Tell Me What Love Is 𑁍

Chapter 30

(A/N: Please read the whole chapter. I inserted the Prologue because this is when it took place but I changed a few words. So don't skip it! Also, vote. We're reaching 2k soon! I would like to hear your feedbacks to me too. Thank you!

This is the last update. I'll post the Epilogue tomorrow at 7pm. Thank you.)

Aika Salvador's Point of View.

[Song Track: Reasons to Stay by Kate Vogel]

Makalipas ang isa't kalahating taon...

Tinignan ko ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. I lost my hair, but they are all starting to grow back ever since I stopped getting chemotherapy.

I just defeated Leukemia last month.

But, I wasn't happy at all. Was it because of all the hair that I lost within the year? No. A year and a half didn't change anything inside me at all. The way I see myself and the way I view things.

I actually lowkey hate myself for fighting. I didn't know what to feel when the doctor told me that I officially am cancer free. Sure, it was a miraculous recovery. Imagine beating a stage 3 leukemia. I was told that most of the patients didn't make it. And whenever I thought of it, I can't help but to smile.

Maybe the heart that Gry gave me isn't weak as I am. And that somehow makes me happy. Pero, bigla kong maaalala, I thought I'm meant to die because of this... So I left them. But now that I recovered, what would I do?

Go back to the Philippines and apologize?

Pathetic. I just left them. I shouldn't think of going back to them anymore. Things don't go that way. I don't want to take them for granted.

They're too good for me, anyway. I don't deserve them. Stupid, Leukemia, it just took me back to my old me.

Gustuhin ko man na bumalik, I cannot. How can I apologize when I can't even forgive myself?

I heaved a sigh.

"Tita!" napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang makita siyang nakatayo sa pintuan at masama ang tingin sa akin.

"Ano na naman 'yang iniisip mo, Aika?" tanong niya.

Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama ko. They really did take care of me. They also found work here, binigay sa kanila ng kasamahan nila dito sa church na ina-attend-an nila.

"I'm just grateful, Tita.." ngumiti ako sa kanya.

She smiled back and tapped my back. "May ibibigay rin pala ako sa'yo," and with that, umalis siya sa kwarto. I waited patiently. Pagkabalik niya ay may hawak-hawak siyang envelope. "H'eto oh, 'yong pera mo." aniya.

"Tita, 'di ba po sabi ko gamitin niyo 'yan sa pagpapagamot sa akin?"

"Oo nga, pero naisip ko na h'wag na lang. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa'yo, Aika. Sobra. Keep it. Para naman kapag bumalik tayo sa Pilipinas, may magagamit ka." sabi niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Babalik po tayo ng Pilipinas?" tanong ko.

Tumango siya sa akin. "Mahirap ang pera dito, e. Saka, isa pa... Kaya lang naman tayo pumunta dito para sa pagpapagamot mo, 'di ba?" tanong niya.

I was not able to answer her. "Bakit, anak? Gusto mo ba mag-stay na lang dito?" tanong niya ulit.

Umiling ako. "Hindi naman po. Kahit saan po ayos lang ako." sagot ko.