Chapter 26

CHAYA wondered how she got to drive home safely. All she knew was that her future with Kyrie was unclear. But that was not what mattered most at the moment. Avery was dying, and her only wish was to be with the people she loved.

“Chaya?”

Ellie and Jae looked fussed as she entered the apartment, her shoulders hunched.

“What happened to you?” Ellie asked.

“Did you and Kyrie fight?” asked Jae.

Before she could open her mouth to speak, another tear fell from her eye.

“Hey.”

She sat on the couch and leaned. Ellie and Jae joined her at once.

They had not talked for a few days. Jellybean was checking on her from time to time. Maybe Kyrie was asking how she was through her friend. So, she would always tell her she was fine. He already had Avery and Kiel to worry about. She did not want to add up to his burdens.

She did not want to trouble Kyrie. She missed him so bad, but he had many things to attend to. His priority right now was to fly Avery back so she could continue her treatment. Chaya did not want Avery to give up on life either. Kiel was just too young to lose a mother.

Besides, she did not know what to say to him. Nothing she would say could make the situation any better.

***

Chaya woke up from her phone ringing. It was already almost midnight, and she wasn’t fully asleep yet. Tessa was calling her. Before she could even think of the possible reasons she was calling her at an inconvenient hour, she heard her hysterical cry on the other line.

“C-Chaya, Chaya, T-Tyler is…”

She suddenly sat up on the bed. “M-Mrs. Garcia?” Her chest pounded. “W-what’s the matter?”

“Tyler is not waking up, Chaya!”

“W-what?” Chaya felt numb.

“I’m bringing him to the hospital now. Where are you? Please, Chaya. My son needs you. He needs you by his side. I don’t know what to do! I can’t lose my son… He’s the only one I have. Chaya, I’m begging you…”

That wasn’t the Tessa Garcia that Chaya knew. She was always sure of herself, and no one could ever defy her. Not even her son. But at that moment, all Chaya could feel was a woman who was scared to lose her beloved son.

“Mrs. Garcia, Tyler and I are no longer together—”

“I know, but I don’t care! You’re the only one who kept my son sane, Chaya! And we both know I was never supportive of your relationship. S-so, I’m begging you. Just stay with him until he gets better. A-and I promise, I will let him live the life he always wanted.” Tessa paused, but she continued to cry.

You should have done that a long time ago. That was what she wanted to say.

But there was no point blaming her now. Tyler’s life was in danger.

“I-I’m out of town right now, Mrs. Garcia.”

“I don’t care wherever you are. I’m going to fetch you. Just please, Chaya. I can’t do this alone.”

Chaya swallowed hard. What was she going to do now?

“Chaya? What’s happening? What are you doing?”

Chaya jumped at the sound of Ellie’s voice. She was standing in the kitchen. She was still awake, which was not actually surprising.

She sauntered toward her. She was looking at her huge backpack.

“Don’t tell me you’re leaving at this hour?”

Chaya swallowed. She had not been thinking straight, and Ellie snapped her back to reality.

“T-Tyler. Something happened to Tyler. His mom called me. I need to be there. I…” A tear fell from her eye. “Ellie, I don’t know what I’m doing right now.”

“Do you really have to go? You called it quits with Tyler already.”

“His mom sounded desperate. Maybe Tyler really needs me. I-I don’t know.”

“I’ll go get the car keys. Wait for me here.”

“What? No, Ellie.”

“Chaya, I can’t let you go alone in that situation,” Ellie said firmly.

***

Tessa knew someone who owned a helicopter. She instructed her to go to the nearest helipad, and someone would fetch her.

“Don’t worry. We’ll pray that Tyler gets better,” Ellie placated.

“I’m sorry for troubling you, Ellie. Thank you for being my savior,” Chaya said through teary eyes.

“Don’t say that, Chaya. You’re my friend. Call me when you get to the hospital, all right? I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Chaya took a deep breath and nodded.

“I should pull myself together, right?” she said after a while.

“You’re lost, and it’s okay. Weren’t you the one who told me that?”

Chaya was trembling when they finally got down from the helipad on top of the hospital building. Chaya barely remembered the duration of the trip. Her mind was somewhere else.

Tessa’s gay publicist and unfamiliar personnel were there waiting for her. They exchanged a short formal greeting before heading down. Chaya wrapped her jacket tighter around her body as she battled with anxiety.

Tyler had never done it before. Yes, he needed sleeping pills to put him to sleep at times, but he never once dared to overdose.

The only person around Tyler’s room was Tessa. She was sitting beside the bed, holding his hand. That moment was one of the rare instances that Chaya saw Tessa without any makeup on. Her hair also looked disheveled.

Chaya’s heart twinged in pain as she watched an unconscious Tyler on the bed. He was on IV.

“Chaya.” Tessa stood up at once. “Thank you for coming. Tyler is stable now, but he’s still unconscious.”

Chaya stood near his bed.

“He was supposed to appear in an event tonight. He wasn’t answering my calls, so I went to check on him in his condo and found him unconscious. I could not imagine what could have happened if I had been a little late.”

“Don’t you realize that what Tyler needed all along was a mother and not a manager?” Chaya asked in a bitter tone.

Tessa looked stunned for a moment.

Chaya ignored it and sat on the bed. She dipped her head and brought her lips near Tyler’s ear.

“Tye, can you hear me? It’s Chaya. Please wake up. We’re all worried about you.” She sniffed and cupped his cheek. “I’m here now.”

TYLER opened his eyes, and it didn’t take him long to realize he was in a hospital. He woke up. He was still here.

His eyes reverted to his side as he felt someone holding his hand. It felt heavy. His heart skipped a beat when he recognized who it was. Chaya was resting her head on his bed as she slept. He felt weak, but he managed to tug her hand.

Chaya woke up at once. His heart twinged at the sight of the dark circles around her swollen eyes and unruly hair.

Last night, he had a dream. Chaya was telling her to wake up because she was worried about him. But Chaya was really here.

“Tye?” Chaya swallowed.

“C-Chaya,” he uttered in a throaty voice. “Y-you’re here.” His eyes moistened.

“Thank God you’re awake! Hang on. I’ll call the doctor.” She stood up at once and rushed outside the room.