"Hey Bliss ..."
"Celz! Are you crying?"
I pressed my lips together to stop myself from crying.
I nodded, "Not anymore."
"Yey! Happy again!"
I pulled her closer to me. I like to think that what the doctor said is not true. Maybe it was just a mistake... But I've been noticing its frequent hair loss for a long time.
She looked up to me.
"Where are we?"
"You're in the hospital baby."
"Why?"
I averted my eyes from him.
I can not do it...
"I don't like it here," she said.
She sat on my lap. "I want to go home, let's play."
"We will, Bliss." I said as I stared at her innocent eyes.
It's hard to find a word to describe how our world fell apart based on what the doctor said.
Mom fainted, Dad was shocked and I couldn't believe everything that's happening to me.
Is this my karma for all the bad decisions I made?
Why is my brother still there?
She's too young for a tumor. She's only six years old!
She's just starting to see the world. There's a lot of beautiful things she needs to see. There's a great future waiting for her, she can't leave me ... She can't.
I'm not ready.
I'll never be ready to let her go.
She's my little angel.
******
"They don't answer." Mom said.
I just kept looking at him. We haven’t slept since last night. They watched over Bliss as I prepared the supplies for the hospital.
"Maybe they're just busy right now, I'll call again." She tried again but they're not picking up.
"What could have happened to them? I can just visit Aurora." she suggested.
I turned to him wearily
Her eyes are still puffy and red like mine.
"Mom ..."
She turned to me. "Are you coming? That's good, so you and Toci can fix it. That'll fix it."
"They're not going to help us," I said.
"What are you saying? Bliss is like a daughter to her. She will definitely take care of ---"
I tried to take the cell phone from him. "Mom that's right--" she cut me off.
"She's my friend! She'll help us!" she desperately grabbed the phone and dialed her number.
She waited but no one answered.
She sighed.
It slammed into the chair. He rubbed the palm on his face.
"I don't know what I'm going to do ... Your brother is still young, he can't afford that operation. W-where can we get such a lot of money? Your Dad hasn't repaid all the debts... No. that they will lend us. "
"What did I do for this to happen? Why is this happening to us?"
"She needs the operation but we don't have money for it ... What will happen to her Celiza? I don't want my daughter to die..."
"Mom what ?! Bliss won't be lost! Don't think like that!"
Mom burst out crying. I could do nothing but cry as if it would help my brother's treatment.
A few hours ago, I was able to get the equipment ready to take to the hospital. Mom reached out to the kitchen. I glanced at the wall clock, it's noon, isn't she still done eating Bliss?
"S-okay." he then dropped the cellphone.
If I had looked at him. "Mom who called?"
"Get dressed, we're going somewhere," she said.
"I don't want to go if you know ---" she cut off.
"We are not going there Celiza! Now get dressed!"
Even though I was surprised, I just obeyed Mom's command.
"M-mom? What are we doing here?" I said as we stopped at an expensive restaurant.
Instead of answering me he went straight inside. When he said the name, the guard immediately let us in.
My forehead creased when my eyes found a familiar face on the table right in the middle of the restau.
My eyes are asking as I glance at Mom who's walking straight in her direction.
"Sit." Command it.
"Mom--"
"Shut it, Celiza." My eyes narrowed at her. Why did she agree to see Magnus Mom?
She hated her.
Its gaze hovered over me before shifting its gaze to Mom.
"Your family's company is bankrupt. Is that right?"
Does he send us here to insult?
I turned to Mom who just nodded.
"I understand now, why you're clinging to my son."
My forehead furrowed, what was Magnus’s Mom saying? What now if our company goes bankrupt? What has that got to do with Magnus?
"If you think you can climb right back to the top by using my son, you're dreaming."
"W-what the--"
"Celiza," Mom said. I can't believe it. Mom was getting down. She's not like this, not even close to this.
"Your family is the worst. How could you tolerate your child ---"
"Where is this conversation going? Are you sending us here just to ---"
"I heard what happened to your daughter," she said.
How did he find out what happened to my brother?
I turned to Mom next to me who was just quietly listening.
"I'm willing to pay for her operation."
My forehead wrinkles.
"Y-you are?"
"You heard me, I'm a mother as well. I don't want my son to suffer," he said glancing at me.
"Thanks! I'm sorry for shouting at you last time we talk ---"
"How much do you need?"
"Put it in the check," he said then laid it down in front of Mom.
What is happening?
Why is he helping us?
"Thank you so much. I don't think you'll help us after what happened. We'll pay for it right away---"
"You don't need to pay for it."
"R-really?"
"In one condition."
"Sure, what is that?"
"I want your daughter to stay away from my son."
"Of course! Sure. That's very easy. Don't worry, I'll make sure your son and Celiza don't meet. My daughter wants nothing to do with your son."
"Why do I have to stay away from Magnus--"
"Your his ticking bomb. You're destructive for him. You already ruined his life and it exploded around the internet."
"I cannot believe my own son for disrespecting me. He's not like that before you came. He's doing unreasonable things just to get to you. He refused to eat without seeing you."
Is everything he said true?
Oh Magnus...
"He cared so much for you. I don't know what kind of sorcery you did to my son but it needs to end now."
I stared down my fingers. He cares for me more than I do. We're both affected by the scandal but I'm only thinking about myself and what others will think of me.
He needs me... More than anything else.
We should be together in facing this problem.
"I won't stay away from Magnus. We were both affected by what happened. He could handle this himself ---"
"Celiza what ?!"
Her eyebrow raised.
"Is your motive more important than your sister?"
My mouth is covered.
"I don't have any motive ---"
"Are you sure?"
"I won't stay away from Magnus we have to face the problem together ---"
"He can do it by himself. He doesn't need you."
"He needs me ---"
"You're really getting on my nerves."
"Stop it Celiza! Think of your sister! Do it for her. She's not the only man in the world. Toci is still out there ---"
"Mom---"
"Is it okay Celiza? You're going to be a big sister at this time. I'm tired of your whimpers and whines. This is serious."
I got to what it said. It goes right through my heart. This is the best decision I can make for Bliss.
Mom's right, Bliss needs me. I should be a sister to her. Even though it hurts me I'm willing to sacrifice for her.
Tears pooled in my eyes.
“I will keep him away from your son.
Even Celiza's shadow he can't see. "
"They will never approach or look at your child. Isn't that Celiza?"
I nodded. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"That's not enough. I want to hear it from her."
I close my eyes tightly.
"Celiza," Mom said.
"Will you put that man before your brother? At least once, follow me." she whispered to me.
I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath.
I looked up at the Mother of Magnus.
My eyes remained on her. Her eyebrow raised as she saw me crying. It waits for me to say.
"I... I will stay away f-from Magnus." My voice croaked.
******
Mom went straight to the hospital after getting the money from the bank. It will also talk to the doctor who will operate, Magnus' Mother recommended that. While it sent me home for supplies.
I walked home with a heavy heart.
I cannot believe everything that is happening.
I stopped to find him waiting outside our house.
His face lit up when he saw me.
My knees weakened when he smiled at me.
He's here.
But he's not allowed to be here. His forbidden to see me but he did it anyway.
You really are Magnus!
He rushed towards me. His arms never felt so warm and peaceful like before. "I miss you, Celiza," he said.
My eyes remained on him.
"Stay away from my son if you want to help your sister."
The bottom of my eyes got hot.
"Are you alright? What happened?"
I pressed my lips together. "Great ..."
I can't fight back on my tears anymore. It made its way to my cheek.
"Hey..." he cupped my cheeks.
"I-im s-sorry. Don't cry please... I'm sorry it's my fault. I shouldn't have sent... I'm sorry Celiza." He pleaded.
His eyes are full of questions as he stares at me.
He reached for my hands. "Please talk to me,"
"I apologize for hurting you. It's all my fault. Don't blame yourself. It won't happen if I don't teach say---"
I cut him off with a kiss. His soft lips brushed on mine. It felt like years since the last time I tasted his lips, I almost forgot how it feels. I close my eyes and get in the moment so I can remember how his lips feel.
His kiss is longing and full of passion.
I will miss him ...
Our head touched after the kiss. He caressed my cheeks.
"I'm with you Celiza. Well go through this together hmmm?"
I pressed my lips together, knowing that would not happen.
"We'll survive this. Someday we're just gonna laugh about this." He chuckled.
It'll just be in my wildest dreams. We will never meet again after that.
I'm sure he'll forget about me... But I never will.
"Hey don't cry anymore..." he promised affectionately. He put the strand of hair covering my face on the back of my ear.
"Celiza..."
I pulled him closer to me and wrapped my arms around him as I trusted him crying on his soft chest.
This will be the last time that I will be with him.
This is the latter.
I closed my eyes and pulled him closer.
He patted my back and kissed my head. "Don't worry I won't leave you ..."
"No matter what happens I will stay by your side."