One-shot Stories

*entry 17*

(Coffee ft. Death Bed)

"DONT STAY AWAKE FOR TOO LONG. I'LL MAKE A CUP OF COFFEE FOR YOUR HEAD."

I said and kissed him in the forehead. He'd been suffering the symptoms of his brain tumor. Katatapos niya lang mag-seizure, magsuka, at ngayon, masakit na naman ang ulo niya.

"Thanks M-Mika," he said, weakly.

It hurts seeing him in pain. And it also hurts that I can't do anything just to help him. I want to lessen the pain, I want him to not suffer, I want him at peace. Pero wala akong magagawa.

Bago pa tumulo ang luha ay umalis na ako sa tabi ng hospital bed niya at dumiretso na sa lamesa kung nasaan ang mainit na tubig at tasa. I made a coffee for him, trying so hard to stop the tears.

He's Miko, my eight years boyfriend. Last year lang namin nalaman na may tumor na pala siya. At ipina-alam niya lang sa 'min kung kelan malala na. He tried to hide it from me, pero dahil malala na nga, hindi na kinaya.

He's a gamer. And that's why I fell in love with him. He's an addict to all the mobile games. I'm his girlfriend, and I support all the things that he wanted to do. Not realizing that it affects his health.

I stir the black coffee and went back beside his bed. He's looking at me intently. I simply wiped the left tears and smiled at him. Carefully, I handed him the coffee.

"Here," I said.

"Umiiyak ka ba?"

Mabilis akong umiling. A year ago, I still can't accept it. But now, still. And it's slowly killing me. But I need to be tough for him. Wellt fight together.

"Why would I? Malakas ka Miko. Alam kong... k-kaya mo 'yan."

He put the coffee beside the small table beside him and cupped my cheek. He looked at me in the eyes. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. When he's like this, I know that he can see my pain.

"M-Miko, inumin mo na yung k-kape."

"I'm sorry Mika," he whispered.

It was a Sunday morning when we decided to attend a mass. Habang papunta pa lang sa simbahan, pansin kong may mali sakanya. At saktong pagka-dating namin, bigla na lang siyang nawalan ng malay. Humingi agad ako ng tulong, at mabilis na dinala siya sa hospital.

"How is he Doc?" I asked the doctor who checked on him. He's now peacefully sleeping.

He didn't answer me, instead, he asked me to come with him. Sumama ako, iniwan sandali si Miko. Iminuwestra niya ako sa opisina niya. I sat at the chair in front of his table.

"A-Ano pong dahilan bakit po nagka-ganon si Miko, doc?"

He removed his glasses at read his papers. He crossed his fingers and sighed. Tumingin siya sa akin.

"He has a brain tumor Miss. It's been a month since tumubo ito at sa ngayon, malaki na. His life is at risk."

"P-Po? W-What's brain tumor?" I nervously asked.

"Brain tumor is a collection, or mass, of abnormal cells in the brain. The skull, which encloses the brain, is very rigid. Any growth inside such a restricted space can cause problems. It can be cancerous or noncancerous."

"Paano po nangyari 'yon?"

"The main cause of the brain tumor is people who have been exposed to a type of radiation called 'ionizing radiation'."

It was painful for me, knowing his life is in danger. But it was more painful to know the truth. Na matagal na pala niyang alam, ayaw niyang kaming mag-alala ng pamilya niya kaya hindi niya sinabi.