Jiya,s pov
I stopped crying for a moment and kept looking at Alex with tearful eyes. Oh Allah, how much pain Alex is going through. Please, give me his pain instead so that Alex may live peacefully and in good health.
I placed my hand over Alex's and gently held it with both of mine. Slowly, I kissed his hand, and tears streamed down my face again. I carefully placed Alex's hand back on the bed.
At that very moment, someone entered the room. I turned toward the door and saw the nurse… and Alina.
Huh? Alina too? But I saw in the news that both Alex and Alina were in the accident.
Alina came close to me and suddenly slapped me hard, then shoved me with full force. I fell onto the floor. She grabbed my throat tightly with both hands and shouted,
Alina:"Bitch! How dare you come here? I've told you countless times, I don't want to see you in our lives anymore! You came again? Every problem is happening because of you! Alex is in this condition only because of you!"
At this point, I could barely breathe. She was choking me so hard that no matter how much I tried to free myself, I couldn't. Tears kept falling from my eyes as unbearable pain spread in my chest.
Alina hissed at me again: "Tor more jawai dorkar! Tor bachar kono odhikar nai! Tui jodi bachte thakis, ekdin amar Alex r mrittur karon tui hobi!"
["You deserve to die! You don't have any right to live! If you stay alive, one day you will be the reason for Alex's death!"]
The nurse stood there silently, not even trying to save me. Then I understood—she too was Alina's pawn. She would do only what Alina said.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Alina immediately released my throat. I gasped, taking loud breaths.
The doctor walked inside and said in Tagalog:
Doctor: "Lumabas muna kayo sa kwarto, masama ang lagay ng pasyente. Paparating na ang pulis, Alina ma'am, hinahanap ka nila sa labas."
["Please step out of the room, the patient's condition is worsening. The police are on their way, Alina ma'am, they are looking for you outside."]
Alina grabbed my hand and forcefully dragged me toward the door. I struggled and shouted, "Let go of my hand! Let me go!"
Alina sneered, "I will… just wait a little."
She pulled me out of the room straight toward the police officers waiting outside. Holding my wrist tightly, she said in English,
Alina: "This is the girl whose car caused Alex's accident!"
I was shocked beyond words. "Are you insane? What are you saying?!"
Alina shouted again: "Her name is Jiya, and it was her car that hit Alex. Arrest her immediately!"
Me: "This is absurd! I didn't do anything!"
The police looked at me and said in Tagalog:
Police: "Kailangan mo sumama sa amin sa presinto ng pulis."
["You must come with us to the police station."]
Me: "Please, speak in English."
Police (in broken English): "You must come to the police station with us right now."
I cried out, "But I haven't done anything! I don't even have a house to stay in, where would I even get a car?!"
Police:"Whatever you have to say, say it at the police station."
They slapped handcuffs onto my wrists. I pleaded again and again, "Please believe me, I didn't do anything! Show me proof that it was my car that caused the accident!"
But they ignored my words, dragging me forcefully. I screamed, crying, "I didn't do anything! Please let me go! Please!"
As I looked back one last time, I saw Alina smiling at me with tears in her eyes. Then I looked forward again as the police dragged me to the hospital gate.
Outside, there was a huge crowd of reporters waiting. The moment I stepped out, they surrounded me. Camera flashes blinded me, making it hard to even see.
The police tried to get me into their car, but the crowd was pushing forward, shouting endless questions in Tagalog—every question had Alex's name in it.
Finally, the police gave one answer in Tagalog:
Police: "Si Alex ay sinabihan na siya ang may kasalanan sa aksidente sa kotse. Malalaman ninyo ang mangyayari sa susunod."
["Alex has stated that she (Jiya) is the one responsible for the car accident. You will know what happens next."]
Hearing this, the crowd grew furious. Rage spread everywhere. The police could barely control them.
Someone from behind yanked my hair. Another splashed water on my face. A few even threw stones at my head. I touched my scalp and felt blood dripping. Suddenly, someone pulled hard at my shirt near my chest. My shirt tore, and my bra became visible. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest, trying to cover myself.
More police arrived and somehow managed to pull me away from the angry crowd. They pushed me into the police car. Through the window, I saw the furious faces staring at me as if I were a monster. Tears flowed endlessly from my eyes.
"I didn't do anything. Why am I being punished like this?" I whispered to myself as the car drove off.
At the station, they took away my bag and locked me up. I sat down on the cold floor, hopeless and broken. "I didn't do anything," I repeated to myself again and again.
I curled up in a corner, hugging my knees, whispering, "I love Alex… how could I ever cause his accident?"
In my despair, I started hitting my own throat. One policeman noticed and said in Tagalog:
Police: "Anong ginagawa mo? Nababaliw ka na ba?"
["What are you doing? Are you going insane?"]
Another policeman replied:
Police: "Hindi taga-dito ang babaeng ito, hindi siya nakakaintindi maliban sa Ingles."
["This woman is not from here, she doesn't understand anything except English."]
One officer entered my cell, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and in broken English said,
Police: "Tell true! Car accident you do? Admit you do!"
I shook my head violently and cried, "No! I didn't do anything! Please believe me, I truly didn't do it!"
Hearing my answer, the officer pulled my hair even harder and hissed,
Police: "Still time have… good way admit… accident that your car by happen!"
Me: "How can I admit to something I never did?! I cannot confess to a crime I didn't commit!"
The officer let go of my hair and walked out of the cell.
I curled up again, sobbing in silence. "I didn't do anything… I didn't do anything… please, someone believe me."
Inner voice: You didn't do anything… I know you didn't do anything.
Me: Right… I didn't do anything. Then why is Alina treating me like this? My only mistake was going to see Alex. I left their lives forever—I never wanted to face Alex again. But such a terrible situation came… how could I stay away when my Alex is fighting for his life? How could I not go?
Inner voice: He is Alina's Alex.
Me: Yes… Alina's Alex.
Just then, the door of the police lockup rattled with a hard knock. The police officer looked at me and said, "Call your lawyer."
Lawyer? At such a time… who would stand by me? The only person who was ever like family to me was Grandma. But no, I can't… I don't want to take her here.
Whom should I call? I truly have no one here. After a while, the police station grew a little quiet. I didn't even realize when it turned 2 a.m. There were about three or four policemen, all almost half-asleep.
How is Alex now? His condition was very bad—Bob sir had said so. I kept wondering what his state was at that moment. O Allah, please save Alex, I kept praying while crying.
Just then, I saw someone slowly walking toward me through the door. The figure looked strangely familiar. I clutched the lockup bars and stood there, as that person came right in front of me. It was no one else but Alex.
Alex stood before me, gave a sweet smile, and said,
"Because of me, you're having to suffer so much, isn't it?"
Hearing that, tears kept streaming from my eyes. I said,
"No, no… you're well now. Alhamdulillah, thank God you've recovered."
Alex replied,
"See, I'm standing here healthy before you. Don't worry. I know you did nothing wrong, you were framed with lies. Don't worry—you'll get out of here very soon. And remember, truth always wins. Oh, and yes—there's a surprise for you, want to see?"
Me: "What?"
Alex stepped a little aside and pointed toward the gate. I looked, and there stood my mother and father. They were smiling at me.
Mom, dad…
I kept staring at them for a long moment. For some reason, they didn't come close—just from a distance they kept saying,
"Everything will be fine, my dear. Just hold on a little longer."
Then they left.
Me: "mom,dad please don't go!"
Alex looked at me and said,
"Don't worry, we are by your side."
I wiped my tears and said,
"Promise me you'll stay by my side."
Alex: "Promise." He smiled, and I knew he meant it.
Me: "You're so precious to me, do you know that?"
Alex: "Of course I know. And I also know that you think of me more than a thousand times a day."
I replied softly, "Yes, because…"
Before I could finish, Alex said,
"Because you love me."
He knows?
I told him, "If you know, then why do you stay away from me? Please, don't stay distant from me anymore. Promise me you'll never leave me."
Saying this, I reached out my right hand to touch Alex's face. But just then, the policeman beside me shouted in his broken English,
"What nonsense is starting now? Talking alone again?"
Alone? But Alex was right here in front of me…
I looked back—his face was slowly fading away.
Alex… Alexxxx… where are you going?
Alexxxxxxxxx, please come back… please…