MONTE COSTA SERIES #2: Beautiful Burns

Simula

Simula

"If someday love will burn me, then I'll dance with the fire with a smile on my face."

Raiah traced her father's name on the granite tombstone after she read the last part of his favorite poem. Nakahiga naman sa nakalatag na picnic mat ang kaibigan niyang si Vina. Abala itong mag-scroll sa Facebook nang hindi siya mailang.

Tumingala si Raiah sa makulimlim na kalangitan. "Do you think it's gonna rain tonight? I don't wanna ruin my outfit," aniya.

Nakakunot ang noong tumingin sa langit si Via. "I don't think so."

Payapa ang kalangitan at malamyos ang pagaspas ng mga dahon sa hindi kalayuang puno. Halos iilan lamang din ang nasa sementeryo. May ilang pamilya siyang natanaw kanina noong papasok. Ang iba namang naroroon ay tila naatasan lamang na maglinis upang maghanda para sa nalalapit na undas.

She glanced at the family of four a few meters away from them. The kid was dancing while her parents were happily clapping their hands. Naalala niya noong ganoon siya kaliit. Her dad would make her stand on top of the table to dance. He and her mom would clap their hands, too. Sometimes they'd film her and show the video to her grandparents.

Sadly, it was her last memory of what used to be her happy family . . . and a part of her is terrified that one day, it will fade in her memory, too like the rest of the moments she had shared with her father.

Ang tatay niyang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakakukuha ng hustisya.

Niyakap niya ang kanyang mga tuhod saka niya ibinalik ang tingin sa lapida ng kanyang ama. "Rejected pa rin, Dad. I don't know what I did wrong for them not to accept me. This is the third time already." She sighed. "I just wanna continue your legacy, you know? Hindi ba talaga pang-plus points 'yong pagiging mag-ama natin?"

Nanikip na naman ang dibdib niya nang maalala ang pangatlong rejection letter mula sa dating ospital kung saan naging doktor ang Daddy niya. She just wanted to follow his footsteps. Kahit bilang nurse man lang. 

He used to tell her how great Kelton Medical Center is. Kaya bata pa lang ay pinangarap niya nang makapasok doon kaya lang ay masyadong mahigpit ang KMC. Kahit dala niya naman ang apelyido ng daddy niya ay tila wala siyang swerte.

"Don't worry, Raiah. Subok ka lang ulit after thirty days. Masyado lang talagang maraming applicants noong nakaraan. Karamihan pa ay galing sa malalaking university," ani Vina.

Raiah felt bad even more. She graduated from a state university because her mother didn't want to support her studies. Magmula noong namatay ang tatay niya ay nagbago ito. It seems like grief had destroyed her mother. Kaya nga minsan mas gusto na lang niyang hindi sila nagpapanagpo sa bahay.

She looked at Vina. "I surely aced the interview. Confident ako sa lahat ng naging sagot ko dahil pinaghandaan kong mabuti iyon. I have the experience already, maganda ang academic background ko, at mataas ang rank ko sa licensure exam. Saka lahat naman ng pointers na binigay mo ay sinunod ko so why? Hindi ko matanggap, Vina."

Bumangon si Vina. "Hey. Baka bad timing lang talaga. Be patient. Saka narinig mo naman ang sinabi ni Ae. You wouldn't really want to be in the Surgical Department. Ang balita namin 'yong huling batch na na-hire na kasabayan mong nag-apply, doon ibinato."

Ae is their other friend. Una itong nakapasok sa Kelton Medical Center dahil kakilala raw ng boyfriend nito ang napababalitang magmamana sa KMC. She and Vina asked for Ae's help to get into KMC, ngunit si Vina lamang ang nakuha kahit na sinubukan na nilang gumamit ng backer.

She sighed. "Isa na lang, Vina talagang magwewelga na ko sa harap ng KMC. Three rejections in a row isn't fair!"

Vina patted her back. "Cheer up. We'll figure out how you'll get in soon. Magpalamig muna tayo ng ulo."