Cherry Blossomed in Love

Chapter One

December 3, 2024

"When you are painting, you must hold your brushes like you hold your loved one's hand. Hold it with love and passion."

Early in the morning, I dolled myself up to go check the painting workshop that is not far from home. In all fairness, I didn't know that the newly opened building they used would create this artsy ambience.

Before I got eaten by my thoughts, I moved my hand for a stroke. Gently... Carefully... As if I'm touching something delicately.

And before I realized... I drew myself- Sakura. "How you gave details to the sakura tree is very nice. You might want to add a touch of highlights to emphasize the flowers falling," said the proctor of the workshop. I uttered my thanks and followed his advice.

I smiled, giggles when I accidentally made a long stroke on my painting. Before it could ruin my painting, I made it look like a branch of the sakura tree.

"If you are done, you can line up your canvas here that we can exposed for the upcoming art exhibit. You have the choice to sell or keep it."

I was about to carry my canvas when I noticed a drops of blood on my canvas. I just felt the hot liquid coming out from my nose and heard everyone's gasps when I bumped my head hard on the ground and fell unconscious.

"I AM sorry to tell you this but... your daughter has B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Meaning, her white blood cells, which produce protection inside our body against viruses, were outnumbered by her leukemia cells. With the leukemia cells growing and being untreated, her white blood cell count could go down. The progression of this disease is fast and if not cured early, she might not be able to see spring," the guy I heard said. I slowly opened my eyes and was greeted by the lights coming from the room. It is all white... so I'm guessing I'm in the hospital and assuming that the guy I heard is a doctor.

"Wala na po ba tayong magagawa doon, doc? We can't afford to lose her. Sakura is our only child." My mother is crying in my father's arms. I felt a painful pinch in my heart when I saw her tears.

Before they knew I am conscious already, I closed my eyes again and pretended to be asleep.

"You can supply or look for a stem cells donor for her. Leukemia cells grow in a human body's bone marrow and planting stem cells on her bone marrow could lessen the risk of growing leukemia cells. We also suggest for her to undergo chemotherapy. There are still many possible treatments for her disease. We may not guarantee that it will cure her but we will try our best to save your daughter." I heard footsteps slowly disappearing, followed by the sobbing of my mother.

"Shh. Tahan ka na, mahal. Sakura is a strong girl. She might hear you cry, alam mo namang she doesn't like hearing you cry right?" my father soothingly said to my mother. I am trying so hard not to sob and prevented my tears from falling for them not to notice that I can hear them talking.

"I'm scared, honey... I'm scared."

"Shh... everything will be okay. Let's step outside muna. I'll get you your favorite drink so you can calm down."

And it suddenly replaced with silence. I opened my eyes, tried my best to sit down, as the tears I'm preventing to fall rushed down from my face. I cried my heart out from the news.