A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 69: Taking Turns

[Quin]

Inalalayan ako nina Dad at Lawrence upang makababa mula sa kotse. Halos nadiinan ko pa ang kapit kay Lawrence dahil kahit hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin kayang tumayo nang matagal. My knees are powerless but the will to move and see someone I have not seen for months is reciprocating it positively.

Nang lumapag ang eroplanong sinakyan namin sa NAIA, diretso kaming pumunta sa ospital kung saan ilang buwan nang naka-confine si Raven. I can walk for some time but they insisted with wheelchair for me and I cannot say no since I think it really is for the best.

Tulak-tulak nila ang wheelchair hanggang makapasok kami sa elevator. The hospital lobby is a little crowded but I did not mind. Mas'yado rin kaming nakakuha ng atensiyon dahil na rin sa mga kasama kong akala mo ay kung saang lupalop ng mundo nanggaling, and me for being in this chair around tall and big people. My mask is doing its great job in shrugging the uneasiness.

I have never been in this kind of crowd for some time and I am still not adjusting.

After I regained consciousness from being in coma for months, I allotted another two months in the facility to recover a little more. After that, sumalang ako sa isang eye transplant nang masiguradong na-neutralize na ang metastatic cells sa aking katawan.

For a matter of three months in scary blindness, I was able to see again... With the eye that Raven promised me. With all of my family's efforts to save me despite all my discouragements. Alam ko, hindi pa ako magaling kasi hindi naman talaga ako gagaling.

Walang gamot sa aking sakit pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n ay hindi ko kayang mabuhay nang kasama ito. I can only live with this disease and follow all possible measurements to prolong my life the longest possible.

I will be able to live the life I was refrained from for almost four years... Pero hindi ko pa rin kayang tuluyang magpakasaya.

What's the point of living when one of the main reasons why I chose to is in danger? In the verge of leaving me behind forever? Ano na lang ang mangyayari sa akin kung mawawala si Raven?

Noon, akala ko ako ang magpapaalam... And why did it turn the other way around now? Why is Raven in that room, all geared up with intensive care facilities and with no hopes of waking up ever again?

I cannot lose him, please... He is my last leaf. He is the love of my life. Living without him is not living at all.

Naiiyak sa tuwang sinalubong kami ng pamilya ni Raven. They hugged me like there's no tomorrow and so did I. Kitang-kita ko ang pinaghalong saya at lungkot sa kanilang mga mata habang nakatingin sa akin.

Ilang buwan na rin simula nang huli ko silang nakasama? Time passed by so fast for us. Time is the deadliest thing in this world, it is the most powerful, and it is significantly beautiful.

"Thank God you're fine, Quin..." Tita whispered as she cupped my face and stared at me longingly like a mother. Napangiti ako nang malungkot.

"I'm not yet fine, Tita... But I'm getting there. S-Saan po si Raven?" Bahagya siyang natigilan and her eyes mirrored repressed grief and worry for this idea.

Alam ko naman kung bakit. Natatakot silang makita ko ang kalunos-lunos na sitwasyon ni Raven. Tanggap ko naman 'yon pero mas ikamamatay ko kung matapos na ang lahat na hindi ko man lang nasisilayan ulit si Raven.

I want to see him again, in any situation possible no matter how painful because these eyes that I have now, these eyes that gave me another chance to be better and take me away from fear—is his gift to me. His sacrifice and dream for me that is now finally paid off pero hindi man lang niya makikita iyon... ngayon.