A Love To Remember

Chapter 55: Fight

9 Months Later..

Chiara

"16 miscalls from Tita Lea, lagot ka Chiara Isabel!" natatawang ani ni Kallie habang hawak-hawak ang cellphone ko, I already turned it off but this witch just turned it on, great.

"Don't mind her, inatake naman iyan. Living with a pregnant woman is scary Kall, minsan maganda iyong modo niya 'tas minsan galit, minsan naman umiiyak siya with no specific reason. If Daddy can handle Mama? Then sorry to say, I just can't." wika ko at umirap pa.

Everytime I remember those times na kaming dalawa lang ang magkasama ni Mama sa bahay, I cringe because she always forced her 17 year old daughter to watch a stupid barney episode. Can you imagine it? Me watching that gay purple dinosaur dancing and singing around? Yuck, so not me.

Mabuti nga at hindi niya ako pinanoud ng Dora eh, if she did, magwawala talaga ako, uuwi si Daddy at madadatanan niyang basag na ang lahat ng mga vase sa bahay because of me.

But anyway, I understand Mama's situation naman. I'm not just used to it..

"Well yeah, ganyan din ako ng pinagbubuntis ni Mommy si Clyde. It might be annoying at first pero swear Chia, once na manganak na si Tita Lea, seeing your sibling will be one of the most happiest moment you can ever experience." she said while smiling, napangiti na rin ako.

'Pag lumabas na ang kapatid ko, pwede na akong mamaalam sa mundong ito. I said papayag akong magpagamot kasi I don't want to leave this world without seeing my baby sibling's smile, I didn't said na I'll fight forever. I can't.

Who am I kidding? Mas lumala na ang sakit ko, ang putla-putla ko na and I lost weight. Chemotherapy is no help at all so in case na may mangyari ngang hindi maganda, I'm always ready for it, nga lang, hindi muna ngayon..

"Hala, your Dad's calling!" natatarantang sambit ni Kallie sabay lahad sa' kin ng cellphone ko, kaagad ko naman itong kinuha at sinagot ang tawag ni Daddy.

"Chia?" Dad uttered from the other line, hindi ko man siya nakikita ngayon but I know na he's tired, his voice said it all.

"Yes po, Dad?"

"Uwi ka na sa bahay please, kanina pa ako tinatawagan ng Mama mo at wala daw siyang kasama, I can't go home to accompany her, I have a lot of works to finish." he told me, making me sight in frustration.

Ayaw ko mang umuwi sa'min, no choice ako. Dad's tired from work, ayaw ko ng dagdagan ang mga iisipin niya..

"She hired like, five maids." wika ko, "But yes don't worry Daddy, uuwi na ako." dagdag ko pa at tumayo na mula sa pagkahiga sa kama ni Kallie.

"Thank you Chia, tatapusin ko na'to at makauwi na rin ako, bye
'nak." after saying goodbye, pinutol na ni Daddy ang tawag at ako naman, nagpaalam na kay Kallie upang umuwi na sa'min. I should ready my ears in advance because nonstop na pagtatalak naman ni Mama ang maririnig ko kapag umuwi na ako..

___

I arrived at our house at around 4:00 pm, lumipat kami ng bahay a week ago and this one is bigger than our old house, hindi pa ako familiar sa mga pasikot-sikot dito sa bahay because I'm too tired to tour myself around but that's fine, I can do that later or tomorrow but first, I must deal with Mama muna.

I know she's mad at me kasi kanina, nagpaalam ako na pupunta lang sa malapit na convenience store dito but I actually ended up at Kallie's house, which is just blocks away from our's.

Pumasok ako sa loob and thankfully, hindi ko siya naabutan sa sala so I'm safe, for now.

Umakyat ako sa taas upang dumiretso na sa kwarto ko but I stopped midway when I heard someone humming, nangagaling ang boses sa silid 'di kalayuan sa direksyon ko kaya I walk closer to hear it clearly, bukas ang pintuan so I peek inside, only to see Mama, nakatalikod siya sa gawi ko habang may inaayos na mga laruang pambata sa shelf.

Ah, this is my sibling's room at dito palaging nakatambay si Mama, ewan ko kung anong trip niya, she likes being here..

Aalis na sana ako but she looked back at my direction, maybe she felt like someone's watching her. She smiled upon seeing me so I smiled back.

"Sorry for lying, naiinis na po kasi ako sa mukha ni Barney." I said while chuckling.

"Halika ka nga dito." aniya kaya pumasok ako sa loob, hinila ako ni Mama at sabay kaming umupo sa dulo ng kama.

"I'm sorry din for being immature these past few months." sabi niya, tumango lang ako.

"I understand Ma, no worries." wika ko as I roam my eyes around the perimeter, "This room looks magical, palit na lang po kami ng kwarto, pwede?" I joked.

There's a lot of pink stuffs everywhere, making this room too girly for my comfort but I love it, mas malaki nga lang ang kwarto ko dito.

"I thought you hate pink?" nagtatakang tanong ni Mama, I nodded my head in response.

"Well, I do pero kahit sino naman magugustuhan ang kwartong 'to eh." I said, pinisil ni Mama ang braso ko kaya napangiwi naman ako dahil dun.

"Mama, don't do that!" wika ko na ikinakunot ng noo niya.

"Do what?" she asked curiously, I frowned.

"Huwag niyo pong pisilin ang braso ko, it hurts." mahina kong sambit, her eyebrows arched automatically at kaagad na iniangat ang sleeves ng sweater na suot ko as she gasped upon seeing my arms.

"See? I told you." sambit ko, may mga pasa na naman kasi ako sa kamay kaya because of that, halos lahat na lang ng damit ko sweater o 'di kaya long-sleeved, mabuti na lang at December ngayon, malamig.

"I thought nawala na iyan? Kailan pa bumalik ulit?" tanong niya, I shrugged my shoulders. Days ago? Ewan. Nagising na lang ako na may mga pasa naman eh.

"I don't know." sagot ko at nagkibit-balikat. Mama sighed at tinignan ako.

"Hospital. Tomorrow." maikling aniya, tumango lang ako but I remembered one thing, sabi niya, we're going to do Christmas shopping tomorrow!

"Can we go there after Christmas na lang? Sabi mo we're going to shop for presents tomorrow, remember?" I reminded her.

"We'll do that after going to the hospital." she answered, tumango lang ako at ngumiti ng matipid.

"Mama, kapag-nawala ako, iiyak ka ba?" I suddenly asked, she glared at me in return.

"Chiara.." she called using her warning tone kaya napairap na lang ako.

Palagi kong tinatanong 'to sa kanya pero she never dare to answer me or 'di kaya she'll change the topic. She could've said yes na iiyak nga siya, simple as that.

"Answer me Ma, iiyak ka ba? Hindi talaga kita titigilan hangga't 'di mo ako sinasagot." wika ko.

"Stop asking questions like that Chia, you're not going to leave us." she hissed pero umiling lang ako. This is my body and I know what's happening to me more that they do.

"I am Ma, everyone does pero sadyang mauuna lang talaga ako." I said, "Promise me one thing Ma ha, 'pag ako nawala? Hindi ka iiyak ah? Mumultuhin talaga kita pagnag-kataon!" I added at bahagya pang tumawa to lighten up the atmosphere but then, Mama burst out crying, again. Hay naku.

"Mama naman eh, umiyak ka na naman!" reklamo ko at umusog mg konti upang mayakap siya, I rested ny head on her shoulders, inhaling her familiar scent.

"Nakakainis ka kasi! You kept on saying things like that, tama na Chia. Nasasaktan na ako." aniya.

Paano ako aalis nito eh hindi pa nga ako namamatay, umiiyak na siya? Pero, she's right. Kung ano-ano na ang mga pinagsasabi ko. Hay, Chiara.

"Don't worry Ma, hangga't kaya ko pang lumaban, hindi ko kayo iiwan. I'll try my best to stay, I'll try my best to win this fight." bulong ko sa kanya, I hope that made her feel better.

Kahit nakakapagod na, kahit ilang beses ko ng sabihin na hindi ko na kaya, kahit sobra-sobra na ang sakit, lalaban pa rin ako para sa kanila..

* * * * * *