Porcia Era
"Datrius! I can't without my daughter! Not without my daughter!" Iyak ng kaibigan kong si Kaede. Yakap yakap ito ni Datrius na tahimik lang habang ako ay nakasandal sa isang tabi.
Nasa hospital kaming lahat after what happened to Chrisen. Parang ngayon ay naririnig ko pa ang pagsigaw nito kanina. I heard everything and it was traumatizing.
Parang ngayon ay hindi pa rin tumitimo sa isipan ko ang lahat ng nangyari. Ang bilis lang.
Yesterday, Kaede invited me to have a lunch outside. Ginagawa na namin dati pa kahit noong mga highschool pa kami. We have girls day out. Medyo dumalang na lang iyon nong nag-asawa na ito pero if we can't go out. I used to go and eat sa bahay nito. She will always invite me but yesterday it was different.
We were having lunch when Chrisen message me at nakita nito ang wallpaper ng cellphone ko. It was me and Chrisen. Me as I was looking at the camera habang si Chrisen ay nakangiting nakahalik sa mga labi ko at nakayakap sa akin.
As a mother, Kaede questioned me. There's no point to lie or deny about me and Chrisen. I love her daughter at malinis ang hangarin ko. And as expected, she was shocked, mad, and disgusted.
I can't blame her but I wasn't born to please anyone. I was born to make my own rules.
"You bitch! Ang dami mong papatulan, anak ko pa talaga! Porcia I can't believe you! Inaanak mo iyon! Nag-iisang anak ko tapos papatusin mo?! I hate you! Anong naisip mo para patulan ang kahibangan ng anak ko?!"
"I did not plan this to happen Kaede. Hindi ko rin ito inaasahan. Nangyari na lang na mahal ko na si Chrisen and I can't do anything about it."
"Damn it Porcia! Sana sinabi mo pa noon para pinabalik ko na lang siya sa Australia! Anak mo na iyon tapos pinatulan mo?! From now on, hindi na tayo magkaibigan pa!"
"Good." I looked at her straight and cold. "Because I can't call you mom if you're my friend."
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck you too, bitch. Alam mong hindi natuturoan ang puso."
"Layuan mo ang anak ko or else I will report you to that school and you can kiss your license goodbye! I will ruin your name and reputation Porcia!"
"Wala akong balak na lokohin ang anak mo, you know I am a serious person who doesn't play. Chrisen is kind of obsessed to me. Hindi siya matutuwa kapag ginawa mo iyan Kaede. Nagmamahalan kami."
"For all I care for fuck sake Porcia! Seventeen years ang gap niyo ng anak ko! Kaibigan kita kaya sinong matutuwa? I don't know what will happen kapag nalaman ito ni Datrius. I want to slap you right now. I really do pero may natitira pa akong respeto sa sarili ko since nasa publiko tayo ngayon. I'm telling you, lubayan mo ang anak ko!"
"I can't leave her. Ang pwede ko lang gawin ay dumistansya pero paano kung si Chrisen ang nagpumilit? You know how stubborn she is. I can't promise you Kaede."
Napahinga ito ng malalim. "You know how much I love my daughter Porcia. A year. Ilalayo ko siya sa iyo ng isang taon. I want her to finish her studies. Kapag nakapagtapos siya at baliw pa rin sa iyo. Then maybe, just maybe. For the span of year, I might accept this crazy relationship of yours with my daughter."
"Lalayuan ko siya for a year in exchange of your acceptance basta makatapos siya sa pag-aaral at kung mahal pa rin niya ako. Is that the deal?"
I just want to make sure I am hearing this right and clear. I know Kaede, if I'm a bitch. She's a bitch too.
"Right, sana makalimutan niya ang kahibangan niya sa iyo."
Napangisi ako sa isipan ko. She's underestimating her own daughter. Ngayon pa lang check mate na. Chrisen's been in love with me for more than a decade now and she's been away most of the time but she stayed loyal and in love with me. So a year to move on like what Kaede's trying to do won't work for her daughter. And how can I possibly leave Chrisen when we love each other?
Chrisen waited for me almost her whole life, a year for me to wait for her is nothing.
"Deal."
Pero ngayon, ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. They are trying to revive Chrisen and I don't know how to react. I want to cry but I can't. I'm still in shock and I'm afraid of what will happen to her.
Chrisen, my poor Chrisen.
Please live, I still want to marry you. I want to have kids and I want to grow old with you.
"Porcia! I'm sorry for saying such things to you. I've been selfish. If my daughter lives, hindi ako magiging hadlang sa inyo. Ibalik lang siya sa akin. She's my only child! I just want my daughter back!" Umiiyak na wika ni Kaede. "This is all our fault Datrius!"
"Hon, don't blame us. Walang may gusto sa pangyayaring ito."
"Kung hindi ako nag-overreact. Chrisen should be fine right now."
"Shh. It's gonna be ok."
Ilang sandali pa ay lumabas na ang Doktor. Nagmamadaling lumapit si Kaede at Datrius rito habang ako ay nakatitig lang sa Doktor.
"Dok! Anong balita sa anak namin? Is she ok? Tell me she's alive! I'm going to pay whatever it costs!"
"Huminahon po kayo Mrs. Miller. Sa ngayon, stable na po si Chrisen, medyo napurohan po siya sa ulo. She's in a state of coma."
Chrisen's in coma?!
"What the heck do you mean medyo napurohan?! She's in coma for petes sake!-"
"Thank you Dok." Putol dito ni Datrius bago ilayo si Kaede sa Doktor dahil mas lalo itong pumalahaw ng iyak.
Napatikhim ang Doktor. "We tried our best Mr. and Mrs. Miller. We assure you na hindi po namin siya pababayan, she will be monitored. Hindi ko lang alam kung kailan siya magigising at kung anong epekto ng pagkakabagok niya. Sa ngayon kailangan niyang maglagi sa ICU."
"Salamat Dok."
Tumango ang Doktor bago ito umalis. Binalingan ako ni Datrius habang hindi pa rin tumitigil si Kaede sa pag-iyak.
"Umuwi ka na muna Porcia. Kami ng bahala rito. You can come visit Chrisen anytime."
"I plan to stay." Lumapit ako sa ICU at nakita mula sa malaking bintanang salamin si Chrisen. I can only see her small beautiful face kasi buong ulo nito kasama noo at panga ay nakabenda. Naka-oxygen ito at maraming tubo ang nakakabit sa katawan.
My poor naughty koala.
A lone tear rolled down my face.
"I hate to see you like this. Wake up, get up, and bug me baby."
Porcia! I don't want to break up with you! I love you!
I love you too, baby.
