"Baby? Are you sure that you're okay? I told you, take a rest for a while."
He always ask me that. I always tell him that I'm okay but he doesn't believe me. He said that I needed enough rest every day so that I would not have my asthma. Ever since I left the hospital, he has always been on my tail. We are only apart once when we have class time.
"Hmm, I'm okay. I had a good night's sleep." I stretched even more when I got into his car.
"You're so beautiful. I want a kiss." He still sucked but I pushed his face.
I laughed and shook him."I can't. You might get sick of me. Just drive there."
"I'd rather be infected so we can be together," he joked.
I thought about what he said. If it were true that my disease was contagious, I would never go near him again. Who wants to hurt the person she loves too, right?
"What if I get away from you?" none of my own question to him.
He stopped the car when we arrived and stared at me intently."I'll come with you. I'm your air and you can't live without me."
I couldn't immediately talk back on what he said but I just found myself smiling. He held my hand and kissed it that made me blushed. He never failed to make me feel a romantic excitement.
"Shara! I thought you were hurt. We're worried about you too much." Rose hugged me so tight when I entered the room.
"I'm not going to die yet so don't worry," I joked so he hit me hard.
"You're not going to die, dumbass! You're the valedictorian of this batch, don't you want to go on stage?!" Fiona asked me, annoyed.
I thought."Of course, I want to. But who knows if I could live longer? Asthma isn't a joke."
"You turned pale after you went in. Why didn't you stay in the hospital?" Josh' brows furrowed.
"She's afraid of hospitals. That almost made sense when she had dextrose in her hand. Plus the sound of machines and doctors." Mau, herself, answered for me.
"Aish! How can you get over that if you don't want to go to the hospital," Kyla said.
I shook my head at him."It's just a waste of money to be hospitalized. Besides, I'm okay now."
"Now you're okay but how about tomorrow or the next few days. Did you even think of some possibilities that will happen?" worried Jelo said.
"You know, I honestly don't know. I'm not ready yet and I'm scared. I don't want to leave this world yet," I replied sadly.
Allison appeared in front of me."If you're worried about the amount of money, I can pay for it. I have a lot of money on my card and I don't use it either. It will be even more useful if I give you your treatment."
"As if she would receive that. You guys know her, she doesn't accept money from anyone that easily. She wants to get tired before earning it." Maureen looks stressed out.
"Thank you for your concern, guys. I love you."
After two subjects we had recess. Mau disallowed me to get out of the room unless she or the teachers told me to. He even bought me snacks and he didn’t even ask what I was going to eat. The doctor might told her that I shouldn't eat junk foods and drink sodas.
"That's all you can recess until you're okay." She dropped skyflakes, milk flavored donuts and fresh milk on my desk.
I was blown away."How long will I be okay? Maybe not anymore."
"What are you saying?! When I say you'll be okay, it will happen. We always go to church and pray for our health so there's no way that you couldn't overcome your condition right now!"
I just didn't speak because she might be even angrier with me. We are the only two left here in the room so she is free to shout at me as much as she wants. It's not that I don't want this foods she bought for me. I just really miss the chocolates, junk foods, and sodas I always eat.
"Shara! Caseth brought something for you." Hades looked at the door and Ziro was with him so my shameless best friend came out and left me here.
I accepted the small box he gave me."Why did you give it to me? Where is he? Is he studying?"
"A-Ah no... H-He left. He said he'll just come back this afternoon to pick you up," he stammered.
Leave? But why? He didn't even text me.
"So, he's going to skip his classes again? Why? Where is he going?" astonished I asked him.
Hades turned to Ziro at the door and they seemed to be talking eye to eye."A-Ah... w-we don't know either, Shara. I'm sorry, I was just instructed."
"All right, just thank you."
Can't he just do whatever he's going to do next time?! He is annoying.
"Oh? Your snout is rising. You're sulking again," Mau said next to me.
"Eh, who wouldn't be upset?! It's my favorite cake but the person who gave this isn't my favorite person."
She was still slapping the table while laughing.
"Maybe? But the person who made it was your favorite."
I'm the one who smiled at what she said."Really? I'll eat it later."
"Yay! I recorded what you said earlier and sent it to Caseth. He'll probably hear it and I'm excited." He jumped so my eyes widened and he was about to reach for his phone when my classmates entered.
The trick! That guy will surely tease me later!
When I came out of the gate I did not expect to see Ate Casyn. She's inside her car and looking for someone. When she noticed me, she motioned me to come over so I did.
"Hi, Ate Casyn. Are you looking for Caseth? He's not here. He left this recess time," I said immediately.
She just smiled and shook his head."Actually, I'm here for you. It's up to my brother. Let's go to the restaurant where you work, we'll just talk. It's boring in the house."
"B-But... Caseth told me that he's going to fetch me after school," I hesitated to answer.
"No, it's okay. I said goodbye to Caseth so let's go?"
I nodded and got into her car. When we arrived I was the one who represented to order our food and I just asked for her order. While she's finding a vacant table to sit.
"What are we going to talk about, sister?" I asked as we ate.
She stopped for a bit and looked at me."Are there any rumors in your school about Ashley? The model that we saw in the ice-cream parlor last time. She's famous so maybe there are rumors in your school."
"Ashley Del Mundo? She's the talk of the town in our school. Everywhere I sit she's the topic." I headed to continue eating.
"Don't mind them. Maybe they're not talking about Ashley's past relationship. Right?" she asked weakly.
"They're talking but I'm not affected. No one knows that Caseth was his ex-boyfriend."
She slowly holds my hand, asking if I'm okay.
"S-Shara, are you okay? Trust me, Caseth will choose you over Ashley. You gave light to his dark world. You made him realize everything. Don't let go to him no matter what happens. "
"But what if I need to? I can't control fate, sister. Even though I love him, we can't do anything if destiny itself keeps the two of us apart." I stared at the emptiness because I had lost my appetite.
"W-What do you mean, Shara? All his life he's just been this fun. Are you going to leave him like what Ashely did?" She stared at me with his sad eyes.
"Ate, I'm sick. I don't know if I could last longer. Sometimes, I get my asthma so I can't breathe even if I use an inhaler. Maybe, the end is near for me."
"Shara, Caseth knows that but he didn't leave you. He can fight for you and I hope you'll fight for him too."
I'll fight for him... no matter what.
Ate Casyn took me to the park after we ate at the restaurant. She said that Caseth is here and waiting for me. I was about to ask her where is he but she already left. I just took a walk here in the park and was looking for where he was.
I went through the swing we sat on on Sunday. If I want to sit down, I still have to find Caseth. Aish. Earlier I was looking at my phone to wait for his message but I received nothing. He didn't even call me or send me a voicemail.
Really annoying! I miss him already!
I was walking in the dark side of the park which is far from the light of the post. I don't know where I am because I can hardly see anything. I jumped suddenly when something shone on either side of me. I noticed some petals on the ground and the lights were turning on every step that I took. I don't have any clue on what's happening right now but I found myself following the petals on the ground.
I reached the final petal and exactly there sounded a violin. My ears were finding the sound until a chandelier lights up the whole place. Even where I was standing was also lit up so the surroundings were very bright. I saw a table in the middle surrounded by candles. On either side were violinists.
"Oh my god! D-Did Caseth do this?" I whispered to myself.
"This is for you, baby." I turned behind me and saw him holding a bouquet of flowers.
I smiled widely while looking at him and accepted the bouquet of flowers."It's beautiful. Is this the reason why you didn't attend your classes?"
"Hmm, I want to surprise you. Did I succeed?" he smiled at the question I nodded.
"You're the one who did it all? I'd love to, Caseth." I rolled my eyes all around.
He hugged me from my back and placed his chin on my shoulder."I don't have any idea about this so I asked for my sister and Maureen's help. I'm glad that you liked it."
"Of course, I like it. My favorite person made this for me."
He encircled his hands on my waist and guided me to come over the table. He made me sit down and placed the bouquet on the side of the table before taking his seat.
"Let's eat dinner first, baby."
I nodded while the smile still lingered on my lips.
"What about my parents? They'll worry about me because I haven't come home yet."
"I asked for their permission so don't worry. Just eat and we'll dance after this."
I can't believe that he really did all of this for me. It's like the fairytale that I've been dreaming for so long. I never thought this would happen to me. He prepared my favorite blueberry cheesecake with my picture on top of it. I just laughed and tasted it even though I only ate it this lunch break.
"Baby, do you want to dance?" he suddenly asked me.
I nodded so he stood up and held out his hand in front of me. I gladly accepted that and went with him to the center. I placed my arms on his nape while his hands were on my waist. He gestured the violinists to change the songs into a romantic one.
"What's up and did you think like this?" I can't help but ask him that.
He smiled at me and pressed our foreheads together."I want to make you feel that you're the most special girl in the world, Shara. You're the only woman I'll love and love, remember that."
I stop dancing and so with him. Tears escaped from my eyes as I hugged him so tight like I don't want to let him go. I don't want to lose this guy in front of me. I don’t want us to be separated no matter what happens.
I promise, I'll fight for you, my baby.
"Won't you leave me even if I'm sick?" I tearfully question him.
He let go of our hug and wiped the tears from my cheeks."I would never do that, baby. Promise that. Even if I die, you are the only one I will choose. Trust me."
"I trust you, Caseth. I know you won't fool me. You would never lie to me, right?" I asked again.
He nodded and kissed my forehead."Yes, baby. And if there's anything I'm not telling you, it's because it doesn't matter anymore. I chose you, I always will."
He knelt down in front of me and at the same time he took a small box with only one ring. I sighed and covered my mouth in shock. I-Is this for real?
"C-Caseth ... I haven't answered you yet, have I?" I said sadly.
He just chuckled and get the ring inside the little box."It's not a proposal ring but a promise ring. You have to wear this until the right time comes for us. Don't lose this because I also have like that so that we 'll look like engaged. I'll fight for you and you'll fight for me too. Nothing could set us apart."
I nodded as tears welled up in my eyes again. After he put the ring on me I hugged him again.
"Thank you... for being here with me, baby."
I'll try... to fight for us, my love.