IRENE'S POV.
I am now laying on a hospital bed dahil nag-collapse daw ako kagabi sa emergency room. Greggy already informed the whole fam about Lorreine and they are on the way na daw papunta dito to help on her funeral. Greggy also informed Clai. She had became Lorreine's best friend.
"Miss Irene." Clai entered the room. She handed me a green folder.
"3 weeks ago, pagkabalik niyo po ng Ilocos. Lorreine accompanied you to your cardio check up right?" She asked. I nodded.
"That day, she also asked the doctor if matched daw po ba ang heart niya sayo. The doctor ran some tests on her and a week later, he called to say that it's a match." She explained.
"Without hesitations, Lorreine signed a waiver na the moment she was declared brain dead, she wants you to have her heart right away." She continued.
"W-wait. Alam niya nang mamamatay sya?" I asked.
"Well, lahat naman po tayo mamamatay din." She tried to lighten up the situation but it didn't work.
"Before she flew to Ilocos para puntahan ka po. Galing kami sa doctor, and tinaningan na sya ng one month. This is the last thing she asked of me. To make sure that you will have her heart. She wants you to live without limiting yourself and worrying about your condition. She wants you to explore the world and be happy." She smiled. But a single tear escaped her eyes which she was quick enough to wipe.
"Have her heart. Let her live within you." She uttered then left.
I browsed through the folder and saw that it was all the documents needed para sa heart transplant. Then at the last page, a letter envelope was clipped. I opened it and read the letter.
Maria Victoria,
Hi Miss Ma'am! I know this is a very cliché line but, by the time you are reading this, I know that I I am already gone. But not really. If you will let me, my heart, to live with you.
Let it beat for you when all your energies are drained enough to even consider continuing to live. Let it be the strongest muscle that will jump with joy at your happiest, and the only part of you that will break in your despair. Let a part of me continue to bear all your sufferings just like how I used to do. Please.
Let this heart be your reminder that I am always with you.
Always, In all ways,
Lorreine
I smiled and shed a tear. I will anak. I will.
I checked the back of the envelope and may maliit na nakasulat sa lower right corner.
"Ang puso ko ay parang Rexona, it won't let you down."
I chuckled softly.
Nakuha pang mag joke corny naman.
I handed Greggy the folder so he can read everything too. I saw his eyes getting red but he didn't cry. Then after a few hours of being here in the hospital bed, the door opened.
"Irene." Kuya Bong was the one who opened the door. He hugged me immediately.
"Ate." Kasunod namang yumakap sakin si Aimee.
"Wala si Mommy Ate. Susunod na lang daw sila kasama si Ate Liza at yung mga bata." She let go of our hug.
"S-sige." I just said.
"C-can I see Lorreine?" I asked them. I won't mind kung sino sa kanila ang sasagot. I just want an answer.
The door swung open and revealed a doctor.
"Good morning Mrs. Araneta." The doctor greeted.
"We have finished analyzing your vitals and based on the results, anytime po ay pwede na magproceed for surgery. The success rate is at 90% so go signal niyo na lang po ang hinihintay."
"Can I see her first?" I was referring to Lorreine.
Tumingin muna si Doc sa mga kasama ko dito sa kwarto bago sya magsalita ulit.
"She's at the room next to yours." The doctor answered.
Agad naman akong inalalayan nila Greggy at Bonget para puntahan si Lorreine. Maayos naman na ang pakiramdam ko. OA lang talaga sila.
"Good morning anak." I wasn't able to hold back my tears when I saw her life support. The only thing that keeps her heart. Our heart. Beating.
"Mom will borrow your heart once again ha. But this time, permanently na." My tears cascaded.
"I love you so much anak ko." I just cried my heart out while hugging her.
Lumabas sila Greggy ng room and nakipag-usap sa mga Doctors about sa surgery. It was scheduled tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.
"Ate on the way na daw sila Manang Imee at Celestine." Aimee said. It was now 8:00 PM and nandito pa rin kami sa room ni Lorreine. I am still holding her hand.
"Pahinga ka na Love. Maaga pa tayo bukas for your surgery." Greggy helped me to lay beside Lorreine. Medyo malaki naman yung bed and kasya kaming dalawa.
The last time na tabi kaming matulog ay yung sa Ilocos pa na bago sya maaksidente. I missed feeling so comfortable like this. It didn't took much effort from me to fall asleep.
"I want to be the one to turn off her life support Love." I requested.
The doctors are now here sa room ni Lorreine. Nandito na rin sila Mommy, Manang Imee, Celestine, and family ni Bonget.
"Mommy, leave it to the doctors na po." Celestine whispered to me.
"Please?" I pleaded.
Dadalahin na sana nila kami sa OR for preparations and doon na lang din daw nila aalisin ang life support ni Lorreine. But I refused. I want to be the last person beside her before she finally pass away.
They all looked at each other before the head surgeon heaved a sigh and nodded as a sign of agreement. Celestine stepped back.
"I love you anak. I will always do." I whispered in her ear before I finally turned off the machine.
"Lorreine Reyes-" The doctor was about to announce her time of death.
"Araneta, Doc. Lorreine Araneta." I corrected him.
"Lorreine Araneta, time of death, 9:16 AM." The doctor announced.
At that same moment I also felt my heart stopped beating.
KAMU SEDANG MEMBACA
Losing Her
Cerita PendekShe was her everything, all her dream come true. But how will she lose someone that was never really hers?
