heaven has gained an angel

Epilogue

Epilogue

Prism

"Hi, who are you?" Kevin asked me as I walked into his room, his voice is raspy while his gaze filled with both confusion and disappointment, I guess he was expecting her sister to enter, hindi ang isang estrangherong kagaya ko.

Na-transfer na sa recovery room si Kevin. Pagbalik ko mula sa Baguio, dito agad ako dumaretso. Nanatili akong nakatayo rito sa tapat ng pinto. I wanted to speak, to tell him I was the one who had loved his sister deeply, who had shared dreams and hopes with her but all I could do was stand there, staring at him. Lahat ng plinano kong sabihin sa kaniya habang nasa biyahe, walang inilabas ang bibig ko. 'Yong dreams at hopes na iyon kasi ay nandito na sa harapan ko, hindi ako makapaniwalang mulat na mulat na talaga ang mga mata ni Kevin kung kailan wala na ang ate niya, bagay na matagal pinaghihirapan nito.

She's been praying for this moment yet she didn't make it.

Dahil sa pagiging tikom ko, narinig kong si Nurse Grace ang sumagot na kasalukuyang kasama ni Kevin para bantayan. She smiled kindly at him and then turned to me. "He is Kuya Prism, he is someone who is very special to your sister. They are friends. Nagkakilala sila habang tulog ka at siya ang tumutulong sa ate mo. Siya ang nagbabantay at nagpapasaya sa kaniya. He has a kind heart, so you have nothing to worry about him, okay? You can trust him."

Muli ako tiningnan ni Kevin at ngumiti, ang carefree ng ngiting niyang iyon. "Hello po. My name is Kevin. Thank you po for your help and for being such a good friend to my ate while I'm asleep. I'm truly appreciate you po."

Parang hinaplos ang puso ko nang marinig ko 'yon. I gave him a forced smile. "Hi," I hesitated, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. Sinusubukan kong huwag sumalakay ang mga luha ko kahit humahapdi na ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko puwedeng ipahalata sa kaniyang malungkot ako. I walked towards him. "Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?" I asked gently.

"I'm good po. Namamanhid lang po katawan ko pero ayos naman po ako," magalang nitong sagot.

"Mabuti naman. I'm glad you finally woke up."

He looked around, searching for someone. "But where's my sister? Alam niyo po ba kung nasaan siya? I've been waiting for her to come in. I'm sure she was so excited to see me po," he then asked. Halatang simula noong paggising niya ay ito ang una niyang hinahanap-hanap.

I slowly lift down my smile. I bit my lower lip and I took a deep breath, struggling to find the strength to utter the words that will surely break his hopes. I wish desperately to speak but I couldn't again. How could I tell the young boy the truth, who had just woken from a coma and was hoping to see his sister? How could I explain that his sister didn't make it today and we're now preparing for her funeral? Hindi ko kakayaning makita ang magiging reaksyon niya, para sa isang batang alam kong masasaktan nang labis at walang kamuwang-muwang.

"Siguro, mas mabuting maiwan ko muna kayo," singit ni Nurse Grace nang hindi pa rin ako nakakapagsalita kaya napalingon sa kaniya si Kevin. "Sabihan niyo lang ako if you need anything. I'm just right in a nurse station."

"Okay po, thank you po, Nurse Grace," nakangiting tugon ni Kevin at iniwan na kami ni Nurse Grace sa silid.

"Hindi makararating ate mo ngayon," tanging sagot ko. My tears started to pooled out at the edge of my eyes, knowing the truth that she will never be able to come here. This situation is so hard. Naiipit ako. Nasasaktan ako para kay Kevin. 

Napako ulit sa akin ang kaniyang atensyon dahil sa sinabi kong iyon. Rumehistro ang lungkot sa kaniyang mukha. "Bakit naman daw po? I really want to see her. I miss her so much," he snorted.