Chapter 6

She bit her lower lip. “Yeah. She was my upperclassman in high school. We used to be together in an organization. But that was only for a moment because I had to move school, ” she lied. She held out her palm. "I'm Patricia Delos Santos, Patty for short."

“Patricia… sounds familiar. I'm sorry. ” He immediately grabbed her hand. “Anyway, I’m Azi. Azrael Del Valle. I’m Pauline’s older brother. ”

Patty's eyes widened. Shit.

“Ah, Azi Del Valle, yes! You told Pauline about me before. ” Patty almost frowned at his lie. He is not prepared! Why is it that on her first step here in El Corazon, Pauline's older brother was the first she met?

“I’m sorry if I can’t remember you. A few years have passed. Seven years? Eight? ” Azi shook her head. "Are you here in El Corazon for a vacation?"

Patty lost her chance to get stuck. He stood behind Azi who was now in front of Pauline's grave.

"All right. After all, it’s been a long time so you are unlikely to remember if Pauline and I told you, ”he excused himself. Who else remembers if high school days still happened, right? It has been a long time so his excuse is safe. “Yes. This is my first time visiting Pauline here. I could not go to his hill. Health reasons. I'm sorry. ”

“I understand. We grew up in Manila but El Corazon will always be our home. ” Azi suddenly turned to him. It motioned for him to sit in front of it. Patty was unable to follow. "Tell me about yourself, Patty."

Patty is nervous but it is slowly diminishing because of Azi's smile. Its approachable because it is also friendly.

"What, I'm a nursing graduate."

"Why nursing?"

He shrugged. "I just want to help."

“Actually, Pauline was also a nurse. It was an unfortunate accident that took her away from us so suddenly… ”he trailed off. The distance it looks as if someone remembers. Patty noticed that Azi was smiling but there was sadness in her eyes. "She was too young to die…"

Patty bit her lower lip then averted her gaze from Azi. Is it wrong that he is here now? As he talked to Azi, he seemed even more afraid to tell her who he was. He seemed even more hesitant to introduce himself to the Del Valle.

It has been five years already but Patty could see the sadness in Azi’s eyes when talking about Pauline. But who could blame him and his family? Who could move on from death? Right there and then, Patty realized even if so many years had passed, a person could not really get over a loved one’s death.

“But it’s okay. Somewhere out there, someone’s living her life because of Pauline. ”

"Ha?" Patty's heartbeat quickened when she heard Azi say that.

“Pauline, actually, all of us are organ donors. Pauline was able to donate her heart to someone. We heard that the operation was a success. It makes us happy knowing that Pauline was still somehow alive; that she was seeing the world using someone’s eyes; that somehow, Pauline was able to help someone using her heart. ”