Until Forever (Published!)

Chapter 49

Kaagad na sinagot niya ang kanyang cellphone nang tumunog iyon. Ni hindi na niya tiningnan ang caller ID kung sino ang tumatawag. Kakatapos lang din kasi nilang mag-usap ni Josh. And he told her the good news. Naibenta na raw ang manggahan sa Iloilo. He had already closed the deal. Bukas ay matatanggap na nito ang tseke bilang kabayaran sa naibentang property. And she was ecstatic.

"Mia?"

Nanigas ang kalamnan niya nang marinig ang boses na iyon. Biglang nanuyo ang kanyang lalamunan.

"Hello? Mia?"

She swallowed painfully. She stopped the chilling fear from creeping to her whole system. It wouldn't help her.

"Y-yes... Dra. Alva..." her voice was so tiny and unstable when she spoke.

"Where are you?" kaagad na tanong nito.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang siya.

"Ilang doctor's appointment na ang hindi mo napupuntahan. I'm already worried about you," pagpapatuloy nito.

"Nasa Mindanao ako, doktora. May importanteng inaasikaso lang."

"You have to come back here in Iloilo. You have to see me. You're making me worried, you know. Your health will deteriote faster than predicted if you continue to neglect your doctor's appointments."

Muli na naman siyang napabuntong-hininga. Ayaw niya sanang isipin ang tungkol sa kanyang sakit. But Dra. Alva reminded her so. Now, she couldn't ease the bolder of fear in her chest. "It's okay, doktora," she answered softly. "I'm still okay."

"Ngayon, oo, pero paano sa susunod na mga araw? Sa susunod na linggo o buwan? Alam mo namang hindi lang kita basta pasyente, Mia. You are a good friend, too. I can't help, but be worried of you. Ni hindi mo sinasagot ang mga text ko o ang tawag ko. I'm just so glad that you answered your phone now."

Pinilit niyang tumawa. "You are acting like a mother hen, Monic." Tinawag niya ito sa pangalan. "Relax lang."

She knew Dra. Monica Alva when she started working as a social worker. She was one of the young doctors who render their services for free for the people who couldn't afford to pay a doctor. Mabait ito at naturalesa na ang tila pagiging ina sa lahat. At madali niya itong nakasundo. She became her doctor. Sa paglipas ng panahon ay naging malapit din silang magkaibigan. Monic was just older than her by three years. Kaya siguro naging malapit sila sa isa't-isa.

"How could you say that when you're scaring the shit out of me? I thought something already happened to you. You didn't answer my call yesterday," tila nanenermong litanya nito.

"I'm sorry, but I left my phone in the room. Kaya hindi ko nasagot," pagpapaliwanag niya.

"But you didn't return my call."

She just sighed. Ayaw pa niya kasing kausapin ito. Though she knew sooner or later, she had to talk to her. It was inevitable. At nauubos na rin ang supply niya ng mga gamot. Kaya lang ay ayaw niya munang pag-aalalahanin ang sarili. She wanted to prolong the ugly moment of truth. She wanted to just enjoy the new life and happiness she found in Makilala. "Huwag ka nang mag-alala, doc," she consoled her. "I'll be going back to Iloilo soon. I'll be seeing you. And I have the money now. Naibenta na ni Josh ang manggahan. Marami tayong dapat na pag-usapan. I'll check for my options and the best remedy that we could discuss for me. Handa na ako." Nag-resign siya sa kanyang trabaho ilang araw bago siya pumunta sa Jasmin Mountain Resort upang harapin ang ina. Dra. Alva advised her to stop working because it wasn't advisable for her to do so. Physically and emotionally draining kasi ang uri ng trabaho niya at hindi iyon makakabuti sa kanyang kalagayan.

"Good! Kelan ka uuwi ng Iloilo?"

"Baka sa susunod na araw. Once Josh receives the check for the payment of the mango plantation, I'll be back. Kailangan din kasi ng signature ko para sa Deed of Sale and Transfer of Certificate of Land Title. Then, I'll see you."

"That's good to hear, Mia. Aasahan ko ang sinabi mong iyan. Okay, see you soon!"

"See you, doktora."

"Ingat na lang diyan. Take good care of yourself. Sige, I have to go now. Bye!"

"Thank you, Monic. Bye!" pagpapaalam niya sa kausap. Ilang minuto siyang nakatingin lamang sa kawalan pagkatapos nilang mag-usap ni Monic. Pagkatapos ay napabuga siya ng hangin at kinalamay ang sarili. Kailangan niyang tibayan ang kanyang dibdib. Kailangan niyang patatagin ang sarili. For she needed courage and strength in the coming days to face the new challenge in her life. The future was bleak, but she was hoping that the odds would be in her favor. She really hoped so. Lalo na ngayong muli na niyang nakapiling ang kanyang ina. And then, there was Micheal. He gave her life a new meaning and a new purpose. She had more reasons to face life's adversity now more than ever.

Kailangan niyang sumugal. Bahala na kung ano ang magiging kalalabasan ng lahat. Basta susugal siya.