Infinity

11

Finilene fought a battle no one should ever have to fight—leukemia. I still remember the day we found out. She tried to stay strong for both of us, even when her body was getting weaker.

"Kaya ko 'to," she would always say, smiling weakly. "Hindi mo ba alam, ang tibay kaya ng girlfriend mo." She’d laugh, trying to brush it off like it was just another challenge she could conquer.

"Oo naman, kaya mo 'yan," I’d say, forcing a smile, kahit sa loob ko, durog na durog na ako. Every hospital visit, every treatment, I was there by her side. She’d look at me, tired but still full of love, and I’d hold her hand tighter, as if that could keep her with me longer.

"Alam mo, kahit ganito ako, ang pogi mo pa rin," Finilene teased, even when her hair started to thin out. "Sa mata ko, wala nang papalit sa'yo."

"Ikaw lang din, Fin," I’d whisper, kissing her forehead, wishing that I could take all her pain away. Every day was a struggle, but she never stopped dreaming.

"Pagaling ako, tapos ikakasal tayo. Ako 'yung magiging pinakamagandang bride na nakita mo," she said one evening, her voice a little quieter, but still full of hope.

We planned everything—the wedding, our future—like the sickness didn’t exist. We talked about traveling, about sunsets by the sea, about growing old together.

But leukemia had its own plans. One day, she became too weak to get out of bed. I could see it in her eyes—she knew. “Sorry... di ko na yata magagawa ‘yung promise ko,” she whispered, her voice trembling as tears filled her eyes.

"Wala kang kailangang i-sorry," I told her, holding back my own tears. "Basta nandito ako, Fin, palagi."

Now, standing here, all those dreams seemed so far away. Instead of walking down the aisle in her white dress to meet me at the altar, Finilene lay still in her coffin, the wedding we planned never to happen. But even in this moment, I knew—she kept her promise. She was still the most beautiful bride I had ever seen.