CHAPTER 11
Juno De Lara’s
“Do you remember what I told you, Raya?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And what is that?”
“Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t accept gifts or any candies from a stranger. If I don’t understand what they are saying, walk away and call the attention of the nearest adult.”
Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang nakikinig kay Hiraya. She was still sitting on the backseat, and I was looking at her through the rearview mirror. She was already looking outside the window. Sigurado akong excited na siyang makilala ang mga magiging kaklase niya sa ballet school.
“Okay. Mommy will pick you up later. You have your phone with you, text me if you need anything or if your class is already over. Okay?”
“Mom?”
“Yes, princess?”
“Is Lolo gonna be okay?”
Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. The reason why I came back here in the Philippines is because of Dad. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Hindi niya kaagad sinabi iyon sa akin. As usual, ayaw na naman niyang ipaalam kasi ayaw niya akong mag – alala. Kaya ko lang nalaman ay dahil nadulas ang secretary niya at mula noon ay nagpapabalik – balik na ako ng Pilipinas para dalawin siya. I come here every three months to check on him and his health. I want to make sure that he is well and being treated in the hospital. Sa totoo lang gusto ko siyang sumama sa akin sa Boston. Mas malaki ang chance ng paggaling niya kung nasa ibang bansa kami but Dad insisted that he wanted to di his treatment here. Wala naman akong magawa kundi ang ibigay iyon sa kanya.
Two months ago, his sister – Auntie Nieves called me and told me that Dad’s condition is getting worse. Nasa stage four na ang cancer ni
Dad at ang sabi ng doctor sa kanila ay iuwi na lang itoat hayaang mamuhay ng tahimik sa mga natitirang araw nito. Hindi ko matanggap iyon. I didn’t know how long I cried when I realized what was happening. Hindi pwedeng mawala si Dad sa akin. Ngayon pa lang kami bumabawi sa isa’t isa matapos ang lahat nang nangyari noon.
Nagdesisyon akong umuwi. I resigned from my work in Boston College and went home. Lahat ay bibitiwan ko basta makasama ko lang si Dad. Naisip kong baka magawan pa namin ng paraan. Baka kaya pa ng bang treatment. Malakas ang loob ko at gagawin ko ang lahat para lang ilaban si Daddy but when I got here and when I saw his fragile body… nawala lahat ng lakas ng loob ko.
He looked so weak and small. Hindi na siya iyong Daddy ko. What was left of him is a fragile, sickly man who was trying his best to smile at me when he saw me standing near the door of his room. Hindi na rin siya makalakad. He finds it difficult to stand or move kaya nilagay namin siya sa isang wheelchair. Ang hindi lang nawala kay Dad ay ang masaya niyang ngiti.
