Now and Forever |순키| Finished

03

Kei

Tagaktak ang pawis namin ni Lola dahil sa sobrang init. Both of us are busy cooking foods for our Lola's business, hindi na nga namin nagagawang kausapin ang isa't isa dahil sa sunod sunod na trabaho.

"Tapos na maluto itong chicken curry, Apo. Next na yung caldereta ikaw na rin ang mag-luto dahil mas masarap ka magluto nun!" Lola said proudly. I smiled at her and just nodded.

Bumalik ako sa ginagawa kong pagsalin ng pagkaing naluto na sa lalagyan. Everything was going well not until I felt dizzy and tired. Huminto ako sa ginagawa ko at lumingon sa Lola kong busy sa paghuhugas ng pinggan. Ayokong makita niya akong nahihirapan.

"L-lola pupunta po muna ako sa bahay..." She answered with a nod, Agad agad akong naglakad kahit pa nahihirapan ako. Noong makalabas ako huminto ako sa pag lalakad dahil nararamdaman kong babagsak na ako.

But everything stopped. Someone caught me bago ako tuluyang bumagsak, He held both of my arms, pinipigilan niya ako sa pag-bagsak. I tried to look at him pero it was too late. Dumilim na ang paligid at nawalan na ako tuluyan ng malay.

Gabriel

It's been hours simula nung maupo at paandarin ko itong sasakyan ko and still I couldn't find the right place to eat. Paulit ulit ko nang iginagalaw ang ulo ko para maghanap ng karinderya at agad naman na nagliwanag ang mga mata ko noong may makita ako.

I stopped the car and got out of it as soon as I saw the place. Naglakad ako patungo sa harap but someone caught my attention. He was holding into something before he stopped walking.

He almost fell down, buti nalang ay nasalo ko siya. He tried look at me but it was too late, tuluyan na siyang natumba at nawalan ng malay.

"Help!" I screamed. Isang matandang babae ang lumabas at nanlaki ang mata noong makita ang binatang bitbit ko.

"Michael! Jusko! Tulong!" She screamed for help. Everyone gathered around us to see what happened, I tried covering his face para hindi nila makita ang nangyayari.

"Umalis kayo riyan!" Sigaw ko bago siya bitbitin at akmang aalis na pero napigilan noong may humawak sa braso ko. I turned to look at him.

"Aeron, Samahan mo muna si Lola ngayon, I'll go with Jaze sa hospital! I'll be back!" It was CJ who said that. Xan's friend.

"Kuya CJ?" I curiously asked pero hindi niya ako pinansin at inalalayan pa ako papunta sa kotse ko. He opened the car door para mas madali kong maipasok itong taong karga karga ko.

Agad akong sumakay sa kotse noong mailapag ko siya sa back seat, Kuya CJ got in and told me where we should go, I obeyed him dahil hindi na ako pupwedeng makipagtalo pa because of what happened today.

"You know him?" Kuya CJ asked me. Nilingon ko siya at umiling, He nodded before looking at the guy behind us.

"Ikaw? Kilala mo?" Tanong ko at tumango siya. I took a small glance at him and I could see the sadness in his eyes.

Good thing there's no traffic, nakarating kami agad sa hospital. I gently carried him again and placed him on the bed the nurses gave CJ.

"You can go now." Kuya CJ said, I shooked my head and he just answered with a sigh bago pumasok sa kwarto kung nasaan ang kaibigan niya.

I sat in the sofa infront of the room, hindi ko na naisip pa ang gutom ko dahil sa pangyayari. I'm worried kahit pa hindi ko naman kilala ang taong yon. I just hope nothing bad will happen to him.

Kei

Idinilat ko ang mga mata ko at muling napapikit dahil sa silaw. I could feel my head swirling, Hilong hilo ako. I sat down and looked around only to realize na nasa hospital ako.

I quickly got out of the bed but someone held my arms to stop me from leaving. I frowned and look back at the person. Mas lalo akong napasimangot noong makita ko kung sino siya. Hindi ko siya kilala.

"You can't leave pa... CJ told me to stay here with you kaya malalagot ako if ever you leave." He said. CJ? Kuya CJ?

"Huwag mo nga akong pigilan! Kailangan ako ng lola ko roon, Kailangan niya ng tulong ko." I said as I tried my best to let my arms go sa pagkakahawak niya but he's too strong.

"Listen... I'm the one who carried you all the way here tapos this is what I'll get in return? Hindi ka man lang magpapasalamat? I haven't eaten anything yet dahil nagpass out ka infront of me." He explained. I looked at him and he was now frowning at me.

"I'm not asking kung kumain ka na ba o hindi, All I want is to go home because my Lola needs me there!" I answered. Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko at binitbit ako para mai-upo sa kama.

"Stay there and wait for CJ." He said making me stop from squirming and trying to leave. Mapapagod lang ako kung makikipagtalo lang ako sakanya.

He sat in the sofa infront of me. Nakaupo lang siya roon at maigi ang pagtingin sakin na para bang isa niya akong napakalaking resposibilidad.

The door opened and finally Kuya CJ is here. He looked at me and smiled.

"Jaze, sorry sa abala ha? Pero can you hatid us sa bahay ni Kei? Promise I'll give something in return!" Kuya CJ said. He just looked at him and nodded before standing up and leaving the room.

"Who is he?" I asked Kuya CJ. Inalalayan niya ako sa paglalakad at ako naman ay naghihintay lamang sa pagsagot niya.

"Gabriel Jaze Alonzo, Yung anak ng may ari ng school namin? He's also a close friend of my childhood friend kaya kilala ko na rin siya, Anyway, Let's go na? Lola's looking and worrying about you. Aeron and Ate is with her, Don't worry." Kuya CJ said trying to assure me. I answered with a nod and continue walking palabas ng hospital.

Kuya CJ choose not to tell me what the Doctors are telling them ever since I found out I have leukemia. He said it's for the best and it'll make me feel a little less scared.