Chapter 7

"Safe na ‘yong bata. Okay ka na ba?" he asked me as he handed me a bottle of water. He sat down next to me. "His father is on his way," he added. After a few minutes, a man in his normal clothes came. 

"Waki!" he shouted when he saw the child. I saw the fear in the boy's eyes before quickly running behind a policeman. "Ayos ka lang ba? Anong nangyari sa 'yo?" he asked him. The kid is trying to avoid that man's hand. 

"Ikaw ho ba ang tatay?" The policeman asked him while.

"Oo. Ano bang nangyari sa kaniya?" he asked again that's why I rolled my eyes.

"Stop acting like you didn't know what happened. You were there earlier," I said. Everyone looked at me because of what I said. "I saw you chasing him."

"A-ano bang sinasabi mo? Sino k-ka ba?" he asked in annoyance before looking at Marc again. "Waki, anak, halika na at umuwi na tayo" he said but Marc hid behind the policemen even more.

"Mawalang galang na ho, Sir. Pero base po sa kilos ng bata ay hindi niya po gustong sumama sa inyo. May nakita rin po ang nurse na mga galos sa katawan ng bata kaya kung maaari po ay kailangan po namin siyang makausap," he said politely but the man started to shout.

"Anong hindi pwede?! Uuwi na kami ng anak ko! At anong pasa? Baka dahil sa aksidente kanina! Nasaan ba ang gagong driver ng truck---"

"Kung may nasaktan man po sa nangyari kanina ay walang iba kung hindi ang babaeng nagligtas sa anak mo. At siya po 'yon," he pointed me but the man didn't even move. He was determined to take the child and leave.

"Wala akong alam sa pasa sa katawan niya! Ang akin lang, kailangan na naming umuwi dahil hinihintay na rin siya ng mga kapatid niya. Ibinilin ko lang sila sa kapitbahay namin. Halika na, Waki, umuwi na tayo!"

He forcibly grabbed the boy to pull him away from the police. "Umuwi na tayo, anak!" he said continuously as the child started to cry. I was about to intervene but Asher just grabbed my arm to stop me.

"The police can manage it," he told me before pulling me to sit down. Two policemen approached the man to stop him while the other one comforted the boy to stop crying.

"Pwede na po kayong umuwi, Ma'am. Pero mas nararapat pong dumeretso muna kayo sa hospital para siguradong okay lang po talaga kayo," he said. 

"Thank you," Asher replied to him before turning his head to me. I didn't want to leave but I had no choice. "Ako na ang bahala. Babalitaan kita kaagad tungkol sa bata. We need to make sure if you're okay first. Did you get that?" I just nodded at him. 

"You don't have to bring me to the hospital. I'm fine," I told him when I noticed that this wasn't the way home. 

"I know but I still want to make sure."

"Hindi ko ikamamatay kung meron mang masakit sa akin," I told him. "Don't take me to the hospital anymore. I want to go home. I need to talk to someone."

"I'll take you home after making sure you're okay," he told me. He quickly parked in front of the hospital and pulled me inside. 

"Excuse me, is Doc Reyes available?" he asked the nurse. 

"Kayo ho pala, Sir!" 

My brows furrowed because of the girl's reaction. There were also a few nurses looking at the man next to me. She looked at the computer before looking at Asher and me before she looked at our hands. I saw her gulp before looking at Asher again.

"Wala po. Deretso nalang po kayo sa office niya. Sasabihan ko nalang po siyang papunta na kayo," she smiled at him sweetly but her smile faded when our eyes met.

"Thank you," he thanked her before pulling me again. We took the elevator to the fourth floor.

"Are you a regular patient here?" I asked him but he didn't answer. We stopped in front of a door. He knocked thrice before opening the door. My question was answered when I saw who the doctor was.

"Alas!" he shouted before making their handshake. "Anong nangyari? Bakit ka nandito--- ohh," he stopped talking when he met my eyes. He was about to approach me but Asher suddenly stood in front of me before talking.

"Sorry for suddenly going here but you have to check on her," Asher immediately said to his friend. Kooper would have approached me to hold my foot and see what he should do but suddenly, Asher spoke again. "Huwag na pala. Okay ka lang naman diba?"

Kooper and I both looked at him confused. Both of them stared at each other for a while, then Kooper suddenly laughed before standing up and walking backward with both hands raised. "Chill, bro. I got your point," he said. 

Asher raised an eyebrow at him so he laughed even harder. "Cold compress lang para matanggal 'yong pamamaga," he said before turning his gaze to me. "Ganiyan talaga 'yan, pabago-bago ng desisyon sa buhay."

I just shook my head and asked Asher to go home. We were both quiet until we got to my house. 

"Babalitaan kita kaagad tungkol sa bata. Take a rest and do the cold compress," he said to me before smiling and leaving. When I lost sight of his car, I hurriedly go inside.

"Rose," I called her name using my tired tone of voice. She looked shocked when she appeared in front of me.

"You... you called me using my name."

Of course, because she has a name. I just prefer addressing her 'you', 'hey', 'woman', 'deity' because her name doesn't suit her at all. 

"Just this once, please give me the exact answer," I said but she did not speak. "Was that kid my brother?"

I saw that he hesitated to speak. "Yes, he is," she answered. I have completely lost my strength because of what I have heard. I looked up before smiling tiredly at her. "I'm sorry," she suddenly apologized.

"You don't have to. Just like what you've said, this is all my fault," I told her. I stood up and patted her on the shoulder. "Thank you... for answering my question. I won't ask anymore. I'm going to sleep now, you can stay here as long as you want. Just close the door when you leave."

I went straight to my room. When I closed the door, I leaned against it and covered my mouth as my tears started to fall. 

-----

Third Person's POV

She was just looking at the woman who was now asleep in tears while sitting. She didn't know how she would feel for the woman. In the end, she lifted the woman before laying her on the bed so she could sleep well.

"Hindi mo kasalanan. Wala kang kasalanan. Nasabi ko lang 'yon kasi kailangan." The girl told her while she fixes her hair that went to her face. "It was my fault. From then until to this day, there is still nothing I can do to protect you."

She stayed long next to her as she relived the memories they had shared together. "Hang in there for a while, Sia. I'll do everything so I can protect you... like what you did to me." She finally stood up and fixed the blanket and got out before he took the cellphone out of his pocket and called someone.

"She needs you," she said when the person answered the call. "Alessia needs you."

-----

I don't know how I fell asleep. I just woke up in bed which surprised me. I looked at the door where I was last night before shaking my head. Maybe I got up and lay down on the bed but I just don't remember. 

I got up and took a bath before going down to cook breakfast but I was surprised to see someone in the kitchen. I was about to do something when he suddenly turned around and faced me which surprised me even more. "You..." I said in shock, "... what are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"Someone let me in," he replied and I frowned.

"Who?"

"Iyong babae na kasama mo nung unang nagkita tayo," he answered. 

"Did she leave as soon as you arrived?" I asked him again. Maybe she slept here last night and left early.

"She was about to leave when I arrived," he said to me before looking away. “Umupo ka na para makakain ka.”

"What made you go here early in the morning?" I asked him curiously as I put food on my plate.

He cleared his throat before averting his gaze for a while. "Nothing. I thought of a new dish that I plan to include in the menu at the restaurant and I want you to be the first to taste it," he said. I nodded and started to taste what he cooked. He just stared at me while waiting for my reaction. "How was it?" 

"Wow," I said before eating again. I looked at him while chewing. "It tastes so good!" He laughed softly because of my reaction. "What time did you get here?" I suddenly asked him.

"An hour before you woke up," he smiled before looking away again. 

"Did you guys talk for a little?" I asked him again.

"No. She also left immediately after she let me in," he replied, looking away again which made my brows frown.

"Why do you keep on looking away? You've been doing that since earlier while answering my question. Are you lying to me?"

"Huh?" he asked in shock. "I just can't stare at you because... your eyes are swollen," he replied but I was not convinced.

"You're not good at lying," I said but he just smiled at me. I just kept eating.

Someone called Asher but I ignored it and just ate. I usually don't eat a heavy breakfast but because the food was so delicious, I had a lot today. I was currently drinking when he came back. I just stared at him until he sat down in front of me again.

"I received a call about uh... the father of that kid," he said hesitantly. I stopped drinking and listened to him. "The police found out that he was not the real father and it turned out that he usually hurt him that's why the kid is full of bruises."

"What?" My blood seemed to boil because of what I heard. "Where is he right now? I'll go to him," I was about to stand up but he suddenly spoke.

"He's dead." My eyes widened. "He was found dead inside their house."

"How?" I asked in shock. "I still need to see him. what kind of stupid being that preceded me in the thing I should have done," I said in irritation.

"Let's go together. I already told the police that we're going there," he said. We went to the crime scene together. I just kept quiet while wondering who could possibly have killed him before I even could.

There are so many police around the area while the others are trying to stop people who want to get inside. Asher spoke to a policeman so we could go inside. The man's body was taken out so the people became silent and so did I. 

"Nako, tama nga ang hinala ko. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay baka may nakaaway nga 'yan. Mabuti nalang wala ang mga bata kung hindi ay baka pati sila napatay din."

I heard women muttering as the ambulance carrying the corpse left.

"Paanong may kaaway eh kay Waki lang naman malupit ang lalaking 'yan. Ang sabi ng asawa ko ay may nakita raw siyang babaeng pumasok diyan at paglabas ay may bahid ng dugo sa kaliwang kamay. Ibig sabihin, babae ang pumatay sa kaniya."

Asher went back to me and told me that we can now go inside. What I had heard earlier remained in my head. When we got inside the house there was nothing messed up with things except the blood.

"We only saw a flower beside him when we got here," the policeman said. We didn't stay long inside either because we didn't get anything. I still wonder why he died suddenly and what does the flower they saw mean?

"What about his kids?" I suddenly asked Asher.

"Ang sabi ng mga pulis ay kinuha nila ang dalawa pang mga bata dahil iyon ang sinabi ni Waki sa mga pulis," I just nodded at him. "Let's go." I was surprised when he suddenly said that to me.

"Where?"

"You need to pay for what I've done for today."

"Huh?"

He pointed to the house. "I made you go inside even though it's not allowed. I used some of my connections which I rarely do, you know? So, you need to pay for that," he smiled at me widely. "Let's go out!"

I didn't complain anymore. We just did a roundtrip until late at night and we decided to have dinner first before going home. We were both just quiet while waiting for our order.

"Can I ask you something?" he suddenly said but I just nodded. "What if... that happens to me?"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked him in confusion.

“Paano kapag bigla akong namatay? ‘Yong unexpected talaga? What will you do?" I stared at him for a long time because of his question. 

"First of all, I won't let that happen," I said to him before taking a sip on my juice.

"Come on, I was just wondering. Will you regret it because I can no longer give my body to you? Will you regret that you didn't take my body right away?"

"If ever that happens," he adjusted his seat and gave me his full attention when I spoke, "I will do everything to bring your life back."

"Is that even possible?" he asked. 

I shrugged. "I don't know but I'm sure that's the first thing that I'll do if you ever die," I smiled and met his eyes. "Don't die without my permission," I said seriously. "You have to live and do many things for me. Keep staying by my side, Asher."