CHAPTER 15 “When You Need Me Most”
Yin Ivy Lee's POV
"Yin… are you and Yuan doing well?"
"Hmmm? Well, we're fine I guess…"
"Yin, don't be hard on him, I can see the efforts he's doing for you…"
"I'm not…"
"Knowing you?! You don't release your anger easily…"
"hmmm…" I smiled
"Just read the monthly report for the cosmetics…"
"Fine…"
"What day is today?" he asked
"Tuesday, the week just almost started but you're already lost? Are you that busy?" I asked
"No, it's just I'm occupied with Coleen's condition… she's not getting better with the treatment she's getting here."
"Do you want to bring her abroad? I just met with ZEN airline's Chairman last time and she offered me a partnership which I'm reviewing now. I could help you transport her and I know a good doctor in Canada."
"I'll talk with her about that… Thank you for the offer."
"No problem…"
"Anyway, I was planning to visit the factory on Sunday do you want to come?"
"Of course! I should come, If I won't you'd probably think I'm giving you all the work…" he smirked
"Actually!! Hahahahaha!!"
*Ting *Ting
I've got a message from Yuan…
From Yuan:
Ivy are you free this Sunday? Let's have a date
To Yuan:
I'll be at the factory of the cosmetics brand with Yang.
From Yuan:
Really? I want to spend time with you can we go out after you check the factory?
"Yuan?" Yang asked…
"Yeah… he's asking if we can go out on Sunday…"
"Ahhh… just tell him to tag along at the factory and then you can go after…"
"Will that be fine?"
"Come on Yin!! Maximize the time you spend for each other!"
"Fine I'll tell him that…"
To Yuan:
You can come along with us at the factory then let's go after we checked everything, how's that?
From Yuan:
That sounds nice!! I'll pick you up at the Villa… what time should I go?
To Yuan:
Before 1 pm, don't be late…
From Yuan:
Yes ma'am!!
"He said he'll come along, he'll pick me up before 1 pm…"
"That's nice…" Yang said…
*Ring *Ring
He looked at me…
"That's not mine… I think it's yours" I said
"Yeah it's mine… I'll just take this"
I nodded. Yang went outside of the office to receive the call but I can see his silhouette from the frosted glass door of my office.
His walking right to left… something might have come up so I also went outside and he looked so worried.
"Yang… what's wrong?" I held his arms to stop him from walking here and there…
"Yin… It's Coleen… I got a call from the hospital, they said she was having difficulty in breathing so they had to intubate her."
"That serious?! I think you should go…"
"Yeah… I should, b-but…" he's panicking I haven't seen him like this before…
"Yang! Relax! I'll drive you there…"
"Thank you, Yin…"
"I��ll just go get my bag…"
"Ummm!"
I have to calm Yang down while I was driving until we eventually arrived at the hospital, he rushed to the VIP room at the ICU while I park the car…
After settling at the car park, I also hurried to the ICU but I just stayed outside and waited for Yang…
I sat at the chairs located just outside the ICU
"Ivy…"
I turned around…
"Yuan… what are you doing here?"
"I visited my father and when I came out of the hospital, I saw your car- parked in front... so I looked around and saw you here…"
"I drove Yang here, the hospital called that they'll intubate Coleen because she's having difficulty in breathing."
"That's not good news…"
"I know…"
He sat down with me and waited patiently…
After 4 hours the ICU door opened…
"Yin… I don't know what she wants from you but Coleen asked if she can talk to you…"
"I thought she was intubated?"
"The doctors removed it just now, she regained consciousness and was breathing normally…"
"O-okay I'll be there…"
He nodded as a response
"Yuan, can you watch over my bag?"
"Sure… go ahead…"
I went inside and wore some protective equipment to avoid contamination in the ICU
I opened the door of her room…
"Ivan, d-dear can you leave us a-alone for a m-moment?" she spoke even though she's having difficulties catching her breath…
Yang went outside and I came closer to her…
"Hello Coleen, this is the first time we've come close to meet each other, the last time I asked you to come to the wedding you met with my friend…"
"You're indeed very pretty Miss Ivy…"
"Ah! Just call me Ivy… Yang is a brother to me so you are my sister…"
"hhmmm" she smiled
"You're very nice just as what Ivan told me…" then she raised her hand and tried to look for my hand, so I took her hand…
I smiled at her
"I didn't know he would talk about me in front of you…"
"He always does and I'm very happy whenever she talks about you because I feel that I'm meeting his family. That's why I wanted to talk to you Ivy…" She continued to talk even though it's getting difficult for her, trying to catch her breath as she talks.
"Talk to me about what?"
"I don't think I can hold out for another week. I'm spending all my energy just to breathe and endure the pain. I'm getting tired Ivy…" when she said that I remember my dad and I'm getting choked up.
"Don't say that Coleen, you can get through this…"
"I want to rest, I'm really tired… Ivy… can you promise me something?"
"What promise?"
"Can you promise me that whatever happens you'll always be with him? You have to remind him that I loved him till my last breath. Tell him that the love we had was beautiful, that I will take the memories and the feelings with me on my journey. He was the perfect one for me but maybe I wasn't written on God's plan to be his perfect one. Tell him to look for his match, someone who could give him the love that I couldn't give. Tell him not to be in pain because of me. He has to be happy for me to be at-ease. Tell him I'm sorry for leaving so soon, and for not keeping my promise to build a family with him. Tell him to remember me at least once, even though he found a new love, because I will remember him for eternity. Tell him that the love he showed me was enough so he doesn't have to question himself. And lastly, tell him I love him and I hope to meet him after he has lived his life fully… I'll be waiting…"
When I heard what she wanted to tell Yang, my heart was like broken into pieces. I was thinking that the world was being unfair to them…
She saw that I was crying so she held her shaking hand out to wipe my tears then she held my face, her hands were cold and pale.
"Ivy, keep him away from doing rash things… Please protect my man when the time comes that I couldn't…"
Then suddenly she was having difficulties in breathing then I hurriedly went out and called the doctor. Yang also went in but all he could do was watch while they revive Coleen…
I watched Yang from behind and I was also getting nervous seeing Coleen being revived by the doctors. I was clasping my hands together asking for miracles…
"Just let Yang have her dear God!! Save her!"
But after a few minutes of reviving her the doctors stopped and pronounced her death. Yang stared at her and broke down in tears, he went down on his knees beside her bed holding her hand begging her to open her eyes and come back.
It's very painful!! Watching him lose the love of his life was too difficult for me so I went out bursting in tears…
"Ivy!! Ivy!! What's wrong?! what happened?" Yuan grabbed my arms
"I'll keep my promise to her… I will! I will…" I said while I was crying…
"What happened? Tell me…"
"She's gone… Yuan…" I said
He said nothing and just wrapped me around his arms… Then I cried my heart out. I could feel Yang's pain and I think the pain I kept with my father's death was refreshed. I think that's why I cried hard too. This is the feeling when you've watched a person's death. Not just someone but the person you loved and cherished, I think I remembered my dad, I imagined him being in that death bed and me in Yang's situation…
"That's warm water, drink it…"
"Thank you…"
Someone came out of the ICU it was Yang.
I stood up and went to him…
"She'll be moved to the morgue" he told me
He covered his face and sat down, I heard him sob and it crushed my heart…
"Yang what are your plans?" I have to keep him on track
"She said he only wants a 3-day funeral, she grew up in an orphanage in the states so she doesn't have family and friends here to visit her…"
"I see… Yang you have to be strong…"
"I don't know how, Yin…"
A funeral was arranged for Coleen. Yang's family visited, even though they didn't accept her at first, but after our cancelled wedding they began to show concern to her. I helped out Yang and I will be helping him until he needs my help, just as promised to Coleen and of course I couldn't just let him.
"I brought some flowers, where do I put them?"
Of course, Yuan was there too and I'm very thankful he's there for me.
"These flowers are beautiful, thanks bro…" Yang suddenly appeared
"We'll put it there, what do you think Yang?" I said
"That would be fine…"
After putting the flowers, I sat down beside Yuan
"Thank you for coming here…"
"Of course." he wrapped his arm on my shoulder…
"How's he?"
"Yang? Well, he's awake for almost 48 hours now… I told him to sleep for a while but he said whenever he closes his eyes, he can only think of her… I'm afraid he'll get sick if he continues this…"
"You also should get rest Ivy…"
"I got to close my eyes for an hour earlier…"
"That's not enough rest Ivy…"
"I can't just leave him behind."
"I'll stay with you here for tonight… I'll be awake so you can go sleep…"
"Thank you, Yuan…" I slept on his lap until dawn…
When I woke up, I saw Yuan, wide awake, as well as Yang he was sitting looking at Coleen…
"Glad you slept well…"
"You should have just put some pillows under my head and sit somewhere so your legs won't be numb"
"I'm fine…"
"Did he sleep or took a nap?"
"He hasn't moved from that chair after giving you a blanket…"
I stood up and went to Yang…
"Yang…" I put my hand on his shoulder
"Yin…" he tapped my hand as if he's saying that he's okay…
"You can't do this to yourself… you have to rest even for an hour, you have to eat!"
"This is the last day I'll be seeing her I don't want to waste my time, Yin… This will be the last time I'm gonna see her face…"
I can't force him to rest so I let him be. The burial will be this afternoon…
He has few hours left to see her…
Yang's family was present and a few friends of Yang were also there and the people from their office came here…
"The Father from the church we called has arrived…" Yuan told me
"I'll go tell him"
"Umm" he nodded
I went to tell Yang about it…
"Yang… We have to start the service…"
"I want to see her face more…"
"Yang…" I looked at him and he looked at me too…
"Okay…" he nodded
The service started and it went on until it was time to give his Eulogy…
"Coleen, wasn't----- any other girl you'll see, when I met her in Paris, she was very pure and very nice… She was the type of girl that you'd want to protect. I knew it was hard for her living alone, fending for herself and at the same time studying, as she was an orphan and she grew up in US, she didn't have a family that would protect her and guide her but despite that she was a person of good values, smart, and a fighter. She also taught me what love is… Coleen, dear… I'll remember your last words…" He's choked by the emotion, his voice cracked up and unable to contain his tears as it slid down his cheeks… but he tried his best to compose himself…
"I'll protect our memories with all I've got. I'll forever treasure you! You told me that you're lucky to have met someone like me, no, you're wrong! I'm very lucky to have met you, I know you've loved me with all that you can give, I wish I've let you felt more loved, I feel lacking. Our paths crossed and I thought, that was it and then it would be forever for us, I never imagined I'd lose you… In my next life… in our next life, let's meet and love each other… Let's continue writing our story… I love you! Till we meet again…"
When he finished his eulogy for Coleen he came and sat next to me. I can see his tears roll down his face even he wore sunglasses to hide his blood shot eyes, me, sitting beside him could see it all… I could feel the pain…
Coleen, I promise I'll do what you've asked me, rest assured…
The funeral service has ended and the people left after sending Coleen off. Yuan and I stayed behind.
"I'll go talk to him"
I went to Yang who was sitting in front of Coleen's grave.
"Yang…"
"Oh?"
"Do you want me to accompany you to your house?"
"No… I'll stay here for a while you should go and rest…"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah… Thank you for helping me out…"
"No Problem… Just call me when you need someone…"
"Ummm" he nodded
I gave him a hug before I go…
"He said he'll stay for a while…" I said to Yuan.
"Do you want to stay longer?" he asked
"Maybe he needs some time alone…"
"okay, then I'll drive you home…"
I nodded.
On our ride way back home, I just kept silent looking at the window as I wasn't feeling well at all. I think the universe is being unfair to Yang. I don't think he deserves the pain. There were a lot of thoughts going on my mind. I was miserable when I lost my father, even as years passed, I haven't moved on and I still suffer from the pain. Will he also be like me?
I don't want him to become like me.
"Ivy…" Yuan tapped my shoulder
I looked at him…
"I kept on calling you, are you fine?"
"I am…"
"Anyway, we're here…"
"Thanks… you should go home and rest too…"
"Okay…"