Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Let's toast to the lucky one

I tasted the familiar smell of iodoform. The antiseptic reminded me of the first time I woke up from the accident.

It was a blurry sight until it registered to me that I was in the university hospital.

"Uh." I cried. My head hurts like hell. I puffed inside the oxygen mask. I felt the water in my throat as I breathed.

I slowly lifted my hand to massage my temple. A soft, flexible tube was placed inside my veins.

What happened?

Oh yeah. I drowned.

Gosh, Zee!

I was in the middle of my course when I felt the sudden rush of panic. My feet couldn't move. It was the dread that started crawling in my skin.

I was hallucinating again. I thought I was going to die because no one was there with me. I couldn't believe it. Sometimes the thing you loved the most would kill you.

But who saved me?

It was when I was back into my senses that I recognized him, sitting beside the hospital bed. He closed the book he was holding. He watched me as I removed the oxygen mask.

"A-ae?"

Uh, my head.

"Hey." He leaned forward to see me. "You alright now? How are you feeling?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a headache," I replied. He helped me lean on my back. My body felt numb.

"You saved me," I said, not sure.

"Well." He shook his head. "As much as I want to claim the credit for saving you to earn points, I wasn't the one who saved you. And, hey you're a swimmer. How dare you get drowned?" he retorted. He creased his eyebrow.

"Well, yeah, sorry about that. But who did?" I asked.

"Who else?"

Who else?

Who could have been there?

It's Sunday. I was the only one staying at the pool. Coach didn't call for practice and no students or teams were practicing too.

Zack.

"Guess, you figured out." Aae shrugged.

But, how did he? Is he there?

The football field was far from the pool. How did he know I was there?

That Zacky!

I slowly smiled. He was really unpredictable.

But, where is he?

"Your parents were here a while ago, same with Tita Annly. They brought the food over there." He pointed at the Tupperware on the side table using his lips. "Didn't know your half-Chinese." He surveyed me.

I felt a bit awkward. His eyes turned to mine, down to my lips. He stopped for a second and looked away.

"I got all my features from my Dad," I answered. The only thing I got from my Chinese mother was her white complexion, unlike my brother who got all his features including my mother's almond-shaped eyes.

Aae got almond-shaped eyes too. His looks were completely a mixture of Chinese-Filipino bloodline that truly stood out.

"What did they say? Did they get mad at me? You shouldn't have called them."

"I didn't call them. Coach Chris did. They stayed here for an hour. I heard them talking to your therapist. They left an hour ago, not wanting to disturb you so they told me to just stay with you." He bent his head a little to check the IV line.

They didn't even wait for me to wake up. How sad!

"Your Dad has his trial tomorrow, and your mother has an evening class," he added after seeing the disappointment in my face.

I just nodded. "So, can I go home now?"

"Nope, the doctor said you'll be discharged tomorrow. They still want to run some tests and x-ray. It's your parents who insisted that."

I didn't disagree when he told me he'd call the doctor and I was too tired to even argue. I read text messages from my classmates. Gab was asking if I was okay. She can't go visit me since her parents wouldn't allow her to go out on Sundays.

Zack didn't leave me a message. I texted him even though I know he's not going to reply.

Uh, Zack…

Aae went home because I insisted on staying alone in the hospital, but he came back in the morning before going to school.

"Did you go here last night?" I inquired.

He raised an eyebrow. "No, you told me to go home right?"

"Ah right. I must be dreaming," I whispered.

"Why? What happened?" Aae scanned me. "Are you alright?"

"No, nothing. You should hurry, you'll be late."

He looked at me for a second before making his way out. He left food for me to eat. I appreciated his gesture. I suddenly remembered his confession.

I couldn't believe he likes me.

Why does he like me?

I thought he was the one singing last night. I sworn I heard someone. Though, I couldn't figure out if I was dreaming or it was real. It must be the effect of the antidote. But, I was pretty sure I heard someone singing.

Wait, a ghost? They said there are a lot of ghosts roaming around the hospitals. Is there a ghost who could sing?

Wait, I think I remembered the lyrics. It was a Mayday Parade song. I browsed for my phone and started listening to the song until I found the specific lyrics I heard.

I could never imagine we'd end up this way

After all that we went through now, I'm fighting through the pain

It's like this heart that's been broken so close to screaming

Was ripped from my chest and I can't stop the bleeding

Who could it be?

Or maybe I was really dreaming. It must be because I was only listening to Mayday Parade songs that I could even hear in my dreams.

I was excused from class and training. After seeing my therapist, and talking to the doctor they allowed me to go home.

I was physically fine, so I decided to go visit my brother in his resting place. I need his comfort, his hug, and his words. If he's here, I wouldn't be feeling this.

I should stop this and focus since the preliminary ranking would be on Wednesday. If this continues, I won't be able to join the Inter-High School Competition.

"What should I do?" I asked my brother as I stared in his tomb. "Zon Kesyter Liu Zamora, what should I do?"

I stared at nowhere until I recognized the petals that withered behind the grass. It's Alstroemeria. They're Lilies, but Zack likes to make the names complicated.

"Zack visited you? Psh! He doesn't even talk to me! Please visit him in his sleep," I mumbled.

They used to be so close and spent a lot of time playing sports or video games. Zack used to stay a lot at our house when my brother was still alive.

I missed Zack. I don't want this feeling.

I texted him.

To: Baka!

Hey! Thank you for saving me.

Sorry.

Please, bring me back my best friend.

Zack did not reply. I wasn't able to talk to him because I was preparing for the preliminary competition and was excused from class.

Luckily, I placed third. That was my aim from the very start to at least rank in the top three because I know I still have a long way before reaching the top. It's okay as long as I could join the Inter-High School Competition. I expected it.

What I didn't expect was seeing Zack after the meet.

Okay, I did expect. It's just I didn't hope for it because we haven't talked for a while. I don't know what he's thinking or even feeling.

I was not even sure if he's still mad at me. Also, they're not allowed to watch preliminary competitions. They have classes. Gab couldn't even go with me. She's also preparing for their preliminary volleyball games.

"Hey," I greeted. I clasped the swim cap he gave me. It was my lucky charm. Zack put his soul on it. I felt like it was the one that saved me.

He had a rough look when our eyes met. "I skipped class." He said after a second. There was a mixture of seriousness and yearning in his voice. "I'm keeping my words. Congratulations!"

He licked the side of his lips as he stroked his hair. I heard him sigh before putting his hands in his pocket.

I widened my lips. That's the best thing about Zack. It's what I liked about him the most. He always kept his promises, no matter what happened.

"Uhm. Do you want to grab some Korean food?" I asked.

"You're a Chinese, but you love Korean foods, should I tell your Mom about it?" He joked, with a serious face.

"You're an Australian, but you love Korean foods, should I tell your Dad about it?" I mimicked him with a laugh.

He didn't laugh though. He just stared at me. He surveyed me with his eyes full of longing. I returned the gaze. I would lie if I tell you I didn't miss him.

"What, why are you staring at me?" I said when I could no longer bear his look. "If you want to say something-"

He crossed the distance between us to give me a hug. I felt his warm breath on my neck that sent shivers to my body. It was the first time he ever hugged me tight since we became friends. Most of the time, he would just place his arms around my shoulder. I returned the hug and felt his chest around me.

"Are we talking now?" I whispered.

"Why, did you miss me?" he asked. His hug became tighter.

"Err, you're gonna k-ill me, I c-can't b-breathe."

I heard him chuckled. He let go of me after a while.

I automatically smiled. I missed the melody of his laughter.

"Baka!" He flicked my forehead.

"That was ouch!" I acted hurt.

"I can't get mad at you! Baka!" he hissed.

"Then, what is that? Why aren't you talking to me?" I rolled my eyes. "It's not days, it's been weeks!" I retorted.

"I'm just trying to see if you will miss me, but you're busy with someone else." He clenched his teeth and shrugged his hair away.

"Aae said he likes me," I stated.

He raised an eyebrow before he turned his back to me. "Okay, go on then! Ask him to take you to—"

I grabbed his wrist and faced him. "I'm saying this to you because I don't want you to get mad at me again for keeping secrets from you."

His gaze softened upon hearing those words. He bit his lower lip.

"Do you want to know or not?"

"Does it make any difference? I'm just your best friend." He breathed heavily.

I hit his head which made him scowl. "What?"

"Yeah. Whatever! You are my best friend with a semicolon at the end," I smirked.

"A semicolon?" he asked, confused.

"Why, do you want to end it with a period?" I asked with a sly smile.

Slowly, his confused look turned into a smile, then a laugh. Aish! Why is he slow? Like, does he even know the use of a semicolon in a sentence?

I always loved that punctuation mark among others because it always gave me hope whenever I see them. You know it will not end there.

"Are you sure you really are rank one? I think Aae should replace you." I teased him. It's payback time!

"Is there a need to say his name and ruin the moment?" He scowled. He's cute.

"I just like the fact that you are jealous of him," I chuckled. I couldn't believe I'm saying this. I missed him.

"I never said I'm jealous." He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, you can't be jealous." I stuck out my tongue.

"Why can't I?" He raised his voice.

"Because you're Zack Jersey Mendoza Zendaya." I smiled at him and started walking.

"What's the connection?"

"You're my best friend with a semi colon at the end." I turned to him.

He met my eyes, and we both curved our lips.

Then, there's the connection.

At that moment, I know how lucky I was because Zack was my best friend. And it will not end with just best friend.