Reyna ng Kamalasan: Zylie (Completed, 2014)

Chapter Sixty Nine- Big C

CLEO's POV

Everything has changed.

Simula pa lang alam ko na na ganun yung mga mangyayari. As change is the only constant thing in this world, bata pa lang, dapat tinanggap ko na na ganito. Hindi mo na maibabalik ang oras, at sa bawat oras na nasasayang, may magbabago.

I won’t ever forget the day we’ve met. That gloomy day na parang sumasabay sa pisikal na sakit na nararamdaman ko. Yun yung pinakaunang malaking pagbabago na nangyari sa buhay ko. I was crying at the corridor, hindi ko alam kung tatakbo ba ako o hihinto. I started to wail dahil hindi ko matanggap. Even my father was depressed. He’s a man who heals people pero sa sarili niyang anak, he's helpless.

I run and run hanggang sa nadulas ako sa foyer. Basang-basa kasi ang sahig dahil sa mga pumapasok na galing sa ulanan. Kahit pa siguro ilang janitor ang mag-mop dito eh walang laban kapag may tumatakbong bata na hindi alintana yung sign na Caution: Wet Floor. Nasanggi ko pa yung stand na tinatayuan ng vase. Naghahanda na akong mabagsakan ng malaking vase ng walang dumating. Dumilat na lang ako and I saw a silhouette. Mataas na pala agad sikat ng araw sa labas. Ganun katagal na ba ako nasa state ng hysteria para hindi malaman na tumigil na pala ang ulan at sumikat na ulit si Haring araw?

“Are you trying to destroy everything here?” pumikit-pikit pa ako para makapagadjust ang mata ko sa liwanag. Kasabay din kasi ng liwanag ng araw eh parang nagliwanag din yung mundo at paligid ko.  He was there, offering his hand. Alam ko bata pa kami noon. But he was tall. Towering, because I'm really that small. Not as manly as he is now, pero alam mong warm but nonchalant. Isang refreshing na pakiramdam sa gitna ng mga balita at diagnosis.

This is our hospital. I can destroy anything and everything in my heart’s content! Gusto ko sanang sabihin para tablahin siya. Pero dahil masakit at masama ang pakiramdam ko, hindi ako makapagsalita ng maayos kaya ang nagawa ko na lang ay umiling.

“Get up.” He pulled me up. Doon ko siya lalong naobserbahan ng maayos. He was wearing rugged jeans and sneakers. I can still remember his shirt, it was gray with black splatters. His hair was as messy as the bird’s nest pero I almost cussed when he stepped out of the shadows. I almost forgot the pain for a second.

“Thanks.” I managed a simple word. Marami pa sana akong sasabihin pero bumabalik na naman yung sakit.

“Silver?” lumabas yung isang babae from the elevator. Si Dra. Nang sumagot siya, doon ko nalaman na siya pala yung panganay ni Dra Marianne Torres. Dad was talking with her earlier, I think they've been asking her to be a partner of the hospital

As I spend the days inside, madalas ko ding nakikita si Silver. Wala naman siyang choice dahil kami lang din ang nagkakakitaan at halos magkaedad. Nung una nagkukwento pa siya. About school at sa kapatid niyang kambal. Pero ng napansin niyang hindi ako ganun palasalita, we managed to hang out... in silence. Pero he didn’t complain. Dare I say na wala lalo akong masasabi dahil actions speak louder than words at napakaconducive para sa sitwasyon ko.

“Careful. You little baggage.” Yun ang palagi niyang sinasabi kapag napapahamak ako at napapasama. I’m clumsy. And my sickness adds into it. Si Silver lang ang palagi kong kasama. He saves me from harm. He keeps me happy (though she calls me baggage). Niyayakap niya ako kapag masama ang pakiramdam ko. He never ask. He just give and give and give everything. Mostly immaterial na kailangan ko sa panahong yun.

"Silver, do you think we'll have so many kids someday?" I asked.

"Tsss. You barely talk, but when you talk it's big, you know."

"Just... answer."

"I don't know. But I want to. You are my first. First in almost everything."

"Stupid. And corny."