Heartbeat Of Summer

20

FIVE STAR FOR THE TOUR

Kung meron mang app na pang-rate ng tour guide, sigurado akong 5 stars ang ibibigay ko kay Kaito.

Actually, hindi lang five — baka unlimited stars pa.

Because how do you rate someone who gave you memories when your days were numbered?

You can't.

You just thank them — quietly, completely, with every little breath you have left.

°°°°°°

I've seen better afternoons.

But today... I saw a better goodbye.

That afternoon, everyone was called back into the room. The doctor gave us a gentle knock, eyes serious.

"Pwede na po tayong bumaba sa OR," he told my mom.

I was scheduled for surgery. Again.

This time, it was riskier — more experimental than before. But it was our last option.

"Sereia," Mom leaned over, brushing my forehead. "Ready na tayo?"

I nodded slowly.

Kaito helped fix the IV line carefully beside me, doing it more gently than the nurse.

Then Mom pulled him aside while the nurses were prepping my bed for transfer.

"Alam mo ba..." she said, barely above a whisper, "hindi 'to ang first time na may surgery si Sereia sa birthday niya."

Kaito looked at her, surprised.

"Nung one year old siya, may emergency din. Lahat ng birthday niya halos, laging may medical something. Parang pattern. Parang sinasabi ng buhay... bawat taon, may laban siyang kailangang daanan."

"Ma'am..." Kaito said softly.

"Pero iba ngayon," she continued, tears brimming in her eyes. "Ngayon lang siya parang... payapa. Siguro dahil nandito ka."

Kaito looked down. "Kung kaya ko lang siyang ilayo sa lahat ng sakit..."

"Ginawa mo na," she smiled, eyes soft. "Ginawa mo na, hijo."

Kaito sat beside my bed, legs crisscrossed on the chair, playing with the string on his hoodie.