Rising Waves

epilogue

JAVEN

I was silently drawing on my paper when I heard a girl crying. It's annoying, very annoying. Masakit sa tainga. Hindi ko ito pinansin hanggang mag uwian. The next day umiiyak parin ito.

The next day I brought candy to school and when I heard her cry again nilapitan ko na ito at inabotan siya ng candy.

"Here, please stop crying." I said to her. Tinitigan naman ako nito at kinuha ang supot ng candy sa kamay ko.

"Thank you."

Matapos ang araw na iyun ay palagi na akong may dalang candy tuwing pumapasok at parati ko na rin siyang binibigyan ng candy.

It became a part of my daily routine.

"Bakit ka palaging may dalang supot ng candy sa school masisira iyang ngipin mo." Suway ni mama sa akin.

"It's not for me, ma. Para ito sa batang kaklase ko na parating umiiyak." She looked at me. "Yieeee." She said teasing me.

"Masakit lang sa tainga iyung iyak niya, ma. Don't me." I said.

"Okay sabi mo e."

As time passed by unti unti ko na siyang nagugustohan. We're now in highschool and we're now very close.

"Javen, I'm planning to join the cheer squad." Sabi nito kaya napa tingin ako rito.

"Hindi ba masyado iyang delikado?" Saad ko rito.

"I'll be fine don't worry. Manood ka ng practice namin mamaya ha! try out din pala." Tinangoan ko lang ito.

"I'll try, meron din kasi kaming gawain sa journalism e, may e co-cover kaming article." Napa simangot naman ito.

"Jav si Sam nasa hospital daw!" Napa tayo naman agad ako ng marinig yung sinabi ng kaklase namin.

"What happened?" I asked him. "Nabitawan daw nila during tryouts and she hit her head hard against the floor. Madaming dugo raw so they rushed her daw agad sa hospital." Mahabang paliwanag nito.

"Saang hospital?"

"Dun daw sa hospital niyo."

Dala dala ang motor ko, I drove to the hospital at agad na tinanong sa lobby kung saan si Sam pero nadatnan ko ito sa loob ng operating room dahil delikado raw ang lagay nito. I prayed hard that day.

Araw-araw akong nag dadasal na sana magising na siya and then one day she finally woke up. Ng mabalitaan 'yun ay agad ko itong sinabi kay mama at inaya itong puntahan si Sam.

"Sino ka?" She asked kaya nanlumo ako sa narinig. Hindi ako nakagalaw para akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko.

After that day ay halos hindi ako makatulog. Sam bakit? When she returned to school halos kilala niya lahat maliban sa akin. Ang daya bakit ganun? 

I tried approaching her, but all she do is avoid me.

"You're diagnosed with stage 2 glioblastoma multiforme." Halos manlumo ako sa narinig. Tumigil ako sa pag-aaral dahil kailangan kong ma confine at mag undergo ng chemotherapy.

The only thing that I have with me is my camera filled with her pictures. Ito nalang ang pinang hawakan ko.

Araw-araw akong nag dadasal at umaasang makaka labas na ako rito to continue my life and to see her again.

Minsan nakakagod ng umasa pero hindi ako pweding sumuko. until one day, while strolling around the hospital lobby I saw her again. Maybe this is destiny bringing us together. She's wearing the same hospital gown while eating there all alone. This is my chance to introduce myself once again.