PLMAILY 2: Loving You Forever (The Architects Series #1.5)

EPILOGUE

Umiling ako at inalis ang kamay ko mula sa kanya. "Ayokong mangako, dahil ayokong masaktan ka," sabi ko at hinaplos ang pisngi niya. "Pero, palagi mong tatandaan na ang pagmamahal ko sa'yo ay pang-habambuhay...asawa ko."

I let my tears fall and tried my best not to make a sound.

"Mom, Dad?!"

The door opened and I saw my youngest son approaching me. He immediately held my face and kissed my temple. "Mommy...please, not now. Mom...please, you promised me to walk with me on the stage, because..." He got something from his backpack and showed his card to me. "I'm running for the valedictorian, this academic year!"

"I am so proud of you, bunso," sabi ko at hinaplos ang mukha niya.

Ipinaglandas niya ang mga daliri namin. Siya talaga ang pinakamalapit sa akin. "Mom..." His voice is shaking. "I love you, please fight."

"Hindi ko kaya, bunso..."

Inilapit ko ang mukha niya sa akin at inangat ang kamay ko para ilandas ang daliri ko sa kanyang matangos na ilong at tumango-tango para iparating sa kanya na: magiging maayos rin ang lahat.

Muli siyang umiling at nakikita ko na ngayon ang mga luhang lumalandas na mula sa mga mata niya. "Mom, please don't scare me...ikaw lang ang kakampi ko, Mom!"

"I can't fight this battle anymore, bunso. Hindi ko na kaya..."

Sa isang kamay ko naman ay naramdaman kong humawak na pala doon ang panganay ko. "Mommy..." I felt a sudden soft hand landed on my very heart. Sa dami ng taon, ngayon ko lang ulit narinig sa kanya ang pagtawag sa akin ng ganyan. "I can't imagine my life without the guidance of a mother." She took a deep breath and hugged me. "I love you, always...Mom." She kissed my temple and started to cry. "I'm sorry!"

"Sshh..." Napabitaw ako sa kanilang dalawa nang naramdaman kong may kumirot mula sa pagkababae ko pataas sa aking puson. "Aahh!" I screamed and touched the screeching pain that I have been going through this past years.

"Call the doctor, Lexus!" I can hear everyone in the urged of panic.

Naramdaman ko nalang bigla ang kamay ni Xander sa akin at hinalikan niya muli ang tuktok ng aking ulo.

Patuloy ang sigaw ko sa sobrang sakit. "Hold on...please, Lexus will be calling the doctor."

I didn't know how many times I screamed and whimpered in pain. All I knew now that all of the pain that they've been through is finally going to end.

"I can't--Xander!" Halos maiyak kong sinabi.

"You were into much pain all these years, my wife and I'm so sorry for having the large part in it," I can hear him whisper and held my hand tight.

"Jesus! Mom, you're bleeding!"

I can't respond to all of them until the doctors came and immediately handled me. "Mr. Del Valle, this is the last option, she will be having the operation. But, here's the thing, she might not survive. Stage four of Uterine Cancer was declared on her."

That's the last thing I've heard and the doctors hurried me inside the operating room...

===

XANDER

Stage four? As far as I know, it is the most critical part of Cancer.

Tuluyan na akong nanghina sa aking narinig. Lumabas na muna kami nila Larzene at naghintay para sa magiging resulta ng operasyon ni Zaira. Paano niya nagawang itago ito ng sobrang daming taon? Sa lahat ba naman ng sakit na magkakaroon siya ay 'yon pa ang dahilan kung bakit maraming pamilya ang nagluluksa ngayon.