♥♡ CHAPTER 49.5 ♡♥

♡ Author's POV ♡ 

Bliss Syden and Fortune Beatrice were both glaring at one another menacingly. Syden knew na hindi maganda ang kalalabasan kung makikipag-away siya kay Fortune that's why she had to keep herself calm. Minute passed by, napatingin silang dalawa sa pintuan na nasa likuran at bumungad sa kanila si Finn na natigilan naman ng makita silang dalawa. He seemed to be so worried ng makita ang dalawa thinking that they might be having a fight kaya agad nitong isinara ang pinto at lumapit sa kanila, "Is everything alright?" he looked at Bliss Syden with so much concern dahil baka may hindi ginawang maganda sa kanya ang presidente.

"What did you do to her?" tanong ni Finn.

"What?" iritang tanong ng presidente sa kanya at nagkibit-balikat ito, "Ako pa talaga ang may ginawa sa kanya? Why don't you ask her?" napatingin si Finn kay Syden mula ulo hanggang paa at hindi nito maiwasang mag-alala. 

"I was the one who almost did something terrible so there's nothing much to worry about me." sagot naman ni Syden kay Finn at nahalata nito ang galit sa mukha ni Syden. It was his first time seeing her act like this, "Then what are you doing here?" tanong naman ni Finn sa kanya kaya silang dalawa ang nagkatinginan. This time, just like the president...nagkibit-balikat na rin si Syden, "To take back what's mine." sagot niya na ipinagtaka naman ni Finn at napatingin ito kay Fortune. 

"What?" 

Tinignan ni Syden ang presidente at nagsalita, "Bring me to him." saad nito just like it was an order kaya hindi makapaniwalang ngumiti ang presidente. 

"I'll do as you say, pero kapag may nangyaring hindi maganda sa kanya dahil sa pagpupumilit mo..." nilapitan nito si Syden at tinapatan gamit ang seryoso nitong mata, "It's not my fault. Understand?" muli siyang lumayo kay Syden at hinarapan naman si Finn, "Phoenix, I need you to go with us. We'll show her Dean Carson." diretsong saad nito na ikinagulat ni Finn. 

"What?! Are you kidding me? You know that this is not the good time, right?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito sa presidente, "So you knew?" tanong naman ni Syden kaya nagkatinginan sila ni Finn, "Alam mo pero hindi mo sinabi sa akin?"

"For what? Para masaktan ka ulit?" pabalik na tanong ni Finn, "Nadala na nila siya dito bago ko pa man nalaman. I also had no time to talk to you dahil busy ang grupo niyo, right? And lastly, didn't Fortune tell you na nilalayo namin siya sa mga estudyante para hindi nila pagtangkaan ang buhay niya because of his current situation? It's not good to see him right now. The president is concern towards him but I am just concern about you and how you would feel."

"I don't care about how I would feel! I just badly want to see him right now! I don't even know what you're talking about tungkol sa kondisyon niya that's why I want to see him! Do you think that I would put him in danger again because of me?! That's why I'm begging you to let me see him!!" sigaw nito but at the same time, her loud voice was also pleading. Tears escaped from her eyes, nangungulila sa biglaang pagkawala ni Dean. But she knew she had to be strong kaya agad niya ring pinunasan ang mga luhang 'yon. Tears were useless that time for her, "Please! Let me see him! I know he needs me right now!" ang galit sa mga mata niya ay biglang napalitan ng kalungkutan. She almost held Fortune's hands at kulang na lang ay lumuhod na ito sa pagmamakaawa. Nagkatinginan ang dalawang officer knowing that Dean Carson is her weakness. She was willing to do anything and everything just to see him. 

"He really needs you but you yourself can't do something about his condition right now. Both of you can't handle the situation." bigla na lang itong natigilan sa sinabi ni Fortune. The president couldn't even manage to look at her directly at bahagyang napayuko ito, "W-what do you mean?" she started shaking all of a sudden dahil sa sinabi ng presidente.  

Bumuntong-hininga ang presidente at agad ring tinalikuran si Syden pagkatapos nitong magsalita, "You'll find out soon." muling natahimik si Syden hanggang sa mapatingin ito kay Finn ng hawakan nito ang braso niya, "Brace yourself. You're going to see the person you loved the most and please bear the pain." lahat ng bigat ng loob na nararamdaman nito noon ay biglang bumalik sa kanya ng marinig ang sinabi ni Finn. The way they act, alam niyang hindi siya matutuwa na makita si Dean. She wanted to see him for a long time, she promised that she would be the happiest person kapag muli silang nagkita but this time, she knew na hanggang pangarap na lang lahat ng 'yon. 

.........

Naglalakad silang tatlo sa hallway but the president and Phoenix were guarding and observing the whole time. Hindi pwedeng may makakita sa kanila at hindi rin pwedeng may nakasunod sa kanila. That's the risk they have entered for hiding Dean Carson. No one must find out about his whereabouts. If they find out about his current situation, surely maraming magbabalak na patayin siya. The strongest person became totally weak, what do you think they would do once na malaman nilang lahat ang totoo? Just like the Curse building, they will kill him and eliminate the whole group. Walang ibang inisip si Syden kundi ang makita siya, she forgot about the problem of the group at kung anong ginawa nila kay Julez but surely, proprotektahan ng grupo si Julez. Otherwise, masasayang ang sakripisyo ng leader nila. 

Sa tuwing may dumadaan, nagtatago sila. The officers' identity must not be revealed kaya bukod sa tinataguan nila ang mga estudyante para hindi malaman ang tungkol kay Dean, hindi rin pwedeng makita ang mga ito. Even though the president is wearing a mask, wala ng iba pang dapat na makaalam na may suot siyang ganito. No one knows why, but that's their priority...to hide their identity sa mga hindi naman dapat na makilala sila. Nagpapakita o nagpapakilala lang sila sa mga taong dapat silang makilala.  

Few steps ahead and they reached their destination. From 5th floor, bumaba sila sa ground floor. Tumigil sila sa tapat ng isang pintuan...it's room number 1, the old and abandoned clinic. There were chains around the lock of the door for the purpose of sealing it, at para walang makapasok. Maayos na tinignan ni Finn ang paligid para siguraduhing walang nakasunod sa kanila. Ground floor is almost abandoned dahil para sa mga estudyante, wala na rin namang saysay na bumaba pa doon dahil hindi rin naman sila makakalabas. The entrance and exit were both locked up. 

Nang masiguro na nilang walang nakasunod sa kanila, may iniabot na susi si Fortune kay Finn kaya mabilis rin nitong binuksan ang kandado at dahan-dahang tinanggal ang mga kadena. Hindi rin maiwasang marinig ang kakaunting ingay na ginawa ng mga ito. Obviously, they were assuring na wala talagang makakaalam sa kondisyon ni Dean that's why they had to do this and isolate him there habang nagpapalakas ito. Nang tuluyan ng mabuksan ang pintuan, tinignan ni Finn sina Syden at Fortune telling them that it's fine to enter now, "Don't go inside, Finn. Make sure to be on guard. If you notice something, tell us immediately." saad ni Fortune kay Finn kaya tumango naman ito. Humakbang na papasok si Fortune kaya sumunod sa kanya si Syden but before she was able to do that, hinawakan ni Finn ang braso nito kaya napatingin siya dito.

"I know I don't have the right to say this to you, but please make it fast. I can't assure na walang bababa dito any second." he said at halata sa mga mata nito ang pag-aalala. Napayuko na lang si Syden at huminga ng malalim. She felt mad pero alam niyang walang maitutulong ang galit na nararamdaman nito. She had to stay calm anuman ang makita niya. Humakbang na siya papasok sa clinic at sumalubong sa harapan nito ang isang puting kurtina. Biglang nagliwanag ang paligid ng buksan ni Fortune ang ilaw kaya napatingin siya dito, "It's not a good idea na iwanang nakabukas ang ilaw. Baka may makapansin and they might find it odd." sambit nito kay Syden. Bigla na lang napatingin si Fortune sa kurtina na nasa harapan nila kaya napatingin din si Syden doon, "That's where he is." saad nito. 

All of a sudden, Syden felt nervous and afraid kung anuman ang makikita niya. She had always been ready to see the love of her life but this time, is she really ready to meet him? Her body started shaking ng humakbang ito papalapit sa puting kurtina. Dahan-dahan niyang itinaas ang kamay niya at napansin niyang nanginginig ito. She was catching her breath that time. I can do this. I could finally see him. This is what I always wanted. She said to herself. Bawat galaw, pabigat ng pabigat. Bawat galaw, pasakit ng pasakit. Is it really an advantage to her that she could still move in this situation when it's becoming more complicated?

She finally managed to reach the white curtain at dahan-dahan itong binuksan. Finally, they met. Her eyes directly looking towards him. But his eyes who were passionately looking at her back then is not the same anymore. Ang bigat ng loob ng nararamdaman nito ay mas lalo pang bumigat when she saw him. Napatakip ito ng bibig sa nakita niya and tears started to escape from her eyes. He was lying there, just like a dead person and a living corpse. He was like in a coma for a long time. There was a machine beside his bed showing her the rate of his heart beat. It was totally low and weak. Maraming ring nakatusok sa pangangatawan nito which stabbed her more directly to the heart. The strongest one totally became the weakest. 

She knew that she couldn't look at him anymore but he needs her. Dahan-dahan niya itong nilapitan habang patuloy pa rin siya sa panginginig. She slowly held his hand at tinignan ito sa mga nakapikit nitong mata while she started to cry more, "W-what...happened to you? M-my muffin..." muli itong napatakip ng bibig, trying hard not to let out her tears bursts in pain. She knew he would be hurt kung sakaling marinig nito ang pag-iyak niya. That's one thing that hurts him. To see her cry.  

Muli nitong hinawakan ang kamay niya at bahagyang yumuko para titigan ito. Ang dati nitong matipunong katawan ay malaki na ang pinayat. Namumutla, pinagpapawisan at higit sa lahat, she could feel his suffering. Kahit nakapikit ito at walang kibo, alam niya na nahihirapan ito. She could even feel his cold body.

"I-it must have been hurt..." she couldn't bear the pain anymore so she bursted out in so much pain, "M-my Dean Carson, i-it must have been hurt, right? I'm so sorry. You needed me but I wasn't there! Tell me, how much it hurts so I could be able to help you a little! Nandito na ako! Wala ako nung pinakakailangan mo ako, but I am here right now! So wake up and look at me! I need you to tell me everything!" she didn't know what to say. She felt so guilty at hinihiling niya na sana siya na lang ang nakahiga doon at naghihirap, "Nangako ka sa akin na babalik ka dba? And here you are, you came back to me but why does it need to be like this?! You left me...a-and you were totally fine that time but why did you come back like this to me, huh?! Who did this to you?!! Do you even know how long I've waited for you?! Walang oras na hindi ako umiyak because I badly miss you but I had to bear the pain dahil nangako ka sa akin na babalik ka! I-i was with everyone the whole time, we were all waiting for you to come back! I couldn't tell anyone how much it hurts, h-hindi ko alam kung okay ka ba- kung may kailangan ka- kung kaya mo pa ba? I desperately want to see you again! P-pero...bakit ganito?!" Fortune Beatrice and Phoenix heard her and they couldn't explain how they felt that time. She could also hear his deep breathing through the oxygen support na nakalapat sa bibig nito who supplies him enough oxygen. 

Napatingin siya sa buong katawan nito and his body was full of scratches. Bukod sa sugat nito na natamo niya noon may isa pa itong saksak sa tigiliran niya, "He was stabbed...but it's not the reason kung bakit ganito ang sitwasyon niya ngayon." napatingin siya kay Fortune ng magsalita ito dahil napansin ng presidente na nakatingin ito sa bagong sugat ni Dean. 

"T-then...why is he like this?!" galit na tanong ni Syden ngunit may halong kalungkutan at pag-aalala. 

Nagkibit-balikat ang presidente at napayuko. Nagbuntong-hininga muna ito bago nagsalita, "He's currently experiencing retinal migraine...always been experiencing decrease in vision at madalas sumakit ang ulo nito. But aside from retinal migraine, he also suffers from severe headache. Normal lang na sumakit ang ulo nito after his retinal migraine but we don't know why he encounters severe headache. When it happens, he couldn't think of anything else but the pain that he feels...so much pain to the point na manghihina na siya at mahihirapan ng gumalaw. What's worst? That severe headache is causing him to scream in pain. It's like the world is burning him." napatingin na lang ulit si Syden sa kanya ng sabihin ni Fortune 'yon, "When he went to Curse building, that was also the time na madalas na niyang maranasan lahat ng 'yon. What I've said to you is just based on our investigation dahil sa naging usap-usapan ang sitwasyon niya sa Curse building. That's the reason kung bakit pinagtatangkaan ang buhay niya ngayon, because of his weakness. Maraming nakaalam sa paghihirap niya because they often heard him na sumisigaw sa sakit." dahil sa sinabi ng presidente, napatingin muli si Syden sa kanya. 

"B-but he didn't tell me na nakakaranas siya ng ganito."

"Maybe because he knew his situation, ayaw niyang makita mo siyang ganito. It's just obvious that he loves you this much. Ayaw niyang makita mo ang paghihirap niya kaya sinasarili niya ang sakit to the point that he was already killing himself." muli itong napatingin kay Dean habang nakahawak pa rin ang isa niyang kamay sa malamig na kamay nito, "We don't know kung paano at saan nag-umpisa ang sakit niya."

"But we'll know once he wakes up, right? I know he will. He already made it back, he only needs to wake up." saad nito habang maayos na tinitignan ang taong pinakahinihintay niya noon pa man, "I don't think he can." biglang napatingin si Syden kay Fortune at hindi maipaliwanag ang itsura nito dahil sa sinabi ng presidente.

"What do you mean? Hindi siya magigising?! And who exactly are you to say that?!" bahagyang napahakbang ito papalapit sa presidente dahilan upang mabitawan niya ang kamay ni Dean. Sino ba siya para sabihin 'to sa akin?! Galit na saad nito sa sarili niya. 

Bigla na lang hinawakan ng mahigpit ni Fortune ang braso ni Syden dahil sa inasal nito, "Don't you dare talk to me like that!" with that, sandali itong natigilan ng makita ang muling pagluha ni Syden. Alam niyang nasasaktan ito sa sitwasyon ni Dean but it happened at wala na silang magagawa, "Remember what we did to save him. Muntik na nila kaming makilala noong mga oras na 'yon." may diing saad nito at masama ang tingin ng dalawa sa isa't isa. Tuluy-tuloy pa rin sa si Syden sa pagluha noong mga oras na 'yon. 

But all of a sudden, ang masamang titigan ng dalawa ay biglang naglaho ng bigla silang makarinig ng sunud-sunod na tunog. Sabay silang napatingin sa makina..the electronic vital sign machine na nasa tabi ni Dean. It had rapidly beeps continuously at mas lalong bumaba ang heart rate ni Dean. Biglang gumalaw ito without even opening his eyes ngunit napansin at narinig nila ang lalim ng paghinga niya na tila anumang oras, tila mawawalan ito ng hininga. 

"He's having bradycardia! His heart beats very slow!" the president even started to panick kagaya ni Syden because the beeping sound even became louder at pabilis ng pabilis ito. 

"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THEN?!" sigaw ni Syden. Kung gaano kabilis ang tunog na naririnig nila, ganon rin kabilis ang pagtibok ng puso nito. Phoenix who was guarding outside also heard it kaya nagmadali itong pumasok, "What happened?!" gulat na tanong nito na lumapit na rin kay Dean. 

Muling hinawakan ni Syden ang kamay nito gamit ang dalawa niyang kamay just like she was already pleading, "No, no, no!! Please!! Don't do this to me, please! I'm begging you! You need to fight, kailangan mong lumaban!! Para sa ating dalawa! My Dean Carson please, don't do this to me! Wake up!! Please! Please! You are a fighter remember?! I'm here and I won't leave you...that's why don't leave me! Don't do this to me! I'm begging you!" saad nito na nanginginig na habang nakatingin kay Dean at nararamdaman nito na mas lalo pang lumalamig ang kamay nito. Cold as ice and his breathing...as heavy as what she feels. 

"Fortune, we don't have much time!" sigaw ni Finn kaya napatingin sa kanya ang presidente, "We need to tell her!" dagdag pa nito, "I-i don't think she can do it." sagot naman ng presidente kaya tinignan siya ni Syden, "May paraan pa para mailigtas siya dba?!" umiling ang presidente kaya natigilan si Syden. 

"There's only one way...but I don't think you can do it." saad nito. In a snap, natagpuan na lang nila Finn at Fortune na nakaluhod na si Syden sa harapan nilang dalawa. She also held the president's hand na tila nagmakakaawa ito habang tuluy-tuloy pa rin ito sa pag-iyak, "Please!!! I will do whatever it takes even if it costs my life!! Sabihin niyo sa akin kung anong dapat kong gawin in order to save him!! Please!!! I can't lose him! Not now! Not forever! I'm begging you! I will do anything for him! Please, let me do it for him!!! Let me save my Dean Carson!" pagmamakaawa nito sa kanila kaya nagkatinginan ang dalawa. Umiling si Phoenix dahil alam nito ang kalalabasan kapag sinabi ni Fortune ang totoo but the president had no choice. Kung nagmamakaawa na si Syden, then she would have to do it no matter how much it hurts. 

"I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means sacrificing my life. Please, let me save him." saad nito. Tila mawawalan na siya ng boses dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak at basang-basa na ang mukha niya dahil sa walang tigil na luha na tila hindi nauubos. Every word coming out of her mouth was stabbing her. She knew that she would have to sacrifice something important wherein she might be killed. She couldn't bear his pain anymore because she could feel his pain and how much he suffers. 

No one noticed but Dean Carson who was lying in the bed clearly heard how she begged them. He even told her na hindi siya luluhod para magmakaawa kahit kanino, the students should beg infront of Bliss Syden but because of his situation, the love of his life was begging for him to be saved. No one noticed but as he heard those words coming out of her mouth, tears escaped from his eyes endlessly who were still shut closed that time. 

To be continued...