his mom while Mari also followed him.
When they left yesterday it was a long time before he came back. He didn't even call or text and when he arrived he didn't touch me which until now I was wondering. Disgusted but I didn't notice it too much because I didn't want to keep up with the current situation.
When everyone entered the room, I was left outside. I went to the waiting area of the hospital and dialed Celine’s number to check on Asteria. When she answered the face time, her face immediately appeared to me.
“Rae! Ria is already asleep. Just now,”she greeted me. "How was Uncle Saldy's operation?" She also added.
I just simply nodded at her.
“The operation was successful. I’m glad,” I replied to her.
I saw the frown on her forehead. She moved and seemed to move to where because her background changed.
“You sounded upset. Why is that? Is there anything wrong?” She asked.
I lazily avoided looking at her and remembered Levi’s actions towards me. As if he was ignoring me since he went back to the hospital with Mari. He hasn’t even touched me or looked at me until now. I don’t want to assume or conclude things but I can’t help it. I'm not used to him being like that because when we have a problem, he immediately tells me.
I sighed and let my body rest in that chair. Celine was still waiting for my answer so I just shook my head.
“Levi’s ignoring me since yesterday. I don’t know why,” I told her while sounding like an idiot.
“Really? Why? Did you have a fight?” She asked one question after another.
I wondered for a moment if we had a fight or not but I couldn’t figure out what it was. We were fine before he left for his office. He even told me to wait for him which I did but the whole night passed, he did not come. The next morning, he arrived with that Mari. I couldn't help but think of something.
“As far as I know, nothing. I don't know, Celine. Maybe I’m the only one who feels it. Don’t get me wrong, I understand what he’s going through now,” I explained to her.
Celine and I talked about it for a while until Levi suddenly came and Mari was with him again. I waited for him to look at me but he didn't so the irritation I was feeling came to life again.
"Are you hungry? We’ll be eating outside, you can come with us if you want,” he coldly said to me and avoided looking at me again.
I saw how he clenches his jaw. I was even more surprised when he said that. Why do they eat out and I seem to be the groin? What's up?
“Just follow, Rae. Let’s go, Levi,” Marichu added. I saw her holding Levi's arm and he seemed to be inviting it.
I was surprised for a moment by what I saw before I stood up. I looked at them from head to toe and raised an eyebrow.
“What if I don't want to come with you? Won't you force me?” I asked Levi. I fixed my eyes on him.
It didn't even bother me. Instead he turned his back on me.
“It’s all up to you, Rae,” he said in his cold baritone voice. I feel that the cord of my patience is finally being cut.
I sarcastically laughed at them. I could feel the warmth of the corners of my eyes as I stared at the two of them. Marichu is smirking.
“Okay, I get it. You can go eat together wherever you want to, I don’t fucking care. You don’t want to tell me the problem? Fine. Suit yourself, Levi. I don’t like chasing,” I told him emphatically and quickly left them there.
I continued my walk towards the parking lot. When I got there, I immediately looked for my car and then rushed into it. I almost flew that until I got to the condo. I could feel the irritation and tiredness biting into my whole being because of what he had done.
I took a quick shower and wear my red bodycon dress. I cleaned myself up and rested for a while before leaving again to go back to the hospital to talk to Auntie Criselda. When I arrived, my eyes caught sight of the two in the pantry. There seemed to be a nice conversation because Levi's smile was wide as he looked at Mari.
My heart sank while I was trying to walk towards them. I didn’t speak honestly to the two of them. Levi suddenly looked up at me with confusion. There was also a look of shock in his eyes.
Before he could speak, I just surrounded him and turned my back on him. I walked away quickly until someone suddenly pulled my hand. When I saw who it was, I was even more bored.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I firmly said to him as I was trying to take his hands off me but he is persistent.
"What are you doing?" He asked which made me even more confused.
I turned violently on him and removed his hand that was holding me.
"You... what the fuck are you doing?" I spoke emphatically to him.
His expression remains blank. I can't read how he feels that I used to be able to do easily.
He looked away from me so I was even more bored. I feel like my heart is heating up due to excessive irritation for unknown reasons.
“What the fuck is your problem? If you have a problem, you can just let me know! Why were you ignoring me? Why? Did you suddenly realize that you love Mari so you came back to her?” I couldn't help but shout that at him.
I could feel my breath catch as I looked at him. Waiting for his answer or what he will say. Waiting for him to calm me down because I felt like I was going to explode but he didn’t. He didn't even look back at me so I burst into tears finally.
“I-I’m trying to understand your situation! I’m trying to be neutral here, Levi. Why are you doing this to me suddenly? I-I don't understand you! If you have a problem, tell me instead of going to another woman,” I blurted.
I faintly sat up and covered my face. All I could hear was moaning in the hallway of the hospital. There were no other people there so I never wondered if anyone would see us. I do not care anymore.
Later, I felt Levi holding me so I cried even more. I can already taste the blood on my lower lip because I was bitten there.
“I talked to mom. She told me everything about dad’s past with your mom and dad,” I heard he said.
I was spontaneously shocked when I heard that. My tears welled up because of what he said. I could feel my heartbeat slowing as I waited for the next thing he would say. I don't know but I was suddenly nervous.
“She told me how she was hurt and still suffering up to now because of your mom Amalia. At first, I didn't want to believe but when I remembered what dad said... that he wants to die just to be with Amalia, I can now understand everything,” he continued. I could feel the pain in his voice.
Even though he hasn't said anything, even though he hasn't said anything, I feel it, I can't handle his reaction because of what he found out. I feel like it’s not good and I can’t accept it. As soon as he ignored me, I knew it wasn't good. But please don't.
“Until now we still wonder why he suddenly agreed to continue the operation. Did you do something about it?” Levi directly asked to me. I can still feel the coldness in his voice.
I bit my lower lip. I glanced at him for a moment and saw him bent over as he looked at his hands resting on his lap. I wanted to touch him but I couldn’t. I'm afraid he might not give that response. I'm afraid he won't notice me again. It hurts so much for me, I can't ignore it.
"I... convinced him," I told him, my voice broke.
I saw him quickly tilt his head to look at me so I immediately avoided looking at him.
“I talked to him yesterday. He mistaken me for mama so... I convinced him to do the surgery,” I told him directly. There was a look of shock in his eyes.
Flashback
I can feel my emotions swell because of what I see now. I didn’t know what to do anymore because I felt after a while that his situation was like this maybe what would happen to him.
His grip tightened on my hand as he was still crying silently. Hearing those words from him is unbelievable. I met this tough and brave man so I couldn’t process in my mind how weak he was now. That he even begged to my mom just to choose him this time. That he could forget everything just to be with mama. Mama is his weakness, but when she disappeared, his heart has gradually turned to stone.
“A-Amalia, please... I need you. I need you every day. I can no longer afford to let you go and tolerate over and over again just to make them all happy. You are all I need...” he continued.
I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks and thought. I quickly turned back to him when I remembered something. I'm not sure but nothing will be lost if I don't try.
"Uncle Saldy..." I whispered. “... please let them operate you. If you really want to be with mama... let me operate on you. By that time, I will assure you, mom will be the happiest person in this world if you do that,” I declared to him.
It was stunned and frowned. Suddenly his grip on my hands loosened and soon after, he removed it. He suddenly looks away from me and gently wipe his tears. It seems that I have gotten used to it and have already met.
“Who are you to tell me that,” he uttered in his cold baritone voice. "I don't need you here so you can leave—"
“You said you wanted to be with my mom, right? So, why do you want to die? Can't you imagine how much she will be hurt once you're gone in this world?” I couldn't help but scold him.
I tried to met his gaze but he keeps on looking away from me. Why is he like this?
"I... didn't say that," he refused so I almost scoffed.
I sighed violently and stared at the emptiness. A few more times I wondered if I would say what was on my mind but eventually I did as well. If it wasn’t just for his safety, I would never have done it.
“Mom loves you. She loves you so much so I know she will be hurt more once you disappear than the pain she felt when she didn't choose you,” I finally told him and left.
End of Flashback
The next day, he told Tita Criselda that he was willing to have surgery. I don't know what happened next because that same day, I sailed to the cemetery to visit mama and papa.
Levi didn’t want to believe what I did for his father. He wouldn't even look at me again for no apparent reason so I was just shaken. I almost got up from my seat earlier and looked straight at him.
But before I could speak, Uncle Raul suddenly arrived. Its expression was so wrapped in fear that we were all alarmed.
“What happened? Is dad awake yet?” Levi asked to his uncle.
“H-he’s awake but... he didn't know us,” Uncle Raul uttered.
My heart stopped beating for a second then the next thing I knew, we were both running towards his dad’s room. What's happening?