Sarang

Chapter 13

I woke up feeling someone holding my hand tightly. My eyes immediately widened when I saw Asher sitting on the side of my bed, his cheek resting on his left arm sleeping peacefully while holding my hand tightly.

"What are you---" I groaned in pain when I felt pain in my chest as I tried to get up. Because of my sudden shout, Asher woke up and I saw how he panicked when he sees me

"Bakit? May masakit ba sa 'yo? Anong nararamdaman mo? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" He didn't know what to do first but he ended up sitting again and holding my hand as he looks into my eyes worriedly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him again, trying to hide the pain I am feeling right now.

"Sorry. Hindi kasi ako makapakali noong nakauwi ako kaya bumalik ako dito. Sinabihan ako ni Rose na magkunwaring hindi ko alam, na wala akong nalaman at siya na ang bahala sa 'yo pero hindi ko kaya," he explained. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi kaagad sa akin? Kung hindi pa ako bumalik, hindi ko pa malalaman. At ano? Wala kang balak ipaalam sa akin kung sakali man?"

I look away because of his question. "It's nothing to make a fuss about. Don't make this into a big deal."

I heard his heavy breathing because of what I said. "It's not just nothing, Sia," he said seriously. "You got that because of me. It was my fault.

I look at him when he said that. This is the reason why I don't want him to know about this because I don't want him to blame himself. "It's not your fault, Asher. It was not you who stabbed me to make it your fault."

"If you didn't save me, you won't get stabbed. It's my fault, Sia. I'm sorry."

My heart softened because of what I heard. "Okay, fine. I will be honest with you. I will tell you how I feel. Just don't... blame yourself anymore," I told him.

"Anong nararamdam mo?" he asked me immediately.

"It hurts," I told him. "But I can still endure it. Please, stop blaming yourself, okay?" I even smiled at him to show that I was okay. He just shook his head and didn't talk. He stayed here and took care of me.

I was no longer surprised that in an instant, the pain I was feeling suddenly disappeared. I secretly smiled when I saw Rose who just came out of my room.

"I'm fine now, you can go home," I told him and did some stretching.

"Huh?" he stood up and approached me.

"What are you doing?" My brows furrowed when he touched the hem of my shirt.

He looked at me innocently. "Making sure if your wound is okay."

"What? Remove your hand. Are you crazy?" I hit his hand that was still holding my clothes. "What are you still doing there? I want to eat. Cook something for me."

"Kanina pinapauwi mo ako tapos ngayon uutusan mo akong paglutuan kita?" he said in amused.

"What? You don't want to? Then leave, I will cook something for myself." I told him. "Tinitigin-tingin mo diyan?" masungit na tanong ko.

"Pwede bang mag-tagalog ka naman? Mas maganda ka talaga kapag nag-tatagalog ka eh," he suddenly said.

"What does my appearance have to do with my speech?" I asked him with my brows furrowed. "Don't talk. Let's go downstairs." I cut him off and went down first. I went straight to the refrigerator to get cold water.

"What do you want to eat?" he looked at what he could cook in the refrigerator.

"Do you have anything else to cook?" I approached him and also looked at what was in my refrigerator. I fell silent and looked at him who was now looking at me as well. "What? I don't have time to go to the grocery. What do you expect?" I looked away. "Just cook this ramen for me and you're free to go."

I reached for a plastic bag of ramen and handed it to him. "What are you looking at?" I asked rudely before going to the living room to watch. "Make me some juice also!" I shouted before turning on the TV.

"Isang malakas na pagsabog ang naganap kaninang umaga, bandang 8:43 AM. Ayon sa mga nakakita, bigla nalang daw silang nakarinig ng tatlong magkakasunod na putok ng hindi malaman kung ano bago nangyari ang pagsabog. Inaaral palang ng mga pulisya ang posibleng dahilan ng pagsabog..."

"Explosion..." I whispered. While looking at the tv screen, it suddenly showed the explosion that happened in our house back then. I closed my eyes sharply especially when I heard a loud cry of a child. I stood up and hurriedly took my jacket.

"Turn off the stove. Go to Kooper and take him with you. I'll send you the address. You should be there within five minutes." I said bluntly. In just a second, I was already in front of the burning mall. I took out my phone to text Asher the address before going inside.

"Ma'am, hindi po kayo pwedeng pumasok." A policeman immediately approached me to stop me from entering.

"Get out of my way," I said seriously.

"Ang baby ko! Nasa loob ang anak ko, parang awa niyo na, tulungan niyo ako!" she said while crying, trying to make a way inside.

"I said, get out my way," I said, getting annoyed now. I pushed him with all my might before I hurried inside. I hurried up the stairs as I followed the child's cry. I entered a unit that was heavily engulfed by fire.

I sat up because of the smoke that greeted me every time I opened the door. I just breathed a sigh of relief when I found out where the child was. the fire was about to reach his crib so I quickly picked him up and hurried out.

"Come here, this is the way!" I shouted. I saw a group of high school students trying to make their way to escape from the fire. "Run faster!" I shouted again.

"Sia!" I heard Asher's voice when I got out. There was a trace of concern on his face when he approached me. "Pumasok ka sa loob? You're not fully healed yet!"

"Where's Kooper?" I asked, ignoring what he said.

"How's the baby? Akin na," he took the baby from and hurriedly get inside the ambulance.

There was another loud explosion inside so we barely bowed. "What are you doing? Don't go back inside!" he pulled my hand so I couldn't get away. "Your job is done. You don't have to go inside twice!"

"I know, I'm not going back inside!" I said for him to stop shouting. When I look at the entrance, an old man fainting while being supported by a woman. I quickly ran to them to help them.

"Sia!" Asher shouted my name again.

"I know, I know!" I raised both my hands as a sign of defeat. "Where's the ambulance? Where is Kooper? Did he take the baby to the hospital?" I asked him and he nodded. "Go to that woman over there and tell her that her baby is now at the hospital," I command him.

"Are you sure it's her baby?" he asked me so I hit him on the arm.

"Of course, I am! Tell her na, bilisan mo!" I slightly pushed him so he can move. I saw that she was in a hurry to get in the car and leave so I was able to breathe easily. "This is so annoying. I needed to get into a burning building to help." I whispered annoyed as I remove the dirt on my clothes.

"Let's go back home," I told him but he shook his head.

"I need to go to my Restaurant and check them. I received a text from them earlier. Go ahead, I'll get you something to eat. Here," he handed me a bread.

"How did you buy this?" I asked curiously.

"It was given by the mother of the baby you saved earlier. Eat that once you get home. Wait for me." He pulled me into his car. "Huwag kang pupunta kung saan. Treat your wound, babalik ako kaagad," he told me again when I got out of his car. I just nodded on him before going inside my house.

I looked at the ramen I cooked and he cooked it so I just ate it too. After eating, I go straight to my room to take another bath before taking a nap. When I woke up, I expected Asher to be here but I frowned when I saw he was still gone even though he was about to have dinner.

I took my phone and tried to call him and it took him a few seconds before answering the call. "What happened to your 'babalik ako kaagad?' I slept and woke up but you aren't still here. Are you that busy fixing at your Restaurant? Your employees are all troublemakers." I told him, I heard him laugh.

"Are you hungry? I bought food for dinner. I'll just close the Restaurant," he told me that's why I ended up the call.

I heard a doorbell that's why I felt relief. Finally, he's here! I stood up, frowning as I saw who had entered.

"I wasn't expecting someone to come. But you are here," I said rudely before sitting down again.

"Why am I not the deity you desire to see the most? You arrogant and foolish immortal being who only wished to die," she said boldly.

"So what? Did you come here to do that for me?" I crossed my arms and raised a brow at her.

"As much as I can, my sister is protecting you," she said seriously.

"Really? Just tell me you can't kill me either." I said while laughing.

"Of course, you've been out of the world for a long time if I could do that."

"Stop talking and tell me why you're here. Didn't your sister teach you that the owner of the house should invite you first before you enter?"

She barely laughed at what I said so I rolled my eyes.

"Let's just say that I'm here to give you a warning. if my sister can't, then I will. The one who's trying to kill your man, what will you do if you catch him?"

I was stunned by her question. Of course, she knew. She's also a deity after all. "I will definitely kill who that is," I answer seriously.

"But will you be able to do it?"

There was a hint of doubt in her voice so I looked at her. "What do you mean?" Kunot-noong tanong ko sa kaniya.

"I don't think so..." she shrugged before smiling lightly at me, probably trying to piss me off.

"What are you talking about?" I stood up and faced her.

"Are you annoyed? Are you getting mad at me?" she teasingly asked me but I did not answer.

"Get the hell out of my face. Get lost. Leave my house." I said boldly.

"Sia, where is the man you are waiting for now?"

"What did you do to him? I am warning you. Don't you dare lay your fingers on him." I look at her eyes sharply. "You know me when I get mad, you won't like it."

"It's not me!" she laughed while raising both of her hands. "But I'm warning you too... you'll meet the one of your weaknesses," she smirked at me. "What are you still waiting for? The man you've been trying to protect is now having trouble protecting his own life. She's on her way to kill him now."

"You..." I step forward. "I will hunt you down if anything happens to him." I hurriedly picked up my cellphone and left the house. After I came out, I tried to call him again but he still didn't answer.

My heart started beating faster when on the third call he still did not answer. Aalis na sana ako nang may biglang humawak sa kamay ko. I saw Rose with his concerned look.

"What are you doing? Let go." I told her but she shook her head.

"You won't go anywhere, Sia. I am telling you, hindi mo magugustuhan ang mangyayari kapag tumuloy ka!"

"You knew," I said. "You knew what your sister is talking to. Let go of my hand, I'll find Asher and will kill whoever I come across trying to kill him now. Let me go!"

"I will find him! I will save him. Stay still and-"

"Stay still? How the f**k will I stay still?! He surely is in danger by now! He's not answering my calls so please let go before I use my strength," I warned her.

"Give me ten minutes. Nasa harapan mo na siya pagkatapos ng sampung minuto!"

"I can't even waste a damn minute! I said let go!"

"I told you, I will protect him!"

"Let go!" With all my strength, I removed my hand from her grip. "Asher is mine to protect..."