Chapter 53 Farewell

Dina had a stroll first to amuse herself before heading back home to Carlos. She gave Carlos the space he needs for him to be able to think alone. She knows that Carlos had enough reason why he told Rico everything. After few hours of strolling, Dina decided to go home. She was surprised to see Carlos sitting on the sidewalk, staring at nowhere as if he is not himself. "Carlos? Carlos, are you okay?!", Dina asked worriedly. Carlos looked at her but it seems like he doesn't recognize her immediately at was still not himself. "D-Dina...", Carlos muttered in disbelief. 'What are doing here? It's dark already… let's get inside.", Dina said as she helped Carlos to get up but it seems like he has no energy at all and when he attempted to stand up, he suddenly fell down. Dina was so worried to see Carlos so weak. "Are you sick? Is there something wrong?", Dina worriedly asked and held his forehead to check his temperature but she was stunned when Carlos suddenly hugged her. "Dina... Dina, you're back!", Carlos cried. Dina was surprised to see Carlos being like this, maybe he had been waiting for her for a long time already and is now regretful of what he has done earlier. "Yes, I'm back.", Dina assured and hugged him back. "But why?", Carlos asked, still in disbelief. "Why not?", Dina asked back. Carlos fell silent. "This is where my and Dino's home is... I'm sorry Dino isn't with me because I don't want to be rude towards his grandparents.". Dina smiled. Carlos cried again when he saw Dina's lovely smile. "I thought I would never see this smile again...", Carlos said gently while slowly caressing Dina's cheek. 'Whatever. Come on, let's go in.", Dina teased and helped Carlos to stand up so that they could get inside the house. However, they stopped when Carlos started to cough loudly while his nose bled with so much blood. It wasn't a normal nosebleed because he was bleeding much, then Carlos suddenly coughed out blood too. Dina panicked. Carlos started to lose his balance and he fell down. Dina wasn't strong enough to prevent the fall and she ends up falling down along with him. Dina was horrified to see Carlos with so much blood everywhere. She remembered the time when Carlos locked himself in the toilet and she saw a small build-up of blood on the sink… it wasn't much but Dina still didn't feel good about it. And now, this is the confirmation of her suspicion of bad things that are yet to come. "Carlos! Carlos! What's happening?! Carlos!", Dina yelled and panicked when Carlos is no longer answering her. Carlos suddenly became unconscious. -- "Finally! You have woken up!", Dina's voice sounds so worried as she speak to Carlos when he opened his eyes. Carlos looked at his surroundings as he realized they were not at home and seeing everything white around him, it gave him the idea of where they are right now. 'Why have you brought me here? Let's go home.". Carlos said and was about to get up but he was feeling too weak that's why when Dina stopped him, he was easily pushed back on the bed. "No you can't, Carlos!", Dina protested. "I want to go home!", Carlos complained like a child having tantrums. "But you mustn't! You are sick Carlos that's why you need to stay here!", Dina seems to be pleading with Carlos to understand the situation. "For what? Why should I stay? I won't be cured anymore, Dina...", Carlos said painfully. He was doing his best not to cry in front of Dina. She depends on him, right? But now he is weak and he is no longer capable to be depended upon… he couldn't accept it. He couldn't leave Dina. "Why? Why have you kept this a secret, Carlos? Aren't we best friends? We're family, remember?", Dina cried. She was not ready to accept that Carlos will be gone in her life. Earlier, when she talked with the doctor regarding Carlos's situation, it's like thunder that shook her whole being. Carlos had been carrying them as his burden but in reality, there is a much heavier burden than he has been carrying on his shoulder… a burden that he would have taken care of if not because of them. Carlos had forgotten to take care of himself because he puts her and Dino as his priority. Maybe that's why Carlos is trying to push them away because he thought he is now worthless because of his illness. Dina was pained deep within her heart to see her best friend suffering all alone. She doesn't want to leave him, she wants to carry his burden too… after all, he is her beloved best friend. "If I have told you, would that change anything? I will still die Dina. This is the payment of all my sins.", Carlos sadly said. 'Sins? Carlos, you have done all the good things to Dino and me, how is this a bad thing? Don't say such thing--" "Dina! I am not what you thought I am to be... I'm greedy, I'm selfish... I'm... I'm really bad.", Carlos was hurt with every word he had just said. He wanted to tell the truth just like what he did in front of Rico but… Dina is different. Dina is the woman he is so in love with… how could he face the woman he loves if he will admit the wrong things he had done to her? 'If that's what would make you ease your burden… then tell me. Tell me all the wrong things you have done and I will share and carry your burden too, Carlos.", Dina seriously said. Carlos stared at her lovely eyes but he immediately turned to face away because of his guilt because he knows, being with her right now is also considered another sin. Dina is supposed to be with Rico, not with him… she wasn't supposed to console him but look, here she is with him. Due to this, Carlos felt he is stealing another moment of Rico's supposed-to-be time with Dina. "I'm sorry, Dina but all the things you will hear from me are things that I don't even regret... no matter how bad you see me as, if there's an opportunity to those things in the past... I would still gladly do it.", Carlos frankly said and proceeded to tell the truth he just told Rico earlier. Dina was shocked when she learned the truth about what Carlos had just said to her. However, it is not a reason enough to abandon him. Although Dina knew she should be angry at what Carlos had done and because he had kept all these a secret, her sadness and pity for him had overpowered it all. 'There's no reason to justify my wrongdoings, Dina. I would understand it you would leave me---' "Why would I?", Dina abruptly interrupted Carlos. Carlos stared at her. She smiled at her sadly. 'Have you forgotten what I told you? You know me, right? Then you should know that I don't go back with my words…", Dina said with tears in her eyes. Then she gently put her hand on Carlos's hand. Carlos was wondering why Dina is crying, it was a big deal for him… that Dina shed tears for him. Carlos was so touched and a part of him strongly desired to ask Dina if she could stay with him. But seeing her tears, Carlos knew that he doesn't want her to get her. He is the reason why she is crying, he doesn't want her to be sad because he really loves her very much. He is considered selfish for stealing Dina away from Rico but… everything that pertains to Dina, he is never selfish when it comes to her. "You asked me one time that if ever you made a very big mistake, would I be able to forgive you? Did you forget my answer that time?", Dina asked. Carlos suddenly burst into tears. "You did nothing wrong to me, Carlos… because you had been long forgiven already.", Dina sadly smiled again. Carlos instinctively hugged Dina. "I'm sorry Dina... I'm sorry. I love you.", Carlos cried. "And I love you too, Carlos.", Dina answered which shocked Carlos. Dina never answers him 'I love you too", but at that moment, Dina said those words without any hesitation. Carlos stared at Dina directly into her eyes in disbelief, when suddenly, Dina touched his lips with her lips. This made Carlos shocked, even more, Dina is kissing him willingly! He couldn't believe it and everything feels like a dream and if this is a dream, he doesn't want to wake up anymore. "I hope that's enough proof to make you believe I mean it.", Dina said, still smiling sadly. Carlos nodded slowly, like Dina, his smiles were also sad. He is happy but he knows this happiness won't last long because he will be gone. "You really know how to cheer me up.", Carlos commented because he had accepted that this is Dina's farewell to him, so he could leave peacefully, so for even just once he would experience how to be happy and how to be loved back by the woman he truly loves most. 'I know who is the real owner of your heart---', Carlos said but was interrupted when Dina pushed her finger gently on his lips. "Sshhhh...", Dina said as she shook her head. She wanted that even with a short span of time, Carlos would temporarily forget that the one she truly loves is Rico. She wanted to make her best friend happy in his final moments. Carlos nodded as he agrees, he knows Dina is doing all she could, making herself strong because he will be gone soon and he needs to let her know that he appreciates her effort. "I'll stay with you because it's you I chose.", Dina answered. "Ok then... I wish to see and be with Dino too. I miss my son.", Carlos smiled. Dina nodded, she knows what to do… she and Dino will be with him until THAT day comes, they will still be with him. "Thank you, Dina. I really thank you.", Carlos sincerely said. After a while, Carlos felt sleepy and asked Dina to help him find a comfortable position to sleep. After a few moments of sleeping, Carlos's hospital room was in complete chaos. Nurses and doctors were rushing in and Dina was crying and yelling loudly… but it didn't matter to Carlos. Carlos never knew what was happening because he continued to sleep… in deep slumber to forever… and his thank you earlier was a sign of his farewell.