Fighting Cancer (EulBert)

Chapter Fourteen

Today is Saturday and tomorrow's the surgery. Eula's last day.

The family's agenda for today will be having a lunch picnic at the Heritage Park, the cemetery where Eula's dad is. They invited her mom and sister's family to join them, which they willingly obliged.

For the past 5 days, all of them decided to bond more often, sometimes with her Mom and sister's family. Albert and her daughter took a long leave to spend more time with Eula.

Albert woke up at 7:45 am. He woke up with them hugging each other. Her head on his shoulder, her hand, resting on his chest, his arms under her neck and the other, wrapped around her waist. He overslept but he didn't dwell much on that fact because the first thing that he saw was Eula sleeping peacefully alongside him. And he instantly felt relaxed just by staring at her.

He took the opportunity to stare at her for a couple of minutes until he realized he needed to already wake her up.

"Hon?" Albert called softly while touching Eula's face. "Gising ka na, aalis tayo ngayon," he said and Eula just smiled at him, still with her eyes closed.

She drew nearer and buried her face on his neck. "Naglalambing ang misis ko. Parang ayoko na atang tumuloy and let's just stay here," Albert said playfully which made his wife slap his shoulder gently.

"Yun ay kung papayag ka lang naman, kasi walang problema sa'kin. Mas gusto ko pa nga 'yun eh," and again, he received a soft slap from Eula who was already giggling.

"Sira! Babangon na nga, ikaw rin bumangon ka na," Eula said while trying to remove his hands around her waist but unfortunately, Albert was too strong so she fizzled.

"Huy, bitaw naa! Late na tayo oh," she said but he just closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

"Albeeeeeert!" But he ignored her. They said in that position for a couple of minutes when Eula spoke again. "Sige pag binitawan mo ko, ikkiss kita," she said that made him open her eyes.

"Talaga?" Albert's eyes twinkled with what he heard from his wife.

"Oo nga, dali na," Eula said which made Albert's smile wider.

"Sige, kiss mo na 'ko," he said as he closed his eyes.

Eula measured Albert's face as her head draws nearer when entryway immediately opened. It was their daughters, all ready to go because they all agreed that they will leave the house at 8 am but it's already 8:15 yet the two haven't even left the bed yet.

"Hala, 'di pa po kayo nakakakilos??" Sandy said the moment she saw her parents still laying down on the bed.

"I thought we were supposed to leave at 8 am?" Julie checked her watch, "Hala, it's 8:16 na."

"Sayang pagmamadali ko, kala ko ako nalang hinihintay. Hay nako Maria Julia at Alberto, take note of the time naman" Anna said, copying Eula's tone whenever she scolds at them.

"Eto kasing Daddy niyo ayaw ako pabangunin," Eula clarified.

"Anong ako?" He tickled Eula's side.

"A-alber-t, stop i-it! Hahahaha" She laughs hard and couldn't stop because of what he is doing. "Stoooop!"

"Tara na po, tama na harot. Lolo's waiting na," Alex said. "Traffic pa naman po since it's Saturday."

"Albert, galit na panganay mo. Hahahahaha, tigil na!" Eula said that made Albert stop.

"Opo, Ma'am babangon na," he then went out of bed and smiled mischievously. As soon as Eula got up, he instantly carried her to the bathroom while shouting at his daughters, "Mas mabilis 'pag sabay kami!"

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After 30 minutes of traveling, they reached the cemetery. Gracia, Eula's mom, was already waiting for them, together with Dawn, Richard and their daughter, Kristin.

They were sitting inside the mausoleum where Fermin, Eula and Dawn's father, is entombed. They first offered a prayer to him then started setting up what they will be eating. They all know about Eula's operation tomorrow and they already prepared themselves for all the possible things that might happen, but of course they're still hoping for the best.

They were all occupied with their food when Eula stood up and went nearer to her dad's grave, that didn't go unnoticed to her mother.

"Pa, magkakaroon ka na ng kasama dito if.. alam mo na," she said while tracing his name.

"Miss na miss na miss na kita, Pa," she sighed and felt someone's arm wrap around her. It was her mom, Gracia.

"Nak, alam kong miss na miss mo na ang Papa mo, pero sana hindi mo hilingin na makasama na siya," she said sadly. "There's so much ahead of you, kaya sana hindi ka sumuko sa operasyon mo. Sana lumaban ka."

"Ma, there's nothing more that I would like. I already have everything and I'm thankful na naranasan kong maramdaman na I'm contented. My life's fulfilled na, Ma," Eula said softly.

"Iiwan mo ko?" Her mom said with tears building up.

"Ma, naman? Hindi kita iiwan, tandaan mo 'yan. I'll always be here, guiding you guys," she said and gave her mom a smile.

There was a short silence before Gracia spoke.

"Alam mo, 'nak, nung namatay ang Papa mo, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Kung paano ako mabubuhay. It's like the whole world stopped. I couldn't imagine myself living without your Papa. Parang gusto ko nalang tumigil, knowing that he is no longer with us. But you know what made me continue?" She asked.

"What?"

"Kayo. Kayo ng kapatid mo. Kayo ng pamilya mo," she sniffed. "And it just hurts na may posibilidad na may mawala na naman sainyo with the same reason as to why your father died. Alam mo, sa totoo lang, hindi pa ko totally na nakaka-move on sa pagkawala ng Daddy mo, tapos eto pa." she broke down.

Eula embraced her mom. "Ma, things happen for a reason..."

"I know, but you can't stop me from questioning kung bakit sa pamilya natin nangyayari 'to. Na kung bakit sa dinami-dami ng pamilya dito sa mundo, sa pamilya pa natin dumaloy 'yung cancer," she said almost in a whisper. "Kinuha na nga ang Papa mo dahil sa cancer, bakit pati ikaw rin?? Di pa ba sapat yun??"

Eula can feel her mom's frustration. She's speechless.

"Nawalan na 'ko ng asawa, baka 'di ko na kayanin pag nawalan pa ko ng anak..."

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After their lunch at the cemetery, the family went straight to the church to hear mass. They the went to their parents house because Eula's mom insisted to have their dinner there.

The dinner went well, they made the most out of their time together. When their Papa died, their family realized that it was important to spend time with each other before it's too late.

After a while, the Martinez family went straight home to get some things that they will be bringing to the hospital. Yes, the hospital. Eula will be staying the night before the operation so that they can condition the body.

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