Chapter 28
Lance's
Parang ang haba ng tinatahak naming hallway papuntang garden ng ospital na ito. Mahaba ba o sadyang binabagalan ko?
Nakakatuwang isipin na sa huli naming pagsasama ni Areeyah, nakangiti pa siya saakin at makikitaan mo ng kasiglahan sa katawan. Ngayon, halos hindi na siya makatayo. Nakangiti siya saakin, ganoon naman siya lagi pero alam ko sa mga mata niya, nahihirapan na siya.
As how much I wanted her to stay beside me until our hair grows white and until our physical body gets old, I know I can't do that anymore.
And it hurts me more knowing that she did let me go because he wanted me to be happy even though she's already dead. How can I be happy if my only source of happiness is her and her smile?
Yes, I am possible to find another girl but God knows that having and loving her is priceless and I admit, I can't love another girl as much as I loved her.
No one can ever replace that years with her.
"Lance, dito na lang tayo." She said kaya itinigil ko ang patulak ng wheelchair.
Sa katabing bench nito ay umupo ako at hinawakan ang kamay niya, the most fragile and precious hand that I ever hold. Tinitigan ko siya hangga't alam kong nakadilat pa ang mga mata niya. Tumingala ka siya sa langit at pinagmasdan ko lang siya habang ginagawa niya iyon.
"Lance, alam mo naman diba?" She said. I watched as her mouth move as she speaks.
"Hmm?" I asked.
"That, I love stars."
Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kanya.
"Of course baby." I said.
I know. She loves looking at the stars. She love stars. Everything that has stars on it.
"You know what Mama said?" Tumingin siya saakin, nakangiti, "Na ang pinakamakinang na bituwin, yun si Lola." She said.
"Uh-huh." I said.
"Lance. Ayun si Lola oh!" Turo niya at tumingin ulit sa langit, the light of the stars reflects in her eyes and I love seeing that.
Tumawa siya, that's the purest laugh that I've ever heard.
"Sobrang liwanag niya ngayon. Bakit kaya?" She asked.
Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa mga kamay niya. Tell me baby, I know you're up to something.
"Lance, she's calling me."
Fuck! No!
Kung mahigpit na ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya ay mas humigpit pa lalo ngayon.
"Areeyah, will you please stop with your thoughts?"
"But Lance-"
"No! Not today! Not today please?" Pakiusap ko.
Muli, tumingin siya saakin, kung kanina maliligayang mga mata ang iginawad niya saakin, ngayon mga matang umiiyak na. Baby please! No!
"Lance, I...need to go with her." Nanghihina niyang sabi.
Dire-diretso ang paghila ko sa kanya. I may sound like a gay but shit! I'm crying really hard.
"Lance, I want to be one of those starts right now. I want to be with lola." She said between her sobs.
I couldn't answer back.
"Lance, you'll always support me right?" She asked.
Tumango ako.
"Then support me today. Support me...dying tonight..."
That made me cry more.
"Lance..." Ani niya at kumalas sa yakap ko, "Do me this one last favor."
"What is it?" I asked.
Huminga siya nang malalim, "Can you sing that song for me?"
Tumango ako at kahit na nagbabara ang lalamunan ay kinaya kong kumanta para sa kanya.
This is her last request. I can't even say the word last.
I started to sing and she was staring at me the whole time. She was staring at me like she's memorizing my face so I did the same for her. I memorized every detail in her face. That chinky eyes. Pointed nose. Sweet pink lips. Her fair skin and her long brown hair with curls in the end. I want to remember her face. The face that I loved the most.
Maya-maya ay sinandal niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko. She's playing with my right hand while my left hand rested on her left shoulders.
Ramdam ko ang bigat ng bawat paghinga niya. Na pinipilit niya lang na tapusin ang kanta.
She's humming.
"I love you for a thousand years,
I love you for a thousand more..."
Unti-unting humihina ang boses niya by the end of the song she talked.
"Lance...I love you."
That tight hold began to loose. Her shoulders began to go down. Her chest going up and down stopped.
Her breathings stopped.
My phone lighted and alarmed.
It's 12 AM. May 18, 2017
I looked into my phone and as I read what is the alarm for, I cried.
I kissed the top of her head then mouthed the word, "Happy Birthday Baby. I love you you too."
BINABASA MO ANG
Before I Die (UNEDITED)
General FictionHow much can you sacrifice for the people you love? Areeyah Kate Almodovar is a college student living the best of her life. Everybody loves her, she's a jolly and carefree person and eventhough she's one of the richest girl in her university and he...
