Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 29

Zach's POV

"Zachary."

The door opened without any warning. Pumasok si Papa para tignan kung gising na ako. "Gising ka na ba? Bumangon ka na at pumunta sa pinsan mo, kailangan ka ngayon do'n."

I'm aware that I need to wake up way earlier today, but I still slept late last night watching medical documentaries.

Hindi na rin naman ako makakatulog kaya minabuti kong bumangon. Nakagayak na si Papa. He's wearing his usual polo shirt with a pizza logo. He's off to work.

"Si Mommy, Pa?" tanong ko, naghihikab pa nang bumaba ng kama.

"Huwag mo na munang gisingin ang Mommy mo, masama ang pakiramdam no'n, kagabi pa."

He's fixing his uniform in front of my whole body mirror. Pinanood ko siyang mag-ayos. Mula sa tindig, kilos, mukha at katawan, wala akong nakuha sa kaniya. It's obvious that I'm not his biological son, but I never felt like one, I never felt different.

Pinaramdam sa akin ni Papa ang pagmamahal ng isang tunay na ama. He accepted me. He treats me like his own. Kaya nang aminin sa akin ni Mommy ang lahat, walang sakit sa puso ko, walang sama ng loob. Mahal si Mom at mahal niya ako, iyon ang mahalaga.

"Papasok na ako, magbihis ka na at pumunta kila Maryelah, hinihintay ka na ro'n," bilin niya bago lumabas ng kwarto.

Tomorrow is Yelah's thirteenth birthday. There will be a huge celebration since she didn't celebrate his seventh as grandly as everyone did. Selebrasyon na rin siguro sa pamamaalam niya sa pagiging bata. She's now a teen, but honestly, she still acts like a kid.

"Mom, are you fine?" Tinapik ko ang braso ng inanv nakapikit.

Nagdilat ito kaagad ng mata at bumangon na parang walang iniinda. She's pale, she looks sick and she can't hide it.

"Why wouldn't I?" Malayong-malayo ang sagot niya sa nakikita ko.

Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. Stage one, kaya naagapan. She undergone surgery and chemotherapy for months. Pinahinto siya ni Papa sa pagtatrabaho para makapagpahinga.

I decided not to enroll this year to help my father earn money for her medications. Incoming senior high student na sana ako ngayong taon, pero makakapag-aral pa naman ako. Kapag maayos na ang lahat.

"I'm leaving today, I'll be helping in Yelah's birthday preparation," paalam ko sa kaniya.

"Inga bekymmer, gå." She signaled his hand.
(No worries, go.)

"Jag är okej, tänk inte på mig. Bara vara tillbaka före tio."
(I'm okay, don't think about me. Just be back before ten.)

She always says she's fine. It will make her mad if I insist that she's not. Kahit halata naman iyon sa hitsura niya.

"Just call me if you need something. I'll be back early." I kissed her cheeks. "Vi ses senare," I said as I closed the door.
(See you later.)

I have been always weak when it comes to her. It hurts me to see that she's in pain, but I have to be strong for her.

Abala ang lahat ng tao sa bahay ng pinsan ko nang dumating ako. May kinakatay na baboy kaya medyo maingay sa labas. I went inside and saw her smiling through her phone screen. Pabiro ko iyong kinuha para ipaalam na nandito na ako.

"Kuya! Epal ka talaga," singhal niya.

"May boyfriend ka na, 'noh?" bintang ko dahil malawak ang ngiti niya sa cellphone na hawak.

"Hindi ba puwedeng nakikipag-usap lang ako sa kaibigan ko at masaya ako kaya nakangiti ako?" depensa niya. "Para kang sila Mama."

"You just have to say you don't have one, you sound defensive," ani ko.