Memories of Elise

Chapter One

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Marahan ang haplos ng hangin sa aking balat. Ang haring araw ay unti-unting nagkukubli sa mga ulap, nagpapahiwatig na patapos na ang araw. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa malawak na damuhang napapalibutan ng ilang mga lapida. Sa aming harap ay isang lapidang may nakapatong na mga bulaklak at ilang kandilang kauupos lamang.

Kuya Eliezer was quiet by my side. Ilang minuto na ang nakalipas pero nanatili siyang nakatayo at nakamasid sa lapida sa aming harapan. I squatted just in front of the marble gravestone, carefully placing the white lilies just close to the other flowers. I whispered my prayers before I stood up.

Sumunod si kuya Eli na naglagay ng mga dalang bulaklak. Hinawi niya ang maliliit na dahong kumukubli sa pangalang nakatatak sa marmol. Nang makuntento sa ayos nito'y sumulyap siya sa akin. "She would've been a doctor like me. Much better, maybe. I heard she was the ace of her class..." I could sense the sorrow in his voice.

"Kuya..."

He smiled weakly. "Sorry, hindi ko lang mapigilan. Matagal na pero nakakalungkot pa ring isipin ang sinapit niya."

Isang taon na ang nakalipas, pero sariwa pa rin kay kuya Eli ang yumao niyang unang pasyente. I feel sorry for him, until now, he still felt like it was his fault that his patient Elise died. He thought he was still lacking that time, that he should've been able to save her.

And the fact that his patient's name was the same as mine, crushed him.

"Hindi mo naman kasalanan ang nangyari, kuya. You did everything you had to do." I placed a hand on his shoulder so he could look at me. "For sure, Elise is very much happy wherever she is now."

"Kung bakit kasi Elise rin ang pangalan ng magaling kong kapatid..." He trailed off. Napatingin ako sa kanya, pero agad siyang tumalikod. "We better go, we're late for your birthday dinner."

××××

The drive to our apartment unit was swift. Mom was waiting by the door holding a huge cake in her hands the moment we got home.

"Happy birthday, Elise!"

Some of my close friends were there with party poppers in hand. Ang ilan rin sa aming mga kapitbahay sa katabing unit ay narito din kumakanta ng birthday song para sa akin. Mom urged me to blow the candles before I could even approach them one by one. It was my 17th birthday, yet until now my birthday wish never altered.

I smiled, grateful for another year to come.

"Kainan na! Gutom na ako..." Nagtawanan ang ilang bisita sa sinambit ni kuya. Iminuwestra ako ni mom sa mga panauhin.

"Sige na. Lapitan mo muna iyong mga kaibigan mo at kanina ka pa nila hinihintay." Mom said before she excused herself to serve the food. Naroon din si tita Carmela na tumutulong sa paglalagay ng mga pagkain sa lamesa.

And as if on cue, Marj and Alice approached me. Nagyakapan kaming tatlo. "Happy birthday, sis!"

Simula mag-kolehiyo ay di na kami nagpapang-abot nina Marj, kahit na lahat naman kami ay sa Maynila na nag-aaral. Huli pa naming kita ay noong kaarawan ni Armi noong Abril.

Sa apartment ni kuya dito sa Maynila na kami nanirahan magmula ng mag-kolehiyo ako. Mom was very worried about me that she made sure she was here to take care of me and kuya. Kuya Eli was upset about it, he said he wants to live by himself. If I know, hindi lang siya makapag-uwi ng babae dahil nandito kami ni mom.

"Thank you sa pagpunta. Sobrang namiss ko kayo!" Dinala ko sila sa tanggapan dahil abala ang hapag sa mga kumakaing bisita. Sinuklian ko ng ngiti ang ilang pagbati mula sa aming mga kapitbahay.