Wildest Dreams (#1 of 1989 Trilogy)

Prologue

The rays of the sun coming from my open window welcomed a new day ahead of me. This is another day to live and I am blessed enough to wake up. I streched my joints and yawn freely. I stood up and went to the bathroom for my morning routines. After doing my thing, I got downstairs for breakfast when I heard someone talking in the kitchen.

"Yes, Ok. We'll be there in no time. Thank you Doc."

Mama ended the call after talking to the doctor. I sighed after hearing that. Dahan-dahan akong tumakbo paalis sa kinatatayuan ko at dali-daling umalis ng bahay.

Tears are horridly dropping down my cheeks. I heard it all and now I'm sobbing hardly because of my pagkachismosa. Yes, I heard it all.

I went to the nearby park to think and process these thoughts. The roads were busy once again. Cars are honking while I crossed the street. I don't know how I'm still running while my tears are blurring my eyesight. I just don't know how to process it all.

I never thought I'd reach this point in my life where we will meet the doctor and talk about replacing my heart. Funny how it is because for years, I survived this. Now, everything seems like a blur because my heart failures are so severe as time passes and it does not respond to any other therapy. It's hard for me, knowing the possible survival rate that only reaches less than 50%. Well, my life became a series of medications since I was just 13 years old. I'm lucky enough to live at least 4 years after that diagnosis meaning I'm 17 now. Fingers crossed, I want to reach at least 18 years. The life expectancy of my disease is limited and varies according to the underlying etiology with a median survival time of about 5 years after diagnosis. That's why I'm so afraid. Lowkey, I might not reach 18.

"I'm so sorry but you have to be careful ma'am. Most cases of cardiomyopathy are persistent. They can get worse over time. There are several cases of this disease that reaches the point of needing a heart transplant. Your daughter's case is asymptomatic. It will be hard for all of us to treat her because we cannot identify the possible happenings but we will try." I can still hear the doctor's voice in my head. I was thirteen yet I experienced a lot.

That introduction took too long and Yes! I have Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

I hate myself for that.

I hate this disease because it took everything from me. It took my freedom to be as normal as other teenagers. I hate that I never get to see my father. I hate my mom because she's there but I never get to approach her as one. I mean yes, she's just there-nothing else.

Nandyan sya to support my needs, financial needs mostly. Our cycle: gigising ako sa umaga na she left already tapos tutulog ako hindi pa siya dumadating. Well, nandyan naman siya kapag pupunta kaming ospital dahil may surgery or for diagnosis or therapy. Ugh. What do I expect nga naman if your mother is a doctor. For short, she's there but she's not really there. Ok tama na, masyado na akong magulo.

Call me a hater. I don't care. I hate everything and there's nothing I can change about that. I hate myself na nga for hating eh. Hayst.

I'm starting to wipe my tears then suddenly, a loud beep of car was heard and my world went dizzy for a while.

Muntikan na akong mabangga. A man in his forties quickly checked me out. I looked up to him. He offered to take me to the hospital but I declined. Of course my mom would be there and I will bet my life she would be in rage once she found out I was almost  hit by a car. I just found him taking me to the park where I was supposed to be heading.

"You need this" he said.

I eagerly accepted the handkerchief and wiped my tears. The man in front of me sat down on the swing next to mine. He looked like he's on his late forties.

"Whatever you're going through, I'm sure you'll surpass it" he told me and then he smiled.

I noticed those deep set of dimples on both of his cheeks. Infairness, gwapo si kuya hah. Feeling ko Pinoy din ehh.

"Salamat po" I stated audibly in a whisper.

"You're Filipino?"

"Hindi po ba halata?" I asked back which caused him to chuckle a little. We stayed like that for minutes. Staring deeply while the wind is blowing against the metallic sound of the swing. I guess he can no longer take the silence.

"If you don't mind, why are you here in San Francisco?"he said.

"I don't know why I'm talking to you or even telling these stuffs to you but I'm doing it anyway. I'm here with my mom to find cure for my sickness. My sickness kasi can't be handled that easily lalo na in our country. Simple as that. How about you po?" I said and smiled at him. He was about to answer when his phone rang.

"Wait hah" he told me. He ended the call and bid goodbye.

"Uhmmm miss I need to go na hah. Hinahanap na kasi ako. By the way nga pala, what's your name?"

"I'm Aga Morales." He said and offered his hand.

Wa-waittt. Morales? Interesting. Could he be? No.

"Dreianna Athena"I told him and accepted the handshake as I stood up to go home. I know my mom's looking for me already because it's getting late. I turned my back on him and started walking away. He stayed on his position and asked...

"Dreianna Athena what?" he said looking confused.

"Dreianna Athena Morales."