Her Last Days (COMPLETED)

Day 22

Day 22

SETH

"I LOVE YOU..." I whispered as Rykki fell asleep in my arms. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa impis niyang tiyan at nanginginig ang kamay kong hinaplos iyon.

I'm sorry...

I don't hate you. I hate myself that's why I said those things. I want you too just how much your mother wants you.

Iniayos ko ang higa ni Rykki at habang pinagmamasdan ko siya ay hindi ko pa rin magawang tanggapin na baka darating ang araw na mawawala siya sa akin. Nang masiguro kong mahimbing na ang tulog ni Rykki ay iniwan ko siya.

"Where are you?" tawag ko kay Kian. I just need to talk to him again.

"In my house..."

"Good. I'll go there."

"Seth—"

Agad kong binaba ang tawag ko kay Kian nang marinig ko ang paghikbi na nanggagaling sa kuwarto ni Sera. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang kuwarto ni Serafina at nasilip ko siyang umiiyak sa gilid ng kama niya.

"Sera..." tawag ko sa kanya.

"D-Dad, hindi pa po pala kayo tulog?"

Lumapit ako sa kanya at tinabihan ko siya. "Why are you crying?" tanong ko kahit alam ko na ang sagot.

Sa mga nakalipas na araw nakikita ko ang pagpipilit ni Sera na ipakitang ayos lang siya sa harap namin ni Rykki. I've been so busy with Rykki that I forgot how to be a father to my daughter.

Kung natatakot akong mawala si Rykki sa akin, paano pa ang anak namin? How scared Serafina thinking that she might lose her mother.

"I heard you guys fighting kanina...she's pregnant. You guys are having a baby again. I'm going to be a big sister b-but I'm not happy."

"Sera, d-don't—"

Hinarap niya ako at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. "Dad, will I be selfish if I beg Mommy to let go of my brother or sister? Because Daddy I don't want a sibling, I want Mommy to stay with us!"

Mariin akong napapikit at gustong saktan ang sarili ko sa nagawa ko. "I-I'm sorry anak...you're not selfish wanting for your Mommy to stay with us but we can't force her for something she can't do. We have to understand her."

"If we understand her, what about us, Daddy? Hahayaan na lang ba nating bitiwan ni Mommy ang treatment niya na puwedeng magsalba sa kanya? I can't lose her! We can't lose her!"

"We won't lose her, we'll do everything, Sera. I'll do everything. Now, I want you to promise me that you won't say this to your Mom. We can't stress her, Sera."

"Just please Dad, don't make me lose my Mom. I can't grow up without her..."

***

"WALA na ba talagang iba pang option?" bungad ko kay Kian nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto.

Hindi siya nagsalita at tinalikuran ako. "Book a flight to Minnesota, Seth."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?"

"Rykki really want to push her pregnancy and we can't stop her. I'm suggesting you na dalhin siya sa lugar na may mas pag-asang mabuhay ang ipinagbubuntis niya. Mayo clinic. They have their best doctors, treatments and equipments for Rykki," aniya sabay abot sa akin ng envelope na nang buksan ko ay may lamang mga dokumento at susi.

"I have a house near the hospital. You can stay there."

"I-if we go here, does that mean she can live and our baby?" puno ng pag-asa kong tanong sa kanya.