Chapter 64 Pieces Finally Falling Into Place #2
She leaned in and kissed me softly, full of all the things we couldn't say out loud. Tears were still falling from both of us, but it wasn't just sadness anymore. It was relief, and hope, and something so gentle it made my chest ache in the best way.
And then—
"Sa harapan ko pa talaga?"
Our eyes flew open at the same time, both of us freezing. Parang tumigil ang mundo ko saglit. We turned fast toward the hospital bed—
And Xylla was looking right at us, a weak little smile on her pale face. Gising na siya
"Xylla? Oh my..." I stepped closer fast, parang hindi makapaniwala. "Kanina ka pa ba gising? Oh my God... how do you feel? Kanina ka pa ba gising?"
She let out a soft laugh, then winced right away, clutching her side. "Aray..." reklamo niya. "Kapag ako may ganiyan din, who you kayo sa'kin."
Iris laughed softly, wiping her own tears. "Ako pa maghahanap for you eh, just don't die okay?"
Xylla tried to laugh again, but hissed in pain, kumunot ang mukha niya sa sakit. "Aray... puta, masakit talaga."
"Tahan na, don't move too much." I said quickly. "Baka bumuka 'yang sugat mo. Tatawag lang ako ng nurse... or doctor para ma-check ka nang maayos, okay?"
"Doctor ka naman di ba?" she teased weakly.
"Yes, but hindi ako ang doctor mo dito," I told her, shaking my head even though I was smiling too.
"Hmm... 'cause she's my doctor," Iris cut in softly, wrapping an arm around my waist.
Xylla rolled her eyes playfully. "Ang corny ninyong dalawa."
I laughed quietly tapos pinindot ko yung call button sa tabi ng kama ni Xylla. I slowly moved the chair close to Xylla's bed, and gently fixed her hair.
"Kamusta pakiramdam mo?" I asked softly.
She looked up at me, at ngimiti na parang wala lang nangyari kanina. "Okay naman... mas okay na ako. Sa totoo lang, masaya pa nga ako eh, ako 'yung tinamaan, hindi ikaw."
My throat tightened instantly, hindi ako masaya na ginawa niya 'yon. Before I could even find the right words, Iris stepped closer too. "Thank you, Xylla... I don't even know how to say it right, how to thank you enough. Pero salamat talaga... salamat kasi iniligtas mo si Zarya."
Xylla waved it off weakly. "Wala 'yun....it's nothing compared sa mga sacrifices ni Zarya. Ako pa nga dapat magpasalamat sa inyo eh."
Then her gaze shifted a little, serious now. "Nasaan na pala siya? Si Eric?"
"He will face every consequence he deserves soon enough. 'Wag mo munang isipin 'yun, okay? Focus on yourself muna." Iris answered gently, reaching out to pat Xylla's hand lightly.
"Tama si Iris," I added quickly, squeezing her hand gently. "Huwag mo na munang isipin lahat 'yun. Magiging maayos din ang lahat."
Just then, the door clicked open. A woman in crisp white uniform walked in, her aura was warm habang nakangiti at dahan-dahang lumalapit saamin. She carried a clipboard in one hand, at may ballpen naman sa kabila.
"Buongiorno pomeriggio, sono la dottoressa Moretti." she greeted us politely, her tone gentle but professional.
(Good afternoon, I am doctor Moretti.)
"Buon pomeriggio, Doc." I replied, at inayos ko na rin ang upo ko.
She glanced at us kindly. "Parlate tutti italiano?"
(You all speaks italian?)
I slowly shake my head. "No, ma posso fare da interprete per loro."
(No, but I can translate it for them.)
She smiled a little wider. "Ah, no need. I can speak English well enough for this." She stepped closer to Xylla, checking the IV line and the monitor first with careful, practiced hands. "So how are you feeling, Miss Xylla?"
"I feel okay, Doc." Xylla answered softly, pero nakita kong kumuyom ang kamay niya when she moved a little.
"Any pain, dizziness, or discomfort aside from the wound itself?" Dr. Moretti asked, her eyes scanning Xylla's face then glancing at the fresh bandage.
"None, Doc," Xylla said honestly. "My wound just hurts when I move a little, but it's tolerable."
"That is a very good sign," Dr. Moretti nodded, writing something down on her clipboard.
"No signs of infection or complications so far. We will keep you under close observation for now, okay? And... I was told that both of you are doctors as well?"
She looked at me Xylla muna tapos tumingin din siya saakin.
"Sì" I confirmed.
"Alright then." she said, her tone firm but kind.
"So you already know the basics, what to do, what to avoid, when to call for help. But please—even if you know how things work, let us do our job here. Do not try to change anything or adjust anything on your own, alright? Rest is your priority right now. I will check on you again later."
"Yes, thank you doc." Xylla said softly.
"Get well soon," Dr. Moretti gave us a small, warm smile, at agad naman na tumalikod na para umalis.
When Doctor Moretti finally left the room, we just stared at each other's. Silence filled the room after that, pero not uncomfortable. I looked at Xylla, and she looked right back at me, parang may gustong sabihin but she is hesitating.
Then Iris cleared her throat softly, stepping back a little like she already knew what we needed. "Oh...I'll just grab something to eat, okay?"
I looked at her, and my heart softened so much—she didn't have to say anything, pero alam ko agad. She's giving us space. She knows there's something personal we need to talk about, something only the two of us should understand first.
"Okay lang, hon," I said softly.
She walked back to me, cupped my cheek gently, and kissed me slow and soft on the lips, full of so much love and understanding. "I will be back after."
"Take care." I told her, holding her wrist lightly.
"Yes, doc." she smiled, then nodded at Xylla before stepping out quietly.
Nang sumara na ang pinto, huminga ako nang malalim at inayos ang sarili ko. My heart was beating fast again, not fear this time, but pure gratitude and so many unsaid things. I turned fully to Xylla, holding her hand gently.
I stared at her, halos walang maisip na salita. "Thank you... that's all I can say right now, thank you."
I have so much to say pero, pero pinipigilan ko sarili ko. I don't wanna be vulnerable in front of her anymore. I don't wanna cry again, pero parang anytime bibigay na naman ako.
"Zar... I would do that again. If I have to, I would do it all over again." Dahan dahan naman niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.
I shook my head fast, tears finally spilling over, hindi ko na napigilan. "No, you don't get it. I'm just... so, so thankful for you. What you did... it's not simple, Xylla. You know that. You literally saved my life."
She looked straight at me, umiiyak na rin siya. "Zar, I told myself before... I would catch a fucking bullet if If I had to. Ililigtas kita at any situation kapag kaya ko. And I'm so damn thankful I did. I'm happy that you're safe, Zar. That's all I ever wanted, for you to be safe and happy."
"You never had to do that." I whispered, voice breaking. "But you did it anyway... and I'm so grateful to you. You know...kay Aria palang, you already did so much. You took care of her for months, her first few months in this world, nandiyan ka sa tabi niya. And now... you saved my life too."
Xylla cut me off gently, squeezing my hand. "Zar... I told you, wag mo na isipin 'yun okay? What I just did... it's nothing compared to everything you did for me."
I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Anong pinagsasabi niya? Kanina pa siya talking about sacrifices... does she know something I don't? Is there something she's been wanting to tell me for so long? Everything feels so heavy, like there's a big piece I never got to see.
She took a shaky breath, tears now falling freely down her face.
"Sorry ha... do you know why I'm still here? After everything? Pagkatapos kitang gustohon at mahalin, and you couldn't love me back? Alam mo ba gaano ako nasaktan? You hurt me more than you could ever imagine, Zar. Pero alam ko naman e... I've always known deep down that you only loved Iris. So...
bakit pa ako mag s-stay? Who would be stupid enough...na pagkatapos ma reject at hindi piliin, mananatili parin sa tabi mo? Probably no one... but I did. And I stayed because it was real."
"Xylla... what—what are you talking about?" I stared at her, parang nararamdaman ko rin ang sakit na dinadala niya.
I've been asking myself this for so long naman eh. Why would she stay? When I hurt her that bad? When I dragged her into all my mess? When she carries the weight I can't even hold sometimes...yet she's still here. Bakit nga ba? I could never find a reason why. until now.
She wiped her eyes roughly with her free hand. "Ikaw ang nagpa-aral saakin, Zar."
"What?" I breathed out, completely lost. What is she saying? I don't... I don't understand any of this.
Tears streamed faster down her face now, her voice cracking dahil sa pag-iyak. "Akala ko nga alam mo na din e... but I was wrong. You never really knew me at all. But yes... it was me. Ako yung step-daughter ni tito Allan, yung bodyguard mo dati."
"Kuya Allan? I-ikaw yung stepdaughter niya???" Parang ko alam anong magiging reaction ko, I am just...surprised