Chapter 69

Sky's POV

Sir Lance grabbed a chair and placed it beside Lenard's bed. He sat there while I and Hillary are sitting on the couch in front of them. "He has a huge crush on you, Hillary," he suddenly uttered. I was a little surprise, but Hillary is just staring at Lenard. "Before he was diagnosed to have a stage four Cirrhosis, he's really wanting to introduce himself to you," he added, showing us a smile, but he really sounded so sad, no doubt.

"Sir," I uttered and they all looked at me. "Ano po 'yong sakit na 'yan?" I asked.

"It is a disease in which liver cells become damaged," he replied.

"Parang liver cancer po?" I asked again and he nodded. Sh*t, that is so risky. There's only a little percent of chance na mabubuhay pa siya lalo na't nasa end-stage na siya, that is life-threatening. Damn!

"Sir, mabubuhay pa ba siya?" Hillary asked and I just bit my lower lip. Surely, she won't like what will Sir Lance's answer.

He smiled bitterly. "Ang alam ko lang pwede siyang mawala ngayon, later, tomorrow, next week, kahit anong oras," he replied. I can see that he's so down right now, but the way he speaks and the way he looks at his younger brother is so admirable, he's really trying his best to be strong. "He has made a bucket list at gusto niyang magawa lahat bago siya mawala," he uttered again. "He had accomplished it all, but there's one more left," he looked at Hillary, "he wants you to know that he exists, he wants to get to know you," he added.

Hillary wiped her tears, "I knew him already. He's my schoolmate before," she said.

Sir Lance smiled, "really? Akala niya kasi you've never noticed him. Masyado ka raw kasi'ng sikat sa dati niyong school kaya 'di ka niya malapitan," he replied.

"Hindi ho, tandang-tanda ko ho siya. Siya 'yong lalaki na lagi po akong binbigyan ng letter," she started weeping again. I caressed her back to make her feel better, "nagulat na lang ho ako bigla ho siyang nawala," she added.

"I guess that was the time na nag-umpisa na 'yong sakit niya," said Sir Lance, who is now teary-eyed.

Hillary stood up and walked closer to Lenard. She sat in bed and held Lenard's hand. We are all surprised when he wakes up.

"God, he awakens after a week," Sir Lance uttered out of himself. Mas lalo akong naamaze sa nangyayari.

He's been looking at Hillary, who's now crying, "hi," she greeted him. "I'm Hillary Madrigal," she used the surname Madrigal, 'yan kasi 'yong gamit niya dati at 'yan din siguro ang alam nitong si Lenard, "it's nice to meet you, Lenard," she continued, and even if it's really hard for him to nod, he still did, and he even smiled a bit. "Natupad mo na 'yong isang natitira sa mga bucket list mo. I'm so happy for you," Hillary uttered again in tears.

Sir Lance also held his other hand, weeping, and I also couldn't stop to cry, but I wiped it too soon. "Nard, are you happy?" he asked and Lenard nods once again.

Hillary hugged him, "thank you that for once you noticed me and even had a crush on me, thank you. I know God will always bless you," she almost whispered.

Hillary's really a good person and shame on me because I can't even count how many times I hurt her.

***

Nagpaalam sa'min si Lenard na muli siyang matutulog, so we bid our goodbye too soon, then we decided to go downstairs.

Sinamahan kami ni Sir Lance hanggang sa labas ng bahay niya. "Hillary, thank you," he said with a smile. It's written on his face that he's really happy now.

"No worries, Sir," Hillary replied, smiling, too. "Sobrang saya ko po na nagkakilala kami," she added.

"I'm sure he's happy, too," he uttered, pertaining his younger brother. "I'm sorry ulit kung 'yon 'yong ginawa kong alibi, Hillary, ha? Hindi ko kasi alam kung paano kong sasabihin sa'yo nang diretso," he added.

"Okay lang po 'yon, pero ang tagal niyo pong binalak na sabihin sa'kin," Hillary laughed, "kung sinabi niyo po siguro agad, baka mas lalo pa po naming nakilala 'yong isa't isa."

She's right, but maybe Sir Lance finds it so hard to tell it to her. Imagine he's been trying for almost a year. Mabuti na lang talaga at sinabi niya na rin sa wakas.

"Akala ko kasi hindi mo 'ko paniniwalaan kapag sinabi ko 'yong tungkol kay Lenard. Pasensya na talaga," said Sir Lance.

"Okay lang po 'yon," Hillary replied.

He looked at me and said, "Sky, maraming salamat din at sinamahan mo si Hillary."

"No problem, Sir," I replied with sincerity.

"Sige, Sir, mauna na ho kami," Hillary said and she hugged him. Sir Lance just pat my arm, then we finally leave.

While we're in the car, Hillary has been so silent. I guess she's still thinking of what just happened.

"Sky," she suddenly called me and so, I glanced at her. "Akala ko talaga at first may gusto sa'kin si Sir Lance," she said and that makes me chuckled. "Tss. Oo na, ako nang feeler," she even rolled her eyes inwardly.

"Actually, we got the same thinking," I said and she looked at me so surprised. "I also thought he likes you, 'yon pala naghahanap lang siya ng tamang oras para sabihin sa'yo 'yong tungkol kay Lenard," I continued.

"Oo nga, eh. Ang weird niya kasing tumingin."

"Right. Since the first day of school, no'ng first-year pa tayo until the past days iba talaga 'yong tingin niya, eh."

She chuckled, "napapansin mo rin pala," she said and rested her head in the window.

"Hindi ko mapigilang pansinin," I replied.

I was wondering why she suddenly became silent again. And, I know she's just staring at me, I can clearly see it through my peripheral vision.

"Sky," her voice is so serious, "kamusta ka nga pala?" I am really confused why she said that, all of a sudden.

"I'm fine," I replied. But, not totally fine. I'll be honest, I always miss to bond with her. After we went back from Madrid, we no longer had a moment together, I mean hanging out together, playing archery, talking about some stuff while eating and all those things we did when we're still fine. Well, I know that the friendship we have now is not the same as what he had before. Things changed, but I somehow don't like it. 

"Masaya ako na okay ka," she then looked outside.

"Hillary..."

"Yes?"

"...can we...forget about the distance? Can we just...bring back the old us?"

She looked at me for a second, then she looks back outside, "we can never bring it back as long as I still love you," she said and that made me became muted.

After a minute, I parked the car at the corner. She's confused as she looked at me. I stared straight to her eyes and I said, "Hillary, let's try."

Her brows knitted, "t-try, what?" she asked, indeed so confused.

"Let's date," I replied too soon.