Chapter 18: The Price of Loving Her

Stacey's POV

I was sipping my tea in my office, flipping through some reports habang hinihintay si Jho, when my phone rang.

Napangiti ako. I was so excited to here her voice.

"Hey, baby, asa labas ka na ba-"

Pero hindi siya ang sumagot.

"Ms. Sevilleja? This is Makati Medical Center. You're listed as Ms. Jhoanna Robles emergency contact."

Biglang natapon ang hawak kong tea. The hot liquid burned my skin, pero hindi ko 'yun naramdaman.

"W-what happened?!" tanong ko, nanginginig ang boses.

"Naaksidente po sya Ma'am"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Tumayo ako bigla, nanginginig ang kamay ko habang hinahabol ang hininga ko.

"I'll be there in five minutes!"

Kinuha ko agad ang coat ko at cellphone habang patakbong lumabas ng opisina. My heart was pounding so fast, I could barely think straight.

Jho... Please be okay

Sa loob ng elevator, hindi ko mapigilan ang kaba. Kanina lang kausap ko siya, tapos ngayon... nasa hospital na siya?

Napatingin ako sa phone ko. My hands were shaking as I dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail.

Nang makarating ako sa lobby, biglang humarang sa akin ang isang pamilyar na figure.

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?"

Halos mabangga ko siya sa pagmamadali ko. Nang tumingala ako, doon ko lang napansin-si Dad.

Dad stood there, looking calm, composed-too composed. His sharp eyes studied me as if he already knew exactly what I was going to do.

"Move" My voice was cold, firm. I didn't have time for this.

Ngumiti lang siya, but it wasn't warm-it was calculated. Dangerous.

"Why the rush, anak? You look... shaken," he said, stepping closer. "May nanyare ba?"

Alam ko na.

"You know exactly what happened," I spat, my hands curling into fists.

"Robles got into an accident, right?" he said nonchalantly, as if he was talking about the weather. "You don't need to concern yourself with that girl."

Ang sakit ng ulo ko. My whole body was trembling-not from fear, but from anger.

"She's my girlfriend!" I snapped. "And whatever you did-"

" I knew it, careful sweetheart," he cut me off, his voice suddenly dark. "You wouldn't want to accuse your own father without proof, would you?"

I clenched my jaw.

"Stay out of my way, Dad," I warned, pushing past him.

Pero bago ako makalayo, he grabbed my wrist-tight.

"A piece of advice, Stacey" he whispered, leaning close. "Some people... don't get second chances. Walk away before it's too late, Kung ako sayo sundin mo nalang ang gusto ko"

Napatigil ako. My breath hitched.

He let go just as fast as he grabbed me, straightening his suit like nothing happened.

Without another word, I turned and walked out, but before akong umalis biglang nagsalita si dad.

"One wrong move anak, and Robles won't be so lucky next time. Don't test me, Stacey-"

What do I do now?

If I go against him, Jhoanna is in danger. If I obey, I'll lose her forever.

Tears blurred my vision.

I had never felt so trapped.

Colet's POV

The moment my phone buzzed, I felt something was off.

It was a message from an unknown number.

"Makati Medical Center, Jhoanna Robles"

My heart stopped for a second.

Si Jho? Hospital?!

I didn't waste any time-I grabbed my keys and bolted out of my apartment. Habang nagmamaneho, ramdam ko ang paninigas ng dibdib ko. My hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight na halos maputla na ang mga knuckles ko.

This wasn't right. Jhoanna wasn't the type to get into random accidents. Kung nasaktan siya, something bad must have happened.

I pressed on the gas, Hindi ko na inisip ang traffic, hindi ko na rin inalala kung may pulis na makakahuli sa akin.

Jhoanna needed me.

Pagdating ko sa ospital, hindi ko na ininda ang pagod. I stormed through the entrance, eyes scanning for the reception desk.

Di ko na alam kung paano agad ako napunta dito.

One minute, I was in my apartment, minding my own business, and the next- andito na ako sa hallway ng hospital hinahanap kung asan na si Jho.

Jhoanna. ICU. Accident.

The words kept repeating in my head like a broken record, but none of them made sense.

Oo medyo lampa si Jho, pero di naman yun ganun katanga para maaksidente.

Jhoanna is strong, sharp, always aware of her surroundings. Hindi siya 'yung tipo ng tao na basta na lang masasagasaan sa daan.

So how the hell did she end up unconscious in a hospital bed?

I skidded to a stop in front of a Room and nearly slammed the door open.

Pero nung nakita ko sya-

Napatigil ako.

Jhoanna, my best friend, my ride-or-die, the strongest person I know... was lying there, pale and unmoving.

Wires were attached to her arms, a bandage wrapped around her forehead, and bruises-so many bruises-covered her skin. The heart monitor beeped steadily beside her, the only sound filling the deafening silence.

I swallowed hard.

"Jho...?"

I forced my feet to move closer, my hands clenching into fists.

This wasn't right. This wasn't normal.

Sinong gumawa neto?

Who the fuck did this to her?

Kinuha ko yung phone ko and my fingers shaking as I dialed Sheena's number.

"Ate Colet?" sagot niya agad.

"Hospital. Ngayon na" My voice was low, cold, furious.

"Ano? Bakit-"

"Nasa ICU si Jho"

Silence.

Then- "Huh? sige sige on the way na Ate Colet, isasama ko na din si bebe"

I ended the call and exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko maalis ang bigat sa dibdib ko.

Tumingin ulit ako kay Jho, watching her chest rise and fall with every breath.

"Robles, gising na" I whispered, gripping the edge of her bed. "Kailangan kong malaman kung sinong gumawa sayo neto Jho. At kapag nalaman ko..."

I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palms.

"They're gonna regret ever touching you."

Mr. Sevilleja's POV

I watched as Stacey stormed out of the elevator, her breath ragged, her hands trembling as she clutched her phone. She froze the moment she saw me standing in the lobby, waiting.

Perfect timing.

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?" I asked smoothly, stepping into her path.

Halos mabangga niya ako sa pagmamadali niya. Her wide eyes burned with fury, but beneath it-I saw the fear creeping in.

"Move," she snapped, her voice sharp but unsteady.

I smirked. "Why the rush, anak? You look... shaken. May nanyare ba?"

Her jaw tightened. "You know exactly what happened," she spat.

Ah. She's catching on.

"Robles got into an accident, right?" I said nonchalantly, watching her closely. "You don't need to concern yourself with that girl."

Her fists curled at her sides. "She's my girlfriend!"

I sighed dramatically, shaking my head. "I knew it, careful sweetheart"

Her eyes darkened with rage, but I saw it-the hesitation.

"You did this," she whispered, her voice laced with accusation.

I chuckled. "Careful, sweetheart," I murmured, stepping closer. "You wouldn't want to accuse your own father without proof, would you?"

She flinched. Her breathing was uneven.

"You stay out of my way, Dad" she said through gritted teeth. "I swear, if I find out-"

I grabbed her wrist-firm, unyielding. She gasped softly, eyes snapping up to meet mine. I leaned in, my voice dropping to a whisper.

"Some people... don't get second chances."

I felt her pulse spike beneath my fingers.

Fear.

I let go, stepping back as if nothing happened, adjusting my suit. Then, I gave her one last warning-one that would stay with her.

"One wrong move, anak... and Robles won't be so lucky next time." I tilted my head, my voice dropping lower. "Don't test me, Stacey-"

Her face paled. For the first time, she looked truly terrified.

I smirked. Exactly where I wanted her to be.

Turning on my heel, I walked away, leaving my daughter standing there-shaken, powerless, and completely at my mercy.

Stacey's POV

My hands were still shaking.

The moment I stepped into my car, I gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to steady myself. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, nanginginig pa rin ako-hindi lang dahil sa takot, kundi sa galit.

Dad.

His voice was still ringing in my ears. The way he looked at me-cold, calculating-like he had already won.

"One wrong move, anak, and Robles won't be so lucky next time. Don't test me, Stacey-."

My stomach twisted. I felt like I was going to be sick.

Jhoanna was already fighting for her life in the hospital, and now he was threatening her again?

I gritted my teeth, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. Hindi pwedeng ganito. Hindi ko siya pwedeng hayaan.

I slammed my foot on the gas, speeding toward the hospital. Screw the traffic. I needed to see Jho. I needed to make sure she was okay.

The drive felt endless, every second stretching longer than it should. And all I could hear was Dad's voice, his warning echoing over and over again in my head.

By the time I reached the Hospital para akong nauubusan ng hininga. My heart was pounding so fast, it felt like it would burst.

The second I stepped inside, my eyes darted around. Then I saw her friend, standing outside Jhoanna's room, her arms crossed, face unreadable.

"Excuse me" I called out, rushing toward her.

She looked up, her expression dark. "Miss Sevilleja?"

I ignored her words. "How is she?" I asked breathlessly.

Colet exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Unconscious pa sya, pero medyo stable na daw"

Jho...

My throat tightened as I turned to the door. She was right there-just beyond it. And yet, I felt so damn helpless.

"Bakit pala andito ka? paano mo pala nalaman na andito si Jho?"

I froze.

I couldn't tell her. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin.

That Dad threatened me. That Jhoanna might not survive if I made the wrong move.

"Uhm- tumawag yung hospital sa company kanina, and as her boss I'm just worried sa nanyare sa kanya"

So I forced myself to lie.

And then I saw Jhoanna.

My heart shattered.

Wires. Bandages. Bruises. She looked so... weak. So unlike herself.

Tears pricked my eyes as I took a shaky step forward.

"Jhoanna..."

I reached out, my fingers brushing against hers. She felt cold.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I wanted to tell her I was here. That I wouldn't leave.

But Dad's warning played in my head once more.

"One wrong move, and Robles won't be so lucky next time, Don't test me Stacey-"

I clenched my jaw, blinking back my tears. I had to be careful. I had to protect her.

Even if it meant lying to her. Even if it meant staying away.

I stood by Jhoanna's hospital bed, my fingers ghosting over her hand one last time.

She looked peaceful-too peaceful. As if she wasn't lying here because someone had tried to take her life.

Because of me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to memorize every detail of her face. The way her lashes rested against her bruised cheeks, the slow rise and fall of her chest, the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.

This was the last time.

I took a shaky breath and turned to Jhoanna's friend, who was watching me with narrowed eyes. She knew something was off, but she didn't ask. Not yet.

"Take care of her" I said softly.

Her brows furrowed. "Huh? Ano?"

"I just..." My voice wavered, but I forced myself to continue. "I need to go."

Colet stood up, her expression darkening. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

I shook my head, taking a step back. "It doesn't matter. Just... please, Jho needs you now."

"Huh?" Colet was still confused

I clenched my fists, looking away. "She's safer without me."

Colet stepped forward, grabbing my wrist. "Once mo na akong tinarayan noon, and now Stacey tell me anong nanyayare, sobrang weird mo?"

I forced a smile-one I knew didn't reach my eyes. "Just promise me, okay? Don't let her out of your sight"

"Piskit naman, ano bang pinagsasa-"

"Enough talking, Just promise me, please"

She hesitated, then sighed in frustration. "Kahit di ako magpromise yun naman talaga ang gagawin ko. I will protect Jhoanna at all cost, Pero pagbalik mo, you owe me answers."

I didn't have the heart to tell her I wasn't coming back.

I turned one last time, letting my eyes linger on Jhoanna.

"I love you Jho"

I didn't say it out loud. Because if I did, I might not be able to walk away.

And I had to.

For her. For both of us.

⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── End of Chapter 18 ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆