Just A Dream : Fall for You

Chapter 10

Napasinghap si Sean, nang makita ang inihanda ni Jean. Lahat ng paborito n’yang pagkain ay nakahain at nakalatag ngayon sa dining table. Nagtatakang nilingon ni Sean ang nobya na bihis na bihis at may malapad na ngiti sa labi.

“Happy third year and seven months of being together, babe!” masigla at masayang bati ni Jean sa nobyo. “I cooked all of your favorites,” dagdag pa niya matapos humakbang palapit sa binata.

Mabilis na hinalikan ni Jean ang nobyo sa labi bago ito yakapin nang mahigpit. Napangiti naman si Sean, dahil sa ginawa ng nobya at pabulong na nagpasalamat dito. Isang matamis na ngiti naman ang iginanti ng nobya sa kaniya at ubod ng tamis na inihayag ang kaniyang pagmamahal dito. Nakangiti at puno ng pagmamahal silang nagpalitan ng matatamis na salita.

After they finished their dinner they decided to stay for a while at Sean’s apartment veranda to watch the night sky. A few seconds later, Sean’s phone rang loudly while they’re hugging each other. At the first few rings, he didn’t answer nor give attention to his ringing phone. When it rang for the third time, he contemplate if he should answer or not. And when he was supposed to answer the call it ended. But, the caller left a message so he listened to it. Before he pressed the button Jean signaled him to turn on the loudspeaker of his phone, so he did.

“Hello. Kuya Sean,” a very familiar voice came from the other line. 

Parehong napa kunot-noo ang dalawa at napatingin sa isa’t isa.

“Ako ito si Simone,” and just like what they thought it was her. 

Gulat ang gumuhit mukha nilang dalawa nang marinig ang tinig nito mula sa kabilang linya. 

“May gusto lang akong sabihin kaya ako tumawag,” pagpapatuloy ng iniwang voice message ni Simone.

They could hear and feel the hesitation in Simone’s voice, and they knew the reason why. 

“Si Ate Justine, nagising na siya. . .” parang binuhusan ng isang drum ng malamig na tubig ang dalawa matapos marinig ang anim na salitang iyon. 

Parehong napalunok ng laway at nilisan ng kulay ang kanilang katawan. Both of them are shocked. After that voice mail, they remained silent for a couple of minutes, staring blankly on the phone until Jean broke their silence.

“So, gising na si Justine. Pupuntahan mo ba siya sa ospital?” mahinang tanong ni Jean, na may pag-aalinlangan sa boses.

“Hindi ko alam,” tipid na sagot naman ni Sean, dahil hindi pa rin maproseso sa kaniyang utak ang balitang nalaman.

When he heard that Justine, finally woke up, para bang in a span of minute ay nagbalik sa alaala niya kung anong nangyari sa dating nobya, sa kanila. Lahat ng sakit ay muling bumalik, lahat ng hinagpis ay umahon, mga luha’y rumagasa nang walang pasintabi. Napansin naman ni Jean ang pagbabago sa ekspresyon at mood ng nobyo. Kaya naman inabot niya ang kamay nito at pinisil iyon nang bahagya upang makuha ang atensyon nito at bumalik sa realidad.

“Mabuti pa bisitahin natin siya bukas. Ano sa tingin mo?” masakit man ay nagawa pa rin niyang itanong sa nobyo.

“Are you sure?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Sean sa nobya nang bumalik na ang atensyon niya dito. 

Jean just put a weak smile to reassure him. “Oo naman. Bukas puntahan natin siya. Okay?” tanong at pangungumbinsi ni Jean sa nobyo.

Tumango na lamang si Sean, bilang sagot sa nobya.

KINABUKASAN ay naghanda silang dalawa upang pumunta sa ospital tulad ng napagkasunduan nila. Mabuti na lamang at walang klase si Sean habang day off naman ni Jean sa trabaho. 

Bitbit ang dalang isang bouquet ng bulaklak at isang basket ng prutas ay kumatok na sila sa pinto ng pribadong silid ni Justine. And when they entered the room Sean can’t explain what he saw, he can’t process in his mind properly what he was seeing. Keith and the rest of their family were there including Arlene. They are wearing their high school uniform, kaya muling bumalik sa kaniyang isipan ang bilin sa kanila ni Dra. Maggie.

Five minutes ago. . .

“Let me warn the both of you. Don’t you ever mention to Justine that time and years has passed by,” seryosong paalala ni Dra. Maggie sa magkasintahan nang makasalubong sila nito.

“Bakit naman?” nagtataka at naguguluhang tanong ng magkasintahan. 

Napabuntong hininga naman ang doktora, halatang stress na ito sa dami ng trabaho sa ospital.

“Because for her, time never passed. Her time stopped since that day, and her memories right now are not that clear for her. Even her childhood memories are not yet clear to her. Dahil ang alaalang tanging malinaw sa kaniyang isipan ay ang taon kung kailan nangyari ang aksidente. After all, she was asleep for five years. That’s why I’m telling you this. Because both of you need to be careful about whatever you are going to say or act. Remember, she was fragile and very delicate at her condition right now. We can’t afford to let her know everything,” mahabang paliwanag at bilin ng doktora.

Iminulat ni Sean ang matang mariing ipinikit. At ng buksan niya ang kaniyang mata ay nasilayan niya ang maamong mukha ng dating nobya. Ngunit halos hindi na niya ito mamukhaan dahil sa kasalukuyang pisikal na itsura nito. Namayat ito, malayong-malayo sa malusog at masiglang pangangatawan nito noon. Ang buhok na dati ay lampas balikat lamang ay humaba na. They can clearly see how fragile and weak she is. Her whole appearance might change but he knew that Justine was still there. The same Justine they knew. 

Sean doesn’t know what to say and how he should react to the situation. His mind was blank and in a haze. But, when Jean taps his back, he came back to his senses.

“Sean,” Justine softly called his name while staring at him lovingly. The same way she used to stare at him a few years ago before their nightmare happened.

“Kamusta ka na? Okay ka lang ba?” nagpipigil ng luha niyang tanong sa dalaga habang dahan-dahan siyang lumalakad palapit dito.

“Okay lang ako,” Justine answered while smiling at him sweetly as she stretch her hands towards him. 

And as he held her hands, all of the memories they shared before flashes back at him like high-definition movie clips, even the day of the accident. And because of it, Sean can’t stop himself from crying. His tears are falling like water from an open faucet.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Justine. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he whispered over and over again in between his sobs.

“You don’t need to be sorry. I’m the one who should be,” Justine whispered back as she cupped his cheeks and wiped his tears away. “I made you worry. I’m sorry, Sean. I’m sorry,” Justine added as she stared lovingly at him.

“You don’t need to be sorry. After all, I cheat on you, and to make it worse the one I’m with now is none other than you’re best friend. Because of me, you’ve been involved in that accident. If I’ve just been there on time, this won’t happen to you. That’s why I’m so sorry, Justine. I’m really sorry,” Sean whispered to himself at the back of his mind.

“By the way, Sean. How’s your entrance exam going?” Justine asked enthusiastically. 

At tuluyan na niyang nakalimutan na naroon pa ang kaniyang kakambal, nakababatang kapatid, magulang, si Arlene at ang best friend niyang si Jean na tahimik na nagmamasid sa kanila.

“Ha? A-about that,” Sean was stuttering as he tried to recollect each piece of his mind, searching for the right words he could use. “I-it went well, somehow. I think I managed to pass it,” he fakes a smile as he lied to her, face to face.

“Dra. Maggie was right. She’s not aware that five years had passed by since that day. So it means, we need to act and lie in front of her. Act as if nothing happened, and as if time didn’t pass by,” Sean and Jean thought at the same time, as they stared at their friend who was smiling brightly, full of life and hope. And it made the two of them feel guilty.

“Jean, nandito ka din pala!” manghang sambit ni Justine matapos ibaling ang atensyon sa direksyon nito. “Sorry kung pinag-alala rin kita,” malumanay na paumanhin ni Justine na may matamis na ngiti pa rin sa kaniyang labi. 

Lihim na mapaklang napangiti si Jean bago ibinaling ang atensyon sa kaibigan. Kung kaibigang maituturing pa siya matapos ang ginawa rito.

“Hindi mo na kailangang humingi ng sorry. Ang mahalaga ay okay ka na ngayon,” tipid ang ngiting sabi ni Jean.

“Salamat sa pagdalaw niyo sa ‘kin. Pero, teka lang, si Chuck? Nasaan siya?” naghahanap ang mga mata ni Justine, na iginala sa buong silid, naghahanap ng bakas ng isa pa nilang kaibigan.

“May kailangang puntahan ngayon si Chuck. Kaya hindi siya nakasama,” Sean lied, averting his gaze away from Justine.

Pagkadismaya at lungkot naman ang namutawi sa mukha ng dalaga.

“Is that so,” malungkot na bulong ni Justine. “It’s alright, I understand. Pero alam mo ba Sean, sobrang saya ko kasi nandito ka na sa tabi ko. Alam mo bang miss na miss na kita?” Justine asked him in a sweet tone as she hugged him with all the strength she had.

“I missed you,” pikit-matang sambit ni Sean, nang yakapin niya rin si Justine. “Siya nga pala, may dala kaming prutas at bulaklak para sa ‘yo,” dagdag niya pa matapos kumalas sa mahigpit na yakap ng dating nobya.

“Wow! Thanks, ang ganda naman ng bulaklak na ito,” puno ng galak na sambit ni Justine.

She sniffed the scent of the flowers right after Sean gave the flowers to her with a sweet smile.

“Halika rito sa tabi ko, Sean,” Justine said while she tapped the space in her bed.

Kaagad naman na tumabi sa kaniya si Sean, at pinagsiklop ang kanilang kamay na para bang tulad nang dati.

“Sean,” mahinang sambit ni Justine nang ihilig niya ang kaniyang ulo sa matipunong balikat ng binata, habang ang isang kamay ay pinaglalaruan ang tangkay ng bulaklak na nasa kaniyang kandungan.

“Ano ‘yon?” pabulong na tanong ni Sean.

Marahang umiling si Justine bilang sagot sa tanong ni Sean. Habang si Sean naman ay tahimik lamang na pinagmamasdan ang dalaga. Ang magulang naman nila Justine ay tahimik na nagpaalam kila Keith. Hindi na nila inabala pa ang anak na ang buong atensyon ay nakatuon kay Sean.

“Kumusta na pala ang pag ri-review mo para sa fourth quarter exam?” biglang tanong ni Justine kay Sean na ngayon ay nakakunot-noo dahil sa narinig.

Ngunit kaagad naman niyang naintindihan ang tanong ni Justine. Alam niyang maaaring isa iyon sa mga bagay na sinabi nila Keith dito noong hinahanap siya nito.

“Maayos naman,” pilit ang ngiti sa labing  tugon ni Sean.

At mula sa pangungumusta ay napunta na sa kung ano-anong topic ang usapan nila. Naiilang man sila sa isa’t-isa ay pinilit ni Sean, na maging casual sa dating mga kaibigan at umaktong tila ba walang nangyari sa kanilang pagkakaibigan. Nang bigla na lamang ay impit na napasigaw si Justine, habang nasa kalagitnaan sila ng kanilang pagkukwentuhan. Mariing nakapikit ang mga mata at namimilipit habang sapo-sapo ang kaniyang ulo. Thus, all of them panicked when they saw her whimpering in pain.

“Justine!” Sean hysterically called her name as he holds her hands tightly.

“Excuse me, Sean. Let me check her,” Dra. Maggie said as soon as she entered the room and gently pushed him away.

One of the nurses holds both of Justine’s hands while the other one injects some fluid at her intravenous drip that made Justine’s throbbing pain slowly subside. While Dra. Maggie asked Justine, where it hurts and how extreme the pain is.

“I’m sorry. But, I think it’s better if she doesn’t accept any visitors for today. You can continue what you are talking about tomorrow, perhaps. She had a migraine and light fever. That’s why she needs to rest right now. I hope you all understand the situation,” Dra. Maggie announced, a few minutes later after she checked and observed Justine as it slowly fell into sleep. “She was still recovering, and any kind of stress. Or, anything that may stress out her brain activity will affect her badly. It may harm her. Her mind must be stressed out with too much excitement with the fact that all of you are here to visit her. That’s why I highly advise that she take a rest for now,” Dra. Maggie continued. “Excuse me. I still have some rounds to do.”

Thus, Jean and Sean left. And while they were on their way out of the hospital, Keith stopped them. Then right there he exploded like a time bomb as he let out his anger and hatred that he kept for years.

“Ang kapal din naman talaga ng mukha mo na isama pa ang babaeng ‘yan dito!” puno ng poot na singhal ni Keith. Isang masamang tingin ang ibinaling niya sa dating itinuturing na malapit na kaibigan.

“Bakit isinama mo pa ‘yang walang kwenta na ‘yan?” idinuro pa nito ang dalaga na walang magawa kung hindi ang yumuko na lamang habang pinipigil ang mga luhang naguunahan sa pagpatak. “Ang babaeng dahilan kung bakit naaksidente si Justine!” madiin pang dagdag ni Keith.

Mahigpit naman na napayakap si Jean sa braso ni Sean. Pirmi na lamang na nakikinig sa bawat salitang ipinupukol at ibinabato ni Keith sa kaniya. 

“Sa pagkakaalam ko, ikaw lang ang tinawagan ni Simone, regarding my twin sister. Pero, bakit kasama mo ‘yan? Ano? Gusto niyong ipakita kay Justine, na kayo na, ha!” madiin at puno ng galit pa nitong sambit. “Na masaya na kayo kahit wala s’ya. Ganoon ba? Ha! Sean! Ganoon ba?” Keith shouted angrily.

Humahangos naman na sumunod sa kanila si Arlene, sa kaba at kutob sa maaaring gawin ng nobyo. Habol-habol ang hininga ay pilit niya pa rin na hinihila palayo ang nobyo.

“Keith, tama na please. Halika ka na. Please, Keith. Tara na,” pagmamakaawa n’ya sa nagngangalit na nobyo.

“Kuya, tama na. Hayaan mo na sila. Please,” Pag mamakaawa naman ni Simone na sumunod din sa kanila. 

“Ang mahalaga naman ‘di ba ay ang mapabilis ang paggaling ni Ate Justine. Besides, hindi naman n’ya kailangan na araw-araw na bisitahin si Ate Justine. Ako na ang bahalang umisip ng dahilan kapag hinanap n’ya si Sean,” pag-aalo ni Simone sa nakatatanadang kapatid, nangungusap ang kaniyang mga mata, nagmamakaawang kumalma ito.

“I’m sorry,” humihikbing paghingi ng tawad ni Jean.

“Jean,” Sean whispered as he tightened his grip on her hands. He was reassuring her that he will be by her side, never letting her go through this alone.

“Sorry? Sorry, your a*s!” Keith fumed as he shot the two with his deathly glare. 

Kung nakamamatay ang mga titig niya ay baka nakahandusay na ang dalawa sa malamig na sahig ng ospital.

“Keith, ano ba! Tama na ‘yan!” Arlene hissed to calm the beast that is roaring so high inside Keith. “Sige na, Sean. Umuwi na kayo,” baling niya sa magkasintahan. 

Sean nodded at Arlene. And then, he drags Jean with him towards the exit of the hospital. Sean doesn’t know and understands why Keith, needs to be mad that much. Alam niya na sisisihin na naman ni Jean, ang sarili niya kung bakit galit na galit si Keith. Dahil maging siya ay galit sa kaniyang sarili at sinisisi niya rin ang sarili sa lahat ng nangyari sa kanila. That’s why he can’t really blame them if they are that angry towards hima and his girlfriend. All he could do was to accept their anger and hatred.

Nag-aalalang tinanong kaagad ni Sean, ang nobya nang makaalis na sila sa ospital. Jean just roared at him because she couldn’t contain her hatred for herself. Kaya naman maagap siyang niyakap ng nobyo at pabulong na humingi ng tawad sa kaniya bago nito paulanan ng mumunting halik ang noo’t tungki ng ilong ni Jean.

“Hindi mo na kailangan pang humingi ng tawad sa akin,” malumanay at namumungay ang mga matang sambit ni Jean.

She leans her head on Sean’s chest while she wraps her arms tightly on his waist. 

“Kasalanan ko rin naman kung bakit nagagalit ng ganoon si Keith,” Jean whispered as she buried her face more against Sean’s chest.

“Huwag mo na iyong isipin. Wala ka namang kasalanan kung bakit naaksidente si Justine. Okay,” sambit ni Sean habang marahang hinahagod ang likod ni Jean.

“Thank you, Sean.”

“Jean, is it okay kung dadalawin ko si Justine sa ospital? At magkunwari na wala pa ring nagbabago. Na hindi lumipas ang limang taon,” he asks carefully. 

Nag-angat naman si Jean ng tingin sa kaniya, sinusuri ang emosyon ng bawat isa.

“Hmm. . . Bakit mo natanong? Dahil ba nagi-guilty ka sa nangyari?” tanong ni Jean matapos ang ilang segundong pakikipagtitigan sa nobyo.

“Well. . . Yes, I am,” Sean answer honestly. “Feeling ko kasi responsabilidad ko na tulungan si Justine na mapabilis ang paggaling niya. At kapag nangyari iyon saka ko na sa kaniya sasabihin ang lahat-lahat. Ang totoo. Pagkatapos hihingi na rin ako ng tawad sa kaniya. Hihingi ako ng tawad sa lahat ng kasalanan ko sa kaniya. Also, to gave closure na rin sa naging relasyon namin. After all, she deserves to know everything. Dahil alam naman natin na hindi ginusto ni Justine ang nangyari sa kaniya. Biktima lamang siya sa lahat ng nangyari,” Sean confessed as he tried to persuade Jean by being honest to her.

“Okay lang naman sa akin, kung iyan ang gusto mo. Para na rin mapanatag na tayo at matapos na ang lahat. Let’s all move on from the past,” Jean agreed.