US

PROLOGUE

"Making it to the top is never easy. There are challenges, obstacles, and setbacks that we all face along the way. But what separates the successful from the rest is the ability to keep pushing forward, even when the going gets tough. May nakapagsabi sakin noon na hindi mo matatamasa ang tagumpay ng buhay kapag hindi mo naranasan yung hirap. So sasabihin ko din sa inyo yon, you may have encountered a lot of difficulties in life but I know that all the hardship that you do will be worth it someday.'' mariin akong pumikit bago nagpatuloy.

"Like C.S Lewis said ''You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." So to everyone here who's facing their own challenges on the road to success, I say this: keep going. Keep pushing. Keep striving for more. Because if you do, one day you too will make it to the top. And it will all be worth it." I reminded them.

I was invited to be here in Trinity Jaena University to give some speech on students since today is their graduation. After giving some inspirational words, I decided to tour around the school where I laugh, cry because of wasted efforts, met new friends and the place where I first met him.

I could already see the gate when I see the big banner hanging in the hallway.

Congratulations Board Passers

5. Bernardo, Akessiah Nicole

I graduated as Summa Cum Luade, And now, as I stand here, I can say with confidence that it was all worth it. Every challenge, every setback, every moment of doubt was worth it. Because it led me here, to this moment.

'Hello' I answered when I received a call from a friend

'Manganganak nako' sagot nito habang hinihingal

'What?! Where are you?" gulantang kong sabi

"Nasa hospital nako'' she answered. "Dinala ako ngayon lang"

"Im going, I'm going. Don't go in labor yet' nagpapanic kong sabi. Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko papuntang parking lot ng school habang hinahanap sa bag ang susi ng sasakyan. Pagpasok sa sasakyan, minadali ko agad ang pagmamaneho papuntang hospital.

''Where's the delivery room!?" sigaw ko pagkapasok sa hospital. Nagulat yung mga tao dun pero wala na akong pakialam manganganak na yung kaibigan ko, uunahin ko pa ba yung hiya sa ganitong sitwasyon? Shempre hindi noh!

"Nandon po Ma'am" turo sakin ng isang nurse. Tumakbo agad ako papunta dun, ni hindi ko man lang sya napasalamatan. Pagkadating ko don nakahiga na sya at nag re'ready na yung doktor para mailabas na ang bata.

A few moment later, she was already screaming in pain because of her contractions. I sat there beside her already wearing a hospital gown and hair cap while holding her hand.

"Tiisin mo lang para kay baby" I whispered

She looked so tired that she wanted to give up so I kept on saying encouraging words to her like konting tiis nalang para kay baby, sobrang lapit na. So when the baby cried, I cried too.

"You did a great job. You're so strong, you did it" I praised her while looking at the baby getting clean

She cried so loudly that I had to wipe her tears and also her sweat. "Anak" she whispered before crying again. It's my first time to her cry like that after her boyfriend left her. It has the same intensity as that night.

"Summer"

I nodded "Yes, Summer's here. She's finally here"

After a few more hours she fell asleep as soon as she was transferred to her room. I can't believe I've been there since her pregnancy period up to this day of her labor, shocks parang ako narin yung naging tatay.

Pagkadating ng tita nya, nagpaalam muna ako saglit na pupunta sa canteen para bumili ng pagkain para samin.
I was on my phone texting our other friends that the delivery was successful when a little girl fell on the floor.

"Are you okay?" I asked and helped her to get up. I kneeled in front of her to check if nagka scratch yung knees nya and luckily wala naman kaya inangat ko yung tingin sa kanya ng mapahinto. Sobrang pamilyar sya sakin at parang alam ko na kung saan ko sya unang nakita at nakilala pero ayokong mag assume!

"Ate" she whispered at dun ko nakumpirma na tama nga yung hinala ko. Kapatid to ng ex ko! Lumilinga linga ako sa paligid para tingnan kun nasan yung kasama nya pero wala akong makitang pamilyar na mukha. Bakit sya nandito?! Nandito din ba yung ex ko? Hindi ko pa sya kayang makita!!

"Hehe, hello. How can you remember me, you were four when we first met?" Grabe naman yung memorya ng batang to. It's been 5 years, natatandaan pa nya 'ko.

Pero hindi sya sumagot sa halip ay hinawakan nya ako sa kamay atsaka ako hinatak. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta pero kinakabahan nako. Pano kapag ihaharap nya ako sa kuya nya? Shocks, bb hindi pa ako ready!

Were walking down the hallway of the hospital when I saw a two familiar face crying outside the ICU. The woman looked at us when she felt our presence.

"Uh, hello po. I didn't mean to disturbed you, hinatak po kase ako ng anak nyo at-" I'm still thinking what other reasons I could say but I stop midway when I saw what's inside that room.

And right there I saw him again

The man I've been with during my college life.

The man I once loved

''Louie" sambit ko

It's been 2 years and I admit that I'm still mad at him for ending our relationship with a nonsense reasons. And I'm already expecting that we would see each other again from the moment na hinatak ako ng kapatid niya. But not in this kind of situation. I blink again wishing that it's all a dream but it's not. Ayokong paniwalaan, ayokong tanggapin.

Doctor and nurses rushing back and forth inside of the ICU

A tear escaped on my eyes as I look at him lying in a hospital bed, lifeless.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

DISCLAIMER:

This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Businesses, Places, Events, Locales and Incidents are either products of Author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental.

AN: Hello Darling, this is my first time writing a story so please bare with me. I know you'll see a lot of grammatical errors but rest assured I'm trying my best to correct them all.

Love you all, sagad.

Love, liwanag