The Great Escape

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

Paper cranes

After that encounter with Ephraim, our paths never crossed again for a long time. Another set of months passed and my condition is getting better. Well, that's what Nurse Marie told me when she visited this morning for my therapy.

Sa nagdaang buwan, nakatulong sa akin ang pag-inom ng gamot at tuloy-tuloy na therapy. Everything was going well. Though sometimes I have difficulty breathing, I was able to overcome it all. And I'm proud of myself for not giving up, even when sometimes, my own body fails me.

It's been a year. Sobra pa yata sa isang taon na ang lumipas mula noon. Nakalabas na rin ako ng ospital bago magsimula ang pasukan noong June kaya normal na ulit ang buhay ko. Pero syempre, continuous ang pag-inom ng gamot at therapies ko. I am taking my condition seriously.

I want to live long. I don't want to leave my Mom all alone. I don't want to see my friends cry as I watch them from above. I have to live long.

"Pang-ilan na paper cranes mo na 'yan?" Mariette rolled her eyes. "Isang taon na ang lumipas, hindi ka pa rin nakaka-one thousand?!"

I chuckled at that. My two months in the hospital was torture. My illness was trying to take over my whole being. That two exhausting months of fighting against ALS almost took away my hope. Akala ko hindi na ako makalalabas pa ng ospital pero here I am. Back in school and playing piano.

"Well, I'm currently on my five hundred sixty-seventh fold. Four hundred thirty-three na lang ang kulang, pwede na akong humiling."

Umikot na naman ang mata niya. "Pwede ka namang magwish kahit wala 'yan. God can hear you. Magdasal ka lang."

Alam ko naman 'yon. I am aware that God is only one prayer away. That He grants sincere wishes from humans like me. I know that God is a Divine being who created mankind and that He is able to do anything, even miracles. I know Him and I believe in Him.

But I just want to try wishing upon a thousand paper cranes. I want to see it myself, if the legend is true. And if I turned out wrong and my wish didn't happen, then maybe that's the time I have to stop believing that a thousand paper cranes could do it.

"I know. Gusto ko lang naman subukan," I murmured.

"Tulungan kaya kita?" Tinapik ko ang kamay niya nang kukuha na siya ng papel. "Aray ah! Nag-aalok lang naman ako ng tulong, manghahapas pa? Pwede mo namang sabihin na lang!"

Hindi ko na siya pinatulan pa sa mga litanya niya. Hinayaan ko siyang magsalita sa tabi ko ng mga reklamo niya sa pagtutupi ko. Kesyo ang pangit daw ng gawa ko, pinahihirapan ko lang daw ang sarili ko, wala raw patutunguhan 'to, at marami pang iba.

Napansin ko ang oras habang nagtutupi. Itinabi ko ang mga gamit at hinarap si Mariette na busy sa cellphone.

"Wala ka bang klase?"

She lifted her head. "Nagchat sa akin 'yung seatmate ko. Absent daw prof namin kaya free time ko hanggang three. Ikaw?"

"Ah. May klase na ako mamayang alas dos. Lab activity yata kami mamaya kaya bawal akong ma-late."

Napatango-tango naman siya at humarap na ulit sa cellphone. Napailing na lang ako, sinimulan muli ang pagtutupi.

I'm still on my second year in senior high school. Nahinto kasi ako sa pag-aaral noong nagdaang taon. Late na rin ako nakalabas ng ospital noon kaya hindi na rin ako in-enroll ni Mommy.

For the passed months, I focused on my therapies while my friends focused on their studies. Pangalawang taon na nila sa kolehiyo kaya madalas wala na kaming oras na magkita-kita.

Though sometimes, during weekend, we hang out. Minsan ay sa practice hall, madalas sabay-sabay maglunch. Ako na lang ang high school student sa AUGUSTUS. Sa aming lahat, si Kiel lang ang lumipat ng university. He's taking up a med course while Mariette, Calumn and Nox took BSBA. Si Psalm at Dylan ay engineering. Ako? I'm planning to take political science after I graduated high school.

I have my life planned out, actually. After I finished college, of course I'll apply for a work that's appropriate in my finished course. After I earned enough money for myself, I'll travel with my Mom.

Though I was born in a wealthy family, I wanted to earn my own money and not totally rely on my mother's riches. Ayos naman sa kanya iyon nang makausap ko siya tungkol doon. Gusto kong umangat sa sarili kong effort, hindi 'yong nakaasa ako sa koneksyon ng pamilya.

I was more eager to work hard since I'm getting better from how my condition was more than a year ago.

At naghahanda kami sa malaking gig ngayong buwan. Kami kasi ang magiging opening performance ng isang major concert na gaganapin sa pinaka malaking arena ng bansa. We were invited to perform when one of the organizers watched us live in a bar months ago.

Tinanggap naman iyon kaagad ni Kiel dahil maganda ang offer. We were so happy when we heard the news and we've been practicing for weeks now. Excited kaming lahat sa performance namin ngayong darating na Biyernes.

"Saan si Psalm? Bakit wala pa?" Si Nox habang inaayos ang gitara niya.

"I already texted him. Kahapon at kaninang umaga. Baka may klase pa?" Kiel muttered.

Si Kiel na minsan lang bumisita ay nandito. Bakit si Psalm wala pa? Magkaklase sila ni Dylan at kanina pa rin ang huli rito.

I was sitting on a stool near my keyboard when Psalm finally arrived. Humahangos ito na para bang kagagaling lang sa pagtakbo. The upper part of his gray shirt was damped with sweat. Inabutan siya ni Mariette ng tuwalya.

"Ginagawa mo? Naglalaro ka ba ng real life Temple Run—"

"Wala akong gana makipagbiruan. Magpractice na lang tayo."

Natahimik ang lahat sa sobrang seryoso ng tono ni Psalm. Anong nangyari? Bakit bad mood siya?

I looked at him intently. Sinubukan kong basahin ang ekspresyon niya pero hindi ko magawa. His eyes were empty but his tone was really scaring me. Did something wrong happened at home? Nag-away ba sila ng brother niya?

"Ano? Tititigan niyo na lang ako?"

Kiel cleared his throat. "Magsimula na."

Iniwas namin ang tingin kay Psalm at sinimulan na ang pagtugtog. Paminsan-minsan ay napapalingon ako sa banda niya dahil marami pa ring bumabagabag sa isipan ko.

Psalm Lumiel is a very private person. Katulad ng sinabi ko noon, he's a reserved type of man. He usually keeps his problems from the band. Kahit sa amin ni Mariette ay minsan lang siya magsabi.

And when he's serious like this, nakakatakot talaga siya. Parang anytime, kapag may nagtrigger, sasabog siya. We never like it when he's mad. Kahit wala kang kasalanan ay magi-guilty ka.

Though he was private when it comes to the circumstances he's dealing with, his face says it all. Halata sa mukha niya kapag malungkot siya o hindi. Pero dahil ayaw namin siyang magalit, kapag wala siyang sinasabi ay hinahayaan namin siya. Kukumustahin kung minsan pero hindi pipilitin kapag ayaw niyang sabihin.

We wrapped up the practice after three hours. And like what we usualy do, sabay-sabay kaming naglakad pauwi na tatlo.

Kung ano man ang problema ni Psalm, sana maayos na iyon kaagad. I don't like seeing him sad and hurt.

I am declaring that Psalm's gloomy days will end sooner. Naniniwala ako roon.