The Place Where We Belong

*Ivy's POV*

"Babe.."

Gumising ako ng maaga para makauwi agad. I needed to escape. I can't face anyone after what happened. Hiyang hiya ako sa nagawa ko.

I didn't expect to see him when I come home.

Nakaupo siya sa sala pagdating ko.

"Pwede ba tayo mag-usap?" He said without looking at me.

"S-sure.."

Iniwan ko muna yung gamit ko sa may pintuan tsaka umupo sa tapat niya.

I was too scared to sit beside him because I couldn't understand his expression.

Sinabi na kaya sa kanya ni Gab yung ginawa ko..?

Is that the reason why he wanted to talk?

"I'm sorry, Ivy."

"Huh?"

Sorry?

"I can't do this any longer."

"Do what?"

"Alam ko na yung totoo."

Alam niya na??

Paano ko ba ipapaliwanag yung nangyari?

"Nathan, I--"

"Do you mind listening to my story?"

I nodded and kept my eyes from him.

"Nung nagising ako, sinabi nilang wala na tayo." He said. "You said the same thing that time, Ivy. Pero bakit biglang nagbago?"

"..."

"The very next day, Theia was there in my room. She kept insisting na girlfriend ko siya. Na naghiwalay na tayo." Ramdam ko yung titig niya sa'kin. "I was so sure of the fact that I love you kaya hindi ako nakinig sa kanila. I rejected the theraphy and left the hospital kasi wala naman akong kailangang maalala."

I couldn't look back at him..

"I only did what they wanted me to do pero hindi ko inakala na dahil dun, I'll start questioning my own memories."

Is he really telling me this?

"I did my first theraphy the day you ran to me while crying. I knew I'd hurt your feelings kapag nalaman mo yung ginawa ko so I stopped."

Si Tita.

She really helped him.

"I didn't mean to hurt you but whenever she's near, ang dami kong naaalala." He said. "Unti unti kong narerealize na hindi na ikaw yung taong naaalala ko.."

Tears started falling.

"I waited, Ivy."

"..."

"Hinintay kong sabihin mo sa'kin yung totoo pero habang nagdududa ako, mas lalo mong tinago.."

"N-nathan.."

He knew.

Mas madami pa siyang alam kaysa sa inaakala ko.

And it hurts to know na nagpanggap siyang walang naaalala dahil ayaw niya kong masaktan.

He trusted and chose me despite of knowing the truth.

"Y-you love her so much, Nathan.." I said. "Mas minahal mo siya kaysa sa'kin and I wanted that same love.."

I didn't know that you can love her more than what you gave me..

"Kasi natutunan ko yun sa'yo."

Natutunan niya sa'kin?

"You made me realize the things that I lack when we broke up, Ivy." Sabi niya. "So when I met Theia, I vowed to myself that I will never lose her the same way I lost you. Kaya minahal ko siya ng sobra sobra pa sa sarili ko."

"When you asked me if I love you, I knew that I did but what I felt now wasn't the same as before.."

Alam ko yun pero pinilit ko parin..

"I'm so sorry I left y-you.." I cried. "I didn't had a choice that time.."

Kung mababalik ko lang yung panahon, I would never leave you again.

"Alam kong mahirap din yung nangyari para sa'yo--"

"STOP BEING UNDERSTANDING!"

"Ivy---"

"H-hindi mo parin ba maintindihan kung ano yung ginawa ko??!" I shouted at him. "You should be mad at me! Sinaktan ko kayong dalawa. I took you away from her. Kung hindi dahil sa'kin, masaya na sana kayo.."

Hindi siya sumagot at bigla niya kong niyakap.

"B-bakit ba hindi ka nalang magalit sa'kin??!" Tanong ko. "You can curse all you want, Nathan! Wag lang ganito.."

I did terrible things..

I don't deserve his sympathy..

His hug made me regret everything that I did..

"Because I can't blame you for what happened, Ivy." Sagot niya. "I had dreams and heard voices pero hindi ako nakinig kaya may kasalanan rin ako.."

He let me go and wiped my tears away.

"Can't you s-stay?"

"Alam natin parehas na hindi yun pwede."

"P-pero.."

"Our time together was wonderful and I can't deny that." He said. "But that chapter of our lives already ended. We need to go back to the place where we belong now."

"At s-saan yung sa'kin??"

Paano kung wala nang tao para sa'kin?

"You had your own place, Ivy." Sabi niya. "You just have to let him know that you want to return."

Nathan left.

Iniwan niya na talaga ako.

"Ai.."

"Tita.."

She was there. She hugged me.

"Bakit ganun??" I cried. "Nakalimutan niya na si Theia pero mahal niya parin siya.."

"Because the heart never forgets, Ai."

"I'm so ashamed, Tita.." I told her. "Ang dami kong ginawa sa kanilang dalawa pero bakit hindi manlang siya nagalit sa'kin??"

"We do crazy things for love." Sagot niya. "Pwede naman siya magalit but he chose to understand you.."

"Hindi ko deserve yun.."

I don't even deserve to be forgiven..

"Then be deserving."

******

*Nathan's POV*

"She's sleeping, Nathan."

"Thank you po, Tita."

"No, thank you." She said. "For understanding her situation."

It's the only way I can repay you, Tita.

"Please stay with her."

"I will."

I hang up.

"Are you ready, Nathan?"

"Yes, Doc."

I went back to the hospital because I have a scheduled theraphy session with Dra. Lopez.

I need to remember everything that happened before she wakes up.

Para paggising niya, pwede na kami bumalik sa isa't isa.

"This will be the same process as before." Sabi niya. "Don't push yourself so hard, okay?"

I nodded and closed my eyes.

"In the count of three, Nathan." She said. "One, two, three."

It's the day of Theia's operation.

Tita Ella told us that it usually take atleast 45 to 1 hour before she wakes up pagtapos siya operahan.

Her schedule is at 8.

It's 6 and I wanted to make sure hindi ako magkakamali sa pagtugtog ng piano sa harapan niya.

🎶A dangerous plan, just this time

A stranger's hand clutched in mine

I'll take this chance, so call me blind

I've been waiting all my life

Please don't scar this young heart

Just take my hand

I was made for loving you

Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through

Every bone screaming

I don't know what we should do

All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you---🎶

"CODE BLUE! CODE BLUE!"

I turned around.

Nakabukas yung pintuan ng piano room kaya rinig ko yung ingay sa labas.

Anong nangyayari?

"CODE BLUE ROOM 412!!"

412??

That's Cole's..

I stood up and rushed to her room.

"Ma, calm down." I heard Ate said. "She's going to be fine."

"Ate.."

"Nathan.." Mama hugged me.

"What's happening??" I asked. "Anong ginagawa nila kay Cole??"

"She's having a cardiac arrest, Nathan.."

Ang daming nakapaligid sa kanya.

One person was performing a cpr on her.

"Clear!"

They continued doing it for I don't know how long.

Habang tumatagal, lalo akong natakot na baka mawala na siya sa'min.

"What are you doing??!" Lumapit agad si Mama sa kanila.

Cole's doctor covered her body with the white sheet.

"I'm really sorry, Mrs. Go.."

"No, you can't do this!" She said. "Kailangan niyong ibalik yung anak ko!"

"Ma.." Ate went to her.

"We've been staying here para gumaling siya and now you'll tell me sorry??!!"

"Maibabalik ba ng sorry niyo yung anak ko??!"

"..."

"Nicole, anak.." She removed the sheet covering her. "Please, gumising ka na.. Please.."

"Ma, stop."

"No, Naomi! Hindi niya tayo pwedeng iwan.." Sagot ni Mama. "Hindi pwede.."

"Nicolee..."

******