Written by: annedaleward
Prompt: "caught in the middle of response paper"
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"I hope it's on already."
"Just let me check— yep, it's recording."
"Hi May!"
"Oh god, I don't know what to say."
"Our first meeting. Wow. We met on the internet, I still can't believe that's the start."
"I remember I was looking for answers about how to identify an author's gender? Like is it possible to tell if it's a male or a female by the style of writing? Yun diba?"
"And so I posted a question in this site I found. After like—2 minutes I started receiving responses. Some did not take it seriously, a lot are just playing around. I was starting to lose hope."
"Then I noticed your comment. The first and only comment I needed to get through the paper I'm writing. I needed to say thank you because I was getting pissed already."
"You replied and our conversation went long. I remember I had a hard time going back to our exchange because the internet connection was not cooperating. I really enjoyed it. I had a good laugh."
"I searched for you on social media. I was glad because you told me what your real name is. Maymay. You had to delete the comment because we don't want strangers to know about us too. Although technically, we're strangers to one another at that point."
"But I was comfortable. I felt you were not hesitating too."
"We talked over the internet for months."
"There was a time when I doubted if you are real. Like if it's really you, Maymay, who I'm talking to and not anyone who's just pretending."
"Then one day we decided to meet in person. I kept telling myself that it's mostly because I owe you for helping me. And the friendship we had is worth more than just us talking over the internet."
"Of course I wanted to know more."
"I was able to get back to work and finished writing my response paper. I thought I had to wait but because of that encounter, I was able to make it on time."
"Do you remember the day you met Mom? Mom treats you like her own child. Sobrang gusto ka niya. Sabi pa niya, she wants to adopt you. Kaya lang sabi ko sa kanya ayoko."
"Kasi sabi ko, hindi bilang isang kaibigan o kapatid ang turing ko sayo."
"I mean, I want you to be a part of the family but not a sister type of thing."
"Mom was laughing at me. Because that was the first time she heard me confess about liking a girl."
"And Dad? Dad caught me smiling like some weirdass one morning. He asked me who I was texting that time but I didn't tell him."
"Everytime we're together, we'd always talk about our dreams, countries we want to visit, extreme rides we want to try... It's endless."
"My friends were surprised because it's like you know me more than they know me."
"Maymay, I haven't had time and courage to tell you this before. But.."
"I love you."
"And I'm sorry that we had to.. We had to encounter this. I'm sorry that maybe I'm too late. I hope I'm not too late."
"Promise me not to feel bad ever again. And promise me you will take care of yourself."
"I'm filming this video to greet you a Happy Birthday, Happy Valentines, Happy Halloween, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Whenever you feel like watching this on one of those occasions I mentioned."
"I love you, Maymay."
"I hope you can watch this already. Wake up."
___________________________________________________________________
"Pinakiusap sa'kin ni Edward na ipakita yan sayo 'pag nagising ka na. Pagkatapos nun umalis na siya."
"Pero isang linggo na akong gising, Pat. Ba't ngayon mo lang pinakita sa akin?"
"It's always playing. Palaging nagp-play yan sa tabi mo. Pinagdadasal naming sana naririnig mo. Nung nagising ka, kailangan ko siyang itago pansamantala dahil kailangan mo pang ipahinga yung katawan mo. Baka ikabigla mo kung sakali."
"Pat..."
Niyakap ni Patricia si Maymay na nakahiga pa rin sa hospital bed. Hinayaan niya lang itong umiyak sa balikat niya dahil alam niya kung gaanong kahalaga sa kaibigan niya ang binata. At wala siyang ibang hihilinging matanggap na regalo ngayong pasko kundi ang makitang ulit si Edward. "Paskong pasko, Pat. Pinapaiyak mo ako."
"Yun kasi yung sinabi niya nun sakin. Kung maaari 'pag gising ka na, tuwing may okasyon mo lang panoorin dahil baka ma-miss mo lang siya lalo."
"Tita Maymay, are you crying?"
Mabilis na pinunasan ni Maymay ang luha sa pisngi at hinarap si Jenjen, anak ng kapatid niyang si Vincent.
"Yes bebe. Masaya kasi si Tita. Kasi I get to celebrate Christmas with Jenjen. With Daddy Vincent. With Tita Patricia. Tsaka with Lola. 'Lika nga dito."
"I'm happy also, Tita Maymay. Kasi nagising ka na." higit niya sa braso ni Maymay na ngayon ay kandong kandong siya.
"Oh, sakto kayo ni Jenjen, Vincent. Merry Christmas!" bati ni Mama Lorna pagtapos i-check ang orasan sa hawak na cellphone.
"Yehey!" masayang sabi ni Jenjen habang tumatalon sa kamang pinepwestuhan ni Maymay.
"Bebe, 'wag ka malikot diyan. Halika dito tatawagan natin si Mommy." tawag ni Vincent sa anak niya. Agad naman itong sumunod at tumabi sa Daddy niya.
Tahimik na pinagmasdan ni Maymay silang mag-anak. Bagamat kulang ay hindi mapagkakailang masaya sila lalo't gising na siya. Gaano katagal na ba siyang walang malay? Dalawang taon? Dalawang taon pero hindi pa rin sila nagbabago. Bumuntong hininga siya at bumulong sa sarili. "Salamat Lord. Ginising niyo na ako. Malaking bagay po ito para sa kanila."
Binalik ni Maymay ang atensyon sa hawak na camera.
"I love you, Maymay."
"I love you, Maymay."
"I love you, Maymay."
"I love you, Maymay."
"I love you, Maymay."
"I love you, Maymay."
Paulit-ulit niya itong pini-play. Paulit-ulit hanggang sa maging parang tila totoong tao ang bumabanggit nito. Nilapit niya ito sa kanyang tenga at pumikit. Parang katabi niya lang. Parang malapit sa kanya. Sana katabi niya lang. Sana malapit sa kanya.
"Maymay?"
Iniangat ng dalaga ang ulo at hindi niya inaasahan ang bumungad sa kanya. Parang tumigil ang mundo. Sa likuran ay nakangiti silang pinagmamasdan ng kanyang mag-anak.
"Oh my god, May. You're awake."
Edward?
Note: Pasensya na sa kasabawan. Sana ay na-enjoy niyo pa rin.
Merry Christmas, flyers!!!! Labyu labyu!
