A/N:

(but, you know, I would hateAnything to happen to her)

WOULD YOU PLEASELET ME SEE HER!

Do you really thinkShe'll pull through?

Let me whisper my last goodbyes

The Smiths

***

"Batchi? What did you say?"

The phone call startled me and I jumped right out of bed.

I almost tripped on the blanket that fell on the floor in a heap.

I switched on the light on the nightstand and saw that it was already 1:27 in the morning.

Batchi's voice was tense.

"Jade had an accident," she replied.

The words exploded in my head.

"Accident?" I uttered.

I sat back on the bed in disbelief.

"How?" "What happened?"

The words barely escaped my lips.

I thought I was dreaming but I wasn't.

I pressed the phone closer to my ear, afraid that I heard her incorrectly.

"I'll let you talk to Angel," Batchi told me and it confused me even more.

When Angel came on, I was slowly coming out of a haze.

She didn't bother with the pleasantries but apologized for waking me up.

"Just tell me what happened Angel. Please?" I pleaded.

***

Floating.

That's what I am.

My body lay on the hospital bed and my family gathered around me.

Mama was crying on my father's shoulder.

He gently stroked her back to console her but it didn't do anything to calm her worried mind.

My brother Paul was crying too and this time, he didn't hide it from my father.

I could even read his thoughts and I smiled at the profanity-laden words.

He cursed our father in different languages and dialects for his refusal to accept us.

"If it weren't for your stubbornness, this would never have happened again."

Paul eyed my father with contempt.

He noticed it and glared at Paul.

"This is not the right time, Paul." Dada warned him.

"There may never be a right time, Dada." Paul replied then walked out of the room.

Dada wanted to follow him outside but my mother begged him to let it go.

"Please Oscar," she pleaded as she tugged at his sleeves.

"Show some respect for your daughter," she told him.

"Before she had the amnesia, she never showed me any respect Amanda."

"What made you think that I will change my mind now that she is in a coma?" his tone was harsh and my mother shook her head in dismay.

"Because unlike the first time she was in a comatose, she may never survive this one."

"If you can't change your mind, can you at least change your heart?"

With that she left him with his mouth hanging open.

I moved closer to my father.

I raised my hand to touch his face and it passed through his skin.

He must have felt my presence because he turned his head in my direction till he was looking directly at me.

I smiled sadly at the man who was relentless in his belief to turn me into a straight woman.

I wanted to say something to him but decided against it.

Besides, now that that I am hovering between life and death, will it matter to him?

***

I followed my family outside of the room to continue listening on their conversation.

Gab was talking to Paul and when my mother saw him, she rushed to give him a hug.

Mama was heartbroken and I felt helpless, more so now.

She was a strong woman and I need her to be stronger.

David cradled DJ as she slept soundly in his arms.

His hold on her was tighter because Gab was there.

Despite the fact that we adopted DJ legally, perhaps his instinct warned him that blood is thicker than water.

I pitied my husband for always being a stand-in for someone else.

"What happened Ma?" My attention was caught by the sound of Gab's voice.

A few hours ago, we were at his house.

Now, he's here talking to my mother, ignoring my father's warning never to show his face again.

"She got hit by a car," was the vague response.

My brother got even more confused by my mother's answer.

Paul came to the rescue.

"Why don't you sit with David, Ma?" he led her to where David was sitting.

"I'll talk to Gab, okay?" he told her as soon as she was settled.

The two of them left the waiting area to go to the chapel.

They sat in front and I sensed Gab's impatience.

"Jade confronted Dada when we got home," Paul began.

"She told him everything she learned and Dada stood by his words that he was only trying to protect her,"

"Of course, Jade was indignant."

"She was hurt with all the lies and told him he doesn't believe a single word he said," Paul stopped talking.

"Then what happened?" Gab asked him.

"Dada slapped her hard," Paul replied, the tears streaming from his face.

"We were all stunned at what happened,"
"Before we could act, Jade ran outside, crying."

"On her way out of the mansion, she didn't see the oncoming SUV."

Gab swallowed hard.

He leaned forward and covered his face with his hands.

The silence was deafening.

Words are not enough to describe the pain in their hearts.

***

Althea was restless.

She absentmindedly tapped her fingers on top of the proposal folder lying on top of her desk.

Batchi eyed her with understanding.

"You shouldn't have come to the office, Althea." She said to the woman whose mind were light years away.

"I know Batchi but the wait is agonizing," she admitted.

"I would rather be in the company of people than waiting at home for an answer to Jade's condition."

As she said the words, the door opened and Angel came in, looking exhausted.

She was dressed in a plain white tee, black skinny jeans and black Chucks.

"Sorry it took a while, Althea." She nodded towards Batchi and took a seat in one of the leather chairs.

"Any news?" Althea's face was expectant.

Angel deliberated and cleared her throat before answering.

"Jade is in a coma,"

Althea sank in her chair.

She clenched her fist until her knuckles turned white.

Batchi stood up and approached her friend.

She caught her just in time before Althea passed out on her chair.

***

The smell of ammonia woke me up.

Angel's light brown eyes bore through mine and I asked what happened.

"You fainted," Batchi answered my question.

I suddenly remembered and I asked Angel again.

She nodded her answer.

***

Have you ever cried so heart it felt like you were about to run out of breath?

That's what happened to me.

I cried and I cried until the lungs in my chest felt like it was going to collapse.

Batchi could only hold me in her arms as Angel rushed outside to get me a glass of water.

Wila came in, canceling a meeting with our clients, to give me her support.

The three of us huddled in my office, silent.

This time, I was terrified.

I am fighting not only against time.

I am pitted against an invisible force, a presence higher than any human power imaginable.

In the muted sound of my cries, I closed my eyes and did the only thing I could think of—I prayed.

***

When was the last time I called out to Him for help?

When my father died?

When they took Jade away from me?

When I was a little girl and my mother passed away?

I couldn't remember.

All I know is, it's been a very long time since I surrendered my tribulations to someone divine.

***

Six months and counting.

Jade was still in the hospital, vacillating between life and death.

The machines continue to monitor her progress or the lack of it.

Beyond the hospital room, life continued to unfold.

Paul, amidst the surprise of everyone, left the mansion to find himself.

Amanda pleaded for him to stay while Dada watched in contempt.

"I'm sorry, Ma" he told his crying mother.

"You already have a child in the hospital, you cannot afford to have one more." He reasoned.

"Let him go, Amanda." Oscar's booming voice resounded in the hall.

Paul met his father's stare with a determination that almost scared Oscar.

Afterwards, he slowly turned his back on his family and the mansion that sometimes served as his refuge and more like a prison.

Although his footsteps were heavy and he was clueless on how to start over, his mind and heart were alive with hope.

Hope.

The only thing left in Pandora's box when she opened and released the innumerable plagues, sorrow and mischief for mankind.

Hope-- mankind's sole comfort in misfortune.

David, on the other hand, decided to stay in the Philippines as they await Jade to wake up from her comatose.

He left for Canada shortly to attend to their business and DJ's school.

He wanted to bring DJ with him but Amanda was skeptical of his plans.

"You are not bringing DJ with you to Canada," she was adamant.

David wanted to argue with her but knowing that he would lose the battle, he consented.

The defeat thwarted the plans he had been harboring in his mind since Jade was hospitalized.

Although unsure whether Jade will wake up or not, he knew that there was a possibility that he could end up losing his wife.

If he couldn't have both of them, he might as well take one.

When Amanda refused to let him bring DJ to Canada, David went to a bar to drown his failures.

For most of his life, he carried the torch for Jade.

He even stooped so low as to tell her to used him as a cover-up husband so Oscar won't bother her and Althea anymore.

That's how pathetic he was.

No amount of wealth can disguise his indecisiveness and weak resolve.

So on that miserable night, with a failed plan and a bruised ego, he allowed himself the company of a very attractive stranger who had been eyeing him the minute he entered the bar.

Abandoning any logic, the two of them drank and laugh without a care in the world.

Before the bar closed, David was arm in arm with the beautiful woman.

***

Althea, on the other hand, was part owner of JLT.

During board meetings, she doesn't show up.

Batchi continued to deal with the board members and although most of them are aware of the history between the Tanchingco and Althea, a few expressed their willingness to talk to her personally.

Batchi told them not to hold their breath.

"It's not going to happen," she told them frankly and for good reason.

***

Althea was walking precariously on a tightrope.

At night, when Jade's family are fast asleep in the comfort of their homes, a hooded stranger gingerly enters the room in the ICU and sits beside her.

She gently kissed Jade's forehead and touched her cheek.

The first time she snuck into the room, her heart almost gave out in shock.

Jade looked dead and seeing her motionless except for the steady rise and fall of her chest crushed Althea to the very core.

She wanted to run as far as she can but Angel gave her courage.

"Don't give up Althea," the woman's voice soothed her frayed nerves.

"Jade needs you now, more than ever."

"I bet if there's one person she expects to see her through this ordeal, it's you."

Althea inhaled and took Jade's hand in hers.

A part of her was expecting that Jade would respond but it didn't happen.

She stared at her for a while, admiring her beautiful face.

There were freshly sewn stitches running on the side of her right ear to the back of her head and Althea assumed it could be from the impact of the fall.

As Angel stood guard to look out for approaching nurses or doctors in the ICU, Althea came by every single night to talk to her.

She developed her strategy.

Every night, she would come in and introduced herself to Jade.

She'd mention what day and time it was.

"I really shouldn't be here at this time because visiting hour is over but who cares?"

"This is the only time I get to see you, Jade." She would stroke Jade's hair or give her hand a light squeeze.

For days and months, that's how it went.

Althea told her of their very first meeting during Pearl's wedding and how she was so captivated with Jade's beauty, she couldn't take her eyes off her.

"Turns out, I wasn't the only one." Althea smiled at Jade, the recollection of that day causing her heart and her hand to tremble with excitement and fear.

Jade remained motionless.

The beeping on the monitor and the whirring of the ventilator suggests little to no change in her condition.

There were moments when it was difficult for Althea to come back to the ICU but Angel stuck to the plan and not only acted as a detective but a confidante as well.

They always leave ten minutes before the nurses switch shifts at five in the morning.

Before going home, the two of them would stop at a McDonald's to have breakfast.

Althea would talk to Angel about the visit and most of the time, there was nothing new to say.

"Don't you get tired of doing this?" Althea asked her once.

"What do you mean?" Angel asked in reply.

"Picking me up at home everyday, sneaking in the ICU around midnight and waiting until my visit is over?" Althea reminded her of their routine.

Angel set aside her fork and temporarily turned her attention away from the pancakes she was eating.

"I never get tired because I know you are doing this for the one you love," she answered.

Those words somehow vanished the negative thoughts in Althea's head.

Love.

That was the sole reason why she decided to pursue Jade after years of not knowing where she is.

Love.

The same reason why she vowed to herself that she would rebuild her events business after it almost collapsed and took a hard beating from Oscar's evil schemes.

Love.

Her reason for being.

Love would be the same reason why on the eve of Althea's birthday, instead of celebrating with her friends, she decided to celebrate with Jade.

With a bottle of Dom Perignon in hand and a bouquet of white long stemmed roses, Althea toasted the still figure.

"To us," she raised the wine glass she brought and placed one flower in between Jade's clasped hand.

Althea pulled out a ring box from her pocket and recalled the fateful day she was about to propose.

The same day Jade disappeared.

"Call me crazy or pathetic," her lips quivered as she spoke.

"Or laugh at me from wherever you are," she opened the box to reveal a jade ring.

The band was silver and at the centre was a round jade stone.

"I wanted to give you a diamond ring but at the time, I don't have the money for it." She smiled nervously.

"You knew I would give you the world but I knew what you're going to say,"

"That I could give you ring made out of string and it won't matter,"

"What's important is how I always loved you through good and bad, rich or poor."

"That's how cheesy you are," Althea wiped a single tear that escaped from her eyes.

"I understand if you want to let go," Althea's breath hitched as she said the words she feared.

The same words she avoided for a long time but couldn't ignore.

"I still dream of seeing you in a dress or a tuxedo or whatever it is you want to wear if you decide to marry me,"

"But if that isn't what you want, I hope you find happiness in the afterlife."

"I hope that in a different existence, another life, a parallel universe, you will still find me staring at you with my heart in my hand,"

Her shoulders shook and her chest felt like it was going to explode.

Althea took a deep breath as she slipped the ring in Jade's left hand.

"I love you so much Jade Tanchingco," this time, the tears fell one after the other.

She leaned closer to Jade as she kissed her softly on the lips.

When she pulled away, what she saw was like a mirage in the desert.

Jade's fingers began to twitch.