"Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa kanya. Isa ako sa taong nandoon nang mga oras na 'yun pero tulad ng iba, hindi ako naglakas ng loob na tumulong. Inuna ko ang sarili ko- pero siya, hindi siya nag-hesitate kahit lahat kami kinukumbinsi siyang huwag tumulong at unahin ang sarili niya."
It was another day and I woke up with my face all over the news and internet. Unexpectedly, one of the bystander covers the whole accident using a Facebook live. Of course, I was caught on the camera, rushing towards the bus then going back outside with a patient with me. Doon ko lang na-realize how I tried hard to treat those people. I can't help but to smile. I will never regret that I did that.
"Natakot ako noong mga oras na 'yan. Pero habang pinapanood ka ngayon, I can't help but to be proud. Damn, my wife did that." Bulong ni Pau sa tabi ko with a proud tone. Tumawa ako at saka siya niyakap.
My week ended that way. Exams eventually ended when Friday came. I was too clouded by exams that's why I almost forgot about the accident. Until an unexpected visitor came.
It was Friday afternoon, I was walking on the alleyway when calls kept on coming on my phone. Pinatay ko kasi 'yun para maiwasan ang distraction kaya ngayon ko lang din natanggap ang mga messages. Hindi ko alam kung saan nakuha ng mga reporters ang bagong number ko pero karamihan ng text ay proposal para sa interview.
I did not answered anything, but when our family car came in front of me on the main gate, I knew there's something I should be dealing off. Wala akong nagawa kun'di ang sumama.
Wearing a simple dress, I just found myself in a event hall in front of a lot of flashing cameras receiving an exemplary award from the national government. It was too sudden that I didn't have time to dress properly. Wala man lang proper notice. Or maybe my family had the notice but since I wasn't home, I wasn't able to receive it.
I didn't know that the accident could bring me fame even more. My followers on social media skyrocketed. Hindi ko na nabantayan 'yun ng mga nagdaang araw dahil busy ako sa exams kaya nagulat ako nang makitang sunod-sunod na dumadating ang mga notifications.
There's a lot of known personalities came on the event hall. Most of them were also following me on my sns. I'm sure this is broadcasted in the national television. They are all having fun while I am on the side, checking my phone. Pau left a lot of missed calls earlier so I just left a message saying I had to attend this goddamn awarding ceremony.
"Unfortunately, her good intentions comes with a consequence." Said my classmate who was interviewed for a presentation in front of everyone. I was sure that this was broadcasted in a TV station already. I didn't know when did that happen though it was taken in front of our university but I didn't see it. Or maybe I was just busy runnninng away. "She arrived late that day so one of our professor didn't let her take our exam."
Nasa harapan naming lahat ang isang malaking screen. There's some of people on the scene and people who knows me personally including mom and dad who accepted the interviews. I never knew that they did that.
Nahugot ko ang hininga ko nang mag-flash sa screen ang isang pamilyar na mukha. She was the lady inside the bus. Malinis lang siya sa video dahil walang dugo sa damit at katawan pero sure akong siya 'yun. I almost teared up when she started speaking. "Utang namin ang buhay namin sa batang 'yan." Saad niya at saka ngumiti.
