Chapter 64 Pieces Finally Falling Into Place
Zarya's Point Of View
The siren was screaming so loud, parang sinasabayan pa nito yung tibok ng puso ko. Everything felt like it was moving too fast and too slow all at the same time. I was kneeling on the narrow space beside the stretcher, my hands shaking so bad I could barely keep my grip on Xylla's cold, sticky hand.
"What the fuck, Xylla? Why would you do that? Bakit mo ginawa 'yun?" My voice cracked so bad, tears blurring everything in front of me.
Punong puno ng dugo ang damit niya, and I felt Iris's hand land gently but firmly on my back. she was here, but right now I could barely even feel her.
While the emt was just watching Xylla laying on a stretcher? Wala man lang silang first aide na gagawin?! who the fuck trained these morons??
I didn't even think twice, I just stepped forward. "Sono un medico, spostatevi."
(I am a doctor, move aside.)
The EMT looked at me, hesitant. "Mi dispiace signora, ma non possiamo. C'è un protocollo."
(I'm sorry ma'am, but we can't let you do that—there is a protocol—)
"Fuck protocol! So perfettamente cosa sto facendo, andatevene al diavolo e lasciatemi aiutarla, sta morendo dissanguata adesso!" I shouted, tears already spilling down my face, hands trembling so bad.
(I know exactly what I'm doing, just fuck off and let me help her, she's bleeding out right now!)
Iris stepped in right away, voice steady but pleading. "Let her do it, please. She knows what she's doing."
The EMT hesitated for a second more, pero hindi na rin sila nagdalawang isip when I gave them a glare. Agad naman silang napaupo nalang sa tabi ni Iris while observing on Xylla.
I dropped to my knees beside the stretcher, pressing both hands firm and hard right over Xylla's lower abdomen. I'm crying so hard na halos hindi ko makita nang maayos, pero I kept my hands steady, putting all my weight just right to stop the bleeding.
"Hold on, Xylla... please, just hold on..." I whispered over and over, voice breaking, pressing harder when I felt the blood seeping faster. "I'm here na, I got you... wag kang bibitaw ha..."
Xylla's eyes were half-lidded, struggling just to stay open, and she squeezed my hand as hard as she could, pero parang wala na siyang lakas pa.
"If...I can't make it..." Her voice was barely a whisper, parang nahihirapan na siyang magsalita. "If I can't make it...a-alagaan mo mabuti si Aria, okay?"
Silence hit me like a punch to the chest. I shook my head fast, pressing our joined hands against my forehead. "No. No, no, no, no. Wag kang magsalita ng ganyan. You will survive this, okay? Malapit na tayo, we're almost there, Xylla. Konting tiis na lang, please."
"Zarya, calm down, okay?" Iris said softly beside me,
but her voice was shaking too.
Xylla let out a weak, shaky breath, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes. "I don't eh... di ko kaya... di ko ata kaya, Zar...... sorry..."
Her hand went limp in mine. Her eyes rolled back and closed.
"NO! No, no, no! Xylla! Xylla, wake up! Please!" I shouted.
Fuck, no! Agad kong nilapat ang dalawang daliri ko sa leeg niya to check her pulse, and thank God, thank God, there's still a pulse, pero sobrang hina lang nito. She really needs to be in a hospital in 5 minutes, or else....
I moved fast, my doctor instincts kicking in even when my heart was literally breaking into pieces.
I pressed my other hand more tighter this time dahil sobra na talaga ang dugong na re-release niya.
Mas diniinan ko pa, over the wound on her lower abdomen, kung saan siya natamaan ng bala.
applying firm pressure para mabawasan yung pagdurugo.
This is bad—if the bullet hit any major organs or blood vessels...
I didn't even want to finish that thought.
I can't afford to lose someone anymore...Hindi ko na kakayanin pa. Worst, ako na naman ang dahilan.
"Affrettatevi! Per favore, fate più in fretta!!"
(Go faster, please go fast!) I yelled at the driver, my voice raw.
I grabbed the portable oxygen mask from the side, adjusted it properly over her face, and made sure the flow was steady enough. Nakatingin lang ang nga EMT saakin while I do their fucking job.
Si iris naman nakaupo parin doon pero alam kong kinakabahan na din siya, I can see her forcing herself not to cry. I know she wanted to help, but what can she do? wala naman siyang alam sa ganito, and again...it was her father's fault.
Why would she do that? Why would she take a bullet meant for me? Hindi ko akalain na gagawin niya 'to...and she threw her life in front of mine like it was nothing.
What the actual fuck is wrong with Eric? How could he do that? How could he lose control like that, drag more people into his mess?
How did we let things get this bad?
I looked down at Xylla's pale face, parang lalong namumutla, but somehow a good sign kasi yung oxygen mask nagfo-fog up every time she breathes.
I almost lost her. Just like how I almost lost Iris. Just like how I almost risk Aria, and how I lost Ate Yana. And all of this? Just because of one man's greed and stupid pride.
How many people should get hurt para sakin hangang sa matapos na 'tong lecheng gulo na 'to?
Hold on, Xylla. Please. Just hold on a little longer.
_______
(At the hospital)
Zarya's Point Of View
"Kamusta na siya? Is she doing good?" I looked up, I already knew who it was. Si iris...nakabalik na siya.
"She's stable, pero hindi pa rin siya gumigising." I replied, holding Xylla's hand.
When we arrived here kanina, umalis na kaagad si Iris to talk to attorney Vìllor. So I was left here all alone, hangang sa nakalabas ng operating room si Xylla.
What happened earlier, it was no longer needed any evidence. Kitang kita ng lahat kung ano yung nangyari. I didn't saw it, pero alam kong ako yung gustong patayin ni Eric.
Hindi ko akalain that Xylla would do that. If she didn't pushed me away, for sure ako na yung nakahiga dito ngayon—or worst.
I looked at Xylla, and can't help but feel thankful for her. Andami niyang ginawa for me, I don't even know how to thank her.
"Zarya...." Iris started at lumapit saakin. I couldn't read her face, parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero natatakot. or I don't really know.
I tried to hard to act calm pero kinakabahan na ako. "Hmm? kamusta yung lakad mo? Is he—"
"He will be sent to a psychiatric hospital—"
"What?! Ganon lang? Iris this is not fair!" I burst out, nakaka-frustrate na 'to.
After all he did? He will just sent to a psychiatric hospital? because of what? They think he is just out of his mind? para makawala siya sa mga ginawa niya? fuck no.
I would never let him get away with this.
"Zarya...calm down. Okay?" Iris tried to ease my frustration. Pero wala ng effect 'yon.
"How can I calm down, Iris. Tell me—"
Iris gently held my hand kaya kumalma ako, but still my mind is processing.
Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko, and looked straight into my eyes.
"Attorney Vìllor confirmed that everything is practically settled na. Eric already lost all chances to defend himself—what he did just proved all the more how dangerous and guilty he is. We don't have to go through another long trial anymore.
We're just waiting for the judge's official final order to confirm his imprisonment for good. But he acted crazy earlier, so he will be sent to a psychiatric hospital. That doesn't mean his sentence will be delayed or what, okay? Just let us handle this."
"So... makukulong na siya?" I asked softly, parang kailangan ko pang marinig para maniwala.
Iris nodded slowly, voice firm but breaking a little.
"Yes. He will pay for everything he did, Zarya—lahat lahat. And I'm so sorry... sorry in behalf of him. I'm really sorry for what he did to you. Sobrang kinakahiya ko na naging anak niya ako. He caused all this pain to you... grabe yung pinagdaanan mo. I couldn't even imagine how you...
how you survived all of that."
I shook my head fast, reaching out to hold her hands. "No, no... there's nothing to be sorry about, okay? Ang importante ngayon, makukulong na siya. Finally."
"Yes... but I just can't help it," her voice cracked, tears spilling again. "Ang daming nadamay dahil sa kanya. I just... I couldn't help but feel bad about it."
I squeezed her hands gently. "I'm sorry too, Iris... kung kailangan mo ring masaktan at madamay dito. I know you're hurt, he's still your father after all. At yung nangyari sa kapatid mo..."
"Yeah... nasasaktan ako for everything that happened."
she whispered. "Lahat ng nagawa niya. And I'm even more hurt to think that ...
hindi man lang ako nagkaroon ng chance to meet him.
But on the other hand... masaya ako para sa'yo.
I'm happy 'cause finally, justice is served for ate Yana and Isaac.
We can finally be together again, Zarya."
Yung thought na pwede na kaming magsama ulit, without anyone stopping us.
That thought made me want to fight for our love.
Eric is out of our way, pero alam kong marami pang dapat ayusin.
My dad needs to know the truth about Iris, bahala na kung tatanggapin niya kami or hindi.
I don't care anymore, but he also need to know about my sister's death, para makilala niya si Aria.
So is Iris, she also need to know the truth dahil may karapatan siya.
Aria is both our niece, and she will soon be our daughther—legally.
I pulled her closer, resting my forehead against hers.
"We're so close now, my love. After nito... I want you to meet someone. Kapag na-settle na natin lahat dito, kapag nagising na si Xylla... and once everything is settled and Eric is where he belongs... we're going back to the Philippines. I'll fix everything, my family, us, and everything.
Just like how I imagined things for us."
She smiled softly through her tears, brushing my cheek with her thumb. "I can't wait, Zarya. I can wait until you're ready, okay?"
"This won't take long, Iris," I promised, voice steady. "Just a little more time, hmm?"