Three years of Almost

Chapter 15

Flashback

Four months ago, the fluorescent lights in Dr. Irene Bae’s clinic hummed softly as you sat stiffly on the cushioned bench, clutching the sleeves of your uniform. It was your third visit, and this time, you didn’t bother sugarcoating it.

“Doc, ang weird ko na talaga. Hindi lang po basta ako nahihimatay this time—may... may something pang nangyayari.”

Irene leaned forward calmly, pen resting on her clipboard.

“What's your new symptoms, Y/N?”

You looked around as if the walls could hear you, then you leaned closer, whispering like it was a confession.

“I started coughing up petals. Or flowers. Hindi ko alam kung hallucination ko lang ba pero, like—totoong bulaklak, doc. Every time nasasaktan ako emotionally—especially 'pag si Stacey yung dahilan—tapos after ng fainting ko… ayun, may petals.”

She didn’t even flinch.

You blinked, waiting for her to laugh, or at least raise an eyebrow. But she just nodded slightly, as if she expected this.

“Don’t panic,” Irene said slowly, “pero kailangan mong malaman ang totoo.”

You frowned.

“Anong totoo—na nababaliw na ako? Alam ko na yan doc.” You tried to laugh, but it came out nervous.

Then Irene set her pen down.

And stood.

A sudden glow shimmered behind her.

Soft.

Ethereal.

And when she moved her hand, two glowing wings—faint and transparent like light breaking through stained glass—spread behind her back.

You stood up so fast you knocked the chair over.

“PUTANGINA—ANO 'YAN?!!”

“Y/N—calm down.”

“NO! NO! NO! I rebuke you in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God— ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty!’” You made the sign of the cross with your fingers like you were holding holy water.

Irene looked half amused, half done with your dramatics.
“I’m not a demon. I’m a fallen angel, which is technically different—”

“'DIFFERENT KA DYAN! Fallen? FALLEN?! LIKE SATAN?! AYOKO NAAAA DITO—”

“I’m trying to help you, kiddo.”

You stopped mid-chant, blinking at her use of the word anak.

“…kiddo? As in… like, bata?”

Irene gave you a knowing smile, her wings slowly fading. “You’re suffering from something we call Hanahaki. A rare, magical condition na nararamdaman lang ng mga taong may matinding pagmamahal sa isang tao na hindi pa reciprocated.”

You stared at her.

“So... because I like Stacey... and she hates me... kaya ako hinihimatay at umuubo ng bulaklak?”

“Exactly.”

“Will I die?”

Irene didn’t answer at first.

Then quietly, “Yes. If it worsens, and if your heart doesn’t heal—or she never returns your feelings.”

You sat back down slowly.