My Seventh Heaven

My Epilogue

It was just a random day, the worst day to be exact.

The company I worked for just went bankrupt, my savings I invested in a co-workers business was scammed, my parents were in a pinch they need to pay off a sum of money they owed for my studies,the house we live in has been forfeited by the bank and right now it was raining heavily.

“Dear GOD! KAYA KO PA PO! I can still get through this. Mas marami pang malalang bagay ang nangyayari sa iba and I have no right to give up.” I always thought of myself as a very positive person.

Walking through the flooded streets bumigay na ang payong kong dala, I stopped at a chruch. Tumingala ako sa langit and suddenly tears were flowing down my cheeks.

“Wooh! Grabe ang naman lakas ng ulan pati yung mata ko nadadaanan” biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko na binalutan ko nga pala ng plastic para hindi mabasa sa ulan.

I took it out and swiped the green button.

“H-hello?” I answered.

“Ate! Umuwi kana po tinatapon ang mga gamit natin sa labas ng kalsada, pati sila ate Mira hinihila palabas” mangiyak ngiyak ang bunso kong kapatid sa pag tawag.

“PAUWI NA KO!” I ran, as fast as I could.

Tumakbo ako hanggang sa hindi ko na madama ang mga paa ko kahit napaka layo pa ng aming bahay ay kusa na lamang gumalaw ang mga paa ko pauwi.

I was wet, dirty, smelly when I arrived. I was too late, our things are soaking in the rain along with my family. I saw them crying.

It was heart breaking.
I summed up my courage and nilapitan ko sila.

“Ma, tayo na po kayo diyan. Magkaka sakit po kayo” I reached for my mom na tulala sa kawalan.

“Paano na tayo, paano na ang mga kapatid mo? Bakit ba natin ito nararanasan? Mali ba ang ginawa kong ampunin ka!” Sigaw ng aking Ina habang walang tigil sa pag iyak at tinabig ang aking mga kamay.

Yes, I was adopted. I don’t know who my parents are or if they are still alive or if they are looking for me but one thing is for sure this people right here are my family.

I don’t know how to answer her. Kasi kahit ako tinatanong ko ang sarili ko kung ako nga ba ang nag dala ng kamalasan sa mga taong ito.

Kahit saan ako magpunta tila katambal ko na ang sakit at pag luha. Am I cursed? Maybe. I don’t know. Napaupo na lamang ako sa putikan at malamig na semento with them helplessly waiting for some one to save us.

Somebody, Anybody. Please. I fervently prayed.

Later that night a van came to pick us up I thought they were going to kidnap us but I was so relieved to see it was one of my best friends Blaine.

I just ran to her and hugged her trying not to cry but my emotions betrayed me again she took us to her home and let us stay there.

Kaya pala siya tumatawag dahil nalaman niya ang nagyari sa amin ng aking pamilya, she was a rich kid pero hindi yun ang dahilan kung bakit kami naging magkaibigan bonus na lang iyon.

(The next day)

Early morning I got up and took a bath while my friend was busy helping her maid prepare breakfast, when she went up she scolded me.

“Elara, why did you not call me? It was your sister Sera who contacted me. Bessy naman noon ako ang may kailangan isang tawag ko lang para kang superhero na ang bilis mang rescue, now that you needed help hindi ka hihingi ng saklolo kahit sa akin pa?” Isang kurot sa pisngi ang inabot ko sa kanya.

“Bessy, it is my problem and my responsibility not yours” sagot ko sa kanya

“I do not want to burden anybody lalo na ikaw you have problems of your own diba?” Pinching her cheeks back.

“Elara alam mo naman walang nag ii-sstay na family or relatives ko dito sa Pilipinas diba? Ikaw lang ang pamilya ko dito. Let your family stay here at our apartments” inabutan niya ako ng towel to dry myself.

“NO! They are my family, I won’t let you do this Blaine kahit mag away pa tayo.” Matigas kong sagot sa kanya.

“Wala ka bang alam na ibang sabihin kung dalawang letra? Fine. Kilala kita,how about we just bargain?”
Tumaas ang kilay niya at ngumiti.

“Okay what’s your offer?” Pag suko ko sa kulit niya. Umupo ako sa tabi niya para pakinggan ang kanyang huwestiyon.

“Let your family stay here but they need to work. They can be the collectors ng rental fees para may income din sila. And you! Ms. Pride Rice will accompany me to Korea and work sa mga partner company namin!” Sabay hagis ng maliit na pouch sa akin.

“T-TEKA! Your terms are advantegous lang sa amin e! Paano ka naman? Tanong ko sa kaniya.

“My gosh Elara Luna Sanchez! That is my final offer. Take it or Take it again.” Pinanliitan na niya ko ng kanyang mata.

She will not let me win lalo na kapag may gusto talaga siya so i decided to agree na lang.

“I know this won’t end Blaine. Fine. Have it your way.” Tinaas ko ang dalawa kong kamay at sumuko na lamang. Nahulog ang ibinigay niyang pouch at may mga nahulog sa loob.

I picked it up ang saw two tickets. BTS Wings Tour. VVIP.

“BTS? The name seems familiar.” Reading the tickets I handed it to her.

"Ofcourse it is. Sikat kaya sila globally"
She took the ticket and placed it back sa pouch and went to her closet.

“Bessy, manonood tayo ng concert?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Yes bessy! We are young and BTS is the ripest apple on the tree this year. She took out somethings from her closet.

“Here let me introduce them to you. Bangtan Sonyeongdan’s seven members. RM, Jin, Suga, Jhope, Jimin, V and Jungkook.” She took out a tshirt with print and pointed each one of them to me.

“Okay, but you know I don’t think na ma eenjoy ko ang concert nila bessy” umupo na ako at nagsuklay ng mahaba kong buhok.

“They are great artists Elara, very inspiring ang success story nila. Believe me” pag bbuild up niya sa kanila.

“Hmm..I’ll have your word for it but I have a lot on my mind tapos manonood pa ng concert? Bessy naman parang unfair sa family ko” pagmamatigas ko pa.

“They are fine here besides naman Elara since mag college ka you have been working atleast 3 jobs para lang makatulong diba. Baka pwede ka naman mag break atleast once? Mag jo jowa nga nag cocool off yang pag ka martyr mo din dapat hahaha” Sabay hagis ng damit sa akin.

“Sige pero after the trip mag fofocus na ako uli sa family ko ha. Gusto kong maka bawi kahit konti lang and anything I do will never be enough para mag pa salamat sa pag kupkop sila sa akin” sabay ngiti ng may lungkot.

“Copy bessy. Malay mo sa concert or sa korea ka pa magka bf!” Pabiro niyang hirit

“Hmmm, as long as he will love my family and me.. Char! Hahaha” sinakyan ko ang biro niya

“Oh tara na kain na tayo luto na ang agahan madami pa tayo aasikasuhin para bukas” pag aaya niya pababa.

I saw my family safe and sound, masaya silang nag hahain. Inakay ako ng mga kapatid ko patungo sa hapag kainan.

“Lead the prayer ate!” Masayang sinabi ng bunso kong kapatid.

“Ah yes, let us bow our heads and pray for God’s blessings” I prayed and offered my praises while watching my family eat.

I will make sure to give you a good life, if not now then tomorrow for sure.

I kept repeating that mantra in my head. I told my mom about me going to Korea and Blaine’s offer. She didn’t say a word and just nodded.

I went to Blaine’s room and we had a chat before finally dozing off.