Behind the Clouds (Published under Viva Books)

Chapter 12: Wishes do come true

Mandy's POV

It has been almost a year since I was diagnosed with leukemia. Naging mahirap para sa mga taong malapit sa puso ko na tanggapin ang sakit ko. Pero habang tumatagal, little by little, we have learned to accept the truth and lift everything to the Lord our God. Unti-unti ay naipa-realize ko kina Mama at Kuya Steven na plano ito ni Lord. I have made them realize that everything is happening for a reason. I am sure that the Lord has better plans for me.

I have been undergoing chemotherapy sessions for almost a year already at nasasanay na ang katawan ko sa mga epekto nito. Malaki na din ang ipinayat ko mula noong magkasakit ako. I also started to lose some hair kaya lagi akong nakabonet or cap lalo na kapag nalabas kami ni Chase. He has also made a big difference on my life. We are just friends but being with him made my heart overflow with joy. I realized that in loving someone, hindi importante kung kaya niyang ibalik sa iyo ang pagmamahal mo sa kanya. Ang importante ay magmahal ka nang walang hinihintay na kapalit. Masaya ako sa kung anumang mayroon sa amin ni Chase. The friendship he gave me will surely remain in my heart until the day I die.

Isa-isa kong tinupad ang mga nasa wishlist ko kasama ang mga taong malapit sa puso ko - Mama Pearl, Kuya Steven, my new found friend, Chase and of course, my favorite person, Star.

Una naming pinuntahan ang Hongkong Disneyland. Mama Pearl booked the tickets for us last Christmas break. Para bakasyon si Star. Sinakto din ni mama na nakalipas na ang ilang araw pagkatapos ng chemo ko para hindi ako nanghihina. Para ma-enjoy ko ang oras na magkasama kami ni Star sa happiest place on Earth - Disneyland.

Everything was perfect. The different attractions, the mascots, the shows, and the fireworks. I truly enjoyed the place. Pero mali naman ang sabi nila e. The happiest place on earth is not Disneyland, it is beside Star. I am happiest whenever I am with her. Star completes me. She is that one person who I want to treasure forever. Gusto ko pa siyang makasama nang matagal. Too bad, bilang na ang mga araw na magkasama kami.

The results of the latest scans showed that the cancer cells have already spread in my body. Mayroon na sa brain. Mayroon na din sa bones. The cancer cells has already mestastasize. I asked mama and kuya not to tell this to Chase and Star. I do not want to make them worry more because of me. I am near to dying. Anytime, maaari na akong umuwi sa langit.

I had also got the opportunity to watch Star compete for a volleyball tournament. I could not contain my happiness that time because not only their team won the championship, but Star also got the Most Valuable Player award. I found myself crying in tears that day. She did it. She is starting in reaching our dreams. I am so proud of my bestfriend.

Noong nalaman namin na bilang na ang mga araw ko, nagpunta na din kami agad nina Kuya Steven, Star at Chase sa Camarines Sur. We experienced wake boarding. Though sumakit talaga ang katawan ko after that, brittle na kasi ang bones ko because of the cancer cells, I was still happy. I still enjoyed our day.

We also had the picnic that I have been dreaming of happening again. I have spent it with the whole family and with my bestfriend.

We have also had our family pictures taken every month for the past year. Gusto ko kasing magkaroon sila ng recent pictures ko. Para alam nila kung anong itsura ko bago ko mahanap ang daan pabalik sa langit.

My wishlist is almost complete.

1. Playing the piano ✔️
2. Makapunta sa Hongkong Disneyland with Star ✔️
3. Makapanood ng isang volleyball tournament ni Star ✔️
4. Picnic with the whole family just like the old times ✔️
5. Family pictures to be taken every month ✔️
6. Wakeboarding ✔️
7. Being in love ✔️

Seven out of ten. Tatlo na lang at makukumpleto ko na ang wishlist ko. Ayokong magsayang ng oras. Hindi ko kasi alam kung kailan ako kukunin ni Lord kaya habang kaya ko pa, tatapusin ko ang nasa listahan ko. I should make the best out of my life.

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Star's POV

Kagagaling lang ni Mandy sa chemo therapy session niya pero tumawag na si Steven na magbihis ako dahil dadaanan nila ako. Pupunta daw kami sa Tagaytay. Mandy wants to do one of the things on her wishlist. Ang tigas talaga ng ulo ni Mandy. I already told her na kapag galing siyang chemo niya ay hindi kami pwedeng lumabas.

It has a been a year already. It has been a year since CJ and I parted and said goodbye. CJ is a good man. Until now, he is helping us out with Mandy. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang ngayon ay hinihintay pa din niya ako. Hindi ko alam kung hinihintay pa din niyang tuparin ko ang pangako ko. Hindi namin napag-uusapan. Simula kasi noong araw na huli kaming nagkausap ay pinutol ko na talaga ang communication naming dalawa. Nagkikita lang kami tuwing kasama siya ni Mandy sa mga lakad namin. Hindi ko alam kung anong nasa loob niya. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin sa akin, o kung meron pa nga ba?

Magkaayos man kami ni CJ o hindi na, o kahit sabihin niya sa akin na he is already falling with Mandy, tatanggapin ko. Desisyon ko ito e. Dapat panindigan ko. And I will never regret this decision ever in my life. Why? Because this decision made my bestfriend happy - so happy.

Nagpunta kami sa Tagaytay. We will do horse back riding.

"Mandy! Sasamahan na lang kita dyan sa kabayo. Kagagaling mo lang sa chemo e. Mahirap na. Baka bigla kang malaglag." CJ offered his help to Mandy. Pumayag si Mandy at ngayon ay magkasama silang dalawa sa iisang kabayo.

Ang sakit. Masakit pa din pala. I watched them as they rode the horse together. I watched them as they laugh and talk to each other. It hurts a lot. But then again I have to endure the pain, for Mandy.

"Nasasaktan ka na, pinapanood mo pa. Martyr ka din e no?" nagulat ako nang biglang magsalita si Steven.

"I am fine." I answered him briefly. Sinabi kong okay ako kahit sa totoo ay hindi ako okay. Hindi ako okay dahil deep inside, mayroong sugat na isang taon nang hindi gumagaling.

"Deny pa more! Ako pa lolokohin mo?" he said while blocking my view of Mandy and CJ. "Halika na. Doon tayo sa kabilang side mangabayo. You always have the choice. And this time, piliin mo naman yung daan kung saan hindi ka masasaktan. Kaya, shall we?" he lead me to the other side of the field. Tama si Steven. Bakit ko ba pinapahirapan ang sarili ko? I can always choose not to see the things that can hurt me.

With that, I turned around and make my way out of pain. I should grow stronger with pain, and I should not allow it to destroy me.