Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 30

I found growth in change. I found happiness in helping people. I have learned a lot from talking, hearing, and living with the unfortunate. I have never imagined this day will come, not even a single hour before.

Two percent. Twenty-four years old. It's lucky for me to come this far. One out of one hundred babies is born with Congenital Heart Disease every year. Not so many survived their first day and only a few of us get to make it till twenty.

When I asked my doctor how many years were left for me, he just gave me six years. Although it's uncertain, I am convinced that this is my last birthday. And if it is, I know I had the happiest one.

There are a lot of unknowns in my life and it's terrifying because I don't know what my life holds at all. Tomorrow could be different, it's unpredictable. But surely I know deep in my heart, even for a short time, I truly lived . . . with hope and happiness.

"H-Happy birthday po." Lumapit sa akin ang isang maliliit na bata. She's the youngest here. Isaiah, a five-year-old girl who suffer from kidney complications.

"Thank you, Isaiah." I took the box out of her hands. "What is this, hmm?"

"G-Gift po. Pinag-ipunan ko po 'yan p-para po sa i-inyo. I hope you'll l-like it."

Isaiah was a newborn baby when I started helping here. I witnessed her growth from an infant to a toddler. She is always shy when it comes to other people except me.

"Huli na ba ako sa lumpia? Happy birthday!"

Here comes the man of jokes, Idris.

"Muntik ka nang umabot sa twenty-fifth birthday ko," I sarcastically said.

"Sorry po, Ma'am, ha. I'm a busy man. Buti nga pumunta ako, wala namang lumpia," reklamo niya. "Regalo ko, buksan mo na."

Binuhat niya si Isaiah at pinanood akong buksan ang regalo niya. Box after box, I got nothing. Pinahirapn niya lang akong mag-unwrap ng kahon!

"What is this, dumb human?" pikon kong tanong.

"Ang regalo ko sa iyo ay pasensiya! Napatunayan kong mahaba naman pala ang pasensiya mo," aniya.

I can't hit him because he's holding Isaiah in his arms, the kid who's innocently laughing at us.

"Asshole," mariin kong sabi kalakip ng isang tuntok sa braso.

"Ano p-po ang ash-ashol?" si Isaiah.

"Ano ba 'yan, Leigh. Kung ano-ano kasi ang sinasabi mo. You're not a good influencing," sita sa akin ng lalaki.

"Blame yourself for being an asshole. That word exists because you exist."

"Ano p-pong ibig sabihin no'n?" si Isaiah pa rin.

"Ashol baby, Ashol means dog,"  panloloko niya sa bata. "Ay, may ashol, takbo!" He pointed at me and ran towards the others.

I rolled my eyes after shaking my head. Hindi nakatakas ang tawa sa akin. He's still stupid. I can't believe he finished college at may cafe na siya ngayon. Nakipaglaro ito sa mga bata. There's a big table outside that was prepared for lunch. Nakisalo siya roon at nakipagkulitan kila Lukas.

Umupo ako sa duyan na nakakabit sa pagitan ng dalawang puno. Pinanood ko silang magsalo-salo ng tanghalian.

If I have any regrets in my life, it is believing that happiness comes with expensive things. True enough, money can't buy you happiness but if you used it for something with purpose, it will give you more than joy . . . the feeling that can not be expressed with words.

"Angeleigh, hija. Bakit hindi ka makisalo sa kanila? Kumain ka." Ms. Mila approached me.

Umiling ako. "Kukuhanan po ako ng dugo mamaya, I'm on my fast," I answered.