ARIS POINT OF VIEW
"A-aris..." Her eyes are tired as she looks at me. "She’s here for a month already."
She wipes her tears. As if she doesn't want me to witness her vulnerable side.
Bakit?
Paano?
Hindi ko maintindihan.
"Pasensya kana kung kailangan pa kitang papuntahin dito. Gusto lang kasi kitang maka-usap," sambit niya.
"Wala lang po iyon sa 'kin," sagot ko.
Inaya niya ako para pumasok sa kwarto ni Christia. Ang daming tubo na nakakabit sa katawan ng kapatid ko.
I gasped at what I just saw. W-what happened?
"G-gastric cancer, stage 3." Parang tumigil saglit ang mundo ko sa sinabi ni Tita.
Bakit kailangang pagdaanan pa ito ng kapatid ko? Bakit si Christia pa?
"Aris, I'm so sorry . . . I know that I am very selfish to ask you this, but I want her to have a longer life. A patient life will get longer when she's happy, and her happiness is with you right now . . ." Tita was not looking at me when she said those words.
I did not expect such words to greet me. I wanted to protest, but when I looked at my sister, it seemed that every word I wanted to say vanished like mist.
"You may not be sister by blood, but she loves you, Aris. She really does. Siya ang nagpumilit sa ama mo na magkaayos kayo. Your father hasn't had the courage to face you because he thought you hated him, and you don't want to talk to him. But Christia encourages him. He encourages your father to talk to you."
"Mahal na mahal ko ang anak ko, Aris. Ayaw ko siyang mawala sa ‘kin. Iniwan niya ang lalaking mahal niya para hindi ito masaktan ng malala kung sakaling mawawala siya. She can be selfish, but she chooses to be selfless for him. Kung kinaya ng anak kong gawin ‘yon sa iba. Kaya ko naman iyong gawin para sa kanya. . ."
I wanted to weep at every word I heard from Christia's mom. But I touch my heart. Don’t cry, Aris. Don’t let the tears fall. Your heart can’t bear the pain; it won’t survive from the sorrows.
"A-aris . . ." She begged; she almost kneeled, but I stopped her.
"No, Tita. Don't do this. Don't kneel on me; don't beg," I said. "Let me stay with him until my birthday."
After that, I went out to Christia's room. My vision is starting to get blurry, but I did all I could to reach the door so I could go outside of the hospital.
If I think of myself now, it dawns me that there is a life that could be lost because of a selfish decision I might make.
I felt a hand grasp mine and pull me gently, leading me to the hospital garden.
"Tara, Baguio," I said to Colin.
He pulled me into a hug. How long will I be able to feel this? A home within his embrace. Will I ever feel it again?
Why must we be caught in a situation like this? Just when I was ready and my heart was sure, something like this had to happen.
"N-no, I can't . . . I know what you're doing, Aris. Please don't do this," he whispered.
I silently sobbed because of what he just said. Our lives will always have a plot twist that we didn't expect. A plot twist that will alter us forever.
Bakit ganito ka bagsik ang tadhana para sa'min? Pinilit kong palakasin ang puso ko para sa kanya. Ngunit hindi ko alam na sa ganitong paraan lang din pala ito madudurog.
I want to be selfish but I just can't. We are talking about life here so how can I be?
"My birthday is on March 11; can I ask for a wish from you?" I plead, in the span of many months of being with him. It's both bliss and tragedy at the same time.
"As long as I can do that wish, but—" I cut him off.
"I know you can do it." I smiled. "Be with her; have a happy ending with her. That's my birthday wish; fulfill it."
"Ikaw ang babaeng pinagdasal ko na makasama habang buhay . . . I-ikaw lang, A-aris." He looked at me straight in the eyes. This is too much; I can't bear it anymore. We are experiencing how cruel destiny can be. "I want you to be my happy ending. . . Can I be selfish at least?" He asked as tears were streaming down his face.
Hinawakan ko ang mukha niya at pinunasan ito gamit ang hinlalaking kamay ko Ngumiti ako sa kanya, ngiti na alam kong hindi dala ng kasiyahan.
Ikaw lang din, Colin. Hanggang sa dulo at katapusan, ikaw lang.
"Can I ask another wish, bestie? Let's spent our time together, until my birthday."
"S-sure, bestie. Let's go on roadtrip again . . ."
Roadtrip . . . I don't want this to be the last.
//
BINABASA MO ANG
Flowers Of Time (Inspired Series #2)
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