CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Most of us, we chase for a fairytale. We need saving from a prince charming when we are drowning of our own misery. Kagaya ng mga nabasa natin sa libro at napanood sa movies. I stopped watching and reading such schemes. Then, we get burned and shattered by our own hopes and by unworthy people. Reality slaps hard. Fairytale does not exist.
Pakiramdam ko noon may kulang sa akin. I know, I should not feel that way. Physically, I am a goddess. I am living a comfortable life. I have everything every person would want aside from one thing --- my father’s love. I always wanted to get his affection but I never succeeded.
When I was a teen, I only loved one boy. His name is Stephen, but I always call him Sky. At kung gaano kalawak ang sky, gannon din ang pangarap ko para sa aming dalawa. Nahanap ko iyong pagmamahal na hindi ko magawang makita sa sarili kong ama. He became my world. I thou
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE Pumikit lang ako habang wala pa kami sa destination. I was trying to sleep but even in sleep, I can see his face. I’m trying to avoid everything that connects me to him. “Oh, shit. Hala!” Bigla akong napamulat. Itinigil ni Lolay ang sasakyan dahil mayroong nakaharang sa harapan namin. May van sa unahan namin to be exact. The window is clearly opened. The men have guns. Masama ang kutob ko sa kanila. They are summoned here to harm us. Lolay looked scared as much as I do. Walang dumadaang ibang sasakyan. It felt like they owned the whole highway. “Drive backwards,” utos ko kay Lolay. She did. Bago kami makalayo, they started shooting bullets at us. The glass broke and scattered the small pieces. I was almost hit by one bullet. I didn’t know how did I dodge that. I am thanking my reflexes. Oh my God. It’s real. It’
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX I stared at him for a minute. Well, he looked sick. Worse than his first time. Maraming nakakabit na apparatus sa kanya. Parang pinupunit ang puso ko, alam kong kasalanan ko. I just stood there about to cry. Then, he gave me his warmest smile. It indicates a new possible meaning. Mabilis akong lumapit sa tabi ng bed niya. “Akala ko hindi mo na ako dadalawin.” “Dad,” I called him, my voice became raspy. “I’m sorry,” I said, my tears welled up. Hindi na ako nahiya, I cried in front of him. He looked at me and shook his head. “No, anak. I’m sorry. I should be the one saying sorry.” He tried to wipe my tears. Napalitan nang lungkot ang ngiti niya. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I forced you to be like that. I’m sorry you felt abandoned. I’m sorry that I was too coward to show my affection towards you, because I was scared that you would leave
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN I woke up by the sudden light fragments inside my room. Blur iyong nakikita ko nang imulat ko ang isa kong mata. Galing iyon sa labas at sa sikat ng araw. Hinigit ko ang comforter ko at nagtalukbong. I want to sleep more. I don’t know why I’m becoming sleepy these days. Pero sobra iyong antok ko kahit maaga naman akong natulog. “Reign,” malamyos ang boses ni Manang na tawag sa akin. I ignored her. I still want to sleep. “Reign, bakit hindi ka pa gising? Nagpramis ka sa akin, sasamahan mo ako.” Is it possible to roll eyes while eyes still closed? Well, I just did. “Can I have five more minutes? Gusto ko pang matulog,” I told her, sounding so sleepy. Hinila ni Manang ang comforter sa katawan ko. I could feel the sun’s warmth. I had no choice but to open my eyes and see Manang smiling big at me. And th
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT Natagpuan ko ang sarili ko sa bathroom pagkatapos kong kumain. Manang bought pregnancy test kits and she wanted me to try them. Sabi sa instruction, two lines indicates pregnancy. I peed on several test kits. I called Manang when I am done. Inalalayan niya akong bumalik sa kama. Siya ang nagdala ng PTs na ginamit ko. I just looked at her. “Anong nakalagay?” I asked, I am being anxious every passing second. Parang hindi ko makakayanan ang magiging sagot niya sa akin. “Reign,” tono pa lang niya, I know it is going to be a bad news. Parang mayroong bumara sa lalamunan ko. Napailing ako. “Reign, anak…” She went to hug me. Hindi ko siya hinayaan. “Tell me, Manang. Please…” I hate it when I feel the numb feeling. It suffocates me. Ipinakita niya sa akin ang ilang P
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE Hindi pa ako tapos mag-inspect nang lumabas ang isang babaeng halos kasing - edad ko lang. “Anong kailangan mo, miss? May hinahanap ka ba?” tanong niya sa akin. I looked at her from head to toe. Mas mataas ako sa kanya. Hindi ko tinanggal ang hoodie ko. I wasn’t sure what I should say in the moment. Bigla akong kinabahan. Sa likod niya lumabas ang isang babae at isang lalaki, almost the same age with me. Nakaalalay iyong lalaki. My eyes were fixed on them. Sa kanila ako nakatingin hanggang makalayo sila. Tumikhim ang babae sa harapan ko. “Ano? Hinahanap mo ba ang nanay ko? Magpapahilot ka rin kagaya nila?” inginuso niya iyong lalaki at babae. I nodded my head slowly. Inirapan niya ako tapos binuksan niya ang sirang pinto. Naghesitate akong pumasok sa loob. But
CHAPTER FIFTY I woke up in a white room with a very bright light. Muli akong pumikit, I can’t stand the brightness. When I already adjusted, tuluyan akong nagmulat. I looked around the room. It was all white. I am wearing a hospital gown. Mayroon pang nakakabit na IV fluid sa kamay ko. Manang Lukreng was sleeping peacefully in the couch. Rainbow was also sleeping. Nasa may paanan ko siya. Malinaw sa akin ang nangyari kung bakit ako nasa hospital room. I could remember every detail. I tried to kill myself. I tried, I did not succeed. Is that supposed to be a good thing? Gusto kong umiyak muli pero wala na akong luha. I was feeling the numbness again. I don’t like that feeling. It’s suffocating me. Dahan - dahan akong bumangon. Marahas kong tinanggal iyong IVfluidsa kamay ko. Nagdugo pa iyon. Sinikap kong hindi gumawa ng ingay nang makababa ak
CHAPTER FIRTY-ONE Wala akong ideya sa dapat kong maramdaman ngayon. One thing is for sure, Lolay was right. Kapag masamang damo, hindi madaling mamatay. I am like that. I just looked at the ceiling. I hate hospitals, but here I am. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras ang lumipas. I lost track of time. Pinauwi muna ni Rainbow si Manang. Of course, she protested. Hindi naman siya hinayaan ni Rainbow na magtagal sa hospital. That’s what I want too. Matanda na si Manang para mag-alala pa sa akin. “Reign, someone’s outside your room. Papasukin ko ba? Kilala mo raw siya?” biglang sabi ni Rainbow. “Gertrude Immaculate Concepcion. Gemma for short daw. She’s your doctor daw? May sakit ka ba?” I shook my head on her last question. I was clinically depressed but I don’t want my family to know that. I was still in denial. Yes, depression has no fac
CHAPTER FIRTY-TWO I have a lot of things to clarify. Ang daming mga bagay na hindi ko pa alam. One of these days, I have to face Satan’s tumor. I have to face Sioux Kyros Centauri. How come? Things have been confusing for me. Paanong nangyari iyon? If that was right, then, it was my fault that I was gullible enough to fall for his temptation. Damn it. I can’t really read Centauri’s mind. Ilang araw pa akong nanatili sa hospital bago ako na-discharge. Madalas dumalaw si Lolay. She ran for my errands. I was also monitored by Gemma. Ilang beses tumawag si Justise sa facetime. She even wanted to go back to the country, hindi ko lang siya hinayaan. “Wilcam bak, anak.” saad ni Manang matapos akong yakapin. Hinalikan niya ang pisngi ko. Naghanda siya ng fruitful lunch para sa akin. For the first time in my life, I was thankful I was surr