The Heart Can See (Completed)

Prologue

May 13, 2007

It's another day at the hospital. Isang araw na naman na kung anu-ano ang ikakabit sa katawan ko. Nakakapagod na! Puwede bang magpahinga na lang? Bakit kailangang lumaban pa?

"Iho, ready ka na? Nasa baba daddy mo. Do you need any help with your shirt?"

"No, ma. I can do it. I can put this on myself."

His mom looks at him then giving a sigh, pats his head. "Basta don't stress yourself too much. We'll be waiting downstairs. Okay lang, don't rush. Still more than an hour to go for our doctor's appointment."

"Did the newspapers arrive already?"

"Yes, complete na ang mga broadsheets mo. Nag-aantay na sa kotse. Pero anak, ikaw lang ang nakita ko na 15-yr old na newspapers ang gustong basahin at CNN ang gustong-gustong panoorin."

He adjusted the frame of his thick lenses. "I can still dream, can't I?"

Putting her arm around his shoulders, she lightly squeezes his frail body. "Wala na kong sinabi. I can't wait to hear today's headlines from you."

------------------------

Meanwhile, inside a shanty at a crowded district in Manila,  a girl listens to the early morning news from her transistor radio as she folds the clothes that her mother has laundered the day before for a client.

She frowns while concentrating on the news, carefully folding the edges and parts of each piece of clothing within her reach.

"At ngayon dumako naman tayo sa mga balita mula sa ibayong dagat. ......"

Ooops, namatay? Haay si nanay talaga. "Bakit n'yo po pinatay yung transistor, nay? Nakikinig pa po ako! Nay, pakibuksan po ulit!"

"Ano ka ba? Pare-pareho lang naman ang mga balita! Pinakinggan mo na yan kagabi. Yung balita kahapon, balita pa rin ngayon, balita pa rin bukas at balita pa rin sa habang panahon."

"Nay, sabi nga ni Mike Enriquez...."

"Anak, kahit si Mike Enriquez pa yan, o si Ali Sotto, Arnold Clavio, Rey Langit, Tulfo o Ted Failon man, hindi natin makakain yan. Hindi ka ba nagsasawa? Maghapon ka nang nakikinig ng balita? Bakit hindi na lang kantahan o di kaya drama sa radyo ang pakinggan mo?"

"Nay, alam n'yo naman po na mas marami akong natututuhan pag nakikinig ako ng balita o kaya komentaryo sa radyo."

Her mother's features softened remembering her daughter's uncanny ability to retain details of what she listens to. "O siya, sige mamayang hapon na lang ulit. Pero ngayon, magbihis ka at aalis tayo."

Her ears perked up and her smile was automatic. "Saan po tayo pupunta, Nay?"

"Dun sa Medical Center. Papa-checkup kita ulit. Kukumpirmahin lang natin yung sinabi nung doktor na nakausap natin nung isang buwan kung totoo nga. Hindi pa rin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa."

"Ay narinig ko na po sa balita yang Medical Center na yan. E diba po ospital yan ng mayayaman? May pera po ba tayo? Baka naman Nay nanalo ka sa raffle, hindi mo lang sinasabi."

Hands on her hips, she stared at her daughter. "Ano ka ba? Kilala mo ko. Kailan ba tayo nagbayad para sa checkup mo? Siyempre libre! Nabasa ko sa diyaryo kahapon, may libreng checkup daw. Kailangan lang maaga tayo para sa pila. Kaya tara na!"

Her smile widens as she gave her mother thumbs-up sign. "Okay, Nay! Libre pala e. Go lang nang go!"

In her haste to stand up, she knocks off the clothes she had been folding and attempted to bend to retrieve them.