It's May 27. My birthday.. My 18th birthday.. My debut.. And it could be my last day.. Last day to live..
"Kianna dear, come here", tawag ni mama at lumapit ako sakanya, "You know dear, stop thinking that this will be your last day. I know you're strong. You will fight right?"
"I don't know ma", I said and let go of a sigh.
"Okay, just get yourself ready. The party will start any minute now.
I just smiled at my mother and she went out of the room.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
I do hope my life doesn't end tonight.
***
Lumabas na ako ng tawagin na ako.
From here, nakikita ko ang anino ng aking escort.
Nang maramdaman nito ang presensya ko, lumingon siya saakin at ngumiti.
Lumapit ako sakanya at ganon din ang ginawa niya.
"Still beautiful, cara mia", sabi niya. He's half-Italian and half-Filipino. Nakakaintindi naman ako ng ilang words.
"Still handsome, cara mia", and sometimes, I speak them.
"Halika na nga. Your guests are waiting for you to come out.", sabi niya at inalalayan ako papuntang hagdanan. He signed the emcee na ready na kami.
"Good evening everyone! Please welcome, our debutante of our very own princess, Maria Rheina Kianna Torres with her escort, Harvey Zein Lopez", rinig kong sabi ng emcee kasabay ang pagbukas ng kurtina.
Then, a song was played.
On The Side Of Me by Corrinne May playing....
I'm not the easiest person to love
I'm often the one who lets things go unresolved
Yet you choose to be
On the side of me
On the side of me
Yet you choose to be on the side of me
On the side of me~~~~~~
I held Zein's hand as we walked down together...
I'm not too proud of some things
I've done in my life
The skeletons in my closet
Are too big for me to hide
Yet you choose to be
On the side of me
On the side of me
Blessed Charity
You're on the side of me
On the side of me~~~~~
We walked carefully and slowly... I looked at the end of the stairs. There, I saw my brother. Kevin Charles Torres. I smiled at him, and he did the same. I smiled at everyone. Not caring about my disease.
Cause everyone needs a friend to hold
When it's cold outside
And there's no place to go
Everyone needs a friend to hold
All alone I cried
There was no place to go