Regret

Kapitulo veintiséis

Irene's POV

I was sitting in the lounge area, trying to calm my nerves while sipping some lukewarm coffee. Greggy sat beside me, fidgeting with his phone, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere. And honestly, mine was too. Every second felt like an eternity, waiting for the doctor to come out with news about Mama Emma.

Finally, the doctor came in, and he looked so serious na parang nanonood kami ng drama series. Baka ganito pala talaga sa real life, no? Hindi lagi happy endings. "Hindi na po ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa," he started. "Lumala po ang cancer ng mother nyo."

That hit me like a truck. Ely froze beside me, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Ano po?" she asked, like she didn't hear him right.

The doctor continued, "Hindi na po namin maagapan. Late na din siya nagpagamot. The best thing you could do is spend as much time with her."

I could feel Ely trembling beside me. She was in full denial mode. "Pero kahapon ang lakas-lakas pa niya, ang sigla niya. Ano 'yun, umaarte lang po siya?" She was grasping for any explanation that would make this make sense.

"Maari pong naka-experience ang pasyente ng tinatawag na surge. Minsan, bago tuluyang bumagsak ang katawan, may pagkakataong biglang bumabalik ang sigla nila. Pero panandalian lang po iyon."

The doctor's words were like knives, cutting deep into our hearts. Ely was just standing there, frozen, her mouth hanging slightly open. I saw her eyes flicker, and suddenly, she started speaking in Italian. "Nonna perché non mi hai fatto sapere subito che avessi il cancro? Perché non ti sei fatta curare subito?"

I stared at her, completely lost. Oh my god! Di ko na naiintindihan to! Bakit biglang naging Italian ang eksena? Her frustration was palpable, her hands shaking as she switched to the language she and her grandmother shared. But I didn't understand a thing. All I could do was reach out and hold her hand. Kahit hindi ko alam yung sinasabi niya, I wanted her to feel that I was here for her, na kahit di ko maintindihan, nandito ako.

The room was dim, and the only sound was the soft beep of the heart monitor. Ely was sitting beside her grandmother, holding her frail hand, while Greggy and I stood by the door, watching silently. Mama Emma had been in and out of consciousness for the past few hours, but this time, when she opened her eyes, it felt different—parang may gusto siyang sabihin.

"Erine?" Mama Emma's voice was weak but clear enough for Ely to hear. "Could you do me a last favor?"

"Ano po yun?" Ely quickly stood up, ready to do anything for her grandmother.

"Mag-iingat ka ha? I love you." Her voice cracked, and she gave Ely a small, weak smile.

"I love you too, Nonna," Ely whispered back, tears brimming in her eyes.

Inutusan nya si Ely na bilhan sya nang makakain.

Mama Emma then turned her attention to us, and I could feel my heart starting to race. "Irene, Gregorio. Alam kong hindi na ako magtatagal dito sa mundong ito." Her words were soft, almost like a whisper carried by the wind. "Kaya pinagkakatiwalaan ko kayo sa pag alaga ng anak nyo ha? Wag nyo na syang sasaktan okay? Ang dami na nyang napag daanan."

I nodded, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. "Opo. We will never hurt her."

But what Mama Emma said next shattered me.

"Almost 2 years ago, ay pinagtangkaan nyang tapusin ang sarili nyang buhay."

My breath hitched. What? Ely? The same Ely na laging masayahin? I felt like the ground disappeared from beneath me. How did I not know? Tears welled up in my eyes as Mama Emma's words sank in. Sobrang dami pa pala ng hindi ko alam tungkol sa anak ko.