Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

PAALALA:

Ang kwentong inyong mababasa ay mula sa

malawak na imahinasyon ng author.. ang lahat
ng pangyayari, lugar at tauhan ay pawang
kathang isip lamang… ang ano mang
pagkakapareho sa totoong buhay ay nagkataon
lamang. Ito ay hindi gamOt at hindi maaaring
gamiting panggamot sa anumang uri ng sakit.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

PROLOUGE

What is between life and death? I've asked this

question a lot of times but only one person gave
me not the exact answer I'm looking for but the
most accurate one.

I met a boy, he met me. And thus said, that

between life and death is where he led me.

"What is between life and death, you ask?????

From my experience, let me tell you that

between life and death is
____________________________HOPE."

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

CHAPTER 1

Annyeong Hasaeyo!!! Je eurum eun Eliaquim

imnida.. yeolyeodol useuh watseoyeo… hahaha
hindi nyo naintindihan noh legend lang kasi
nakakaalam nyan….. so I am a LEGEND
charrrot!!!

By the way guys spell BORING..

E_L_I_A_Q_U_I_M… hahaha naboboring na
talaga ako kaya magpapakilala na lang ako…
actually nagpakilala na ako kanina but I know
naman na hindi nyo naintindihan kasi nga
LEGEND ako hahahahaha.. so ayan eto na my
name is Eliaquim Montecarlos Alfonso 18 years
old the one and only daughter of Mr. Eliah
Alfonso and Mrs. Kimberly Montecarlos.

Now, I am resting here in the hospital in Manila

because three days from now ooperahan na
ako. Actually I really don’t want to take the
operation because I know naman na wala na
talagang pag-asa na mabubuhay pa ako and
ayoko naman umasa sa 20% chance na

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

magiging successful ang operation, but stil I’m

doing this for my mom.

Sabi ng doctor ko I need to take a rest para

may lakas ako for the operation but I am scared
that once I fell asleep I’m may not be able to
wake up so I decided na mag star gazing na
lang ako para mawala ang inip ko.

”tok tok”’

Na-interrupt ang pag i-star gazing ko when I

heard a knock coming from the door.

“Come in’”

I said as I thought it was a nurse. But I was so

shocked when I saw a boy entering in my room.
Sisigaw na sana ako ng rape but when the
moonlight reflected him from the darkness of
my room I saw a good-looking and jaw dropping
guy na mala greek God ang peg. He was
wearing a hospital gown na hindi lalampas sa
tuhod, maputi siya at may matiim na mata kung

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

tumingin, sa kaputian niya na emphasize ng

mabuti ang kanyang mapupulang kissable lips
that wearing smile as he entered to my room.

Mula sa pinto ay kumaway siya sa akin,

“Hi, I’m Edge from the next door”

--------------------------- Let me tell you that this

boy knocked on my wounded heart.

CHAPTER 2
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Hi, I'm Edge from the next door" he lifts his

hand and knocks his fist in mid air

"Uhh...hello po!! Ako po si Eliaquim “Elle” for

short.. uhmm rarapin nyo napo ba ako? parang
awa nyo napo kahit pogi kayo hindi po ako
papayag may pangarap pa po ako sa buhay at
may sakit po ako baka mahawa kayo kaya
HUWWAAAAGGGGGG POOOOOO!!!!!
huhuhhuhu" exagged kong sabi.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. ang advance mo

naman mag isip.. dami kong tawa dun ahh wait
di ko nabilang hahahaha.. at sa gwapo kong to
rarapin kita? Hahahah garbe nakakatawa
talaga" natatawang sabi nya at nagpagulong
gulong pa sa sahig habang hawak hawak ang
tiyan..

"Who are you in this hospital? Why did you

enter in my room? Rapist ka no? Rapist ka no?"
sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kanya.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

“If I answer all your question, will you come out

and join me for a walk?” balik na tanong niya.

Baliw siguro 'to, sayang ang pogi pa naman,

nagkamali ata sya ng hospital... Sa mental ata
dapat sya. The way he acts is kinda creepy, not
to mention his fair reflection in his hospital gown
at ang napakadark na color ng buhok niya na
naeemphasize ang kaputian niya..

Impatient for my response, he moves forward

having his face an inch away to mine then he
repeats his question with his deep and
hypnotizing voice, "If I answer all your question,
will you come out and join me for a walk?”

"I guess so?" OMO!!. I've run out of words at

yun na lang nasagot ko, nakakaakit talaga siya
at kung hindi ako nakapagpigil kanina baka
nahalikan ko nato. charrr

"That means 'yes' right?" and to my surprise he

smiled to me showing his close up smile na
parang nang aakit.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Who am I in this hospital? I'm a patient as well.

Why did I enter in your room? Checking out for
company, I'm bored. Am I a rapist? It was sad to
say but…… I’m not."

As soon as he have filled all my questions he

stands up pulling my hands with his, I hesitate
to get off my bed,

"Let's go! Promise is a promise!"

"But," wala naman akong pinromise eh... "Okay

sige pero magjajacket muna ako."

Inalis ko pagkakahawak nya sakin at pumunta

sa cabinet ko na nasa gilid ng kwarto at nilabas
ang jacket at sinuot ito habang pinagmamasdan
ang weird na si Edge na kasalukayang nakaupo
sa gilid ng kama ko habang nakayuko at
pinagmamasdan ang pag-sway back and forth
ng mga paa nya. Nung malagay ko na jacket
ko, kinuha ko naman sa ilalim ng cabinet ang
sapatos ko at sinuot ito.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

I think he's harmless naman mukha nga siyang

kulang kulang eh kaya having a company for
tonight is not such a bad idea.

"Tara?" aniya.

"Wait, pano ikaw? Hindi ka ba magpapalit?

Malamig sa labas lalo na kung yan lang ang
suot mo."

“Wala akong damit ehh.””

"In your room?"

"Neither."

"So ano lang ang meron ka?"

"Wala." aniya nang nakangiti.

Argh… I have no choice kundi ipahiram yung

damit ni daddy sa cabinet kesa naman lumabas
siya ng naka hospital gown.

“Take this on, this is my dad’s clothes” I said as

I gave it on him.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

Pagkatapos niyang magpalit ay lumabas na

kami para maglakad lakad.

"Ssh." I hush w/ my index finger on my lip, "We

need to be careful with the nurses, they go back
and forth. It'll be trouble if we get caught." sabi
ko.

"Aye aye captain!" he raises his both thumb and

he giggles.

Tsk why so childish pogi pa naman.

"Here," he points to the emergency exit door,

"We can't use the front door 'coz there will be

guards." sabi niya

Hayss may utak din pala itong kasama ko…

hahaha… tawa ko sa isip ko

"Then, let's head out."

Pagkalabas labas naming, the cold breeze

gave me the shiver and it's the same for him.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Ang lamig."

"oo nga" pagsang ayon niya

"Well, April's yet to come. Spring's just about to

bloom." explain niya habang bumaba na kami
sa hagdan ng emergency exit.

"Yeah, at gusto mong maglakadlakad na

nakasuot lang ng hospital gown at
magmukhang timang na parang takas sa
mental” I said impatiently.

So yun nga, naglakad lakad na lang kami side

by side. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan kami
pumupunta eh, basta sinusundan ko lang kung
saan ako dinadadala ng mga paa ko.

"Ah would you mind if I ask what you have? I

mean why are you in the hospital?" naitanong
ko bigla habang naglalakad kami, atleast to
have a little conversation.

"I'm not telling." he smiled at me and it must be

my imagination or the drowsiness that makes

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me see him a bit transparent under the moon's

light passing through his pallid skin.

CHAPTER 3

"I'm not telling," ngumiti sya tapos nag-hop sya

until makaupo sya sa pavement, "Ikaw ba?"

Lumapit ako sa kanya at umupo sa tabi nya and

mimic him, "I'm not telling."

he glares at me, "Copydog."

"its cat." I corrected.

“ok whatever, just tell me”

"What?!" pataray kong sabi

"yung sakit mo!"

"Bakit ko sasabihin ehh hindi mo rin naman

sinabi yung sakit mo?"

"Argh." he bits his lower lip, "I'm a constant liar.

I tell mix truth and lies so it will always be up to
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you if you wanna believe. So you still want to

ask me the same question?"

"Sure, bakit hindi." Ano naman kung

sinungaling siya? Atleast he warned me, so I
won't have any reasons to believe hard in his
words.

"You said so," pinatong nya yung braso nya sa

tuhod nya at inihiga ang ulo nya, as he turns to
me,

“May asthma ako at ilang buwan at linggo narin

ako dito sa hospital."

"Asthma," I nod, "ganun kasama?"

"Nope..."

"So bakit ganun katagal?"

"Hindi ko alam. Time after time, bad attacks

come. But nothing deadly or suffocating."

“Ahh"

"So ikaw naman?”

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Ahm.. I'm actually dying." nabigla sya sa sinabi

ko kaya napaangat ang ulo nyang nakadantay
sa braso nya.

"You're dying?!"

"Parang ganun na nga." Mababakas sa mukha

niya ang pagkadismaya.

"May sakit ako sa puso, you heard about those

attacks that in one blow might kill you?"

He nods and I continue, "Isa ako sa mga lucky

bitch who has that, araw araw lumalala ang
situation ko. I'm staying in the hospital 'coz in
3days I'll be having my operation."

"Then you do have a transplant! So bakit mo

sinasabing mamatay kana?! Diba transplant is
a sign of living and not dying?"

"Yeah, big deal." I laugh in sarcasm, "Not when

chances are not even the half of a hundred."

"You whiner!"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Anong kalaseng akusasyon yan?!" medyo

nainis-nagulat kong sabi.

"In life, percentage is just a number! Transplant

is always a transplant! Why are you such a
pessimist?!"

“Anong saysay ng 20% chance of success?!"

"Ano ring saysay kung sasayangin mo lang ang

puso na ibibigay sayo?! Atleast believe! Atleast
have a 100% faith! 20 plus 100 makes 120%
surpassing the hundred!"

"Don't teach me math! I know better!"

nagsimula na akong mainis

"I'm not teaching you math," calm he begins,

"I'm teaching you to believe more than beyond."

"Shut up." Actually nadedepress talaga ako

tuwing may gantong usapan

"Hindi mo alam ang pakiramdam na parang

patay kana kahit humihinga kapa." tinakip ko

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kamay ko sa mukha and starting to feel great

depression.

"You mean being between life and death?"

"Yeah! Exactly! yung pakiramdam na hindi mo

alam kung buhay o kamatayan ang naghihintay
sayo, that feeling of being in the middle of two
skyscrapers. That feeling... That..." nanginginig
na ako, hindi ko makuha yung word, hindi ko
alam ang sasabihin ko,

"That feeling of being inbetween, that middle

that I don't even know how to call it..."

"Middle..." he mumbles to himself.

Tinanggal ko yung kamay ko sa mukha ko at

tinignan sya in agony, "Tell me Edge, what's
inbetween life and death? Where am I? If you
can tell me what's inbetween them... Then
maybe that's where I am right now."

Tiningnan niya ako pero hindi ganun katagal

and then he offers me his hand, "Let me tell you

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Elle that between life and death is hope. That's

where you are now. tara?"

"S-saan?" confused and surprised, I managed

to ask.

"Tara,kunin mo yung kamay ko." at ng walang

pag aalinlangan, I take his hand and he leads
me to every roads of hope.

He never said anything wise, he never said

anything helpful, he never said anything
inspiring nor convincing but...

He told me something that has captivated a part

of me... My soon-to-go-away heart.

CHAPTER 4

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Nasan tayo?" hindi niya ako nilingon imbis

nagpatuloy lang siya sa paglalakad habang
nakapikt ang mga mata.

“Nasan tayo?” pag uulit ko

"D'you need to bother knowing the name of the

place? Can you just simply tell where we are?
Or..." he opens his eyes and gives me the gaze
that has run all the shivers down to my spine,

"Or are you afraid to get lost?"

"Lost? Nah, imposible. Hindi man ako taga rito

pero malabong maligaw ako." sagot ko

"Really? Taga san ka ba?"

"I'm from Cebu."

"Layo, eh? You miss it there?"

"Oo naman. But I won't bother going back."

"Why?"

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"I can't go back." we sit to the ground beside

the gravestones. Why did he even bother to
bring me here in this creepy place? It's just as
creepy as him, I swear to this gravestones.

"Why? Wag mong sasabihing mamatay kana

'coz I'm really gonna kill you if you start going
pessimist again.” Tiningnan niya ako ng
nakamamatay na tingin.

"Well, aside from that ano pang silbi ng

pagbalik ko kung masaya na ang taong
pinakamamahal ko sa ibang babae? It'll only
tear my heart to see him with someone else
and it will keep reminding me that this disease
took him away from me."

"Ano?! You left a boyfriend in your place?"

"I HAD a boyfriend. I broke up with him a long

time ago magmula nang malaman ko ang sakit
ko."

"Bakit mo ginawa yun?!"

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"Ano bang pakialam mo." I pick up a small

stone on the floor and throw it back to the
ground.

"May pakialam ako."

"Huh? You have nothing to do with me. You

don't know me, I don't know you. So tell me,
why would a complete stranger care? Maybe
you're just playing around with me and I gotta
tell you that it's quite annoying."

"Meanie!"

"Aray!" bakit nya ako biglang sinapok. =___=

"How dare you hit me. And I'm not a meanie,

you're just acting like a brat. And how old are
you?"

"Eighteen."

"You act twelve." =__=

"I hate you." he pouts. Ohh why so cute..

"Don't worry, feeling's mutual." =___=

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"You're stiff and maybe that's why you left your

boyfriend."

"Ano?!"

“Bingi ka!”

"You twat! Pwede bang wag mong iniiba ang

usapan?!" yes, I guess it's true that I'm a
meanie but how can you avoid it when you're
talking to an abnormal person like this Edge
boy here?! =__=

"Fine. You're stiff," dinuro niya ako papunta sa

dibdib ko, "And that's a scaredy cat, running
away from the possibilities. Running away from
the outcome. Masyadong takot makasakit ng
iba, takot masaktan ang sarili mo at takot
harapin ang katotohanan. Not daring and taking
the risk and surely not an optimist... and a real
masochist. So, that's why you left your
boyfriend 'coz you're just so stiff and a scaredy
cat, very scared to hurt someone that you
actually aim to hurt him a little than hurting him
more in the future."
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi nya.

"How did you know that? I don't remember

telling any details like that to you."

He's taken aback, "Really? You told it to me."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes you did, you got alzheimers Elle."

"No I don't. Sabihin mo, how did you know that I

left him 'coz I don't want to hurt him a lot more
by staying at his side?” wala akong naaalala na
may sinabi akong ganung details sa kanya.

"Yes, sinabi mo sakin. Don't lie!" hindi ako

nagsisinungaling, wala talaga akong sinasabi
sa kanya. Sinungaling siya, hindi siya
makatingin sakin ng diretso sa mata.

"You really are a constant liar and a big mystery

to me. Tell me,sino ka ba talaga? I have a
hunch that you're just lying about your
personality and you're pretending that you don't
know me pero sa katunayan sinadya mong

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kumatok sa kwarto ko because you want to

take my attention 'coz you actually know me. Sa
hindi malamang dahilan, kilala mo ako." I come
closer to him and he pushes me away.

He looks down on the ground and speak with

such sadness, "Don't say such foolishness.
Pasalamatan mo nalang ako and stop asking."

"Salamat saan?" the more na kinakausap ko

siya the more I get confused. Parang may
malaking question mark saking isipan na hindi
mabigyan ng kasagutan

"Stop asking, please?" he looks at me with his

pleading eyes. With those eyes, I had the urge
to just nod and not say a word anymore. I've
never seen such shallow eyes that I can't evena
see my reflection in it.

Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot

sa buong sementeryo. Wala ni isa samin ang
nagtangkang bumasag sa katahimikan. It was
awkward at first but long after the silence
became comfortable enough that we just lay on

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one of the gravestones and watch the stars up

above and...

Nakatulog ako at paggising ko nasa hospital

bed na ako kinabukasan

Was last night a dream? Edge, you mystify me.

CHAPTER 5

“Knock knock.”

Nakaramdam ako ng pagkabalisa, "C-come in!"

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"Time for your 10pm medicine, Elle." it's one of

the nurses, nakahinga din ng maluwag.

Simula kaninang umaga, tuwing may

kumakatok naiisip ko na it might be Edge... or if
he's even existing.

Up until now, my mind's crossed by last

night's... whether it's a dream or not,
naghihintay lang ako na kumatok ulit siya at
magpakita sakin pero lumipas ang maghapon
na walang Edge na kumatok saking pintuan

"Hey, would you mind if I ask something?"

"Sure," sabi niya habang inaayos ang mga

gamut sa table ko.

"KIlala mo ba yung pasyente sa kabilang

kwarto?"

She stops from what she's doing and looks at

me in terror, "Bakit mo natanong?"

"Well, If you happen to passby his room later,

can you say 'hi' for me?"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Uhh, yeah sure. Take your medicine Elle," she

said stammering and her hands are shaking as
she hands me my medicine.

"Ok, thank you."

"O-ok. I better go. Take a rest now." she exits

rapidly. Weird.

Ininom ko na ang gamot ko at nanood nalang

ng TV, nang mainip ako pinatay ko narin ito.

Papikit na ang mata ko nang makarinig ako ng

katok sa pinto, I rub my eyes and take a look at
my bedside clock...

it's 11pm.

*KNOCK KNOCK*.

"Come in," this time, I'm sure it's Edge.

"Hello!" he's giddier the last time I saw him

which was just yesterday.

"What happened last night?"

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"Hindi mo maalala?"

“Yahh."

"Sigurado ka bang hindi alzheimer's ang reason

kung bakit ka nasa hospital?"

"No. It's just that, I really can't remember kung

pano ako napunta dito sa hospital. The last
thing I remember, I fell asleep on one of the
gravestones and after that... I saw myself
waking up in my hospital bed. Did you bring me
here? Or being in the graveyard was just a big
dream? It's kinda confusing me..."

"Secret!" he stands up and pulls my hand, "Let's

go."

"Huh? San?!" wag mong sabihin na gusto na

naman niyang lumabas ng gantong oras.

"To Neverland." he winks and let go off me, "Go

get your jacket and shoes. I’ll take your dady’s
clothes"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Stop fooling with me, Edge. I'm so not gonna

play with your games again. Bumalik kana sa
kwarto mo. Pag may nakakita satin, I’ll be in
trouble."

"Oh c'mon Elle, ito na yung huling favor na

hihingin ko sau... Afterall, the day after
tomorrow will be your operation day right?"

I try to remember if I told such information to

him but I failed,

"Pleaaaseeee?"

"Oh geez," tumayo na ako sa kama ko and

went ahead to my cabinet, putting my jacket,
socks and shoes as he take my dady’s clothes.

"Ito na yung last time na lalabas ako ng

gantong oras kasama ka naiintindihan mo?”

"OK !"

Tonight is a different night. Imbis na maglakad

lakad kami kung saan, he brought me to a train
station.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"At saan tayo pupunta?"

"Somewhere." he walks around with his hands

at his back and orders, "Go buy a ticket."

"Bakit?!"

"Sumunod ka nalang!" can he be more

demanding than this?

"Fine. San ang destination?" hindi ko alam kung

anong naglalaro sa isipan nya pero sinasakyan
ko lang. I might as well enjoy this 'coz this
would be one of the last nights of my life if ever
I won't survive the operation.

"Hanggang sa final destination ng train."

"Nababaliw kana ba?!"

"C'mon! Bumili kana lang!" then he pushes me

to the ticket machine.

"Fine." Buti nalang lagi kong dala ang wallet ko.

Naupo nalang siya sa bench habang hinihintay

akong bumili ng ticket.
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"Here," iniabot ko sa kanya ang ticket, "That's

P100."

"Wala akong pera, hindi mo na dapat ako binili."

Pero tinanggap parin niya ito.

"Kung hindi, pano ka makakasakay ng train?

Ngayon pang nandito na ako, I can't go alone."

"You can't go alone? Ehh yun na nga ang

ginawa mo last night ."

"What?"

He just laughs and stands up from the bench,

"Tara na, nandiyan na ang train ohh."

Sumakay na kami, hindi naman punuan ngayon

wala nga halos pasahero ehh. As we pass
every seat, napapatingin sakin yung ibang
pasahero na parang nagtataka, yung iba
naman natutulog na nang mahimbing. Nang
makahanap kami ng mauupuan agad siyang
umupo malapit sa bintana.

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"So san tayo pupunta?" pabulong na tanong ko.

"Magbigay ka ng number."

"Bakit?"

“Basta!”

"5."

"Ok, then after 5stops, bababa na tayo."

"Tapos?" hindi ko talaga alam kung anong

balak niya.

"Tapos... hindi ko alam. Let's think about it later.

I want to sleep first." Pumikit na siya at natulog.
Pinanuod ko nalang siyang matulog.

Kung iisipin he's too pallid... ganun ba talaga

kalala ang sakit niya? I don't really believe that
he has only asthma. Malamig din siya as at
para siyang walang buhay as he sleeps...
meron kaya siyang mas malala pang sakit? Oh
no, I'm thinking too much. I should not bother
with things that ain't my business.

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Nang tumigil na ang train bumaba na kami at

sinabi ang sunod na plano, "Gutom na ako, kain
na muna tayo sa pinakamalapi na restaurant!"

"Nababaliw kana talaga nohh, Sa tingin mo may

bukas pang restaurant sa ganitong oras ehh
hating gabi na?!"

"May alam akong lugar na bukas pa hanggang

ngayon!" then he pulls my hand and we start
running out of the station and we stop sa
pinakamalapit na 7/11 store.

"Hindi naman yan restaurant ehh." reklamo ko

"Well, at least makakabili parin tayo ng pagkain

dito."

"Okay." I heave out a sigh, "Well then, let's get

in."

Nang pumasok kami, the lady in the counter

who's around 50’s greets us with a warm
welcome. Dumiretso kami sa mga chips,
kumuha ako ng nachos and chocolates
samantala kumuha naman siya ng isang pack
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

ng marshmallow, inabot niya ito sakin at

ipagbitbit ko daw siya.. ako pa talaga ang
pinagdala ehh ako yung babae sa amin, What a
lazy bun. =___=

Pumunta na kami sa counter at tinanong ko

siya kung may gusto pa siya, alam ko naman
na wala siyang pera "Just a hot chocomilk."

Habang inaayos nung counterlady yung mga

pinamili naming ehh parang may malaking
question mark na mababakas sa mukha niya.
Ano kayang problema niya? Oh, bakit ang
daming weird na tao ngayon?

"Ahm miss, I would want to add 2 hot

chocomilk"

“Sure." she turns to prepare hot milks and when

it's done, Edge asks me something.

"Pwede bang lagyan mo ng marshmallow yung

hot chocomilk ko?"

"Ba’t hindi ikaw ang maglagay?"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Please?"

"Oh for Whoever's sake.” Wala akong nagawa

kundi langyan ng marshmallow ang hot
chocomilk niya.

Binarayan ko na ang lahat ng nabili namin and

bago kami umalis may binulong siya sa
counterlady, "Goodnight, take care of yourself."

Pero parang hindi narinig ng counterlady ang

sinabi niya kasi patuloy lang ito sa ginagawa.

Nang lumabas kami ng 7eleven para kainin ang

mga binili namin sa pavements, napansin ko na
he doesn't have his chocomilk with him and
he's only eating his marshmallows.

"Nasan na ang chocomilk mo?" tanong ko

"I drank it already."

"Liar. I did not see you drinking any."

"Well… nalimutan ko sa store."

"Ano?! You forgot it at the store?"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Yeah, marami kasi akong iniisip kaya

nalimutan ko."

"Oh, how stupid can you be! Tara balikan natin!"

"Pabayaan mo na."

"And why?!"

"Just leave it to the counterlady, mas kelangan

niya yung hot chocomilks na yun... Afterall, it's
very tiring to work at nights."

Tumahimik nalang ako at nagsimula ng kainin

yung mga binili ko. Habang kumakain ako bigla
siyang nagsalita

"Do you want to throw your heart away, Elle?"

"No pero wala akong choice, my parents want

me to take this operation."

"Your parents? Ikaw?, don't you want it?"

"Sa totoo lang, I don't believe much in this

operation but I guess, like what you've said...
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

I'm inbetween life and death so I might as well

take this hope with me and wish for the best
with my soon operation."

"Pano kung maging successful, anong plano

mo?"

“Hindi ko alam."

"Babalikan mo ba yung boyfriend mo?"

"Maybe... Maybe I'd try to check him if he's

fine..."

"And when he's fine, anong gagawin mo?"

"I don't know."

"Who knows..." he throws a mallow in his mouth

and then he buries his face on his knees,

"When operation's done, pwede bang sabihin

mo sakin kung ano ang pakiramdam nang
merong ibang puso sa loob mo? I mean... I
want to know if it feels like being two people
inside one body. I want you to tell me how it
feels to have another heart beating inside you, I
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

want you to tell me if it still feels the same... I

want you to tell me if you can feel through that
other person's heart or if you could still hear the
feelings of the original owner of the heart... I
want you to tell me if having another person's
heart beating inside you makes you feel the
presence of the original heart owner."

"Why do you want me to tell you these?"

"Gusto kong malaman, Elle. Please tell me,

Elle... sabihin mo sakin lahat after the
operation”

"Sure, pwedeng pwede ka namang kumatok sa

room ko after the operation. Afterall, kelangan
ko parin namang magstay sa hospital kahit
tapos na ang operation ehh."

"Thank you, Elle."

"Don't thank me, hindi pa naman ako sure if the

operation will success. And yeah, why are you
so eager to know?"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"I'll tell you Elle but that's gotta wait until your
operation's done."

"Well... okay."

Pagkatapos naming kainin lahat ng pinamili

namin, we decided to lay in the bench. Wala
namang pakialam samin yung mga dumadaan
ehh, tinitingnan lang nila ako na para bang may
mali sa ginagawa ko and then diretso na ulit sila
sa paglalakad.

"Elle..."

"Hmm?" I look at him at my side to see if he’s

looking at me too.

"Pwede bang makahingi ng pabor?"

"What is it?"

Eye to eye, he tells me, "Please take care of

your new heart, alagaan mo yun para sakin."

Kahit hindi naging malinaw sakin yung mga

sinabi niya, I just said yes and we continue to

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

watch the sky and not knowing how... I fell into

a deep slumber.

CHAPTER 6

And the next day, I woke up again on my

hospital bed wondering if last night's just
another dream again with Edge.

Gusto kong lumabas, I want to check him on

the room next to mine pero ayaw akong
payagan ng doctor ko at ni mom kasi kelangan
ko daw magpahinga para sa operation ko
mamaya.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

-----------------------------OPERATION----------------
----------

Habang nakahiga ako sa operation bed, lights

flashing on my face, voices echoing in my head,
blurred faces surrounding me... flashbacks of
the past starts to play like those of camera
films.

“Happy 13th monthsary of love babe.. ohh bat

parang hindi ka masaya? May problema ba?"

“Ahm Yexel may sasabihin sana ako sayo.”

“Ohh ano ba yun at parang problemadong

problemado ka?”

“Yex makikipaghiwalay na ako!” nagsimula na

akong umiyak.

“Babe hindi magandang biro yan!” pasigaw na

sagot niya

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

“Yex hindi ako nagbibiro seryoso ako, break na

tayo.. alam kong hindi mo maiintindihan ang
reason ko, pero para sayo rin to ayokong
masaktan ka kaya hanggat maaga ginagawa ko
to” humahagulhol kong sabi

“So sa tingin mo hindi ako nasasaktan sa

ginagawa mo ngayon, bat hindi mo sabihin
sakin ang dahilan iintindihin ko naman”
nagsisimula naring tumulo ang mga luha niya

“I’m so sorry Yex I’m really really sorry, mahal

na mahal kita tandaan mo yan.” Tumayo na ako
at akmang aalis na pero nahawakan niya ang
kamay ko

“Please Elle, wag namang ganito!”

pagmamakaawa niya

“I’m so sorry!” sagot ko at inalis ang

pagkakahawak niya

“Noooo, Please Elle-----------“

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Hand it to me."

"Doc, do you need this one?"

"Yes! Yes! Hurry!"

"Doc, the rate's decreasing so fast!"

"We need to give it a pump! Hand it to me,"

"Now?"

"Now!"

"Nothing. It keeps on decreasing."

"We can't give up now! Another push!"

"Still nothing, doc!"

"Kid, listen to me. I know you hear me, don't

give up now! PUSH!"

"Hi, I'm Edge from the next door."

"You whiner!"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Anong kalaseng akusasyon yan?!" medyo

nainis-nagulat kong sabi.

"In life, percentage is just a number! Transplant

is always a transplant! Why are you such a
pessimist?!"

“Anong saysay ng 20% chance of success?!"

"Ano ring saysay kung sasayangin mo lang ang

puso na ibibigay sayo?! Atleast believe! Atleast
have a 100% faith! 20 plus 100 makes 120%
surpassing the hundred!"

"Don't teach me math! I know better!"

nagsimula na akong mainis

"I'm not teaching you math," calm he begins,

"I'm teaching you to believe more than beyond."

"Shut up." Nadedepress ako tuwing may

gantong usapan

"Hindi mo alam ang pakiramdam na parang

patay kana kahit humihinga kapa." tinakip ko

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

kamay ko sa mukha and starting to feel great

depression.

"You mean being between life and death?"

"Yeah! Exactly! yung pakiramdam na hindi mo

alam kung buhay o kamatayan ang naghihintay
sayo, that feeling of being in the middle of two
skyscrapers. That feeling... That..." nanginginig
na ako, hindi ko makuha yung word, hindi ko
alam ang sasabihin ko,

"That feeling of being inbetween, that middle

that I don't even know how to call it..."

"Middle..." he mumbles to himrself.

Tinanggal ko yung kamay ko sa mukha ko at

tinignan sya in agony, "Tell me Edge, what's
inbetween life and death? Where am I? If you
can tell me what's inbetween them...

Then maybe that's where I am right now."

"Let me tell you Elle that between life and death

is hope. That's where you are now. Tara?"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

DUG. DUG. DUG.

"Doc! We need to hurry!"

DUG.... DUG.....

"Don't give up kid! Don't!"

"Please take care of your new heart, alagaan

mo yun para sakin."

DUGDUGDUG.

I felt someone inside me, someone I know.

LAST CHAPTER

"Saan ka pupunta?" my doctor stops me as I

was about to knock at Edge’s door.

"Ahh titingnan ko lang yung kaibigan ko,

sasabihin ko lang yung magandang balita about
sa operation ko." Nang sinabi ko yun, biglang
nag iba ang timpla ng mukha niya

"There's no one there."

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"No one? Paanong? Is Edge done with his

treatment? Nakalabas naba siya ng hospital?"
maybe yesterday? 'Coz after the operation, I
slept for a day.

"P-paano mo nalaman ang tungkol kay Edge?"

mababakas sa mukha niya ang pagkabigla sa
sinabi ko.

"Huh? Hindi kita maintindihan, doc."

Hindi na siya sumagot, bagkos ay binuksan

niya ang kwarto ni Edge para sa akin, revealing
me an empty room, "Matagal ng patay si Edge.
Papasok na siya sa school nang mabangga
siya ng humaharorot na sasakyan….. masama
ang pagkakabangga niya na nagresulta ng
pagkacoma."

"I'm a constant liar. I tell mix truth and lies so it

will always be up to you if ya wanna believe."

"Gaano siya katagal sa hospital?" I manage to

ask.

"For a month and some weeks."

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

“May asthma ako at ilang buwan at linggo narin

ako dito sa hospital."

"Oh God..." realizations run down in my whole

system...

That's why he seems so transparent everytime

the moonlight strikes his skin. That's why he's
so pallid, that's why he's so cold.

"Here," iniabot ko sa kanya ang ticket, "That's

P100."

"Wala akong pera, hindi mo na dapat ako binili."

Pero tinanggap parin niya ito.

"Kung hindi, pano ka makakasakay ng train?

Ngayon pang nandito na ako, I can't go alone."

"You can't go alone? Ehh yun na nga ang

ginawa mo last night ."

"What?"

He just laughs and stands up from the bench,

"Tara na, nandiyan na ang train ohh."

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

Since last night? he meant that I was always

alone... he was never with me, or physically
with me atleast. Then why do I always wake up
on my bed? Is he a dream? Oh, my mind's
clouded with questions that I don't where to
seek the answers.

"Pano mo nalaman na kwarto ito ni Edge?"

tanong sakin ni Doc., "Nasabi na ba ng
magulang mo na he's your donor?"

DONOR. Edge’s my heart donor?

Tumakbo ako palabas ng hospital habang

nagsisigaw ang doctor ko, "Elle! Stop! Hindi ka
pwedeng tumakbo, baka bumuka ang tahi mo!"

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan, tumakbo lang ako ng

tumakbo hanggang sa marating ko ang unang
lugar kung saan una niya akong dinala......

Ang sementeryo.. hinanap ko ang puntod kung

saan kami nagpahinga at nang makita ko...

I saw a woman around 50 and she seems

familiar... the woman from 7/11, the counterlady.
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

Nakatayo siya sa may puntod habang

nakayuko at nakapikit ang mga mata.. I feel
butterflies inside my stomach. It's like I'm
connecting the dots so fast and I can't control
myself to stop...

"Excuse me," sabi ko habang papalapit sa

kanya.. She raises her head and she is
surprised to see me, "Nagkita na ba tayo?"

Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong niya bagkos ay

tiningnan ko ang pangalan na nakaukit sa
lapida… Edge Blake.

Nung unang beses na dinala nya ako dito, hindi

ko manlang napansin ang pangalan niya sa
lapida. How stupid and blind can I be?

"Ahh kilala nyo po ba si Edge?" I ask the lady.

"Yes, he is my son."

"Hindi po ba kayo yung counterlady sa 7/11?"

nagulat siya sa tanong ko.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"ikaw ba yung bumili ng dalawang chocomilk at

nag iwan sakin nung isa?"

"No, hindi po ako yun."

"Pero?! You forgot it at the store?"

"Nasan na ang chocomilk mo?" tanong ko

"I drank it already."

"Liar. I did not see you drinking any."

"Well… nalimutan ko sa store."

"Ano?! You forgot it at the store?"

"Yeah, marami kasi akong iniisip kaya

nalimutan ko."

"Oh, how stupid can you be! Tara balikan natin!"

"Pabayaan mo na."

"And why?!"

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"Just leave it to the counterlady, mas kelangan

niya yung hot chocomilks na yun... Afterall, it's
very tiring to work at nights."

"It was your son, Edge. He left it there and told

me that you might need it 'coz she knew that it's
very tiring for you to work at nights."

The lady smiled bitterly, "Alam ko.

Naramdaman ko ang presence niya nung
gabing yun, narinig kong bumulong siya sakin...
sabi niya goodnight to me and to take care of
myself. Kaya naisipan kong bumalik dito at
bisitahin ang puntod niya.

"Hindi nyo ba siya nakita?"

"No, but did you?"

I look down at Edge's grave, "Yeah. he kept

knocking on my room and now... he's knocking
on my heart."

"Oh my god, ikaw ba si Elle---- yung babaeng

makakatanggap ng puso niya?!" tumango ako,
"I guess so. I can feel him inside me."
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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

"When operation's done, pwede bang sabihin

mo sakin kung ano ang pakiramdam nang
merong ibang puso sa loob mo? I mean... I
want to know if it feels like being two people
inside one body. I want you to tell me how it
feels to have another heart beating inside you, I
want you to tell me if it still feels the same... I
want you to tell me if you can feel through that
other person's heart or if you could still hear the
feelings of the original owner of the heart... I
want you to tell me if having another person's
heart beating inside you makes you feel the
presence of the original heart owner."

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

EPILOUGE

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just been

cleared to land at the airport. Please make sure
one last time your seat belt is securely
fastened. The flight attendants are currently
passing around the cabin to make a final
compliance check and pick up I'm any
remaining cups and glasses. Thank you.�

Nagbalik na ko sa Cebu. Gusto ko kasing

malaman kung okay lang ba ang ex-boyfriend
ko. If Yexel’s happy now, welldapat siguro
maging masaya narin ako para sa kanya.

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 Let Me Tell You ELLE… @Jessa_anggE

Edge, you know what? Having someone's heart

beating inside you is kinda creepy... creepy just
like you. But thing is, I really feel your presence
inside me. Will you be always be there to guide
me?

Let's keep beating together, Edge!.

I may be surprised, too happy, nervous and

maybe... I might fall inlove again and get hurt in
the future but don't worry,

"Please take care of your new heart, alagaan

mo yun para sakin."

I'll take care of this heart, I'll take care of you

. You are the hope inside me.

.................END.............

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