Kabanata 29
He's back
My vision started getting blurry and my chest felt suffocated. Why? What exactly happened? He's gone for months and here we are, before each other in the middle of the night, eyes wide and lips parted.
What took you so long, Ephraim? And why were you coming out from that room?
I wanted to ask him so many questions but my disease took away the chance of asking him anything. I couldn't talk. Nakatitig lamang ako sa kanya na mayroong nagtatanong na mga mata. He's back.
Psalm uttered a curse and took a step forward to keep me away from Ephraim's grasp. Nakaharang sa akin ang kaibigan at likod na lang niya ang nakikita ko.
"Buhay ka pa pala," singhal ni Psalm. "'Di ko alam kung isa't kalahating tarantado ka ba o tarantado ka talaga. Bakit ka biglang nawala?"
Tumaas nang bahagya ang boses ni Psalm. Nang humakbang paatras si Ephraim ay doon ko pa lang muling nakita nang maayos ang mukha niya.
His lips were tightly shut and his hands were balled into fist. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa akin at kay Psalm.
He probably has his own reasons why he had to leave two months ago. Hindi naman siya 'yung tipo ng tao na biglang mawawala ng walang dahilan. Baka hindi niya pa lang kayang sabihin sa amin iyon noon kaya siya umalis na walang paalam.
Like me, he's a patient too. Nakasuot siya ng gown na katulad sa akin at baka naka-confine na siya rito nang ilang araw. Hindi ako sigurado kung 'yung VIP na sinasabi nila noong unang linggo ko rito matapos ang trip sa Batanes ay siya rin o ibang tao iyon.
"Sumagot ka kapag tinatanong ka. Bakit ka biglang nawala ngayong kailangang-kailangan ka ni Sera? Kung hindi ka lang pasyente, binugbog na kita," dinuro niya si Ephraim. "Ngayon, magpaliwanag ka."
Ephraim released a deep sigh as he looked away. He licked his lower lip before answering.
"I refuse."
Parehong namilog ang mga mata namin ni Psalm sa isinagot ni Ephraim.
"A-Anong sinabi mo?"
"I said, I refuse," nilingon niya ang kaharap. "Walang pagpapaliwanag na magaganap, Psalm."
Nahigit ko ang hininga nang agresibong umabante si Psalm. He grabbed Ephraim by the collar and pushed him hard against the wall.
Gusto kong tumayo mula rito sa wheelchair para awatin ang kaibigan pero hindi ko maigalaw ang mga paa ko. I was just helplessly watching my friend lose his patience over Ephraim. I want Psalm to stop and let Ephraim do what he wants.
Ito rin naman ang gusto kong mangyari. I want him to stop staying by my side. I want him to stop fulfilling his promises that I will always have him. Nagawa niya iyon sa nagdaang mga buwan. Magagawa niya pa iyon sa mga susunod pa.
Kasi hindi na maaalis sa akin 'yung takot. Walang kasiguraduhan kung hanggang kailan ako tatagal. Kung hanggang kailan kakayaning lumaban ng katawan ko.
Maybe Ephraim got back to his senses two months ago. That he was just wasting his precious time over an ill person like me. Katulad kong may sakit na kahit kailan hindi na gagaling.
Gusto kong magpatuloy ang nangyayari sa pagitan naming dalawa pero at the same time, nasasaktan ako. Kasi nasanay akong nandiyan lang siya e. Nasanay ako na nasa tabi ko siya kapag mag-isa na lang ako.
Kasalanan ko rin iyon dahil nasanay ako sa mga bagay na alam ko namang pwede ring mawala sa akin anytime.
Bumagsak sa sahig sa Ephraim nang suntukin siya ni Psalm. At hindi siya lumalaban kahit na may pagkakataon din naman siya para bumawi.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Great Escape
Teen FictionCOMPLETED. 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...