COMPLETED.
Seraiah was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and going in and out of the hospital became part of her daily routine. Her days became dull and her condition gets worse each passing day.
Until she met Ephraim, the stubborn son o...
"We're here," I heard him whisper. "Wake up, Seraiah."
Hapon na nang makarating kami. And I was greeted with the towering trees and a hundred light bulbs around us. Mabilis akong bumaba sa sasakyan.
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Malamig na rin pero hindi na katulad sa Tagaytay. Good thing suot ko pa rin ang jacket na ipinahiram sa akin ni Ephraim kanina. My eyes sparkled in joy. The place was really beautiful.
Before us were groups of people building their tents, getting ready for the night.
"Welcome to San Antonio, Zambales. The second stop on our stargazing adventure," he murmured beside me.
My heart leapt for a bit. Hindi ko kasi alam na nandoon na pala siya sa tabi ko! Napahawak tuloy ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa gulat.
Mabilis niya akong nahawakan sa magkabilang braso. His calmed eyes became worried when he noticed me catch my breath. But it's not because of my illness or my diaphragm losing control. It's because of the unusual feeling in my chest that only him was capable of making me feel.
He was beginning to panic and my friends noticed it too. Mabilis na naglakad palapit sa amin ang dalawa.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Psalm asked when they were already near us.
"Seraiah?" Si Mariette.
I have to tell them I'm fine as soon as possible. Kasi kung hindi, baka magkagulo pa.
"A-Ayos lang ako. Hindi naman 'to dahil sa sakit—"
"Tell me the truth, Seraiah. Are you okay? I'll bring you to the nearest hospital—"
"H-Hey," I interrupted him. "I'm fine. Really. Bumilis lang ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa 'yo—"
I immediately covered my mouth because of that. Nakakahiya! Wala rin tuloy siyang masabi pagkatapos noon. Tumili naman si Mariette nang ma-realize ang sinabi ko.
Hindi naman ako isda pero bakit nahuhuli ako sa sarili kong bibig? Tsk. Umatras ako at nabitawan niya naman ako dahil doon.
I faked a laughter. "Issa prank!"
He then regained his composure. Humalakhak din siya at iginiya na ako papunta sa mga matatayog na puno, kasunod namin ang dalawa. Psalm murmured something but I didn't understand.
Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lang iyon at sumunod na kami nang magsimulang maglakad si Ephraim.
Bitbit ng mga lalaki ang mga tent na gagamitin. Nakasabit sa balikat ko ang travel bag at ganoon din silang lahat. We need to build our tent before dinner so we could take a rest after we eat.
"Kami na rito. Maupo na lang kayo roon," Psalm gestured the stools a few meters away from the tents.
Pumayag naman kami ni Mariette. Medyo nanghihina kasi ang mga kamay ko at baka lumala pa 'to kung pipilitin ko ang sarili.
