CHAPTER 19

                                    

                                          
CHAPTER 19
                          
NABITAWAN NI LUCKY ang baril nang pumutok iyon. Agad niyang mariing ipinikit ang mga mata nang naramdaman ang likidong tumilamsik sa mukha niya at narinig ang pagbagsak ng kung ano sa sahig. 
                          
Mommy! 
                          
Lucky immediately opened her eyes and saw her mother unconscious on the floor, blood pooling around her. Lumuhod siya sa tabi ng ina at pinakatitigan ang katawan nitong nababalot ng dugo. 
                          
Namamalisbis ang luha sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa inang walang malay. Kapagkuwan ay bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay niyang nababalot din ng dugo. 
                          
"Bakit ako may dugo?" tanong niya sa sarili. 
                          
Tumingin siya uli sa mommy niyang nakahandusay sa sahig. "Mommy? What did I do? Please don't be mad. Mommy—"
                          
"Mommy... Mommy..."
                          
Lucky opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling as her memory kept replaying in her head. The shooting, her mom on the floor... she pulled the trigger. 
                          
I killed her. 
                          
Pero bakit nakalimutan niya 'yon? Bakit ngayon lang niya naalala ang kasamaang ginawa niya?
                          
Napakurap-kurap si Lucky nang may humaplos sa pisngi niya at tinuyo ang luha niya. Her heart lightened a little when she saw Blake. 
                          
"Hey, baby." He smiled. He had bloodshot eyes and he looked tired.
                          
Umangat ang kamay niya para haplusin ang mukha nito pero hinuli nito ang kamay niya, saka hinalikan ang likod n'on. 
                          
"How are you feeling?" His voice was shaking. "Feeling better, baby? Are you tired? Feeling uncomfortable? Tell me, I'll do something about it."
                          
With all the strength she had, she intertwined their hands and she smiled. "I'm feeling better than the last time we talked."
                          
He looked relieved. "That's good to hear."
                          
Kumawala siya sa pagkakahawak ng kamay nila ni Blake para haplusin ang pisngi nito. "You look tired."
                          
He smiled. "I'm okay."
                          
"Nagpahinga ka ba?"
                          
Natigilan ito bago sumagot. "I couldn't. Natatakot akong umalis sa tabi mo, baka may mangyaring hindi maganda. Gusto ko nandito lang ako."
                          
She didn't want to worry him but looked like he'd be more worried if he was not here. 
                          
Umayos si Lucky ng higa at napakunot ang noo nang mapansing may kakaiba sa ibaba ng balikat niya. Bahagya niyang nililis ang hospital gown na suot at napaawang ang mga labi nang makitang may bagay na bahagyang lumilitaw mula sa loob ng balat niya. 
                          
"W-what is that?" May takot sa boses niya.
                          
"It's a pacemaker," sagot ni Blake, saka hinawakan ang kamay niya at pinisil para pakalmahin siya. "It will help you feel better as we wait for a donor."
                          
Dahil sa sinabi nito, naalala niya ang narinig niyang usapan nito at ni Blaze. 
                          
"You're not doing it, right?" she asked then shook her head. "Don't give your heart to me, Blake. Hindi ako sasaya, tandaan mo 'yan."
                          
"But you'll live."
                          
"Not in expense of your life." Her eyes watered. "Huwag mo nang iisipin 'yon. I can wait. I don't mind—"
                          
"I do." Bumuga ito ng marahas na hininga. "Hindi ko kayang makita kang ganito, na maputla ka at parang walang buhay. I want to see your bright smile again, Lucky. I want to see you happy. I want to see you clap in glee."