A Chance on Serendipity

Chapter 31

Huminga ako nang malalim habang ibinubutones ang scrub suit ko sa harap ng salamin.

It was my last term in BS Nursing. A few months left before graduating and taking the PNLE. These past few months, I didn't feel any fulfillment. I wasn't functioning well on my studies recently. I go home everyday feeling drained and exhausted, wondering what am I doing wrong.

My health wasn't cooperating with me. Gustuhin ko mang uminom para makalimutan ang bigat na nararamdaman ko, kinailangan kong iwasan ang alak dahil inaatake ako ng mas malalang allergic reaction. I would always get sick. I always had paracetamols and antihistamines with me, not for my nursing kit, but for my own intake. Parang timang, eh. Kung kailan naman malapit na akong makalaya sa course na 'to, saka nagkakaganito ang katawan ko.

I had to be easy on myself to keep track of my goals. Tuloy lang ang buhay, gaya ng lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko. There's no other way to go, but forward.

"Inulan nga ako ng dos, pero okay lang! Ang mahalaga, ga-graduate na tayo!" Jolene said.

Nakipag-cheers ako sa mga kaklase ko kahit ang hawak ko ay baso ng juice at ang sa kanila'y alak. We spent the whole night partying at a familiar bar in Makati. This was such an early celebration. Hindi pa naman tapos ang graduation namin at nagpra-practice pa nga lang kami.

"Inamo, beh! Mas mataas pa alcohol tolerance mo kaysa sa grades ko!" himutok ko kay Jolene nang makaubos na naman siya ng isang bote ng beer.

We just received our final grades––the last numbers we would look into for the entire Nursing school journey. Everything had finally come to a halt after four years.

"Lyn, who's gonna attend your graduation pala?" tanong ni Samson sa kaklase namin.

"Mama ko. Uuwi daw siya galing sa Qatar," Sherlyn responded. "Ikaw, Kent?"

Nakita kong nag-aalangan pang sumagot si Samson ngunit ngumiti din siya sa huli. "Papa ko."

"Totoo ba? Nagkaayos na kayo?"

"Hindi naman ultimately nagkaayos, pero gusto niyang pumunta. Proud daw siya sa 'kin." My friend beamed a smile.

"Aw, I'm happy for you, baks!" singit naman ni Jolene saka umakbay kay Kent.

Tipid akong napangiti at tahimik na uminom. It wasn't long until I noticed that all their eyes were on me now.

"Ikaw, Pat?" Jolene was the one to ask. "Nakausap mo na ba si Manang Lia?"

I pursed my lips, hiding a smile while looking down. "Oo," sagot ko. "Pero si Mommy ang kasama kong magma-martsa."

Sabay-sabay na nagliwanag ang mukha ng mga kaibigan ko saka ako inalog-alog sa balikat.

Sa katunayan, parang mas excited pa nga si Mommy kaysa sa akin. Kahit hindi pa natatapos ang semester, at kahit kakasabi ko lang sa kanya ng date ng graduation, nagsimula na siyang magplano. She already contacted a catering service for the celebration. She invited her friends and co-workers and said she wanted them to meet me. I also wanted my friends to meet my mom.

For my last year in Nursing, she became one of my support systems. Hinihila niya ako pataas kapag ibinababa ko ang sarili ko. Tuwing nagkakasakit ako, dinadalhan niya ako ng pagkain sa dorm. Isang tawag ko lang sa phone ay alam niya agad ang kailangan kong marinig.

"Sorry..." Umiyak ako kay Mommy habang nagkukuwento tungkol kay Davian. She visited me at my dorm that night. "Nagkamali ako tungkol kay Dave."

"Shh..." She tried rubbing my back to comfort me. "It's okay, it's okay. Hindi 'yan maiiwasan sa adulthood."