"Please wake up. I'm here, Eon..." bulong niya sa tainga ni Arkhee bago siya humiwalay sa pag – akap niya sa katawan nito. Pinahid niya ang mga luha at huminga ng malalim. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito ng mahigpit at napaupo sa kama. Saka niya lang napansin na nakaupo pala si Kristoff sa sofa at nakatingin ito sa kaniya.

"I will leave you here Dess. But do rest, okay?" ani ni Enri. Tumango lang siya rito at matapos magpaalam kay Kristoff ay lumabas na ito ng silid.

"What happened?" tanong niya kay Kristoff nang mapag – isa na sila.

"His car was hit by a truck. The truck driver had been driving for 24 hours without sleep. Nakatulog ang driver kaya nabangga niya ang sasakyan ni Arkhee sa intersection. Luckily, it's near the hospital."

"How's the truck driver?" tanong niya ngunit ang mga mata niya ay nasa pagmumukha ni Arkhee.

"He suffered slight injuries but he's clear. He was taken to the police station. Ash took care of it."

"I see...I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me..." malungkot niyang sabi sabay kinuha ang clipboard na mukhang naglalaman ng records ng tests na ginawa kay Arkhee. Maaring sinadya itong iwan ni Enri para sa kaniya.

Hindi siya nagkamali at binasa niya ang mga ito. Wala namang anomalies sa resulta ng CT scan nito, minor injuries lang din ang natamo nito. Wala namang matinding fractures sa ibang parte ng katawan na kailangan ng operasyon. At kahit ang laboratory results nito ay normal naman. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Tama nga ang sabi ni Enri. Kailangan niyang magpakatatag at maghintay na magising si Arkhee.

"You probably should go home and rest. We heard you had long operations today." Kristoff was usually cold to him but she knew that in his voice, it sounded that he also cared.

"Can I stay here tonight? I'm going to cancel my clinic appointments for tomorrow..."

Matagal bago ito sumagot. Mukhang nag – isip pa ito kung papayagan ba siyang makasama si Arkhee. Sa hitsura ba naman niyang namamaga ang mga mata, baka iniisip nitong hindi siya matutulog habang binabantayan ang kaibigan.

"Okay. But you should sleep. You don't want to be sick when he wakes up." Tumayo ito sa kinauupuan.

"Thank you. And don't worry. I will." Ngumiti siya ng pilit sa kausap.

"I'll leave you then. I'll see you and Arkhee tomorrow. I'll just update his family too." Naglakad ito sa pinto na may dala – dalang suitcase. "I'll get going. Good night."

Iyon lang at lumabas na rin ito ng silid. Naiwan na siyang mag – isa kasama si Arkhee na wala pa ring malay. Dahil nasa isang V.I.P. room sila, mas malaki ang bed na mayroon ito at mas maraming amenities ang nasa loob ng kuwartong kinaroroonan nila.

Kinuha niya ang kumot na nasa sofa at dahan – dahang nahiga sa tabi ni Arkhee. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at isinandal niya ang kaniyang ulo sa gilid ng malapad na balikat ng katabi. Hindi na naman niya napigilan ang sariling humikbi. Buong pagsisisi ang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Sa buong buhay niya nagyon lang siya nakaramdaman ng matinding galit sa sarili. Masyado siyang naging kumpiyansa sa buhay at hindi man lang niya naisip na pwedeng mawala sa kaniya sa isang iglap ang mga taong mahalaga sa kaniya. At isa na doon si Arkhee.

Arkhee kept telling her that she's important in his life; that he's in – love with her and he liked spending time with her, even how busy their schedules were. This man never missed a chance to tell her how he felt, even sometimes she knew how embarrassed he was just so he could express himself.

He was trying so hard to communicate with her even how different they were in various things. And even how unpredictable the man was, he did his best to meet her halfway. But all she did was the opposite of those things. She couldn't even say to him 'I love you' even in messages. As hurtful as it was, she's really stupid in things like this.

"Eon, sorry na..." She uttered in between her cries. "Please wake up. Please. I don't know what to do if you'll go somewhere that I can't go yet. I'm not ready to let you go. I'm sorry if I'm a stupid girlfriend. I'm sorry if I'm always so busy. Just come back to me please. I love you. I really do. Please let me say this to you when you're listening. Please I still want to spend more time with you. Gusto ko pang mag date tayo. Gusto ko pang mag travel together. Ayokong tumandang dalaga. 'Wag mo 'kong iwan..."

Tinakpan niya ang mukha ng dalawa niyang kamay upang mabawasan ang ingay ng kaniyang pag – iyak. Mukhang hindi pa nauubos ang luha niya dahil ito na lamang ang ginawa niya simula pa kanina. Kahit pa sabihing hindi naman nag – aagaw buhay si Arkhee ngunit dahil dumaan ito sa bingit pa rin ng kamatayan ay hindi niya maiwasang mag – alala.

"I know. That's why we have to get married soon..." may narinig siyang pamilyar na boses na nagsalita. Akala niya nag dedeliryo lang siya dahil sa pagod ngunit naramdaman niyang may humaplos sa kaniyang buhok. At nang tumingala siya ay nakita niya ang nakangiting si Arkhee na nagmulat na ng mga mata.

"Arkhee..." napaupo siya sa kama at dagling niyakap ito. Napaiyak na naman siya.

"Sshhh...stop crying. Did you miss me that much?" pagbibiro pa nito. Hinagod nito ang likod niya na para bang isa siyang bata na pinapatahan nito. "Ang swerte ko naman, iniiyakan mo 'ko."

Humiwalay siya sa pagkakayap sa lalaki at umupo ng maayos. Pinahid niya ang mga luha at pinilit ang sariling huminto sa pag – iyak. "I love you, Eon..."

Sa wakas ay nasabi na rin niya ang mga salitang iyon para kay Arkhee. Hindi na niya pipigilan pa ang sarili na ipahayag ang totoong nararamdaman niya. Wala na siyang sasayangin na panahon para sabihin na mahal niya ito. Dapat na nitong marinig ang mga saloobin niya para sa lalaki.

"Man...I'm so lucky. This beautiful woman is crying for me and loves me. What more can I ask for?"

"I just said I love you. Shouldn't I receive a reply?" dahan – dahan nang gumagaan ang pakiramdam ni Dessa.

"Can you say that again? I think my hearing is affected by the accident..." nagawa pa nitong mang – asar sa kaniya. Ngunit mas gusto niyang asarin din ito kaya imbes na sumagot ay mabilis niya itong hinagkan sa mga labi.

Arkhee's lips were warm and for the first time, Dessa closed her eyes, explored his mouth with hers, breathing – in the scent of the man she's in – love with. She felt the hand of Arkhee wrap around her back and pulled her tighter. This was the first time they actually had a passionate kiss.

And when she pulled away, releasing Arkhee from their first fervent kiss, he looked surprised but pleased at the same time. At halatang hindi ito handa sa ginawa niya dahil mabilis itong namula nang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi. Hindi rin ito agad nakapag – react. Mukhang speechless si Arkhee sa paghalik niya rito. Tumayo siya mula sa kama at lumayo sa lalaki.

"Buti nga sa'yo..." kinindatan pa ni Dessa si Arkhee bago kinuha ang kaniyang cell phone na nasa loob ng kaniyang bag na nasa sofa.

"That's unfair! Can we do it again? I didn't even feel it..." para pa itong batang nagmamakaawa.

"Nope." She focused on her phone and sent messages to Kristoff, Enri and Arriane informing them that Arkhee's finally conscious.

"Dessa, I know this is not the best time. But..."

"Hmmm?" tipid niyang sagot rito. Nasa pag tetext ang kaniyang konsentrasyon kaya hindi niya masyadong pinapansin ito.

"Let's get married..."

Halos mahulog niya ang hawak na cell phone nang marinig ang tanong ni Arkhee. Kahit pa nasabi na niya ang totoong nararamdaman niya para rito ay hindi naman niya inaasahan na mag – aalok agad ito ng kasal sa kaniya, sa ganitong sitwasyon pa.

He's being unpredictable again.

"Huh?" sa pagkabigla ay ito lang ang nailabas ng bibig niya. Lumapit siya kay Arkhee at naupo ulit sa tabi nito. "You're serious?"

"Yes. Why would I not be? Oh, the ring! I have it in my office. I'll let my secretary bring it to me tomorrow. Will that be okay?" anito na bakas sa mukha ang pag – aalala. "I really want to be with you, Dess. I know how busy you are with your patients but if I think that you'll go home to me at the end of the day, it just makes me happy. I know it's my selfish desire. But after what happened to me today, I just don't want to waste anymore time not to be with you. It was a scary thought dying so early and the thought of not spending more time with you made me regret the time I was wasting. I'm sorry if I love you this much. But will you please marry me?"

She smiled wholeheartedly, forcing herself not to cry again. Holding Arkhee's hand, she spoke. "What happened to you today made me realize that too. Life ends on every person, not knowing when it will be makes it very scary. But even so, God gives us chances every day to make the most of the life we have. I should have been more expressive with myself. I should have been more loving, kinder and patient to the people I love and to those around me, to you."

Hinigpitan niya ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ni Arkhee at nagpatuloy. "It's sad and scary to think of losing someone I love. It breaks my heart even more of not being able to spend more time with you and telling you how important you are in my life. And I don't want that. Ayokong pagsisihan sa huli ang mga bagay na hindi ko sinabi o ginawa. I want to love you every day and tell you, you are important in my life, Eon."

Napalunok siya. "So...Mr. Arkhee Almeida, yes. I'll marry you."

"Eon, you're making me cry..." mukhang hindi nito napigilan na mapaluha sa sinabi niya. Pakurap – kurap ito ng mga mata at suminghot – singhot pa.

Dessa felt the need to wipe the tears from his eyes and slowly and cautiously, she wrapped her arms around him again. She could hear his heart beating loud as their bodies get closer. But she knew that hers was louder and faster.

"I'm so happy to love you," she whispered before kissing Arkhee again.

*****

A/N:

Hays...finally. Nagkaaminan na rin. 

Sana ay naenjoy niyo silang dalawa kahit hindi pa ganun kaganda ang writing skills ko.

Salamat sa sumubaybay at nagbasa ng librong ito.

Final chapter is next!

Thank you sa boto at mga komento.

Love & Light,

BC