Fighting Cancer (EulBert)

Chapter Three

Italicized words = flashbacks

Julie's POV

I'm on my way to Mama's room, magpapaalam because I'm going to school na.

I'm Julienne, 22 years old, and I'm a med student. I'm planning to be an oncologist so that I could save mom.

"Apo?"

I heard Lolo call me. Sumigaw eh, sino ba namang di makakarinig?

"I'm here po sa sala!" I shouted back.

Lumapit siya sakin and tumabi. "What are you reading, Apo?"

"I'm reading The Fault in Our Stars po,"

"Ano bang kwento niyan?" Ang clingy ni Lolo, namiss siguro ako nito hihi.

"Story po to about a girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster. She's 16 years old po and she has thyriod cancer. Nag-join po siya sa isang support group and she met Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player whose osteosarcoma caused him to lose his right leg. Si Augustus po, kaya siya nandun to support his friend Isaac na may eye cancer. Nagkakilala po sila kasi po nakita ni Hazel si Augustus na naglagay ng ciggarette sa mouth so nagalit siya saying that she has cancer already in her lungs tapos magsisindi pa but Augustus explained na ilalagay niya lang yung and hindi niya sisindihan. Naging friends sila and then nagrecommend sila ng novel sa isa't-isa. Basta Papi, mahaba po yung story haha." Ang dami kong nasabi, nawalan ako ng hininga haha.

"Galing ng story teller ko, detailed," He laughed. But I can feel something's different. Something's off.

"Ano pong meron, Papi? May problem po kayo? Are you okay po?" I said worriedly.

"Yes, I'm okay. Ikaw talaga? What makes you think that I'm not?" Papi asked.

"I don't know, I can feel it lang po." I answered truthfully. Maybe I'm just OA.

"Siya nga pala, anong kukunin mong course sa kolehiyo?"

Hala, ano nga bang kukunin ko? Omigosh! I'm just in Grade 8 kasi kaya 'di ko pa masyadong iniisip yun. Soon, I'll answer that, Papi.

"I don't know yet, Papi eh. Why did you ask po all of a sudden?"

"I'm going to tell you something really important," Sabi niya. Ang seryoso naman niya, kinakabahan ako.

Julie, stop overthinking!!

"Ah sige po." I closed my book and didn't show him na kinakabahan ako.

I saw him take a deep breath.

"Remember my mom who died because of cancer?"

I nodded. But why did he bring this up all of a sudden? Does he have -

"Look, di naman sa tinatakot kita. But cancer runs in our blood. Baka magkaroon ako. Baka magkaroon ang mommy mo. Sana naman hindi but there is a big chance."

Nabingi ako bigla. Am I hearing this correctly? "Po?"

"Your mom could have cancer."

My world stopped. Cancer? Si Mommy magkakacancer? No no no this can't be! Mommy can't have cancer!!

Silence filled the living room and all I just found myself crying silently while Papi was hugging me tightly.

That was the time when I decided to pursue Medicine. Two years after, Papi died because of cancer. I was too late. I was in 12th grade that time.

I wasn't able to have the to save Papi, but now, I won't loose the chance on saving my Mom. I failed as a grand daughter, but as a daughter, I still have a chance.

I shrugged of my thoughts. Okay, tama na drama haha. I knocked first before opening the door.

"Mommy?" I saw her lying down and staring at the ceiling.

"Yes?" I heard her soft voice. I went closer to her bed. "I'm going to school na po. Did you eat na?"

She looked at me and I saw sadness in her eyes.

She shook her head. "Wait lang po, I'm gonna get you food so that you can eat na,"

I was about to take a step away from her bed when she stopped me.

"Wag na, ayoko kumain," I sat down beside her.

"Mommy naman eh, paano ka po lalakas at gagaling?" I said softer. Laging ayaw kumain ni Mommy. Sabi niya wala naman daw lasa yung food and wala siyang gana.

"I said, ayoko nga," She said. Naiirita na. But I won't stop bugging her. She needs to eat.

"Please, Mommy," sabi ko, nangungulit.

"Ayoko nga!" Her voice got louder, and tumalikod na sa'kin.

I just sighed heavily, "Sige po, Mommy. Papasok na po ako. Bye po,"

Hindi naman ganun si Mommy. Naaalala ko, nung si Papi yung may sakit, she always reminds him to eat on time so he could gain energy and strength. Pero bakit nung siya na yung may sakit, lahat ng mga paalala niya kay Papi, di niya magawa?

I was in deep thoughts when Daddy entered the room, may dalang food for her.

"Oh Anak? Papasok ka na?"

I nodded and gave him a smile.

"Sige, mag-iingat ka, and diretso uwi ha?" He kissed me on my forehead.

"Opo, uuwi po agad haha, sige po," I said as I went out of the room.

He'll convince Mommy ulit na kumain. Sana naman makinig na si Mommy. I see Dad's hardwork para alagaan si Mommy. He's helping her the best way he can, but Mommy doesn't help herself. Paano kaya gagaling si Mommy kung sa sarili niya, wala siyang ginagawa to make herself better?

Kung kaming lahat ginagawa yung best namin to help Mommy, edi parang wala rin kasi di naman tinatanggap ni Mommy yung tulong namin sa kanya.

I hope Mommy will listen and realize na we're doing this para gumaling na siya.

End of POV

When Julie got out of the room, he sat on the bed beside Eula who is not facing him.

"Hon? I brought food, kain ka na." He touched her hair.

"I don't like to eat, wala akong gana," she said.

"Hon, di ka na nga nag-breakfast kanina tapos 'di ka pa magllunch. Sige na, kain ka."

"Bakit ba ang kulit niyo ni Julie?! Ano ba sa ayoko kumain ang hindi niyo maintindihan?!" Eula said, irritated.

"Hon, kaya kami nangungulit kasi gusto namin na gumaling ka na.." he said calmly, making sure not to raise his voice towards his wife.

"Hindi na nga ako gagaling!" Her voice was cracking and she began to break down, "Hindi na ako gagaling! Kahit anong gawin niyo, hindi na!"

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