Chapter 67
A/N: I would be calling the real Elena in the body of May as Elena, and real May as May. P.S Ngayon palang humihingi na ako ng tawad 😂 Hindi kasi ako mahilig sa third person POV.
Third Person's POV
"Why are you still awake Elena? Dapat nagpapahinga ka ngayon," Chase asked but despite his slightly elevated tone, his tone was gentle.
Elena was sitting by the swing facing the sea while waiting for the sun to rise. Elena was wide awake despite the fact that it was already three in the morning. Her eyes sparkled along with the bright star in the midnight sky, and her face was calm and placid amid the serene field.
"I just wanted to see the sun rising for the last time," Elena whispered softly.
Chase looked downcast at the woman he loves. Her delicate white complexion and tiny body were highlighted by the moonlight. His usually playful facade was nowhere to be found. He placed a white knitted throw blanket on Elena's thin shoulder. He didn't like how Elena stated the word 'last time'.
"What are you saying? It's not good for your health to be staying up late. Come on, dadalhin na kita sa kwarto mo," Chase answered trying to pull her up.
Elena shook her head, gazed up into the sky, and let out a long, deep sigh.
"If I'm still the old Elena I wouldn't have the chance to look at the sky. I would just be scanning through the piled-up paperwork," Elena paused for a while before she gazed at Chase. "Thank you for showing this paradise to me Chase. And I'm sorry na hindi ko kayang suklian ang pagmamahal mo."
Lumapit si Chase kay Elena at hinawakan ang mga kamay nito.He was fighting back tears as he realized Elena was saying her final farewell. He is conscious of the fact that he would be losing the first woman he has ever loved. But the idea of losing her was something he refuses to accept.
"Isang linggo na ang lumipas sa oras na ibinigay ng doctor. Nakaya mong lagpasan 'yon at alam kong kakayanin mo pa. I believe in you, Elena. You are Elena Perez and giving up is not in your vocabulary. Not even that illness can stop you. I don't want to hear those words, it's like you're saying goodbye to me forever," Chase stated as he kissed the back of her hand. "And it's not over yet, I still have time to make you fall in love with me. It's not game over yet."
'Kung natuturuan lang ang puso. Will I be able to love this guy? The annoying, self-centered, and persistent guy? He added color to my dull life, he gave me another reason to live when I already gave up,' Elena thought to herself. She bitterly smiled as the last thought came in her mind. 'But I cannot love him more than a friend. My heart already belonged to someone else.'
"The painkillers are not working Chase," Elena weakly smiled, pain was evident in her eyes. "I want you to live, I want you to move forward and find the girl that was meant for you. And it's not me Chase."
The sobering reality hit him. If he just didn't run away will he have a chance? Will everything be different? His eyes welled up with tears. He isn't prepared for it. He's not ready for her to leave, and he never will be. He stood up and knelt in front of Elena, holding her hand.
"I could only love once Elena at ikaw lang ang babaeng mamahalin ko panghabay buhay," he softly carassed Elena's hand, while saying, "Once a Rodriguez fall in love, it would be the first and last."
Elena cupped Chase's face and stared straight back to his eyes. "I might be your first but I know I wouldn't be the last. You will find someone who could give you the love you deserve, you will come to find your very own version of Luke like how I found mine. Someone who would love you unconditionally and someone you could love with no limit."
A weak smile formed on Elena's lips. Chase pulled her into a hug. No, he doesn't want to lose her. He is ready to battle to death just to fight for the woman he fell in love with.
"Kilala kita Chase. No, don't do it. I want you to continue living. I want you to move forward. It might be the end of my story but you still have another chapter to make," Elena protested. "Live and when it's time, let us meet in hell since 'di ka matatanggap sa langit," Elena laughed.
Chase remained silent. Her laughter was a piece of music to his ears but the thought of hearing this for the last time terrified him. How can he continue living if he had to live his life without her? Her smile, her annoyed face, her comeback statements, her whole existence, he couldn't imagine a world without her. Since she came into his life, he had come to learn that life is beautiful and he had come to know the feeling of love. Everything was just a game for him but she changed him. He didn't think he was capable of loving but she proved him wrong.
"Come on where's the usual annoying jerk?" Elena joked, trying to lighten up the mood.
"I love you. I really, really love you. And losing you is my death," Chase answered in a straight-face.
"What am I the grim reaper?" Elena tried to joke but Chase remained silent which led her to being serious again. "Listen, just because I'm dying doesn't mean you'll also have to lose yourself in the process. Chase, before I die I want to see the old Chase back. The jerk who gets on my nerves."
Chase took a deep breath and gave Elena a playful smile. Elena can see through him and they both know Chase is just faking it but none of them said a word about it.
"How come I still go crazy for you when you're all just bone and skin?" Chase teased.
"I take it back, go back to being the drama king. I still can't stand your face and your remarks. Go back to hell," Elena retorted.
They spent their time insulting each other but it was a calming feeling to them. This is what Elena and Chase has to be they both thought.
"Whatever you say, you're still my babe whether you like it or not."
"Says who?"
"Me."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up Chase. The world doesn't revolve around you."
"But my world revolves around you," that rendered Elena speechless. "And as I have said before. I am Chase and I'm going to chase you even in hell, so be ready. I'm not going to give up. Not now, not ever."
"It still hasn't changed, Chase," Elena said as she looked back at the sky. "As I have said before you can chase me all you want but I can never be yours."
Hearing those words from the woman he loves was heart wrenching but he was already immune to them. Even if takes a thousand years he'll wait. He'll wait until she learns to love him.
"When I say you're mine, you're mine. Got it?" Chase retorted.
Elena thought to herself, 'I'm sorry that you had to learn about love from the person who could never love you back. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to teach my heart to love you. You will forever be a special person to me. I know you will someday find the right person for you. Thank you for staying beside me.' For some reason, she was already too tired to speak. It's as if her body is giving up on her.
"Elena," a familiar voice which Elena has been longing suddenly called out of nowhere.
Standing behind them was Luke. Even with her whole body becoming weak, Elena stood up to face the voice she yearned to hear. Chase assisted Elena but she run towards Luke and embraced him. Seeing the woman he loves, love someone else was painful to watch. He became invisible in Elena's eyes and so he decided to walk away. He could not bear watching his beloved with another man.
"Love," Luke called Elena. "Please forgive me that I wasn't by your side. All this time. I know this might come out like an excuse but-" Elena silenced Luke with a tight hug.
Her warmth is enough to make Luke understand her unspoken words. She doesn't need explanations, she was the one who pushed him away and she's just glad he came before her time run out. She rested her head on his chest and she can clearly hear the loud beating of his heart. The music she always loved to hear, the only music she listens to.
"I love you with all the blood my heart pumps through my whole life, Luke. And even at the time my heart stops beating, it will be always you Luke, always," Elena whispered. "God knows how much I love you, Luke. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to choose you and had to give you up but that does not mean I love you less. Thank you for staying by my side and saving me from my darkest days"
"Even if we can't be together in this lifetime, it would still be always you Elena. If I had to choose, I would choose you every single time," Luke answered while holding her hands "I love you, Love."
Elena smiled at Luke, Luke was reluctant of letting her hand go. He was afraid that it would be the last but her smile was enough for him to understand her wishes. Though it was painful he had to let her go. Elena walked to May and tightly held her hand. May was shaking her head while tears fell from her eyes
"Hindi, sabihin mong hindi totoo ang panaginip ko. Hindi pwede," her voice was shaky and she was on the verge of crying. "Ako dapat ang na sa posisyon mo. Hindi ikaw, hindi mo pa oras. Please, hindi ko kayang mamatay ka na nasa katawan ko. Ayoko, please sabihin mo sa akin paano tayo mababalik sa dati."
In a voice as shaky May, Elena said, "Everything happens for a reason May. I don't know how to bring us back to the way we are before pero wala akong pinagsisihan. I saw my mom again and I was able to talk to her because I am in your body and that is the most beautiful gift you have given to me."
"Please, no. Naitama ko na ang lahat. Please bumalik ka na. Please Elena, nagpapasalamat ako sayo dahil nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong maranasan ang buhay na hinahangad ko. Ayokong nakawin ang buhay na dapat sa iyo. Tinuruan mo ako maging matapang at matatag pero ako ang nakatakdang mamatay. Ako ang dapat mamatay dahil--" she wasn't able to continue when Elena hugged her
May didn't expect Elena to hug her and that made her burst out into tears. Regrets and guilt were consuming her. She was able to enjoy her new life and have forgotten someone was suffering because of her
"Listen, it's not your fault. We both wished to change, walang dapat sisihin dito. Don't live with regrets, life is a battle. You have to fight with what you have. You don't have to be sorry for who you had to become in order to survive and thank you May" Elena smiled "Please tell Yummie I'm sorry and I thank her for staying despite all my efforts to push her away"
"No, ako dapat. Please, Elena ayokong dito matapos ang kwento mo. Ikaw ang dapat magsabi nyan sa kanya. Gusto ko ng ibalik ang dati sa lahat dahil binigyan mo ako ng masaya at magandang alaala na pang habang buhay kong iingatan at ngayon panahon na para ikaw naman ang maging masaya. Kailangan nating bumalik sa dati at ginawa ko na ang lahat, magkakatotoo na ang kahilingan mo. Natupad ko ang akin at dahil matutupad mo na ang sayo parang awa mo na. Tulongan mo akong mailigtas ka, tulongan mo akong maibalik ang lahat sa dati. May pagkakataon ka ng makasama siya. Hindi mo pa oras ngayon," sagot ni May sabay lingon sa likod nila.
"Anak."
As if time slowed down for Elena, she turned to the voice she has been longing for a long time, it was the woman she was just looking at from afar. Oh, how she longed for her touch, for her smile, for her voice and now she came back to keep her promise. They sat by the swing and stared at the sea for a moment.
"I didn't keep my promise, how could you not hate me? Maiintindihan ko kung magagalit ka sa akin, sumbatan mo ako, kamuhian mo ako at nagawa kong maging masaya sa piling ng iba," Elena's mom cried.
Elena smiled and wiped away her mother's tears. She called her 'Anak' and it was the happiest Elena could ever be.
"I could never hate you mom, even in my last breath all I wish for is your happiness. And you kept your promise, you're here. With me..."
Sunny can't help but weep as she heard her daughter's words.
"Pero may kapalit! Kailangang magkita pa tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon, kailangan pang maghirap ka para makita lang ako ulit," Sunny exclaimed. "I'm sorry that I wasn't a good mother. I'm sorry for leaving you behind-"
"The time that we had together, the happy memories we shared when you were still a Perez, the time you spent with us, that's all that matters," Elena stated before looking back to the sea. "Mom, I want you to shine like the Sun and bring joy to everyone like you always do."
Sunny could only meekly smile at her daughter's request before she placed a necklace Luke has given her to Elena's.
"This..."
"Itinago mo pa rin pala iyan, anak. Inabot sa akin yan ni Luke. Salamat anak."
"No, I am the one who is thankful mom. This necklace," Elena touched the necklace before continuing. "This brought us together."
A precious memory that brought Luke and Elena together resurfaced in her mind...
"I told you to throw that junk away!" Ma'am Diane angrily shouted.
Elena's necklace was taken from her by Diane with force. Elena's mother had only given her just one gift. Elena clung to it as the only hope she had. Diane threw the necklace on the ground and trampled on it many times. Elena could only stand there and watch as her only treasure smashed to pieces.
"If your mother really intended to come back. She should've done it a long time ago. Throw away that weakness, Elena. That necklace is only a symbol of your weakness," ma'am Diane stated before leaving.
Elena slowly picked up her necklace and walked towards the trash bin and stared at it. She couldn't bring herself to throw it away.
"Don't do it."
"You saw everything," Elena stated as a matter of fact. "This is none of your business, Javier."
The old Elena was back. The cold, distant, emotionless Elena was back and the thought of it scared Luke. If he let her go this time, he knows it would be too late. Elena threw the necklace and walked away but she stopped in her tracks when she heard a noise from the back. There she saw Luke scanning through the garbage. She hurriedly walked to him
"What are you doing?!" She exclaimed but it fell into deaf ears. Luke was too busy looking through the garbage "Sa wakas! I found it!" He cheerfully exclaimed
A bright boyish satisfied smile formed on his lips. He was holding the necklace Elena threw. Elena fell to her knees as she start to sob. It was painful to think that she tried to throw away the only gift her mom gave her. Why is this guy not giving up when she herself is giving up.
"Why does it always have to be you to see me like this?" She silently whispered.
"Can't I just be the one to wipe your tears away?" Luke asked as he brushed his fingers through her cheeks.
"So, that's why I am thankful for your gift Mom, I met the man who loves me and I truly love," Elena explained.
Sunny could only smile at her. Elena has grown into such a fine young woman that she regretted leaving her daughters for years in fear of Diane. Elena was like an excited little child telling her mother stories as Sunny carrassed Elena's hair. Happiness was evident in Elena's eyes. The sun was starting to rise and a small smile formed on Elena's lips
"The sun rises again and ironically it seems like I'm watching the sunset of my life," she whispered. "Mom, I have already forgiven you long before you even apologized, not just for you, but also for me."
"Ito ang unang pagkakataon na mapapanood natin magkasama ang pagsinag ng araw, anak. Thank you for giving me a chance, I love-" Sunny wasn't able to finish her sentence when Elena's head rested on her shoulder and the hand that was holding her loosened its grip to hers.
A tear fell from her eyes as she stared at her daughter's face. Elena's face was so peaceful as she fell into her eternal slumber.
"Rest now, Elena. Mom is here for you," she whispered as she caressed Elena's hair.
-----
In loving memory of
Crossover
May 2015-February 2018
Revised at 2021
Look forward for the second book. Entitled: Hakbang Pabalik. Some mysteries that haven't been unfold here will be answered in the next book. See you! I hope you all enjoy Crossover!
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