CHAPTER 16
JOYCE POV
Lexi called me up the moment it happened. I couldn't describe how I felt. I was so happy for Kris! Kris can finally see! Thank God!
Lexi: Joyce! Successful yung surgery. Nakakakita na ulit si Kris. Sis, ang saya!
Joyce: Talaga? I'm so happy Lexi! Buti na lang naging maayos ang lahat.
Lexi: Joyce pumunta ka na dito sa hospital! You have to be here. You just have to be here! It's not complete pag wala ka dito. Andito na kami ni Rick. Celebrate tayong apat!
Then the sadness came flooding back.
Joyce: Ano kasi Lex, hindi na muna ako pupunta diyan.
Lexi: Ha? Bakit naman?
I remembered that Lexi still has no idea what happened between me and Kris. I never told anyone about it. I kept it to myself.
Joyce: Medyo complicated kasi ang situation namin eh.
Lexi: Joyce, di kita maintindihan. Ano ba sinasabi mo?
Joyce: Kasi…nag-usap na kasi kami ni Kris na after ng surgery niya, he wants me to stay out his life. And that's what I'm going to do...
Napatahimik si Lexi at the other end of the line.
Joyce: Masyado ko ata siya nasaktan sa ginawa ko. I don't think he's ready to forgive me.
Lexi: Pero Joyce, you can’t stay out of his life. He needs you.
Joyce: No…he doesn’t need me. That much I know.
Lexi: Pero Joyce…
Joyce: Hayaan mo na sis. Hindi naman ako importante diyan eh. Today is a very special day for Kris. I don’t want to spoil it for him by going there lalo na kung ayaw naman niya ako makita. Basta ang importante ngayon, magaling na siya. Yun na lang ang isipin natin.
I started to feel bittersweet emotions taking over. My voice started to break.
Lexi: Sis…
Joyce: It's ok Lex. I can manage on my own. Kakayanin ko to.
Lexi: Joyce, I'm coming over.
Joyce: Wag na sis. Diyan ka na lang. Kaya ko naman eh. I can deal with the pain.
Then Lexi just quietly said
Lexi: No, you can't deal with this alone. You need me. Wait for me, I'm on my way.
LEXI POV
The moment I saw Joyce, I just went to her and hugged her with all the sisterly love I can muster. Nakita ko kung gaano kalungkot ang kaibigan ko. Alam ko ayaw na niya pag-usapan pa pero pinilit ko siya na pag-usapan namin dalawa. She needed to let her emotions out. I could feel how deeply hurt she was. She hesitantly recounted her conversation with Kris.
Joyce: Lexi, bakit ganun? From the moment I met him, it was all about him for me. Siya lang ang naging importante sa buhay ko. Bakit hindi niya ma-realize yun? Why does he keep on putting this thing between us when all I ever wanted was for him to get well?
Lexi: Joyce, Kris has been difficult to put up with ever since he became blind. I think it has a lot to do with pride. Parang naging defense mechanism na niya kasi yun eh. He wanted to show everyone that he's not incapacitated, na hindi siya kailangan alagaan, that he can deal with things on his own just like before. Look, I’m not justifying what Kris did. I’m just trying to let you understand him more.
