WRITER'S HOUR (PUBLISHED under IMMAC PUBLISHING)

WH-Epilogue

       (Note: Ibinalik ko na po ang buong epilogue. ‘Yung special episode ay exclusive lang sa book. Enjoy reading!)
         
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IRIS SETTE TORRES

If someone ask me my favorite authors, without thinking twice, I would always say my parents’ name. They are my biggest inspiration and motivation in everything that I’m doing.

“Iris,” tawag ni Argan sa akin. Nang lumingon ako sa p’westo niya, may binubuksan itong papel na galing sa lumang gamit ko.

He yawned. Halatang pagod na siya galing sa pagbabantay sa kanilang business— ang Happy Bites. Nasa business trip kasi ang mga magulang niya. Ngunit sa kabila ng pagod, tinutulungan pa rin niya ako sa pag-iimpake.

“Ano ‘yan?”

He shakes his head. “It seems like a confession from your father. Naisulat niya ito bago sila nawala. It is dated the day of their wedding.”

“Read it out loud.”

He looked at me. “Bakit hindi na lang kaya ikaw magbasa?”

“Grabe ka. Pakibasa, sige na,” I pleaded.

“Ang tamad mo. Kunin mo na lang dito. Ikaw na ang humihingi ng pabor, ako pa ‘tong inuutusan mo.”

I rolled my eyes. Tatayo na sana ako nang magsalita siya. “Stay there. Babasahin ko na.”

Natawa ako. Babasahin lang din pala, ang dami pang reklamo. Tiningnan niya muna ako nang masama bago nito ibinalik ang atensyon sa puting papel.

He cleared his throat before he reads the content of the paper. “I’m Winther Iris Torres, a lung cancer patient. I have learned a lot when I suffered from cancer. And I hope, this confession will be shared to all those who suffer from a disease or whatever sickness they’re going through.”

Tiningnan ako ni Argan, tila tinatantya ang magiging reaksyon ko. I smiled. “Go ahead. I can handle that.”

“Baka gusto mong ikaw na lang? It seems private.”

“You’re not a stranger. Just continue.”

He nodded and went back to where he has ended. “It’s painful and tiresome to live day by day, afraid of dying in any moment. It’s also burdensome for the people I love to see me crying and shouting in pain so I isolated myself. But the moment I met my reason to continue breathing, it is the time I wanted to actually live and achieve that purpose.”

I squated at the floor. Inihanda ko ang sarili ko sa mga maririnig ko pa.

“There are three important things that I have surrounded myself. Una sa lahat ay ang komunidad ng medisina at kung ano ang magagawa ng gamot upang humaba kahit kaunti ang buhay ko. The medicines, needles, machines, doctors, radiation, surgery, chemotherapy. Whatever they can throw at me, either experimental drugs or anything that make me alive, I want to use them to the full extent. If I need to get third, fourth, fifth or many opinions, if I need to go somewhere else for treatment, then I will. Gusto kong gamitin lahat para sa ikabubuti ko.”

Napangiti ako at kasabay nito ang luha sa aking mga mata. Sana, nakilala ko man lang siya bago ito nawala sa mundo. I’m really proud of my father. Kahit na ang hirap ng pinagdaanan nila ni mama, nagagawa pa rin niyang magbahagi ng magagandang aral.

“Second, I don’t just rely to medical practitioners or doctors. Kailangan ko rin maghanap ng bagay na makakatulong sa mismo kong katawan. I have to build my strength up. I have to increase my own immunity. That includes getting adequate rest, eating right, getting exercise, and actually taking care of my own health.  I have to make myself as strong as I  can, so my body can fight the cancer. And—”