chapter 8

Chapter 29

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Roughly two years later.

"How is she?"

The doctor eyed his uneasy hands. She checked the sheet of paper clasped tightly on the clipboard in her hand and looked back at him again.

"She's fighting well, you can take her home in a week or so. As usual, make sure to keep her active in aerobic exercises since her body is getting weaker."

He nodded, thanking her and entering the hospital ward again, where he saw Xyrill calmly eating a sandwich while staring at the variety show playing on the television.

"Xy, we can go home next week, according to the lab results."

She gave him a nod, not bothering to notice his presence any further.

"Mom is going to visit us later."

"Sure."

He sighed, heading towards the table and taking out a few containers of rice and adobo. "I'm going to prepare for lunch. Do you want anything else?"

"You."

His fingers stopped untangling the tied plastic, but quickly came to his senses and played dumb.

"What?"

She shrugged. "Nothing."

"I see."

He placed the warm containers on the wheeled table and pushed it near the bed. He helped her sit up, removing the pillows, and sitting beside her. He stared at her, rubbing her shoulder as he stood up again, clearing his throat.

"Eat, I'm going to pick up mom from the lobby."

She responded with a nod, taking another bite of the chicken. He sighed and left.

There's no point in denying that Xyrill's treatment had been different ever since they came back. He made it clear that he wasn't going to change his decision anytime soon, and he's been paying for the consequences for two years now. Of course, his mind still wanders back to the woman who loves wearing sweaters and flip flops in the snow.

I wonder if she forgave me when I left.

He shook his head and continued walking, two women entering his thoughts along the way.

"Megan or Xyrill?"

He still remembers Ethan's words like the back of his hand.

"Hijo!" Son!

He whipped his head towards the side, seeing his mother's smiling face. His demeanor remained the same as he walked closer, catching his breath at the sudden bone-crushing hug.

"How are you? You don't visit anymore."

He walked beside her as they headed to the elevator. Pressing the button leading them to the fourth floor, he waited for the metal doors to close before speaking.

"I have been taking care of Xy, mom." He fixed his glasses and looked away.

"That's good to hear." Linda sighed, admiring her newly polished nails. "Of all the things her parents could have left her with, it had to be a disease. Dios mio."

Xyrill has been diagnosed with parkinson's disease two years ago, around the same time Aster left and went to America. After he left, she suffered severe symptoms and was told that her condition is incurable. When they got back, the guy blamed himself, so he took her in his care. They would go to the hospital whenever it would get worse, and her anxiety attacks aren't helping either.

Being someone who knows her so much, Aster never left her side until she overcame her emotional breakdowns. Now, her personality changed, but her feelings didn't.

As much as the woman loathes it, she can't push him away because she knows it will only hurt him, and she doesn't want that.

Two years.

She didn't open the topic about their relationship for two whole years. All this time, she kept silent, kept the heartaches to herself. Cried to sleep by herself.

Little did she know, Aster has been aware of it all.

His heart broke more than he imagined.

As soon as the elevator's doors opened, they went out and looked to the right section of the white hallways. Aster stopped walking and sat on the bench situated on the side of the wall.

"Mom, I want to go back to the U.S."

Linda looked down, smiling, and patting his head. "You know that I will allow you, but I didn't like how you left without notice that time."

He scratched his nape, grimacing at the rash idea that entered his mind that day. "That's why I want to let you know. But, I can't leave Xyrill."

"If you can't, then why did you end it with her?"

His hands stopped moving as he looked up, feeling much better after seeing his mother's bright face.

"Once there was a drunk girl who crashed into my car without notice. That girl loves going out in the snow wearing sweaters, her favorite grey pants, and her 'trusty' flip flops. That girl can't cook for shi—" he cleared his throat, embarrassed after spurting out a curse word. "Shiitake mushrooms. She can't create a decent meal for herself but has an appetite of two giants."

"And that girl changed everything?" She muttered.

Aster nodded, avoiding his mother's surprised expression.

"I don't know if I should hate this feeling, ma. Everything suddenly took a turn, and we only hung out with each other for three months. It's..." He but his lip as Linda held his cold hands. "Mom, I can't. I don't want to fall in love. Not again, not anymore."

"Hijo..."

"Ma, I saw what love did to you after dad left." he reached out to wipe the tear that fell from her glassy eyes. "He broke you, and I don't want to experience that."

"Hijo, love is a beautiful thing. Love is unfathomable. It can either give you euphoria or agony."

"And you experienced both."

"Well, that is true," she smiled, reaching out her palm. Aster took it as Linda pulled her up for another hug.

"But I want you to feel euphoria, hijo. It's indecipherable. Unexplainable."

"Mom, I loved Xyrill but never did she make me smile."

"And the other girl did?"

he pulled out, nodding twice.

"Then what are you still hesitating about? You know the answer to quench the thirst of that heart of yours." Linda's face remained collected while he exhaled the breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Would you be alright?"

His mother chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Before I met Crisanto, I had myself. I put myself first before anything else," she took his hand, rubbing soothing circles on its back. "So when he left, I found myself again. I know you are afraid of the outcome, but for the sake of your happiness, I am more than willing to let you fly back there because I know that you love and care for yourself, too."

"But, Xy—"

"What about me?"

Linda looked behind Aster, making him turn his body around. Xyrill is holding her IV and stopped walking when there was a considerable distance between the three of them.

"Hija, how are you? Are you feeling alright?"

(Translation: daughter)

"Could have been better."

Her stoic face never changed its demeanor as her knuckles turned white from her tight grip on the cold, metal rod.

"I would love to have a chat later, tita. Mind if I talk to your son for a minute?"

Xyrill, I'm ready. I hope you are, too.