MY ADELINE

CHAPTER 1

Only few months were left before the rainy season. People all around are busy with their preparations. Others are making sure that their shelters are strong and firm for the possible calamities. It has also been two months since the school has started. And I study here at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines here in Mariveles, Bataan. Just presently in my Senior High School and I want to take up Medical School in college.

It was a very fine day. A cold breeze of wind is around brought by the thunderstorm yesterday. It made the grass and plants greener and the surroundings clear and fresh. A good day to start but here I am now at Mariveles District Hospital. I need to get my stitches removed due to appendectomy. Tahimik akong naghihintay sa malawak na waiting area ng hospital. Tinititigan ang hawak kong queing number.

"Ticket number 73, please come to counter C7"

My gaze went back to the queing number that I was holding and let out a huge sigh. Malayo pa ang numero ko. Nalipat naman ang atensyon ko sa mga batang nagtatakbuhan.

"Nanganak na daw ang Tita Joselyn ninyo." a man in middle 30's exclaimed. Nagtakbuhan naman agad ang mga kasama niyang bata.

"Talaga po? Gusto naming makita!" Excited na bulalas ng isa.

As they ran, they come across a book at the end of a bench and it fell down the floor. It was orange in color and I think it is a jotting note and based on its design, I believe it was owned by a female.

"Ako ang magpapangalan sa bata!" Saad naman ng isa pa.

"Syempre magpapaalam muna tayo sa kanila." the father stated.

I stood and picked the book up. Luminga ako upang hanapin kung kanino ngunit mukhang walang naghahanap dito. Out of curiousity ay binuklat ko iyon at nakita ang nakasulat bilang title. My Last Few Days

"A diary?" I uttered to myself.

I opened just one of the pages and shocked to what I read.

" I only have few years to live. I am writing to this diary so that I can learn to live with my illness. And first to know...it is about my Cystic Fibrosis."

My heart pounded hard and I and felt sorry for the person who owns it.

"That's mine!" saad ng isang babae ilang metro ang layo mula sa akin. Napatingin ako't natulala nang makita kung sino ito.

"You were surprise, weren't you?!" lumapit siya sa akin. "I was just worried I might lost that. Kanina pa nga ako naghahanap dyan only to find out na nasayo pala." masayang saad niya sa akin.

"Ah gano'n ba?"

Muli naman tumunog ang monitor ng lobby.

"Ticket number 80, please proceed to counter A2"

Napalingon ako rito at nagready na umalis. Number ko kasi iyon.

"Okay, here you go." at iniabot ko ang aklat niya at dinaanan siya.

"You didn't read it, did you?" baling niya sa akin habang inaayos ko ang gamit ko sa bench.

"I call it My Last Few Days." Humigpit ang hawak niya rito at nag-iba ang kanyang tono.

"Simula kasi nang malaman kong may Fibrosis ako, ginawa ko na 'tong diary na 'to." Her tone became gloomy.

"Ay teka, baka iniisip mong nagbibiro na naman ako ah! Hindi naman ganito kababaw ang sense of humor ko nuh hahaha."

I didn't bother throwing her my answers but I continued in putting on my polo instead.

"Namamaga ang passageways ng lungs ko. My liver has also stopped functioning. And eventually....I will die." her face was dim due to emotions but there's nothing I could do about it.

"Too bad for you." At isinabit ang bag ko sa aking balikat. Nagulat yata siya at napasigaw.

"Ngek? Yun lang ang masasabi mo?" Pagtataka nito. Ano naman ang gusto niyang sabihin ko. Lumapit siya sa akin.

"Ano ba yan! Hindi ka ba nakikinig? Normally, dapat masu-surprise ka or mapapasabi ng mga poetic words! Wala ka bang ibang sasabihin?"

Hindi ko siya maintindihan.

Tumitig ako sa kanya at sumagot, "wala naman."

Saglit siya napahinto at lumagapak sa tawa. "Hala hahaha seryoso ka ba dyan haha..sorry ha! Hehehe."

Alam kong wala akong mapapala sa kung anong trip niya kaya ipinasiya kong magpaalam.

"Sorry but I have to go to the counter."

I've done my business at the counter and nilisan ang hospital. Sa isang kanto di kalayuan sa vecinity ay nagulat ako nang makita ko ulit siya. Nakasandal sa poste ng kuryente at parang may hinihintay. Napalingon siya sa akin.

"Hello! Hehe what a coincidence!" Ngumiti ito at kumaway sa akin.

Napakamasiyahin niya sa kabila ng kanyang sakit. I can say because of her natural facial expression. And her eyes are always smiling. Maputi siya at mahaba ang kanyang blonde na buhok. Unat ito at aabot sa kanyang likod. Maninipis ang kanyang mga labi at maayos at mapuputi rin ang kanyang mga ngipin. May dimple sa kaliwa niyang pisngi. Maganda rin ang hugis ng kanyang mata, hindi gaanong maliit at hindi rin sumobra sa laki. Itim ang mga ito. Napakaganda rin ang hugis ng kanyang matangos na ilong. At kung may isang bagay akong gusto sa kanya, yun ay ang kanyang pagkamasiyahin. Hindi mo aakalaing mayroon siya dinadala.

"Sorry pero I'm not into your coincidences." Lumiko ako sa kaliwang kanto.

"Uy ano ba, 'wag mo nga akong talikuran. Sa ganda kong 'to tinatakbuhan mo ako." sumunod siya sa direksyon ko.

"Teka muna, nagkausap na ba tayo dati? Pano yan kasi laging nasa libro yang ilong mo. Takot ka ba sa babae?"

Tumakbo siya para makalakad sa tabi ko.
"Ano palang ginagawa mo sa hospital? May sakit ka din ba?" She's so persistent kahit di ko siya pinapansin.

Hindi sa ayoko sa kanya. Hindi lang ako mahilig makihalobilo.

"Mukhang magkikita na tayo nang madalas ah." Dagdag pa niya.

"May pupuntahan pa ako, mauna na ako ha." aking paalam.

Natigilan siya't naiwan sa aking likuran.

"Aw, wait! Okay I get it." Muli siyang tumakbo sa akin. "I just want to ask you a favor before you run off please."

"What is it then?"

"I want you to keep my illness a secret. I haven't told anyone. It will be our own little secret." She begged.

"Fine, I won't tell anyone. It's like I have anyone to tell."

She's even surprised by my words and run infront of me.

"Woah! Don't you have friends? Well if you want, I will spend the rest of my life hanging out with you!" she happily suggested with a bright smile on her face.

I sighed. "I'm good. You should live however you want." Tumango tango naman siya sa pagsang-ayon.

"Sige sige." then she waved goodbye. "Thank you ha!" sigaw pa niya bago tumawid sa kabilang kalsada.

I thought we'd never have anything to do with each other again but the following weeks, I was surprised when I found out she volunteered for a vacant library assistant position, for whatever reason. That means I'll see her at work. We will be together in the library.

***