Fighting Cancer (EulBert)

Chapter Eight

Eula's POV

"I think she should undergo chemotherapy instead of immunotherapy."

I looked at Albert with sadness in my eyes. I couldn't believe it. Kung kailan desidido na 'ko na gagaling ako, tsaka naman naging ganto.

Naramdaman kong humigpit yung hawak niya sa kamay ko.

"Mr. and Mrs. Martinez, I'm not rushing you to give me an instant answer. I'll give you time to think," the doctor smiled sadly.

Albert nodded at Dr. Peters. "Is there anything else, Doc?" The doctor shook his head. "That would be all, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez."

We excused ourselves and went straight to the car. We were both silent and no one uttered a word.

I made a wrong decision. Dapat tinuloy ko nalang yung pagiging cold sa kanila. I should've continued to push them away.

This is what I'm afraid of, ang umasa kami sa mga bagay na alam kong malabo. These past few days, I made myself believe na gagaling ako, but look what happened. Wala pang isang linggo, nagkaroon na agad ng sign na malabong mangyari yun.

Regrets. Sana tinuloy ko nalang ang paglayo sa kanila. Ayan, back to zero na tuloy tayo, Eula. Malapit na naman ang loob ng mga anak mo sa'yo.

Sa totoo lang, I'm not sure. Tama ba tong magiging desisyon ko? Or should I stick to being like this? I sighed. I really don't know..

All I'm thinking are my daughters. Ano nalang ang magiging impact sa kanila kapag nawala ako tapos malapit pa ang loob namin? Hindi ba doble yung sakit kung itutuloy ko 'to? At least kung lumayo na ako ngayon palang, it will lessen the pain... somehow.

I let out a sigh, again. Deeper than the one a while ago.

"What are you thinking?" Albert asked, but I didn't respond, nor look at him.

"Mukhang malulunod na ata ako ah," He said out of the blue. What is he talking about?

I turned my head towards her direction and gave him a 'what-are-you-talking-about' look.

"Ang lalim kasi ng iniisip mo," he said seriously.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin, and just focused my eyes on the window.

"Gusto mo ba kumain?" He asked, and held my hand that made me look at him.

"No, I'm not hungry yet," he nodded, looking convinced.

After that, wala na namang nagsalita sa amin. And silence remained until we got home.

I immediately got out of the car. Julie is here since wala siyang pasok today. "Hi Mom," she greeted cheerfully. I smiled sadly and walked passed her. She called me once more but I didn't look back.

Magsisimula ulit ako. I need to continue what I've started.

End of POV

Julie's POV

Narinig kong bumukas yun gate. Maybe andito na sila Mommy. I put my phone down and went to our front door to greet them.

I saw mom go in first pero mukhang 'di siya okay. What could've happened?

"Hi, Mom!" I greeted but she just smiled at me and nilagpasan ako. Weird, ano kanyang nangyari sa hospital?

After while, Dad went in. "Hi, Dad! May problema po ba?" Straightforward kong sabi. Wag na tayo mag-aksaya ng oras, time is gold. Nanonood pa ko ng Crash Landing On You. Hahaha, charot 1/2.

Anyways, ang tagal bago sumagot ni Dad. I saw him having doubts pero bakit? Para saan?

"Dad?" I called out hid attention kasi natulala siya. I even patted his back. "Huy, Dad!"

He blinked a couple of times before answering me. "Call your sisters for dinner later. We have something to discuss. Same time," I nodded kahit I'm still weirded out sa mga pangyayari.

"Puntahan ko na muna mommy mo," he left but before he did, he kissed me on top of my head. Napailing nalang ako, what is it this time?

I went back to the living room and opened my phone. I texted my sisters na umuwi ng maaga and told Ate Alex to have dinner here.

Manonood na nga lang ako, nasstress ako. Ano ba kasi nangyayari? Bakit kasi di pa sabihin, di ako mapakali!

I opened Netflix and continued watching CLOY pero 'di ako makapag-focus. Laman ng isip ko sila Mom and Dad, and not Yoon Se-Ri and Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok!

I finally turned off my phone and went to the kitchen to grab meriyenda.

I thought of making a tuna sandwich and I thought na baka 'di pa kumakain sila Mom so I decided to make one for them.

I finished mine and mukhang wala silang balak bumaba so I went to their room, and they left the door slightly opened.

I peeked through the little hole and saw dad talking to mom while nakatalikod siya. No emotions at all!

"Hon, sige na. We should consider the doctor's advice na itigil muna ang immunotherapy and mag-chemotherapy muna." Dad pleaded. "It's for you and para mas gumaling ka agad."

"Para saan pa't mag-cchemotherapy ako kung alam ko naman na hindi ako gagaling. At ano? Mag gaganon ako tapos kapag namatay ako kalbo ako?" Mom said coldly.

"Eula naman, kaya ka nga mag-cchemotherapy mas mataas yung chance na gumaling ka. Bakit mo iniisip yang kamatayan mo?"

I saw mom wiped a tear. "You see, kahit magchemo ako o kung ano mang therapy yan, 'di na ako gagaling! Wag mo nang ipagpilitan. Dahil with or without chemotherapy, di na mawawala itong tumor sa katawan ko!"

"Akala ko ba hindi ka mawawala?" Dad said. "Sabi mo kanina sakin yun kaya ako pumunta na sa dinning table." Oh, so dad was telling the truth kanina..

"I changed my mind, Albert. Walang permanente dito sa mundo, lahat tayo mawawala, and in this case, mas mauuna ako because of cancer!"

I wasn't able to control my tears falling, so I closed the door.

Because of cancer nagkakaganyan ang Mommy ko! I thought everything will all be okay kasi Mommy was back to normal na. She eats with us, laughs and tells stories like she used to be. Pero ano ba naman? Bakit naman kailangang magchemo na instead of immuno? Does that mean mas lumala cancer niya?

I became more determined to be an oncologist. I'm going to save my mom and nothing could stop me. Kahit pa yang cancer na yan!

I didn't know what to do... I just locked myself in my room and started crying til I dozed off.

End of POV

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