MGA PAKIWARI AT PAGMUMUNI-MUNI (An AlDub Collection of Poems and Short Stories)

Algebraic Mathematics

Day 20 of AMACon Drabbles for Oikos.

Jusko - nahirapan ako ng wagas dito. Huhubells 😭

Pagpasensyahan ang sobrang sinabawang sabaw na sinulat kong ito 😭 Kanin na lang ang kulang 😪

FICTION OK? OK.

Unbeta'ed as always.

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In its most general form, algebra is the study of mathematical symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols; it is a unifying thread of almost all of mathematics.*

She is his algebra. If that makes any sense whatsoever. If Algebra is the unifying thread for all mathematics - Nicomaine is the one person unifying Richard.

In short - without Nicomaine, there will be no Richard. Because Richard will not be able to exist without Nicomaine in the picture.

"Wag mo akong iiwan, please," he sobbed as he held on to her hand tightly, beside her hospital bed. "Hindi ko kakayanin pag mawala ka. Please Maine, wake up. Wake up please... Don't leave me..."

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The word algebra is Arabic in nature that means الجبر (al-jabr "restoration"). It originally referred to the surgical procedure of setting broken or dislocated bones. The mathematical meaning was first recorded in the sixteenth century.*

If Nicomaine is Richard's algebra - that only means that she is the only one who can set his broken heart and heal it. Without Nicomaine, Richard will always remain broken hearted.

"Menggay, I'm sorry. Kasalanan ko ang lahat ng ito," he cried softly, kissing the hand that he was holding, the beeping sound of the heart monitor - his only background.

"If only I told you to wait for me - then you wouldn't be walking alone to your dorm. If only I listened to my gut feel that it wasn't safe out there. If only... Menggay ko... Mahal... Please..."

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Al-Khwarizmi, who initially coined the term algebra point to the fact that he introduced the methods of "reduction" and "balancing" (the transposition of subtracted terms to the other side of an equation, that is, the cancellation of like terms in opposite sides of the equation) which the term al-jabr originally referred to.*

We have already established that Nicomaine is Richard's algebra. She "reduces" his anxiety and "balances" his emotions. She is the yin to his yang, the beginning to his end, the alpha to his omega. In short, she is the one person who can make or break Richard.

"Gising ka na, Menggay. Love, please," he continued talking not even knowing if she could hear him.

The doctors said that they did all they could for her after she was brought in due to the accident. Now, it was all up to her to wake up.

"Sabi mo, hihintayin mo akong gumraduate diba? Sabi mo, once I graduated from my MBA saka tayo magpapakasal. Malapit na yun, mahal. Next month lang, presentation na ng dissertation ko. After nun, graduation na. Please Maine. I don't know what I would do if you're not here."

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In algebra, numbers are often represented by symbols called variables (such as a, n, x, y or z). This is useful because it allows the formulation of functional relationships.*

Because Nicomaine is Richard's algebra - we can safely assume that without Nicomaine, Richard will not be able to function well enough in life.

"Anak, RJ. Tatlong araw ka na dito sa ospital," Tatay Teddy softly chastised him. "Baka gusto mo na munang umuwi at magpalit tapos makapagpahinga rin ng konti. Ang daddy mo nag-aalala na rin sayo."

"Tay - ok lang po ako di --"

"Hay RJ. Sige na - hayo na. Ako muna magbabantay dito kay Menggay."

"Pero --"

"Tatawagan agad kita pag nagising sya at wala ka pa dito," Tatay Teddy told RJ as he gently pushed him out of Maine's hospital room. "Tsaka kilala ko yan si Menggay. Malamang sa malamang - hihintayin ka nyan bago sya magising."

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Another meaning for the word algebra that came from the Arabic term "al-jabr" is the "reunion of broken parts." If it consists of variables as stated above, it also has constants.*

Richard and Nicomaine are not perfect. They, however, found each other and made their imperfections and "broken parts", whole. They have each other constantly. There might be variables that test them from time to time, but at the end of it all - they will always remain together, constant.

"Ungh..."

Tatay Teddy looked up from what he was reading when he heard his daughter moan. He immediately called the nurses' station knowing that Maine might be waking up.

"Tay? Andito na po ulit a--"

"Naku, RJ, anak! Buti nandito ka na! Sakto ang pagdating mo," Tatay Teddy said excitedly as he pulled RJ closer to Maine's bed.

"Bakit po? May nangyari po ba na --"

"Hmm... Ungh... RJ?"

Both the men in the room froze for a heartbeat upon hearing Maine's hoarse whisper. Then RJ sprung into action, immediately going to her and gripping her hand, with tears in his eyes as he grinned wide.

"Menggay? Mahal - I'm here. I'm here," he gently said, caressing her face and the hand he was holding. "Gising ka na. I'm so happy gising ka na. Akala ko --"

"You know I won't leave you."

"I know," he sobbed even in his happiness. "I love you, Nicomaine. Please don't do that to me ever again."

"I love you, too. But right now - water?"

The sound of laughter tinged with relief was then heard echoing in the hospital room where they were at.

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*All meanings of Algebra taken from Wikipedia