The Benefits (COMPLETED)

Chapter 39: The Letter

Chapter 39: The Letter

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SEVEN years later...

"Mom! Where's my lunch box?"

"On the table, honey."

"It wasn't there, Mom."

"It was!", I said at napakamot sya ng ulo. "Go to our dinning table and get you're stuffs. You'lle be late on your class! Double time."

"Fine.", he answered.

Pasaway na bata. Pero nakakatuwa.
That's how I can describe my son.

Nasa 2nd Grade na si Zach. Ang bilis ng panahon. Parang kahapon lang, pinagbubuntis ko pa lang sya. Matalino sya'ng bata. Sya ang nangunguna lagi sa klase. I'm so proud of him. Ang laki-laki na talaga nya.

Nandito na ako sa front door at hinihintay si Zach. Ihahatid ko sya sa labas ng bahay and wait for the school bus. And finally, ayan na sya with his lunch box na hindi nya makita kanina.

"I told you, it was on the table. What took you so long anyway, huh?", I asked him.

"I just go to Dad's room and kiss him goodbye. I really missed him. I missed playing with Dad, Mom." his voice sounds very sad.

I fake a smile and hug him.
"Don't worry. Dad will be okay, soon. He'll going to play with you again.", I said to comfort Zach. I can feel him. Nasasaktan din ako para sa asawa ko.

Pagkahatid ko kay Zach ay may inabot pa sya'ng sulat sa akin na nasa envelope.

To: The Best Dad Ever
From: Carl

Yan yung nakalagay. Nakalimutan daw nya'ng ibigay kanina dahil nagmamadali sya. Natutuwa ako dahil mahal na mahal nya ang Daddy nya.

Pumasok agad ako para puntahan ang asawa ko.

He was sleeping when I entered the room pero nagising sya dahil napansin nya ang presence ko. Bumangon sya ng kaunti at isinuot ang bonnet nya.

"Nakapasok na si Zach?", he asked.

"Yah. At may iniwan pa sya'ng sulat para sayo.", I said. "Kainggit ah. Bakit ikaw lang meron?"

Napangiti sya.
"Galing sya dito kanina ah? Nagpaalam sya at nagmamadali. Galit ka na naman daw kasi.", then he smiled.

"Yung bata talaga na yun! Nakalimutan nga daw nya ibigay. Nagmamadali daw kasi ako masyado. Pero... eto na nga pala.", then inabot ko sa kanya yung sulat ni Zach.

"C'mon. Read. Gusto kong malaman yung laman.", I said and he do.

Dad,

I just want to say I miss you so much. These past few weeks was like an hell to me. I hate this kind of bordom especially when Mom is always there... yelling on me. But I think, Mom is just like that because of you. I saw her crying couple of weeks ago after you delivered to the hospital. I know she loves you and she will keep on loving you until you'll be better again.

"Akina nga yan!", hinablot ko yung sulat mula sa kamay ni Kai. "Yung bata talaga na yun! Tsini-tsismis pa ako sayo.", I said and pout.

"Wait. Sulat yan sakin ng anak ko. Bakit mo kinuha?", Kai asked.

"Mamaya mo na basahin! Baka mamaya puro ako laman nito eh. Mamaya na kapag wala na ako.", sabi ko pero sa totoo na-iiyak na ako. Ayoko lang kasing ipakita sa kanyang mahina ako. Kailangan naming maging malakas ng anak ko para makahanap sya ng dahilan para maging malakas din.

9 months ago, na-diagnose si Kai sa Stage 3- Lung Cancer. He's undergoing chemo right now.

Hindi naging madali para sakin, lalo na kay Zach na matanggap yung sakit ng Daddy nya. 90% ng mga nagkaka-lung cancer ay hindi na gumagaling. Pero lagi akong nagdadasal na pagalingin na Nya si Kai dahil nasasaktan ako sa kalagayan nya.

Minsan kapag inaatake sya at hindi makahinga, lagi sya'ng nagpapaalam sakin. Kapag daw namatay sya ay ganito, ganyan na lalong kinakahina ng loob ko.

"Bakit ka naiiyak dyan?", he asked.

Napayakap nalang ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko na mapigilan.

"Heyy.", he said.

"Kyle...bata pa si Zach. Please wag muna! Kailangan nya ng tatay na katulad mo. Kailangan ko rin ng asawa na tulad mo. Ikaw lang ang nakaka-intindi sa batang yun."

"Hindi pa ako mamamatay! Oo. Pinipilit ko, Tine. Pero sorry, minsan kasi... parang hindi ko na talaga kaya.", mas lalong nagsi-tuluan ang luha ko sa sinabi nya'ng yun.

"Wag kang mag-alala. Malakas pa naman ako. Lalabanan ko 'tong sakit na 'to. Lung cancer lang pala eh. Tss. Wala. Sisiw!" I hugged him again. I can feel his arms on my back, hugging me too.

"Pwede ko na bang ituloy basahin yung sulat?", he asked. I just nodd.

I am proud because you are my Dad of all the Daddies in the world. I can proudly stand infront of the thousands of crowd telling everyone that my father's name is "Mr. Vince Kyle Dela Vega". Nothing to wish for more because he is the best.

Get well soon Dad. I missed playing basketball with you. I know you can do it! I'm always here with Mom. We'll take care for you. We'll never leave you. We will prove that FOREVER does exist. I love you dad.

NOTE: Don't tell this to Mom. :P

Love and Care,
Carl Zachariah

"May note, note pa sya ha.", natawa naman ako.

"Kunwari nalang hindi mo nabasa.", he said and laugh. A very sad laugh na halatang nahihirapan. "Can you do me a favor, Babe?".

"What is is, anyway? I'll do it if I can."

"Kapag namatay ako---"

"KYLE!!!.", I yelled. Ayan na naman sya. "I said stop ordering!", nangingilid naman ang luha ko. "Hindi ka mamamatay! Gagaling ka! May awa ang Diyos."

I looked on his face very serious. Nakatingin lang din sya sakin ng malungkot. Then, bago ako lumabas ng pinto, I kissed him on his cheeck. I walked away. I slues the door knob and attempt to leave when he speaks again.

"Tell him the truth about his father, Chrishtina. Zach deserves to know it."

(#)

Special Thanks to: OldRuleBreaker

Thanks for giving me some ideas to create Zach's letter to his Dad. Now you know! Dito ko sya gagamitin. Hahaha. Thanks, Kuya.