HIS SUICIDAL GIRL
❝I met the guy with his smile when my pen started to phlebotomize, and my fate has begun writing a new story.❞

18 – Near-Death and Strong Warning

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•THIRD PERSON•

The day has passed in the Mizuno residence and finally, Zachrey's father, Richard Mizuno has arrived.

"Richard, I'm glad you arrived!" His wife, Bernadeth greeted and welcomed him with utter excitement.

They hugged each other. Unang kumalas ang kanyang asawa sa kanilang pagyayakapan.

"Where's Zachrey? I need to talk to him right now," maawtoridad na sabi ni Richard, ngunit pinigilan siya ni Bernadeth.

"'Wag muna. Hayaan mo munang makapag-relax ka." She smiled at him. "Come, let's have breakfast together. I'll call Zachrey."

Bernadeth accompanied her husband to their kitchen, and after preparing breakfast, she went upstairs to get her son.

"Anak?" She knocked on the door. "Dumating na papa mo. Halika ka na, sabay tayong mag-almusal."

"Okay, Ma. Magbibihis lang ako at susunod na kaagad pagkatapos," sagot ni Zachrey.

While on the table, Richard was composing words on what he should say to Zachrey. It was to prevent any violent reactions coming from his son whom he has not seen for quite some time because of his work abroad.

He is beyond aware that his son grew up without him and his wife by his side. Moreover, he does not know how to handle teenagers nowadays for it is very different from their time.

When Zachrey came down, he saw his dad waiting patiently at the table.

"Pa?"

His dad turned to face him.

"Anak!" He quickly stood up and hugged his son. "Ang laki-laki mo na! You're so tall now. Hindi ko namalayan na nagbibinata na pala ang anak ko."

Kumalas si Richard at tinignan ang kanyang anak.

"Yes, because you were always not here during my childhood. You and mom were always busy with your work," sabi ni Zachrey. "Although, naiintindihan ko naman po na ang lahat ng ginagawa n'yo ay para lang sa'kin."

Natahimik ang kanyang ama at ina sa kanilang narinig, at bago pa sila makasagot ay may padagdag na salita si Zachrey.

"I still remember those times when I celebrated my birthdays with only my grandma with a few of my friends gathered around me. I used to envy my friends, especially Cj and my classmates at school during special occasions, they have their parents with them to celebrate." He took a deep breath and continued. "When they are sick, even for just a simple fever, they have their parents beside them. I have nothing, but at least I used to have Grandma and now Cj."

All Zachrey did was spout real-talk facts about his parents' deficiencies.

To prevent an early heated discussion, Bernadeth stopped Zachrey and said, "Come, let's talk later, hm? We have all day, but breakfast don't."

"Yes, right," his father seconded.

Breakfast happened without any further incident.

A day before, back at the hospital, Xiamin's parents were preparing to check her out.

"Wala pa ba yung dalawa?" nagtatakang tanong ni Andrea kay Scott.

"Nag-text na sa'kin si Cj. Paparating na daw sila. May dinaanan lang raw sila sandali," sagot ni Scott na tinanguan lang ni Andrea.

Now and then, Scott would check his phone if there was any missed call or text coming from Zachrey. He stopped staring at his phone when Xiamin called him.

"Daddy... what're you doing? Are you expecting a call from someone?" she asked with a tired tone. She could barely even open her eyes.

"It's nothing, Sweetie. Tinitingnan ko lang baka sakali may nag-missed call o text sa'kin from the office." Scott smiled.

He could not dare to tell the truth to her daughter. He was pretty sure that once he tells his daughter the truth, she will be hurt, and it will surely aggravate her condition.

"How about Zachrey? Is he coming? It's been a while since I last saw him. Did something happen to him?"

Parang kinurot ang puso ng kanyang ama nang marinig ang mga salitang iyon galing sa kanyang anak. Naghahalong galit kay Zachrey at awa kay Xiamin ang kanyang nararamdaman.

"Don't worry, Anak, hindi naman kami tumitigil para ma-contact siya."

Kahit nahihirapan, nakuha pa rin ni Xiamin na ngumiti. Para bang nagkakaroon siya ng pag-asa na makita muli at maka-usap si Zachrey.

Later on, the two cousins, Les and Cj arrived. Scott instructed Les to let Xiamin know that they had already arrived and never mention Zachrey. As for Cj, Scott asked for his time, and they talked outside.

"Got any news? Were you able to contact Zachrey? Or have spoken to him already?" Scott never hesitated to throw three consecutive questions.

"I'm sorry, Tito." Umiling-iling si Cj. "We could not contact Zachrey, nor did he answer any of our calls and texts. We just came from their house, but there was no one there."

Little did they know, during that time when they went to the Mizuno residence, it was also the time that Bernadeth was playing sick upstairs and was taken care of by Zachrey himself. That is why he was not able to hear or notice someone at their gate.

Napakamot na lang sa noo si Scott because of what he just learned. Parang wala na talagang pag-asa na makapunta pa si Zachrey sa hospital at maka-usap si Xiamin bago sila tuloyang mag-check out para umuwi.

"Is that so?" Scott responded in a flat tone. "We already did everything that we could, but time is running out. I guess, we have to forget that Zachrey ever existed."

This time, Scott sounded so angry that he told Cj that he does not want to see his best friend anymore.

"Kung sakaling magkita kayo ng best friend mo, sabihin mo sa kanya na galit na galit ako sa kanya dahil sa ginawa niya sa anak ko." He looked at Cj straight in the eyes. "Pinapaasa lang niya ang isang batang inosente."

"Shit!" Napamura si Cj sa kanyang isipan. "Nasa'n ka ba talaga, Zachrey?! Isang gago ka na ba talaga ngayon?! You're hurting your innocent girl in her death bed, Dude!"

Gustohin mang isigaw ni Cj ang kanyang sinasabi sa kanyang isipan ay hindi niya magawa.

He clenched his fists dahil nakakaramdam na talaga siya ng galit ngayon sa kaibigan. For the very first time since he and Zachrey met, he was infuriated of his best friend.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a scream. It was Andrea and Les. The two exchanged glances and rushed back inside the room. There, they saw Andrea crying hysterically and Les grabbed and pulled Cj with trembling hands outside the room to call the doctor.

When Scott looked at Xiamin, he noticed that she was no longer breathing and the monitor registered a flat line.

"Oh, G-God, no!" Napasigaw rin siya. "Please, don't t-take her from us just yet! I-I beg of you!" Iyon ang salitang nabitawan niya habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ni Xiamin.

Doctor Fidji and other personnel arrived and immediately conducted an emergency procedure to revive the patient. While the doctor and the nurses were doing their job, Andrea, Scott, and the two cousins were praying their hearts out at the other corner.

"Jusko po! 'Wag niyo naman ho sanang kunin si Crystal ngayon!" Andrea prayed in her mind and clasped her hands.

"Please, revive our daughter! Don't take her from us now!" Scott begged in silence.

"Lord, I may have not been a very good child but please, save my best friend!" Les felt her tears were about to run out, but she just could not stop crying.

"God, please, give Xiamin the Yandere another chance. Zachrey wouldn't want this to happen kaya please, save her!" Cj was clenching his fists so tight, while he was trying to ignore the tears falling from his eyes.

Miraculously, everyone's attention was diverted to the monitor because there was a different sound coming from it; it was a sound of a heartbeat.

Doctor Fidji promptly approached Scott and Andrea and said, "You're lucky to have a very strong daughter. She's a fighter, and I'm also lucky that she is my niece." She smiled. But eventually, her tone became serious. "But she's not off the hook, yet. We still need to monitor her condition. She's now in a temporary coma."

"T-Temporary... coma?"

"Yes, that's normal for a patient who went through that ordeal. So, it would be better if you extend your stay here for at least a couple of days. That way, we can monitor her condition thoroughly."

"So, when do we expect her to wake up?" Les asked and she was as anxious as everyone in the room.

Doc Fidji put her hands on her lab coat pockets and said, "The next 24 hours are critical. However, based on our observation right now, she should be awake by morning. Hopefully, God willing."

"Thank you so much, Fidji!" Andrea thanked and hugged her cousin Fidji so tight.

"No, don't thank me. Thank the One above because I am just His instrument. Also, to your daughter," Andrea let go of her cousin, at parehas silang lahat na napatingin kay Xiamin. "I think she doesn't want to go, yet."

Andrea nodded, then turned to her husband, Scott. She said, "Scott, punta muna ako sa nurse's station para sabihin na mag-extend tayo. Les, come with me."

Before Andrea and Les could go, Doctor Fidji signaled her cousin to stay.

"No, just stay here. I'll take care of everything."

"Are you sure?" Andrea asked Fidji which the doctor answered with a nod. "Okay, thank you so much again, Fidji."

"No problem," she replied and excused herself.

Scott and Andrea then hugged each other tightly.

"I thought we already lost her," Andrea told her husband.

"Yeah, me, too."

The two cousins, however, were standing still like statues ─ still stunned by what they just experienced.

At present time, back again at the Mizuno residence, right after their breakfast, Zachrey asked permission from his parents to go to the hospital and visit Xiamin.

"Pa, I would like to ask for your permission to go to the hospital, and visit my friend," he asked politely.

"I will allow you to leave the house, pero kailangan muna nating mag-usap nang masinsinan." Richard gestured his son to sit down on the sofa.

"Tungkol ho saan? Pwede ba mamaya na lang 'yan pagbalik ko?"

"No, we have to talk this thing out now," seryosong sagot ng kanyang ina na biglang sumali sa usapan.

Walang nagawa si Zachrey, kaya umupo na lang siya at nakinig.

"Son, I've heard that lately, you took your studies for granted. Your mom told me that you were always absent for no reason."

Biglang nakaramdam ng galit si Zachrey, but he managed to compose himself.

"I did not do it without valid purpose, Pa."

Richard asked, "So, ano ang rason mo? Barkada ba? Kaibigan? Or perhaps, taong minamahal?"

Hindi nakasagot kaagad ang binata. Naglalaro pa sa kanyang isipan kung ano ang kanyang isasagot. Minabuti na lang niyang ipagtapat sa kanyang ama ang tunay na dahilan ng kanyang palaging pag-absent.

He was mature enough to comprehend the plight he was also in that lying would only make things worst.

"May palagi kasi akong binibisita na kaibigan sa ospital, Pa."

"Kaibigan lang? Gaano ba siya ka-importante na kailangan mo pang mag-absent at pabayaan ang studies mo para lang do'n?" Parang medyo galit na ang tono ng pananalita ng kanyang ama.

Ngunit, bago pa si Zachrey makasagot ay sumali na naman sa eksena ang kanyang ina.

"Sabihin mo na kasi sa papa mo na kaya mo pinabayaan ang pag-aaral mo kasi nagpakagago ka sa isang masakiting babae."

Upon hearing that, Zachrey exploded with anger and exclaimed, "Ma, don't talk to her like that! Hindi ako papayag na lalaitin mo si Xia!"

"Zachrey," His father interrupted. "is she your girlfriend?"

"No, not yet. But our feelings are legit. I assure you that."

"Son," kalmadong salita ng ama. "ang sa'kin lang, kung magmamahal ka lang ng babae, choose someone that's healthy. Sa gano'n, hindi ka masasaktan."

However, Zachrey refused to listen to his father.

"Tama ka, Pa, marami pang babae sa mundo. However, there's no one like Xia... She's the only one of her!" Hindi na magawang kumalma ni Zachrey. "Tulad ng sinabi ko kay Mama, I'm willing to take all my chances with that girl!"

"Wow, bilib na bilib na ako sa'yo, Zachrey!" sarcastic na sabi ni Bernadeth. "You're willing to sacrifice everything for that good-for-nothing girl? Talagang nahihibang ka na. Hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo!"

Biglang napatayo si Zachrey at galit na galit na sinagot ang kanyang ina.

"Didn't I tell you not to call Xiamin that? Are you that desperate to separate us? I think you're mistaken. Ikaw ang nahihibang dito, hindi ako!"

"Walang hiyang bata ka!" Nilingon ni Bernadeth ang kanyang asawa. "Richard, ikaw na ngang bahalang magsabi sa kanya! Talagang tumitigas na ang ulo ng batang 'yan at sumasagot-sagot pa!"

Richard, without any hesitations, issued a warning to Zachrey.

"Zach, if you continue to disobey us, I will be forced to bring you to my sister, your aunt's house, or worse, we will bring you abroad and stay with us for good."

Zachrey was dumbfounded. He could not believe what his father just said to him. So, minabuti na lang niya na umiwas na magalit pa lalo ang kanyang mga magulang, at tumakbo na lang siya sa kanyang kwarto.

While he was in his room, his parents continued talking about what to do with their son.

"Ba't ngayon mo lang 'to sinabi sa'kin? Matagal na pala ito?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Richard sa asawa.

"Akala ko kasi kaya kong baguhin ang kanyang isip kasi napakabata pa niya. Hindi mo lang alam kung ano ang ginawa ko para lang mapigilan ko siyang magpunta sa ospital," sagot naman ni Bernadeth.

"Bakit, ano bang ginawa mo? Why is it that every time that girl's name is mentioned ay galit na galit si Zachrey sa'yo?"

"Kinuha ko kasi ang cellphone n'ya para hindi na siya maka-contact o ma-contact ng kanyang mga kaibigan. Also, nagpanggap akong may sakit para lang mapigilan ko siyang umalis ng bahay."

Without their knowledge, Zachrey was listening upstairs, and he was furious when he heard that his mother was making things up just for him to stay at home and stop seeing Xiamin.

"Is that so, Ma?"

Nagulat silang dalawa ni Bernadeth at Richard nang makita si Zachrey.

"K-Kanina ka pa ba d-diyan?" Nauutal na tanong ni Bernadeth.

"Long enough to hear the most retarded thing you've ever done to me." Zachrey clenched his fists and continued saying, "I heard it loud and clear, Ma, and I was foolish enough to believe that you have a serious heart condition yourself!"

"I did it all to protect you, Zachrey!"

"You keep on saying that! Why're you even protecting me, Ma? Nagiging paranaoid ka lang, e. Sumosobra ka na!"

"Zach, that's enough! Don't talk to your mom like that! You have no right because you're just our son!"

"Just because I'm your son doesn't mean I hold no right, Pa. Just because I'm sixteen, you adults think I know nothing." Zachrey's voice was about to break, but he kept his emotions in a bottle as much as possible. "You also have no right to stop me of whom I choose I want to be with!"

Doon na nagalit ng husto ang kanyang ama.

"From this day forward, I don't want you to get out of the house without our permission! Don't dare to disobey us, or else!"

With that strong warning coming from his father, bumalik na lang si Zachrey ulit sa kanyang kwarto, at doon niya binuhos ang kanyang galit.

"Kita mo, Bernadeth? 'Yan kasi ang sabi ko sa'yo simula't sapul pa! Dapat no'n pa natin kinuha si Zach sa iyong ina para doon siya sa atin lumaki!" giit ni Richard. "Tingnan mo ang nangyari sa kanyang kapatid! Halos hindi ako kinikilalang ama dahil lumaki sa iba!"

"Alam mo naman na ginawa natin 'yon para din sa kanya! You know damn well that we can't work properly if we have a small child to take care of!"

"Pero hindi pa huli ang lahat. Bukas na bukas din, aasikasuhin ko na ang mga papers natin para sa lalong madaling panahon ay makaalis na tayo dito. Hopefully, maka-move on si Zach."

"Buti pa nga," Bernadeth agreed. "dahil kung ako lang ang tatanungin mo, hindi ko talaga kaya na makitang masaktan ang anak natin kung saka-sakaling magkatotoo na bilang na lang ang araw ng Xia na 'yon."

"Sana sa simula pa lang, pinigilan mo na para hindi lalala ang sitwasyon," sabi ni Richard.

"Stop blaming me. Besides, malay ko ba? Hindi nga siya nagsabi sa'yo, 'di ba? Sa'kin pa kaya? Naiwan niya kasi ang kanyang lunch box no'ng isang araw kaya hinatid ko sa school n'ya. Do'n ko lang nalaman na ganyan na pala ang nangyayari."

"Alright. You take care of Zach's school papers for his transfer to another school," utos ni Richard. "while I take care of our papers for our stay abroad."

While Bernadeth and Richard continued talking, in Zachrey's room, he was thinking of how to make a win-win solution to his problem. He wanted to please his parents; at the same time, he does not want to let Xiamin down.

"Napakaimportante ng mga magulang ko sa'kin, pero importante rin si Xia," Zachrey thought, at siya ay litong-lito. "Alam ko na kung pipiliin ko sina Mama at Papa, lalong madadagdagan ang sakit na nararanasan ni Xiamin ngayon. Kung pipiliin ko naman si Xiamin, mas lalong masasaktan ang mga magulang ko. Sino ba talaga sa kanila ang pipiliin ko?"

Habang litong-lito sa kakaisip si Zachrey kung sino ang kanyang pipiliin, bigla niyang pabirong naisip ang mga katagang ito: "I wish I have two hearts. The other one for my parents, and the other to Xiamin. That way, no one will get hurt."

Bigla siyang nagising sa katotohanan na talagang imposible na mangyari ang hinihiling niya na magkaroon ng dalawang puso. Kaya kahit tumutulo ang kanyang luha, he still managed to wear a smile because of that crazy thought. Hanggang si Zachrey ay nakatulog sa pag-iisip.

Downstairs, his mom heard some knocking at the gate.

"Richard, tingnan mo nga kung sino ang kumakatok," utos niya sa asawa.

Dali-dali namang tumayo at lumabas si Richard at tiningnan kung sino ang nasa gate.

"Sino 'yan?" tanong niya.

"Tito? It's me, Cj. I didn't know na nakauwi na po pala kayo." Masayang sabi nito kay Richard.

"Oh, Cj! Kamusta ka na? Ang laki-laki mo na rin." Richard was also elated to see Cj again. "Ano bang atin?"

"Nandyan ho ba si Zachrey?"

"Naku, wala dito, e. Inutusan ng mama niya na bumili ng mga groceries sa mall," kalmadong sabi ni Richard kay Cj. "Ano bang kailangan mo? Ako na lang ang bahalang magsabi sa kanya pagdating."

Cj was reluctant to say what he wanted to say to his Tito Richard because he smelled something fishy. Usually, when he visits Zachrey, his parents will always insist on him coming in even if his friend went for a walk or run. However, the case seemed to have changed.

Parang hinaharangan siya para hindi makapasok, at panay lingon rin ang kanyang Tito sa asawa na nakita niya sa loob ng bahay.

"Hindi naman ho importante." Cj plastered a fake smile. "Gusto ko lang sana siyang kamustahin, kasi hindi niya sinasagot ang mga tawag and texts ko."

"A-Ah, kasi... Bago kasi ang phone and number ni Zach. Na-snatch kasi yung old phone niya bago pa ako dumating." Nakita ni Cj kung paano pinagpawisan si Richard, kaya nakahalata siya na may tinatago talaga sila. Bago pa siya makasagot ulit, inunahan na siya ni Richard. "Well, anyway, I'll just tell Zachrey that you came here to check on him when he arrives, okay? Sege na, Cj, we still need to finish something in the house."

Dali-dali itong pumasok ulit sa bahay at sinara ang pinto. Cj could not do anything, so he had no other choice but to leave.