Chapter 32
Nisha's POV
Hans. He's here.
I can't move, nanghihina ako. The pain was too unbearable.
"Nisha.. Nisha gumising ka." I heard Hans's soft voice. Pilit nyang inaalog ang balikat ko.
I could somewhat see his face kahit na umiikot ang paningin ko.
But there was a person behind him. My eyes starting to clear upon seeing Lucian.
His nose was bloody, his eyes wide, and his lips twisted into snarl.
He was holding something and I'm not sure kung ano yun, but when it glinted I screamed.
"Hans tumabi ka!"
Lucian tried to stab Hans just like what he did to Matt but because of my scream, nakaiwas si Hans, still shielding me away from him.
I heard Hans let out a pained scream.
Instead of his back, Lucian managed to stab Hans's shoulder which was now bleeding.
"H-Hans!" I cried out. I let out a whimper of pain when he suddenly carried me despite his bleeding shoulder.
Nakikita ko na mas lalong bumubukas ang sugat nya as he ran with me in his arms, desperately trying to create a space between him and Lucian.
"You can't get away from me, She's mine!" I heard Lucian screamed, I managed to look behind us.
Lucian was there, chasing after us while limping, nose bleeding and his left eye was shut close. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginawa sakanya ni Hans for him to be in that state.
Suddenly, Hans tripped and we fell. I cried in pain when my leg hits the ground as he fell on top of me while grunting in pain. His blood spilling all over me.
"I-I'm sorry." Hans said as he landed next to me.
Lucian was nearing us, and nung nasa harap na namin sya he just stood there, a deranged look in his eye as he laughed maniacally.
"Tingin mo matatakasan nyo ako?!" he said loudly.
He giggled.
"Nisha, Nisha, Nisha. Do you really hate me that much that you're willing to sacrifice your friends lives just to get away from me?"
Hindi ako makasagot, both from the pain and because of guilt.
If only I didn't get them involved,this wouldn't have happened.
Suddenly, I felt someone gripped my hand and saw Hans, smiling weakly as he shook his head as if telling me na wag makinig kay Lucian.
"If you can't love me today, then maybe in the next life you will."
I continued to cry and sob as he neared me. Then I heard grunting and Hans suddenly draped his body over me as if shielding me from Lucian.
"Hans, what are you doing?! L-Let me go! Don't do this!"
I tried pushing him off of me but he was using the last of his strength so I couldn't move him.
"I'm sorry. Let me protect you for the last time." he said making me cry even more.
"Aw how sweet," Lucian said mockingly, raising the knife above us.
"We'll all die either way, so it's a little too late for that!"
I closed my eyes, still trying to push Hans's body.
Is this really the end?
Two loud gunshots were heard and I snapped my eyes open.
Lucian was still standing in front of us, looking shocked.
Then his grip loosen and the knife fell from his hand, cluttering uselessly to the ground, he gaze at me for a second before he fell down next, face down to the grass.
I was confused. Anong nangyayari?
Hans was lifted off of me and people rushed towards him, a few people came to me as well, asking me if I'm okay.
"H-Hans.. Iligtas nyo si Hans." I muttered weakly.
They were saying something but my mind couldn't register the words, I just let myself succumb to the darkness hoping that this is nothing but a nightmare.
---
Matt survived the first time Lucian stabbed him.
The moment Lucian went after me thinking Matt was dead, Matt quickly called for help and kahit na nanghihina sya he rushed to save me from Lucian.
When he saw what Lucian was about to do, he protected me, using himself as a shield and Lucian stabbed his back and this time.. Matt's luck has ran out.
Hans was about to pay me a visit when he heard me scream and he rushed inside and saw Lucian breaking my legs with a hammer and Matt's corpse next to us.
In anger, he punched Lucian's face and stomach until he became unconscious. Or that's what Hans thought.
The moment Hans rushed to my aid, Lucian grabbed the knife to stab Hans, but I screamed so he missed and hit Hans's shoulder.
Hans carried me desperately trying to escape Lucian but he was starting to get unconscious because of the blood he was losing.
He tried to protect me like what Matt did even if he knew that it would be useless.
Thankfully, the police came and shot Lucian and both Hans and I were rushed to the hospital.
And here I am now, in a hospital bed as the police interviewed me.
Sinabi ko lahat ng nalalaman ko and they told me what really happened.
Matt called them and he said,
"Pumunta kayo sa address ni Nisha Romano, sa *address* sinaksak ako ni Lucian at papatayin nya ang bestfriend ko!"
They told me that Hans was okay. That he lost a lot of blood so he needs to rest. He was still unconscious at baka daw gigising sya after a few days.
The same thing couldn't be said to Matt.
My eyes tear up upon remembering his sacrifice.
He's gone.
The recorder he left in my pocket served as a valuable evidence in clearing my name, that I'm a victim.
As for Lucian.. He's dead.
Dinala din sya sa hospital but unfortunately he was dead on arrival.
I'm not really sure what to feel about that.
I sighed, my eyes darting to my leg covered in cast. Good thing is that my left leg wasn't broken beyond repair, however they said it would take me probably years to fully recover.
Days went by and kahit na hindi pa ako pinayuhang gumalaw, pinilit ko na kaya ko na. Misa helped me dress in all black kagaya nila then Finn carefully lifted me inside his car.
For an hour we're all quiet, too afraid to say something.
For the the whole car ride I was just staring at the baby blue skies, trying my hardest not to let the tears escape my eyes.
Memories of Matt kept replaying in my mind.
I could no longer see him. I could no longer hug him. I could no longer.. My hand balled into fists.
Matt, bakit ikaw pa? Dapat ako na lang.
Finn stopped his car in front of a chapel. Misa going out of the car with my wheelchair where she set it next to the car. Finn carried me again and put me into the wheelchair as they both pushed me inside the chapel.
The moment we enter, the sound of mourning could be heard. Despite the sunglasses that I'm wearing I couldn't hide the tears that were running down my cheeks.
Misa rubbed my back comfortingly as they pushed me towards Matt's casket.
A huge picture of him was next to it.
Finn lifted me again but this time he was just supporting me.
I couldn't stop the sob that escaped my mouth upon seeing my best friend's face inside the casket.
He looked so peaceful.. Like his life wasn't stolen away from him at such a young age.
"I'm so sorry, Matt. I'm so sorry." I cried, caressing the glass that separates my hand from his body.
"Nisha, anak." I looked next to me and saw Mrs. Quintero.
"Tita, I'm sorry kasalanan ko to." I said and she just hugged me.
"Wala kang kasalanan, anak. Wag mong sisihin ang sarili mo. Panigurado malulungkot si Matt kapag pilit mong sisisihin ang sarili mo." she said.
"Di po ba kayo galit sakin?"
She smile sadly, and I could see Matt's face in her.
"Nung una oo, pero narealize ko na biktima ka rin dito Nisha, pamilya ka namin, parang kapatid na ang turingan nyo ni Matt kaya di nako nagtataka kung bakit nya isasakripisyo ang buhay nya para sayo."
I cried louder and she hugged me once again, whispering soft words of comfort.
I have no idea kung saan ginanap ang burol ni Lucian, ang alam ko lang ang libing nya would be the day after ng libing ni Matt which is tomorrow.
Lucian has no family, he has no friends, but most of his fans would surely be present tomorrow despite of what he has done.
I tried to forgive Lucian but seeing the damage of what he has done, I can't even bear the thought of him kahit na patay na sya.
Almost everyone was crying loudly as Matt's casket was lowered to the ground. White roses were tossed and the sound of his favourite sad song was played in the background.
The song that he always sang horribly with a smile on his face..
Now I could never see him smile again.
I tossed my own white rose to his casket, shutting my eyes as new batch of tears ran down my cheeks.
Thank you for everything, Matt.
My best friend and hero. You will never be forgotten.
---
My phone rang after kong makasakay sa kotse and it was from the doctor saying na gising na daw si Hans.
Dali-dali kaming bumalik sa hospital but Finn and Misa were careful sa pagtulak sa wheelchair ko, we went to the room kung asan si Hans and there he was, sitting on a bed with a bandage on his shoulder.
"Maiwan muna namin kayo." Misa said at hinila si Finn palabas ng kwarto.
I wheeled my wheelchair next to the bed.
"Kamusta?" I said.
"Medyo nahihilo." he replied then sighed,
"Di ako nakadalo sa burol at libing ni Matt."
"I'm sure naiintindihan nya naman yun." I said, swallowing the lump that started to form in my throat.
"H-Hindi ko matanggap na wala na sya."
"Kahit ako, pero kailangan. Kung sigurong nandito lang yun panigurado tatamaan tayo sa mga arnis nya kapag nakita nyang ganto tayo." he said his voice shaky.
I saw droplets falling down the white sheets and I looked up at him and saw him crying.
"Tangina. Bakit kailangan nya pang mawala?!"
He started sobbing hysterically and I rubbed his arms for comfort, while I couldn't also stop the tears that were running down my cheeks.
Kung asan man si Matt ngayon, sana ay masaya sya.
That evening I was lying on my hospital bed. I couldn't get a proper sleep. hanggang ngayon wala pa ring tigil sa kakaluha ang mga mata ko, it's as if they were endless.
I kept dreaming about Matt. The moment he got stabbed, he was staring at me, na parang ako ang sinisisi nya sa pagkamatay nya.
And I know he's right. I'm the reason kung bakit patay na sya.
I grabbed my new phone underneath my pillow. A sad smile forming my lips nang makita ko yung wallpaper. It was a picture of me, Hans and Matt.
I touched Matt's face, muttering for what seemed like the hundredth sorry.
I wiped my tears and decided to open my social media accounts to reread the messages we had.
My eyes widened when seeing 99+ messages from him and they were all sent before he died.
I read the most recent ones.
Matt: Nisha pupunta ako dyan la kong pake kung di mo ko papapasukin, aakyat ako.
Matt: Nisha?
Matt: Nisha nakausap ko si Hans
Matt: Nisha kahit anong taboy mo samin ililigtas kita superhero mo ko ngayon HAHAHAHA
Matt: Nisha sarili kong desisyon na iligtas kita kaya kung may mangyaring masama sakin wag na wag na wag mong sisisihin ang sarili mo. Ate at kapatid kita ehhhhh
Matt: nu ba yan para ako nagpapaalam basta tandaan mo yan ah kung ayaw mo makatikim ng arnis
Matt: aakyat nakooooo
I closed my phone, sobbing quietly. It feels like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.
Hindi ko alam kung nababaliw na ako but at that moment I felt Matt's arms wrapped around me and his jolly voice saying.
"Wala kang kasalanan, Nisha. Isa pang sabihin mong kasalanan mo, babanatan kita!"