MINSAN.

M-34

"Lea Salonga, 69 shortness of breath at walang malay when we travelled here." Sabi naman ng isang intern habang may tinutulak na Hospital bed.

Agad-agad naman nagulat ang tatlo sa nabalitaan. KZ is there as a doctor, Julie Anne was there checking if she's pregnant. And, Morisette was there to finally reconcile with KZ.

Sumunod agad sila sa may tinutulak na crash cart.

"Charge to 200!"

"Clear?!"

"Clear!!!!"

Still in the flat lined.

"Charge to 360!!!"

"Clear?!"

"Clear!!!"

And they heard a rhythm at the monitor and they finally released the tension. Saka lang nila na-realize na magkakasama sila. After decades, this is the first time that they saw each other.

Nagkatinginan lang sila, nagkatitigan na para bang naninibago. KZ on the other hand started to cry.

Siguro nga, gano'n sila kagaling for not crossing the path with each other even if they live in the same country and same city.

Nicole on the other hand, was just there beside Ms. Lea Salonga. Matagal nang tanggap ni Nicole na sooner, kukunin na sa kanya ang Nanay niya. Pero, ang huling hiling nito ay makapunta ang magulang niya at mahatid ito sa altar. But this time, hindi na niya hinihiling ang kung ano pa man.

Nakita ni Nicole na ito'y pagod na, nakita ni Nicole na matagal nang gustong sumama ng kanyang magulang sa asawa. She cried it out loud, at tumingin ang tatlo sa direction ni Nicole who was now crying.

"P-papasok ba tayo?" Morisette asked the both of them.

"H-hindi ko alam." Sabi naman ni KZ. Lahat sila ay pinipigilan ang luha. Kung may gusto man silang gawin ngayon, ito ay ang ibalik ang nakaraan, ibalik sa dati ang lahat. Ibalik sa dati ang mga pangyayari nang sa gayo'y, nagkaroon pa sila ng mas mahabang oras.

"Kung gusto ninyong pumasok, it really is fine with me. Don't be shy. Matagal na kayong gustong makita ni Mama." Malungkot naman na sinabe niya sa tatlo. Pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang mga katagang ito, bumalik ito sa tabi ng Mama niya. And she didn't waste any more time. She wanted to be there in every second of Lea's existence.

She wanted to be there when her Mom could possibly be afraid in the death.

Pumasok ang tatlo sa silid ni Lea and they started to cry out loud. Ang matagal na nilang pinipigilang luha, they finally released it.

Maya-maya pa habang hinihintay nila si Lea na magising, ito'y nakatitig lang sa kanya. Hinihiling na sana hindi pa huli ang lahat para makausap nila ang tinuri na nilang parang magulang.

"I still have our photo album." Morisette uttered and she wiped her tears.

"I still have our phone case." KZ followed up.

"I still have our memories inside my head." Sabi naman nito at tumingin ang dalawa sa kanya. Nicole was just there, listening to their reconciled moments. Alam din ni Nicole na ito ang matagal nang hinihintay at hinihiling ni Lea. Ang magkita't magkaayos silang muli.

"Ako 'yung pinakamahiyain sa ating tatlo. I still remember that I asked KZ kung saan ang audition ng theatre noon. Napagkamalan ko ngang judge. Mga pormahan niya kasi," They all chuckled. "And, I still remember how I screamed when Mori accidentally added Mama Lea sa GC. And, mas nagulat ako nu'ng pumayag siyang mag-stay sa GC. Nag-disagree nga ako no'n, dahil sa lahat sa atin, ako 'yung makalat doon sa GC. Doon ko binubuhos 'yung pagiging crush ko kay Mama Lea. Lahat ng seducing photos niya, mga kita cleavage, pinagpi-piyestahan natin iyon sa GC." They felt the vibe when they were still complete and new, it seems like it's nostalgic to remember all the things that they have been through.

What a journey it has been.

"The coffee, The Martes that we have been through, the cases, how we helped each other especially, KZ. kasi, pasungo na sa Medicine. The album, na hiyang hiya pa tayong ibigay sa kanya that we didn't even know it would be so much meaningful for her."

Hearing this from the old friends makes Nicole's heart melt. Wala siyang galit sa kung sino man dito, her Mom didn't teach her to be mad at someone. And, she explained it to her very well. Kaya naman naintindihan niya ang situation.

"Mga Ate?" Singit niya sa kuwentuhan dito, at napalingon naman ang tatlo sa kanya. "I just wanna say thank you for taking good care of her nu'ng wala pa ako." sabi naman niya at hinawakan naman nila ang kamay ng isa't isa.

"She. She's the one that we should be thankful for." Paninimula ni KZ. "Back then, we were just ordinary human beings that were following her step for a long period of time. That is why we auditioned for different plays. She's our inspiration to us. Without her, wala kami ngayon dito sa tabi mo." Kz continued.

"Also, she's the one who saved our lives. Kapag masama ang araw namin, kapag hindi okay ang mood, when bad things comes along, and siya. I mean, hindi man niya ito napapansin. But, she has been present in our lives. Kahit ganito ang nangyari." Malungkot naman na pagbabalita ni Morisette.

"She opened my heart to possibilities. Of all them, ako 'yung pinaka-mahiyain. Ako 'yung walang lakas ng loob, ako 'yung hindi palasabak. But because of her, because of her encouragement, and pieces of advice, I stood up. And I do hope I made her proud. Until now." Singit naman ni Julie dito sa conversation.

Nicole was in tears when listening into their own stories on how they misses her Mom, wala naman talagang ginusto ng nangyari. It's just that they made their own choices, they moved on, and they just let it be. Kahit hindi sila sang-ayon sa tadhana. They made it.

Ito lang naman ang gusto ni Lea in the first place, mapalaki at lumaki ang fans niyang matatag. Dahil alam nating lahat that our lives are full of challenges that we have to overcome day by day, that we have to go through. And she was hoping that she taught her followers very well.

"Hindi ko nakasama ng gano'n katagal si Mama. But, I admitted, I saw how she missed performing, I saw how she was longing for your love, I saw how she's missing you guys. She wanted to find you, she wanted to say sorry, she wanted you guys to be happy." Pinunasan niya muli ang luha niya.

"I remember she said, maging masaya lang daw kayong tatlo it feels an accomplishment for her. Alam niyang hindi siya naging mabuti sa inyo, she left you guys behind. And never told the truth, never told the reason why. Lagi ko siyang naririnig everyday na sana okay kayo, na sana masaya kayo, at sana natupad niyo ang pangarap niyo sa buhay. Ayan lang ang tanging gusto niya. Mapalaki kayo ng higit pa sa inaakala niya. And now, when she wakes up, I'm pretty sure, she'll be the happiest Mom alive."