"3 days more, I'll b back, luv. Usap tayo pagbalik ko."
Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang ulit ko nang binabasa iyon. Pero magdadalawang linggo na ay wala pa rin akong narinig na balita mula sa kanya. The waiting time feels like an eternity, and it's...
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PREMONITION:
It's the inexplicably uneasy feeling that you get when your soul warns you that something unpleasant is about to happen. But you choose to ignore it anyway and continue to hope for the best. I had experienced it in the past... before my parents ended their marriage. This time, though, I was hoping that it's wrong. And that fate would listen to the silent longing of a sincere heart that was once as cold as ice.
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"Hello?" I asked.
"Good evening. Kay Fiona ba ang number na 'to? This is Sandra, Cliff's aunt," said the voice from the other line.
My lips curved into a bright smile. Bigla akong na-excite dahil tiyak na pag-uusapan namin si Cliff.
"Hello po, tia! Si Fiona po ito. Kumusta po si Cliff?" I asked.
"Hija! He... He's... Uhm... N-nandito siya, n-nakahiga sa bed," she answered.
I sensed the obvious hesitance in her voice, pero hindi ko na iyon binigyan ng pansin. Guni-guni ko lang naman siguro 'yon. Ang importante ay may maririnig na akong balita about Cliff sa wakas. Miss na miss ko na siya at gusto ko na siyang makausap ulit.
And so I continued, "Tulog na po siya? Uhm... Tia, kung okay lang po... Pwede po ba siyang magising saglit? Gusto ko lang po sabihin sa kanya na... love ko siya. At miss na miss ko na po kasi siya. Sana po makabalik na siya rito."
There was silence for a while. Akala ko ay naputol ang tawag. But then I heard tia Sandra's heavy sigh on the other line before she spoke.
"I-I'm sorry, hija... He... He won't wake up... at baka hindi na rin siya makabalik pa... He... Cliff is, uhm," she cleared her throat then continued, "He's in a coma."
Bitterness was in her voice while I felt a sudden outburst of frustration.
"Ano po? A-ano po ang ibig niyong sabihin? Na-nagbibiro po ba kayo? Tia naman, hindi po magandang prank 'yan!" I said, trying hard to fake a laugh.
"N-no, hija. Hindi ako nagbibiro and it's not a prank. Isang... Isang linggo nang nakaratay dito sa hospital ang pamangkin ko. He's lying in a coma... almost lifeless," she said
Then she broke into a cry. And that was enough to shatter me.
"Na-aksidente ang kotse niya on his way back there nine days ago. Pinigilan namin siyang umalis kasi ang sabi noon sa weather forecast ay low visibility daw sa highways due to fog and heavy rainfall. Pero bumyahe pa rin siya. He really wanted to see you again. We didn't expect this," she continued in between sobs.
