Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

You have to give them the truth.

Matapos kong marinig iyon ay naramdaman ko ang biglang paglakas ang kalabog ng puso ko at ang pagsakit nito na para bang pinag-pi-pira-piraso ito. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa sakit. I tried so hard to maintin my clam but the pain was too much that I just resorted to shouting.

"Ahhhh!"

Nagpagulong gulong na ako dahil sa sakit. It's too painful! What's happening to me?!

"Zinnia!" I heard Papa call. However, the pain I'm feeling was greater than the way he called me that I didn't notice him. I'm focusing hard on keeping myself sane despite the pain.

He tried to hold me pero parang bigla siyang napaso at napalayo sa akin. I heard him panic but I couldn't care more.

"Shit! Shit! Serena!" tawag nito kay Mama.

Naramdaman ko na lang ang biglang pagkakabalot ko sa lamig, basang basa na ako pati ang kama ko pero hindi pa rin ako mahawakan nila Mama nang sinubukan nila. I don't understand why they wet me!

"Don't tell me..." napasabi na lang noon si Papa at napahagulhol si Mama habang tinitingnan nila akong pareho. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sila umiiyak. All I want is for the pain to go away!

Niyakap siya ni Papa at pinanood nila akong pareho. Hinahapo na ako at nawawala na sa huwisyo, gusto ko na sanang matulog at magpahinga pero hindi ako hinahayaan ng sakit na nararamdaman ko. It's too painful that I can't even stay asleep.

Open your eyes.

Napadilat ako bigla nang marinig ko si Deidamia. I wandered my eyes around. Wala na ako sa kwarto ko ngayon at nasa isang malawak na lupain ako kasama si Deidamia. Mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay hindi ko matanaw ang dulo ng kaparangan na nasa harapan ko. Marami akong naririnig na huni ng mga ibon. May naririnig din akong agos ng tubig but it was weak which made me think it's not near us but not too far either. Siguro ay malapit kami sa ilog.

This place looks so peaceful compared to my position earlier. Where am I? Am I dead?

"Where in Rio de Paz, Zinnia," sabi ni Deidamia.

Maybe she saw how confused I was. I looked ahead once more, taking it all in, inhaling the fresh scent of the unpolluted air.

Rio de Paz...

"I'm finally crossing the camino al cielo, Zinnia. After all the years of being here, I can finally go to where I belong," nakangiti niyang sambit sa akin. Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. What does she mean?

Deidamia looked more peaceful now. Itinaas nito ang kaniyang kamay at may dumapo roong isang paro-paro. The butterfly has wings that are as white as a pearl. Suddenly, it flew on my direction. Itinaas ko ang kamay at inilabas ang aking hintuturo para may madapuan ang paro-paro. It landed there, gracefully and slowly flapping its wings after its landing. Hindi nagtagal ay tumigil din ito at nanatili na lamang sa aking kamay.

"Zinnia... thank you."

Napalingon ako kay Deidamia nang sabihin niya iyon. Nakatalikod siya sa akin at tinatanaw ang kalawakan. Her brown hair flew with the wind as her white dress did the same. Why is she thanking me?

"Thank you for coming back. Salamat dahil dumating ka. I know that after this, the people of Nemus will know the truth about what happened more than a hundred years ago."

Humarap siya sa akin, nakangiti pero maya-maya ay napawi iyon at nagseryoso siya.

"You have to know that this life isn't always... about rainbows and sunshines, Zinnia. Dadating ang araw na may mangyayari sa pagitan mo at ng mga taong minamahal at inaalagaan mo, pero tandaan mo na kailangan mo lang magtiwala sa kanila at sa... kakayahan mo. The future will depend on the choice that you will make and I know you will make the right choices, Zinnia."