"Rona, ayaw ko. Hindi pa niya nararamdaman ang pagmamahal ko." Umiiyak na nagmamakawa ang ina ni Sola.
"Walong taon na, walang pagbabago at alam nating aparato na lamang ang bumubuhay kay Sola." Mahinahong sagot ko sa kapatid ko na tumira na rito sa ospital magbuhat noong maaksidente si Ria.
"Sino ka para sabihing aparato na lamang ang bumubuhay kay Ria!? Ako ang ina ako ang magdedesisyon!"
"Yana, tama na 'yan. Pagpahingahin na natin si Ria. She's been through a lot of pain." Walang tigil si Yana sa pag haplos ng maligamgam na bimpo sa katawan ni Sola. Tinanggal nito ang kuwintas na hawak ng kaibigan at ibinulsa. Ito kasi ang suot ni Sola nang maaksitente siya. Ang kanilang friendship necklace na symbol of acquarius.
"We've been together for more than a year, she was happy with us, she had a chance to live the dream she wanted to live with you. She was treated as if we are fam-NO we are family. She's a sister to me and I am to her. She enjoyed painting, writing of poems and cards, she enjoyed designing. She once told me that she's ready to die if she fix things with you. She might not felt the love she expect from you, but she knows she's loved. My mother, a few friends from the industry and yana; we all made sure Sola felt the love she deserved. And maybe that is enough. Let her go, this might be the only type of love you can give her." Mugto ang mga mata ni Rafa, halos pitong taon na siyang nasa Pinas, not minding what is happening in the industry. Nandoon lang siya sa kuwarto ni Sola, kinukwentuhan niya ito kung anong nangyayari sa pamilya nila. Gusto niyang ipaalam na ang isa sa pangarap nito ay natupad na, mahalin ng sariling pamilya. She ven brought a single bed near Sola, she doesn't want her to feel alone again. Not again.
"No! We won't let her go! Not now please." Humahagulgol na niyakap ng ina ni Sola ang walang buhay na katawan niya.
"She was on vegetative state for five years. Three years brain dead, and the doctor declared her as clinically dead! Maawa ka naman kay Sola! Hanggang ngayon ay pinahihirapan mo siya. Life is about time, opportunities and chances. And you, your husband and Lily took those times and chances for granted. Where are you when she needed a mom to receive her medals and diplomas? Where are you when she asked for your attention? for your love? Where? You're so focus on Lily that you forgot Sola. You were so busy filling Lily's heart with love while Sola's heart is breaking into pieces. You kept Lily's surrounding with light while Sola's world collapses. And you're telling me that you're Sola's mom? Sola died long before she left Philippines. You killed her dreams and her love for herself. Kahit ilang dekada ang bilangin mo hindi na maibabalik ang nakaraan! You let all the opportunities to make her feel loved slipped away! Now tell me you love her when she can't even die in peace."
Nagulat silang lahat nang tumunog ang aparato na senyales na pinatay na ito. Nakita nilang lahat na pinindot ng daddy ni Sola ang off button ng aparato.
Dineklara ng doctor ang oras nang pagkamatay ni Sola.
"Daddy.." bulong ni Lily.
"All she asked for the last time were happiness and peace. And the only thing we can give her now is peace. I know, I'm in no position to do this but, for the last time, I want to give her what she asked for. This is the first and last thing I could grant your wish. You are my daughter. My daughter Sola, was and always will be." Naiyak ang lahat nang mabasag ang boses ng ama ni Sola sa huling dalawang pangungusap na binitiwan nito.
7 years later
"Mommy I want to paint!" napangiti si Lily sa isa sa kambal niyang anak na panay ang paglalaro sa pintura at ipinapahid nito sa blangkong canvass ang bawat madampot na pintura.
"Mommy I want to be a doctor." Ngumiti siya sa isa pa niyang anak at tumango.
"Okay, Soledad will paint as long as she wants to and let's buy your stetoscope little doctor Tristan." Tumawa naman ang daddy ng mga ito.
Hindi sila nagkabalikan ni Jude, isang taon matapos mailibing si Sola ay niligawan siya ng isa sa mga doctor ni Sola, nagkamabutihan at ngayon ay may kambal na limang taong gulang na. Si Jude ay nangibang bansa, si Tita Rona at si Rafa ay ipinagpatuloy ang pagsuporta sa mga dating charity na sinusuportahan ni Sola sa Paris at sa Pilipinas. Ang daddy at mommy ay binibisita si Sola sa tuwing araw ng Linggo. I asked forgiveness every now and the about what I did, I cry every time I remember what kind of sister I was. I promised to be a good mom to pay for what I did.
I have learned a lot from Sola. Pareho kong pinakikinggan ang gusto at ayaw ng mga anak ko. We as parents want to be their bestfriends. Pantay ang pagmamahal at atensyong ibinibigay ko sa kanila. Ipinakikita ko sa lahat ng taong mahalaga sa akin kung gaano ko sila kamahal.
The water that slipped away from our hands won't land again on our palms. There are things that only happen once. And we get lucky sometimes that we are given more than two chances. But even if things will happen again, do not waste the opportunities given to you. Listen to the people around you; there are words behind those actions. Love people, both the good and the bad. Pray for people, both the good and the bad. Be kind. Always.
Wakas....
Thank you for being with me until the end. I hope you learn something from me because I learned a lot from this story. I hope you can still be with me on my next stories. Keep safe everyone. (There will be another update for the ending poem) Again, thank you. I'll be writing "Breathe" my second novel and another short story. I hope you can continue reading my stories. Thank you, xoxo.
