Me & You: Between Life And Death (COMPLETE)

Chapter 4

"Surprise!!" they shouted.

I can't believe that they are all here. All of my churchmates, family and relatives. Kahit na hindi ko sila kilala lahat.

"Happy Birthday to you... happy birthday to you... happy happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday Betryle!"

Hindi ko na napigilan. My eyes watered with tears. It is so hard for me to stare at them because I didn't even know that... it's my birthday. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko kasi dapat diba maging masaya ako pero bakit parang nasasaktan ako?

Siguro kasi hindi ko man lang alam kung sino ba talaga ako. The only thing left in my memory is the knowledge na kahit kailan hindi kayang buohin ang pagkatao ko. I saw Mom, Dad and Kuya walk towards me at may dala silang cake, flowers and balloons.

"Come on, make a wish..." Mom said. I closed my eyes. I can't help but to cry. I heard the small sobs I make while making my one thing wish.

Lord, I want my memories back.

Umiiyak pa rin ako hanggang sa i-blow ko ang candle. Everyone is so happy for me. Kahit papano medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Niyakap ako nila Mom and Dad ng mahigpit then pinagpray ako ni Pastor John. Right after nun nagstart na ang thanksgiving party as part of my birthday celebration.

Sa garden namin itinuloy ang party. Nasa may stage rin nila ako pinaupo. May white big screen pa sila for the video presentation.

"Okay, everyone! Ngayon naman tawagin natin ang mga cute students ni Betryle..." Kuya said enthusiastically.

Siya kasi ang host, sabay lahat ng mga bata lumapit sa akin. Isa-isa akong niyakap. I can't help but to cry kasi ramdam ko na malapit sila sa akin. I just let my tears fall. They've been stucked there. God knows how much I wanted to remember all of them.

I already met them sa church since I came back but I no longer teaching them at Sunday school because of my current situation. Palagi lang akong nakikinig sa preaching ni Pastor. Si Billie na ang teacher nila ngayon.

"Happy Birthday, Teacher! I wish na bumalik na po ang memory mo para magturo ka na po sa amin. I love you po..." Xandra said sabay bigay niya sa akin ng gift niya. Then we hugged each other.

"Teacher, miss na po kita..." di na natuloy ni Ethanie ang sinasabi niya kasi bigla niya na agad akong niyakap tapos binigay niya rin sa akin ang gift niya.

Halos lahat sila umiyak nung binabati nila ako. Pati ako iyak pa rin ng iyak dahil kitang kita ko sa kanila that they truly loves me... that they care for me.

But I don't remember why? Why they love me? Why I have these kind of people surrounding me? I don't remember who is the Betryle that they love and it's so hard to live a life that you missed everything about yourself.

"Thank you Kiddos, I'm sure naman that teacher Betryle love you all too..." Ngumiti si Kuya sa akin. I also smiled at him.

"So, now let's hear Mom's testimony about how great the Lord is in our family..."

All of them welcomed her with a warm applause.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming here tonight to celebrate with us... the goodness of God in our lives..." she said while controlling her tears from falling.

"I'm so sorry umiiyak ako ngayon..." pabirong sabi ni Mom. Sabay tawanan naman ng lahat.

"Alam naman natin that for the past two months Betryle wanted to spent her remaining months in Afghanistan. Kahit na hindi totally okay sa akin iyon... wala na akong nagawa when she started crying and saying..." she stopped as she wiped her tears for a second.