"2"

A few minutes had passed and Angela finally received a text na nasa Building na ng St. Luke's si Karinna, buong akala nya eh magkasama ang dalawa ni Adda. Which is why panic instantly overcame her when she noticed that the lady in front of her was standing alone. Without a doubt in her mind she knows that if Emmanuel and Karinna end up meeting each other, it would end as dirty and as messy as it did before.

Nagmadaling bumaba at tumakbo papalabas ng elevator ang dalaga. Laking pasasalamat nya naman sa Diyos ng maabutan nya na nakatayo at naghihintay si Karinna sa information Center ng hospital.

As expected maraming paparazzi ang nakatayo at naghihintay sa labas ng Hospital. This is one of the things na iniiwasan ng Visencio family, na hanggang sa huling hininga ni Vince eh ginagawa pa rin siyang laman ng dyaryo at hanggang ngayon pinag-pipyestahan ng tao.

Angela mustered the last courage that she had and approached the latter. "Ms. Karinna, pwede po bang hintayin nyo muna si Miss Addalyn? Delikado po kasi talaga, lahat po sila... Nag-aaway na, pag nakita ka po nila, lalo na. Umalis nalang po kaya kayo. Hindi po talaga magandang ideya to." Pilit na pinigil ng dalaga ang pag-akyat ni Karinna papuntang elevator pero hindi nag patinag ito.

"I don't care." Karinna answered firmly. Straight faced and as serious as ever. "I'm going to see him."

She didn't care as to what would happen after this. Sampalin man sya, bugbugin man sya o sabunutan man sya... She knows that she can take every blow that they'll give her. What she couldn't take is not seeing the man that she used to love dying and not even saying goodbye.

Hinawakan ni Angela ang pulso ni Karinna at pilit na hinihigit ito paatras at papalayo sa kwarto ng binata. "Ate, please! Wala pa si Miss Addalyn! Hintayin nalang natin sya oh! Mag-isa ka lang, galit sila lahat sayo!"

Hinigit ni Karinna papalayo ang kamay nya mula kay Angela hangang tuluyan ng makabitaw ito. "Angela, please. Sa loob ng dalawang buwan na to, I've received numerous death threats na parang ilang beses narin nila ako pinatay. Alam mo ba kung gaano ka sakit yun?" Karinna had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from crying. She cried almost every single day because of this, and somehow, she became cold. Insensitive as to how the world hated her when the police finally figured out the identity of her frustrated murderer. "Sobrang sakit..." Her hands began to shake and she felt the familiar tingles and pain in her chest and eyes. "...pero wala ng mas sasakit pa sa nararamdaman ko ngayon. Sana naman, wag niyo siyang ipag-damot sakin."

Angela remained frozen in place as she watched Karinna walk straight to Vince's room. Pinag-dasal na lang nya, na sana walang gulo na mangyari.

*****

The door slowly opened and closed immediately after she set foot on that dangerous ground.

"Ate Karinna?" Nagitlang binulong ni Ritzel ng makita nya ito na nakatayo sa may pintuan.

"Ang kapal ng..." No words can describe the amount of hate that Bernadette felt when he saw the person who walked in, standing fearless in front of them. "...ang lakas ng loob mong magpunta dito."

Parang wala lang narinig si Karinna at nagsimula siyang maglakad papalapit sa kama na kinakahigaan ni Vince. She felt as if it's she was dragged back on that fateful day. Nung binaril si Vince at niyakap niya itong duguan. Na sa yakap nya unti-unting naghingalo ang binata, hanggang sa dumating na ambulansya. Na maski ilang araw siyang walang tulog basta masilayan lang na humihinga ito... Hanggang natigil ang lahat dahil sa malaking kaguluhan at kasiraan sa pangalan nya nung nalaman na ng publiko kung sino ang gustong magpa-patay sa kanya.

"Bernadette... Tama na yan." Pangunang banta ni Rosa sa anak nya.

"Ma, paano mo nakakayang tingnan ang babaeng ito? If it wasn't for her husband's crazy mistress eh di sana hindi magkakaganito si Vince." Bernadette stared at the woman in front of him, eyeing her from head to toe. He felt a strong sense of distaste within, making his stomach curl and his body shake in disgust. He used to love her, but now, the loved and adornment he used to feel for her turned to hate and utter disgust. "Hindi-hinding ko hahayaang makalapit ka pa dito. Tonta!"

Karinna was about to take another step so that she can reach and have a close look at Vince, but before she could even walk, pinigilan na agad siya ni Bernadette at nag-matapang itong tumayo sa harap nya.

"I can't believe you, how can you even show yourself here? Ano ba ang kinakain mo at sobrang kapal ng mukha mo. Ni luha sa mata mo, wala? Do you even feel guilty or sorry?" Bernadette's questions shot like daggers at Karinna, yet she chose to remain silent and patient. She laid her eyes on the man lying on the bed, watching as the machine kept him alive. Barely.

"So ano pala ang gusto mo kaya ka nandito? Para makita ng Pres at paparazzi na nandito ka? Para malinis ang pangalan at napaka-dumi mong apelyido at makabawi ka? Para masabi ng tao na affected ka? Para pagkalipas ng ilang taon, o sa Eulogy ng kapatid ko mag-aala biktima ala congrejo ka ng kaawaan ka ng lahat, ganun ba?!"

"Bernadette! That's enough!" Sa sobrang lakas ng sigaw ni Rosa, halos lahat ng tao sa kwarto ay lumingon sa kanila. Napatigil ang mga naka-toka na Nurse at pinagmasdan ng tahimik ang nangyayari. "If you can't say anything good, then leave."

Bernadette breathed in and out heavily before storming out of the room, leaving a trace of silence on his path.

Rosario came forth to Karinna at hinawakan nya ang braso ng dalaga. "I know you're here for a reason." Mahinang bulong nya sa dalaga at napakagat sya sa labi ng napansin nya ang namumugtong mata nito. "You have to hurry... We don't have much time, we have a little to an hour left bago nila... Patayin ang machine ng anak ko... The donor needs his kidneys, ASAP."

Ng marinig ito ng dalaga, para syang pinag-bagsakan na syang tuluyan ng langit at lupa. Bakit ngayon lang sya nag kalakas ng loob pumunta? Kung kelan halos huli na pala ang lahat. Tumulo na ang kanyang luha at hindi na napigilang umiyak ng dalaga. Lumapit na sya sa kama kung saan nakahiga ang lalaking nagligtas sa kanya, at hinahawakan ang nanlalamig na kamay nito.

"Vince..." Karinna's whisper was broken, soft and pleading. Her lips was close to his ears, praying and hoping that he can hear her. "I'm so sorry..." Mas lumakas ang pag-iyak ng dalaga at hinalikan ang noo nito.

"I know that this is too late for me to say... But I hope you can hear me anyway..." Karinna gently swipes off his bangs from his face to have one final look at him. "...I should've chosen you. Dapat ikaw nalang pala..." Muling humagulhol ang dalaga at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ng binata. "Natakot kasi ako sa mga sasabihin ng tao. I wished I was as courageous as you. And now, I regret it cause I may never have another chance with you... Pero wag kang mag-alala... Dahil pag kinuha ka nila, I swear, I'll follow you. I don't feel like living anymore, para narin kasi akong patay. That's why... Let me come with you."

"Karinna." Nanglaki ang mata ni Rosa sa mga narinig nya mula sa dalaga.

Humarap si Karinna at ngumiti sa ina ni Vince. "Thank you po, for letting me see your son." Ang huli niyang sinabi bago siya lumakad papalayo. Pero bago pa man makarating ng pintuan ang dalaga, bigla itong bumagsak sa sahig at nawalan ng malay.

"Oh my God, ate Karinna!" Sigaw ni Ritzel, tumakbo agad sya papalapit sa dalaga at agad tumawag at sumigaw ng saklolo. "Nurse, please!"

Lalapit na sana si Rosa at tutulong na ibangon si Karinna ng bigla siyang makarinig ng...

"Ka...Karinna?" Mahina man ito pero hinding hindi nya malalampasan ang boses at salita ng kanyang anak. "Vince, my boy! Vincent Louie ko!" Sigaw nya at agad na tumakbo papalapit kay Vince.

"Doc, nagsalita ang anak ko! Ritzel, Jennylyn! Call doctor Salazar, right now!" Rosa screamed as tears continuously fell from her eyes. Hope has arised, a new day is waiting for them.