His Broken Gem

HBG 18

Stella's POV

I woke up with an empty and bright room, just like what I am feeling right now. Empty. I just stared at the ceiling of my room, staring at nothing. Kahit na kagigising ko pa lang ay napapagod na 'ko.

I heard a knock on my door but I didn't bother to answer it. I ignore it until the door opens on itself. I also didn't bother to look at the person who entered my room. I smell a faint scent of mint tea.

"You're awake," he stated as he take a look at my state. I didn't bother to give him a glance. I don't feel like moving an inch or a muscle. I can't even blink my eyes, which is pretty much impossible, of course.

"I brought you a food to eat, kailangan mong kumain para makabawi ang katawan mo," aniya nang hindi ako nagsalita.

I release a deep sigh before turning on my side, my back facing him. I can feel a liquid running down to the bridge of my nose, I just realized that I am crying again.

When was the last time I felt like this after the incident? During my 2nd year of college? Who's with me by that time? I felt like I'm just alone even though there are people who cares about me.

I don't even feel like I deserve all the care they have given me.

"Lalamig ang sopas kapag hindi mo agad kakainin," he said again.

I tried to close my eyes. Ayokong kumain, ayokong bumangon, ayokong mabuhay. Can't I just give up my life? I don't feel like I'm alive anyway. That day, the day when he died, I also died.

"Stella." The concern is evident in his voice. I sigh as I close my eyes tightly.

My tears won't stop falling, they never did. Aren't they tired? They just keep on flowing like a broken water pipe na kung hindi tatakpan ay patuloy pa rin sa pag-agos.

"I'll leave it in here, make sure to eat it," he said.

Pinakiramdaman ko ang galaw niya, there's no movement so I assume na naroon pa rin siya sa likod ko.

Just leave me alone.

I sigh heard him sigh and followed by noise on his steps as he left my room, closing the door.

I remained in my position until the sleep summoned me again.

"I want you to listen to me," he whispered as he held both of my cheeks. I cried silently as I hold into his arms, afraid that someone will find us.

"If I tell you to run, then you need to run as fast as you can, don't ever look back, okay?" he commanded. I stare at him, confused.

"You're coming with me, right Kuya?" I asked him to confirm that he won't leave.

He smiled at me and nodded.

"I'll be just right behind you," he assures me. Naniwala naman ako do'n.

Of course, I trust him.

I stiffen as I heard running footsteps near our hiding spot. Pinagsiksikan ko ang sarili ko likod ng malaking puno at mataas na talahib. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Kuya Jasper. I cover my mouth to suppress any noise.

"Remember what I said, run and never look back," bulong ni kuya sa tainga ko.

Nasa likod ko siya kaya sinubukan ko siyang lingunin, pero agad niyang hinawakan ang ulo ko para pigilan ako.

"I told you to never look back," he whispered as he grind his teeth.

"Kuya—"

"On 3..." he trailed off not giving me chance to object. He promised to be at my back, he promised he'll be there.

"2..." he whispered as I heard the footsteps coming close to where we have been hiding.

"Hanapin niyo, hindi pa nakalalayo 'yon dahil napuruhan na 'yon lalaki," I heard one of the men shouts.

But the thing that confuses me is what the man said. Napuruhan? When I was about to ask, Kuya gently pushes me and said.

"1... Run, Stella!" He said.

Wala sa sarili akong napatakbo.

"Don't look back! Don't look back!" I muttered to myself as I give my full speed on running away from this place.

I flinched when I heard the groans of someone enduring pain. I wanted to look back but I was afraid of what I'll see.

"Keep on running!" I heard him shout. I was confused as his voice seems like he's far. My steps come to halt as I heard a gunshot.

No.

"No!" I opened my eyes and was greeted by the pair of hazel eyes, staring down at me as he was holding my shoulders. The concern is visible in his face and he didn't even hide it.

"You're having a nightmare," he stated still looking deep into my eyes.

I felt my tears flow down again as well as my breath became short. He gently rubs both of my shoulders, calming me. I sob as I saw the man in front of me, I might be hallucinating right now, but I can clearly see Kuya Jasper.

Agad akong napayakap dito habang patuloy lang sa pag-iyak. I miss him so much.

"Kuya, I'm sorry," I bawled as I tightened my hug. He stroked my hair as he comfort me like he always does.

'Shh, didn't I tell you to stop crying?' he muttered in a very low and scary voice. Agad akong napatigil sa pag-iyak hindi dahil sa sinabi niya kung hindi dahil sa takot na muling sumiklab sa puso ko.

I felt his hug tighten. "K-Kuya?"

I panic as his hugs become tighter and painful. I felt like my bones were about to snap.

"Wala na ang Kuya mo, pinatay mo siya. Pinabayaan mo siya!" he said as he keeps on tightening the hug.

I coughed and my breath was restricted. I can't breath properly.

"S-stop," mahinang usal ko habang pilit na kumakawala sa yakap niya. But no matter what I do, he's stronger than me.

'Iniwan mo siya! Ikaw ang pumatay sa kaniya!' he shouted at my ear. I cried feeling hopeless, I can't do anything.

'You should die! You should die!' he stated as my breath becomes shallow. I tried to look around but no one is inside. No one will save me.

Kalaunan ay sumuko na rin sa pagpupumiglas at hinarap ang katotohanan.

No matter how many times they saved me, no matter what method they will do. They can't bring back the old me. That Stella died 7 years ago. Might as well follow what is bound to happen 7 years ago.

Tears were flowing in my eyes as I stare at nowhere. As my eyes slowly succumbed to the darkness, I saw a silhouette of a man in front of me. He making a movement that I can't comprehend.

"Stella..." I heard a faint noise.

Who are you?

"Stella! Wake up!" I heard him say. The voice become louder and louder and I felt myself being shaken up and a lightly tapping of my cheeks.

"Dámnit. Stella," he shouted. I felt my chest being pushed back and forth as I heard him mutter some profanity, frustrated.

My vision slowly started to get clearer as well as my hearing. I saw the man in front of me...Sebastian.

I want to move but my body won't cooperate with me.

"Wake up!" he muttered as I saw his face coming closer. I suddenly feel the air goes through my lungs as I slightly move my body, coughing hardly. Naghahabol ako ng hininga habang nauubo.

"Stella?" I heard him say as he was also breathing heavily. I look at him and saw him straddling my waist while looking at me with concern in his eyes.

Narinig namin ang pagbukas ng pinto kasabay no'n ay ang boses ni Mika at Mommy.

"Goodness, what's happening in here?" Mom asked confusedly, as Mika immediately check on me. May mga nurse din siya na kasama na agad akong nilapitan. I even heard Mika saying to be careful to the nurses bago ito pinahawak sa akin.

I'm still bewildered as she asked me some questions, but I can't bring myself to answer them kaya naman binalingan niya ng tingin si Sebastian na nasa tabi ko, umalis na siya ibabaw ko.

Nakita ko rin ang paglapit ni Mommy sa kama while Shy was also on my side. I saw her wet cheeks na nagsasabing umiiyak siya.

"What happened?" Mika asked Sebastian.

"We were just checking on her kasi hindi pa siya kumakain, then Shy told me that her hands were cold, that's when I notice that she's not breathing. Pinindot ko na ang emergency button atsumagawa na lang rin ng CPR," he explained.

"Oh my god," my mom gasped as she covers her mouth with her hands. She immediately hugs me.

"My poor baby," she cried.

But I just feel exhausted and wanted to sleep. But even in my sleep, I feel exhausted. Matapos masiguradong okay na ako ay hinayaan na nila akong makapagpahinga.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakatulala sa pader ng kuwarto ko when decided to get some fresh air. Sinubukan kong igalaw ang mga binti ko pero namamanhid ang mga ito. I force it and help myself to stand up but I lose my balance and was about to fall when someone grabs me by my waist and pulls me toward his body.

"You should asked for help if you can't do it alone," he said in a soft voice.

I look at him, displeased at how he treated me.

"I can manage on my own," matabang na wika ko saka ko siya tinulak. Hahakbang na sana ako pero nangangatog pa rin ang mga tuhod ko. He, again, supported me despite my stubbornness. We reach the sofa kung saan nakaharap sa isang malaking bintana. He opened it for me before guiding me to the seat that was placed there.

He left me all alone, akala ko ay hindi na siya babalik pero he came back shortly, bringing a tray of food with him.

"Hindi ka pa rin kumakain. Paano mo babawiin ang lakas mo?" he said as he place the tray in front of me, at the table. Pinasadahan ko ito ng tingin bago binaling sa kawalan ang mga mata.

He sigh as he took a sit on the vacant seat in front of me.

"Stella, you need to eat," he urged.

"Just leave me alone," walang ganang saad ko sa kaniya.

"Hindi ako aalis hangga't hindi mo kakainin ang pagkain mo," he insisted.

Seriously? Cant, he read my mood? I want to be alone, I don't want to be accompanied.

"I'm not hungry, okay?" I reason out but my stomach failed me. It growls loud making me look like a big liar idiot. I sigh.

"I'm not surprised. You didn't eat yesterday, hindi ka rin nag-agahan at nananghalian kanina. Your secretary told us you always skip your lunch that day in your office at paniguradong hindi ka rin nag-dinner no'n," he declared.

I rolled my eyes. I grab the spoon in defeat, not wanting to argue anymore. I heard him chuckle as I am on halfway through my food.

"Say someone who said she's not hungry pero wala pang 2 minuto ay nangangalahati sa pagkain niya," he teased.

I rolled my eyes as I choose to ignore him. I don't care about him, I'm hungry. Nang malapit na akong matapos ay bigla siyang nagsalita.

"Nilipat ko ang mga gamit ko rito kagabi when your mom said she'll be staying here for the meantime," he said.

Agad akong nabilaukan sa narinig ko, binigay niya naman ang tubig sa akin na siyang ininom ko agad. Nang mahimasmasan na ako ay hinarap ko siya.

"What? Why didn't you inform me?! At saka bakit mag-ste-stay siya rito?" I questioned him.

Nagsalubong naman ang mga kilay nito. "Ano ba ang gusto mong gawin ko? You're still sleeping at kung hindi ako kikilos agad, malalaman ng nanay mo na magkahiwalay tayong natutulog," he stated.

"What's wrong with sleeping separately? It's not like we're married or something," I exclaimed.

"Nasa isang bobong tayo nakatira, may relasyon tayo sa mata ng mommy mo. It's obvious that your mom was expecting us to be sleeping in the same room. Aren't you afraid that she'll question our relationship if you and I are acting indifferently to each other?"

Napaisip naman ako do'n. Hindi pa man ako nakakapagsalita ay muli naman siyang nagsalita.

"Saka isa pa ay magkasama sila ni Shy sa guestroom matutulog," he stated before cleaning up my plate. "Don't worry I didn't sleep beside you, I borrowed some of your comforters at sa sahig natulog," he added. "Kaya 'wag ka nang mamoblema riyan at mag-focus ka sa pagpapagaling."

I look at him, fascinated by how he handle things on his own. He's dependable at all. Not bad. Hindi na ako umalma pa at hinayaan na lang siya. Tahimik lang kami habang tinatapos ko ang inumin ko. He patiently waited for me to finish. That silence was broken when we heard a teasing voice from the door.

"Alam niyo, para kayong totoong magjowa," Mika giggles as she hilariously makes some strange hand movements.