7200 (Short Story)

Day five

7200.

The needle is back in my skin. My eyes feel so heavy pero pinilit kong buksan ang mga iyon. The warm thing on my stomach tells me Caleb is on the bed with me.

Umikot ako at hinarap siya. I was too weak to even say a word. Tinitigan ko na lamang siya.

The pain last night was unbearable. I thought I was dying. Akala ko ay posibleng pumutok ang ulo ko sa sakit. Ang mga tao sa amin ay balisa sa takot. I was afraid too. Afraid that I had to go on the same day I married the man I love.

Naramdaman niya siguro ang titig ko kaya naman nang dumilat siya ay ngumiti ako. Last night must've hurt him too. I was in pain, but my heart was more painful. Gaya noong nakaraang araw. My heart ached seeing him worry with tears falling from his eyes.

"Hi," I whispered.

Hinalikan niya ang aking noo. "What did the doctor say?" nanghihina kong sabi.

Mapupungay ang mga mata niya. Umiling siya at niyakap na lamang ako ng mahigpit. "I have a surprise for you later."

"I can't wait..." bulong ko.

Inalalayan niya akong mag-ayos. Hindi ko na naalintana ang hiya nang palitan niya ang aking damit. I was too weak to even feel embarrassed.

Pati sa pagkain ay sinusubuan niya ako. I didn't want to eat pero pinipilit niya ako. Nang hindi makayanan ay naisuka ko lamang ang kinain.

We were back in bed. The TV is on. We are hugging each other, para bang lamig na lamig sa sobrang dikit ng aming mga katawan.

I don't know how to comfort him. I know he's been thinking about me and my condition.

"I'm happy I married you," basag ko sa katahimikan. He caressed my cheek.

"I am too." He kissed my forehead. Hindi ko na mabilang ang mga halik niya sa aking noo. Kada may pagkakataon ay hinahalikan niya iyon. Sometimes he'd kiss my lips when I face him.

"But... don't you think... it's a bit unfair for... you?" Kahit nahihirapan ay pinilit kong sabihin iyon. I need to be clear. I want him to be okay when I'm... gone.

He tore his eyes from the television and gave me his dangerous look. Magkasalubong ang mga kilay, he look insulted. "It's not. Are you thinking about that since yesterday?"

I nodded slowly. Mariin siyang pumikit. "Stop worrying about that. Because marrying you is the best choice I have ever made." He whispered. Bulong man iyon pero ramdam na ramdam ko iyon at halos tumagos iyon sa aking kaluluwa.

Without blinking, a tear fell off, "I don't want you thinking about that." Pinalis niya iyon at dumampi ng isang halik sa aking labi.

"I love you. At ang hindi ka pakasalan ay isang matinding kasalanan sa aking sarili. Not marrying you is a torture. I don't want you walking around without my name. It's pure torture." Pikit mata niyang amin. He kissed me again on my lips.

"Then... saying yes to you is the best choice I have ever made too..."

Ang maghapon ay lumipas na parang hangin. The throbbing pain on my head came back. It never left until the night.

Madilim na sa kwarto. Ang mga mata ni Caleb na kakapasok lang sa aking kwarto ay puno ng lungkot at pangungulila. Before closing the door, I saw Mia's crying face. I smiled weakly at her. A man hugged her because of her hysteric cries.

We all knew it that night. My time is running out. Para kaming nakatingin lahat sa isang buhangin ng oras. Unti-unting nauubos.

Umayos ako nang higa at bahagyang ngumiti sa asawa. The hose from my nose moved as I smile. Ang lamig ng hangin mula doon ay bahagyang nakakapagpagaan sa akin.

I am wearing a light blue dress. The same dress I used from the prom. The prom where Caleb and I had our first kiss and our first i love you's.

Binuhat niya ako mula sa kama. Ang mga kamay ko ay ikinapit ko sa kanyang leeg. Ang kanyang panga ay tumigas, para bang pinipigilan ang pag-iyak. I caressed his jaw. Nang lumingon sa akin ay ngumiti ako.

"I love you," It was my eleventh I love you for today. I want to say I love you as much as I can. Until my last breath. Dinikit niya ang noo sa akin at mahinang bumulong ng "mahal kita". Like he's refraining his self from talking. Dahil isang kalabit lang ay iiyak na siya.

A familiar song played. I smiled. It was Please Stay by Westlife. He gently rocked me. Dancing while I'm on his arms. The song made me euphoric. "Put me down, I want to dance properly..." hiling ko.

Nagdadalawang isip niya akong binitawan. The cold floor made me tremble. Napansin niya iyon kaya naman binuhat niya ako at pinatayo sa kanyang mga paa.

I rest my head on his warm chest. Ang mga kamay ko ay nasa kanyang leeg pa rin, habang ang kanya ay nasa aking likod. Supporting and hugging me.

We swayed. We danced slowly. Seizing the opportunity while we still can. My throbbing head reminded me that I am a dancing bomb. Anytime, I can go off.

"I'm sorry if I can't stay any longer..." bulong ko. Naramdaman ko ang basa sa aking ulo. He's crying. Hindi siya umimik sa akin.

"Thank you for doing my wishlist. It was fun. And the five days with you... it was the best days of my life..." i sound so weak. I hated it. Humigpit ang kanyang yakap. Nang hindi makuntento sa aming lapit ay muli niya akong binuhat.

Ang kanyang basang pisngi ay tumama sa aking noo dahil sa pagsandal ng ulo ko doon.

"I made a story about us..." kwento ko habang mariin na nakapikit. Trying to talk behind the throbbing pain. "Yeah?" sagot niya, nanghihina at nanginginig.

"This time, it was a happy ending..." halos bulong ko. My vision is getting blurry. Ang ulo ko ay parang humihigpit. Ten minutes... I asked my brain.

Nanginginig ang kanyang mga balikat sa matinding pag-iyak. I couln't even shed a tear, I'm too tired and weak. My attention was too focused on saying how much I love him.

"I love you, I love you, I love you, Leighandra Acosta Medina. I love you, so much." He said as he sit down. Hindi na nakakayanan ang panlalambot ng mga binti.

I sat down on his lap. Head still resting on his shoulder, face burried on his damp neck. For the last time, I went for his lips. A goodbye kiss.

After a kiss, he hugged me, so tight I couldn't breathe properly. He's crying. "Cal... inaantok na'ko." i said, remembering the famous line from a movie.

Naramdaman ko ang kanyang pagtango. The darkness slowly hugged me.

I murmured my last words but I don't know if he heard it.

I love you.