Her Stormy Seasons (Vitality Series #1) | ✓

13

Dengue, that's what they told me. Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another.

I'm still thankful because it wasn't worse at all. Madali lang naman maaagapan ito.

I saw my parents sitting on the table, just near my bed. Jie was sleeping on the monobloc while his head was leaning beside me. I heard them arguing about something. I guess it's about me. It's about grandma.

"Ma, Pa, I'm fine. You can leave me alone. Don't worry about me, okay? I can handle myself."

"Anak," she stared at me with her worrying stares.

"Hindi, hindi ka namin iiwan mag-isa. Baka mapano ka pa rito." si Papa.

"Kaya ko po." I smiled genuinely.

I lied. I didn't know that I could be this liar. I didn't know that I could be good at lying. Those were white lies. I only did that because I am thinking about them. Gustong-gusto kong makasama roon pero hindi ko naman kakayanin. May sakit lang ako, gagaling din ako sa mga susunod na araw. Kailangan na nilang makauwi ngayon doon. Hindi ko matagalan ang malungkot na mukha ni Papa at Mama.

Ako lang naman ang may sakit, kaya ako lang dapat ang maiwan dito.

"You have to see lola." I said.

Hindi naman ako mawawala. Palagi lang akong narito, pag-uwi nila madadatnan naman nila ako nang maayos. I'm sure of that. On the other hand, grandma's getting weaker every day. We have no assurance as to how long he will live in this world

"Maiwan na lang po ako. Babantayan ko si ate." si Jie.

I shifted my eyes on him. Anong maiiwan? Ako lang ang maiiwan dito. I don't want him to suffer here with me. Hinihintay siya ni lola roon. "No, Jie. Kaya ko. Please, trust me. Pag-uwi niyo malakas na ako." I told them.

"Anak naman," he sighed exasperatedly. "Hindi naman lahat kaya mo. Oo, malakas ka, alam ko 'yon, pero anak.." he helped me to sit and lean my back on the headboard. "Huwag mo naman sanayin ang sarili mong mag-isa. No man is an island."

"I agree, Pa." Yes, no man is an island. Walang taong nabubuhay para sa kaniyang sarili lamang. I couldn't imagine my life without anyone else by my side. I couldn't imagine my life without them. When they smile, I smile. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit pilit akong lumalaban sa buhay. Makita ko lang silang masaya, masaya na rin ako. "I-I'll call Isha and Ziny to look for me."

No man is an island they say, but I know I can assure everyone that I can handle myself even to those days when the world seems to fall apart.

"Hindi ako mapapanatag doon kung alam kong mag-isa ka lang matulog sa gabi." si Mama.

"Ma, I'm not scared, so please, don't be scared too. Okay?" I said softly.

No one will hurt me right? Kaya ko namang ipagtanggol ang sarili ko, hindi ba? I can protect myself from them, right? I know I can. Kaya ko.. Bakit naman hindi ko kakayanin?

I really pushed them. I convinced them to go and just leave me. That they don't have to worry for my condition. Gagaling din naman ako kaagad. Maybe tomorrow or the other day.