Seven Days of Love (Short Story)

Seventh day

I woke up the other day with my eyes still groggy. I felt my hands searching Daniel beside me only to find out I'm here all alone in my room. I clutched my kumot up to my chest level to hide my naked body. 

My eyes scanned my room and no Daniel was found. 

"Beh?" I asked to myself. Wala na rin mga damit niya. Only my clothes were scattered on the floor. I stood up to check the bathroom, pero wala talaga.

Ano to, ha, gagalawin niya lang ako tapos ano, iiwan? Akala ko ba iba siya...

Hayop din pala siya!

Iiwan niya lang ako? Wala man lang goodbye? Ang sama sama niya! 

I started the day with crying. Hindi ito kaO-Ahan. Kung matino siyang lalaki, dapat man lang pinaramdam niya na mahalaga ako at hindi isang pipitchuging nilalang! dapat man lang ginising niya ako o nag iwan man lang ng note...

*someones calling*

I pick up my phone and answered in an irritated manner. "Hello? Sino to?"

"Si Jake..." boses nga ni Jake..

"Jake? Huh? At tumawag ka pa? bakit? Makikipag--"

"Joanna.... You need to go to our house right now" he said seriously.

"At bakit ko naman gagawin iyon ha?"

"Because of Daniel... she needs you" he answered back.

"Bakit? anong nangyari sa kanya?"biglang na alert ang senses ko. Masyado kasing melancholic ang voice ni Jake. 

"Just come to our house..." and then he ended the call.

----------------------------------------

"He's inside" sabi ng mama ni Daniel nung nasa harapan na ako ng kwarto niya. 

"ano po ba nangyari sa kanya?"

I just noticed her mom's swollen eyes. She looked like she's crying for the whole day. This is strange.... And then suddenly Jake popped beside Daniel's mom and said, "Thank you sa pagmamahal na binigay mo sa kapatid ko...."

"WAIT?! ANO BA TONG NANGYAYARI... can somebody please explain it to me? Hindi ko kayo maintindihan"

Jake sighed and opened the door for me. "I know you love my brother more than anything else... i just want you to know, he loves you more than you can imagine..."

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng room ni Daniel at hindi ko madigest ang nakita. Hindi ako makahinga. And I felt like I was the twin tower being crashed by two planes. Mas pipiliin ko pa siguro mamatay kaysa nito....

"Daniel!" sigaw ko sabay takbo papunta sa kanya.

Nakahimlay lang siya sa kama, walang kamalay-malay. Putlang putla at hindi na humihinga. "Beh!" I tried to shake him. "Beh! you're not funny!" sabi ko pa sabay gising sa kanya...

kaso....

hindi talaga siya gumagalaw. "Beh!!! Beh!!!" *sobs* "Beh! Bakit ayaw mo gumising??? BEH!"

"Joanna.." Jake hugged me for comfort. 

"What happened?" *sobs* "Kahapon lang... masaya kami tapos ngayon?"

"Daniel has Leukemia. He did not tell you because he has other plans..."

"Pero masigla naman siya ah.. para nga lang wala siyang sakit eh.."I protested. I tried hard to make myself Believe that Daniel is still alive. That he's breathing.....

"he left you something..." His mother said and handed me a box. "Buksan mo na yan pagdating mo sa bahay niyo... I know it's a bit private" she smiled at me pero i know its full of pain.