Minjeon’s POV:
I suddenly kissed Laureane without even thinking about it. What’s wrong with me? I think I’m going crazy. I knew in my mind, now that I’ve marked her lips, no one can claim it except me. Mine is mine. I could feel thousands of voltages dissipate in my flaming body. I clung to these moments and I could feel the softness of her lips, but I immediately got back into the present when she separated from the touch of our lips.
“B-Bakit mo ginawa ‘yon? I mean, W-Why did you do that?”
“What do you kailangan from me? I-I mean, need?” Laureane’s voice was full of astonishment as she averted her eyes from me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” I told her before I put the mask back on.
I took a deep breath because of the tension that suddenly enveloped us.
“Laureane, I’m leaving. Maybe we’ll just talk later in a chat or call. Is it okay with you?” I tried to fight the awkwardness, even though my face was already heating up with my heart beating so fast.
“Ahh okay. Be careful,” she said to me, and then I got up from my seat.
I would have hugged her but when she avoided it, we almost kissed again before she looked at me now obviously nervous.
To somehow get rid of her nervousness, I just thought of holding her head and saying, “Goodbye, Laureane.” I didn’t expect her to suddenly hug me.
“Please, don’t say goodbye,” she said while trembling, so to my surprise I immediately grabbed her by both arms, and then I looked closely at her gentle face.
Laureane Dela Hoya is a woman with unique beauty. Her face is round and a bit big compared to her thin body but even so the deep dimples on both of her cheeks still grab attention. Her eyes, which seemed to be shining along with her small nose, which, although not pointed, still fits the shape of her face. Not only that, but her lips seemed soft and pink like a rose. Furthermore, her long neck like deer with a mole on the upper-left side is very attractive. Likewise, her brown color is normal for being a Filipina. But one of the things I wondered about was her large brown birthmark on the left side of her arm, which I could not identify now because her uniform covered the other half. But this time, I can’t explain why my chest suddenly ached when I saw the tears in her eyes.
Then, I just wiped her face and spoke. “Sorry. Sorry. I won’t leave you, promise. We will have time to see each other again,” I speak softly as I caressed her trembling back as if gasping for fear.
Thereafter, I can hardly sleep tonight because I remember what happened earlier. I was very surprised because of Laureane’s reaction when I said goodbye earlier. Another minute passed before I thought of chatting with her.
Me: Hi Laureane, how are you?
Her: Can’t sleep.
Me: Why?
Her: I remember Dad.
I suddenly felt sad for her.
Her: That night, he said goodbye to me and then kissed me on the forehead.
I was even annoyed with him because he was so naughty.
He knew he was suffering from arthritis, but he still insisted on going to sea, because he said he needed to earn money to buy his medicine.
I didn’t even think that the word ‘goodbye’ was the last word I would hear from him.
Maybe, that’s why I couldn’t sleep that night because it was going to be our last encounter.
I finished reading all her messages, and then I realized that because of that incident, she was traumatized, something her family doesn’t know about.
I woke up early in the morning and hurriedly prepared to go to Laureane’s house. I just wanted to take her to their school because I’m sure she’s late again. Well, I’ve been here in the Philippines for almost a month, and only yesterday I took the chance to be with her. I just paid one of the male students at their school to lend me his uniform so that I could still watch her even inside the school.
After half an hour of driving, I arrived at their house. Right after I got out of the car, I immediately heard a loud noise from inside. It looks like she is fighting with her younger brother. I was about to enter their house when I noticed crazy Laureane was at the window. I was suddenly nervous, and I was about to call her when suddenly she stripped up, so I quickly went to catch her.
“Minjeon?” Laureane murmured.
So sudden, there was a popping sensation in my shoulders, and I felt an intense pain near the arch of my foot. Then, I lost control of my arms, causing Laureane to fall on my chest when we both fell to the ground. I was able to touch my chest when I felt a forceful blow on it, as I let out a deep breath and looked at Laureane who was obviously worried.
Laureane’s POV:
“Diyos ko po!” dinig kong sigaw ni Mama sa taas kasabay nang tuluyang pagbagsak namin ni Minjeon. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko dahil sumisigaw na si Minjeon sa pamimilipit sa sakit ng mga braso niya.
Bagay na hindi ko kayang makita.
Hindi ko na halos mapigilan ang sarili kaya napahagulgol na rin ako ng iyak habang inaalalayan ni Josh si Minjeon.
“Tumigil ka nga diyan, bruha! Kung pumasok ka na kaya kami na bahala kay Kuya Minjeon. Ang kulit mo rin eh noh.” inis na sermon sa akin ni Josh bago sumakay sila sa taxi.
Habang naglalakad papasok ng bahay, napagdesisyonan ko bigla na sumunod na lang sa hospital. Nag-aalala kasi ako kay Minjeon so I grabbed the opportunity to at least know his condition.
Pagkarating ko sa hospital, sakto din na kausap nila ang nurse.
“Ma’am, sir, based on the CT scan we did, the patient is suffering from a bicep injury, and unfortunately, he suffered severely. Apart from that, we also noticed swelling in his foot, so we discovered that he also has a foot sprain, and we have another problem. He also has a chest contusion due to an injury he sustained to his cartilage that will affect his breathing. Now, I want you to be ready. The patient needs to get surgery as soon as possible,” she stated.
Natulala na lamang ako sa mga sinabi nang nurse dahilan para maluha ako.
“Ma, sorry.” Humikbi ako ng malakas nang mapansin kong in-ignore niya ako.
Tinitigan ako ni Josh ng masama habang pumapasok sila ni mama sa ward.
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