AAMININ KO NA, GUSTO KITA.

VIII

But Cy is Cy, she has to do her own conditions for herself bago siya magdecide na mag undergo ng surgery—partial mastectomy.

"Sir Calixto, remind ko lang po kayo regarding po dun sa client natin—Si Mr. Gemperle po." Aniya ng isang staff namin.

"Ah yes. This weekend na iyon diba?" I asked, just to be sure.

"Yes po sir, Sunday po—Father's day." I jolted. Mula sa pagkakayuko ko dahil sa kaliwa't kanang mga papel na kailangan basahin, agad akong napatingin sa kalendaryo na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa ko.

"Y-Yeah, sige. You may go."

Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko when realization hits me—hits me hard.

"Si Czar..." I silently whispered in the air. Pinipilit kong alalahanin when was the last time Czar and I bonded.

  "Hi Tatay! How are you?"
"I miss you, anak."
  "Aww, I miss you more tatay!"
"I'm sorry anak ha, masyado kasing busy sa cafe—"
  "Okay lang tatay...I'm just a bit tampo...kasi kayo ni Mama Cy—you guys have the time to bond, minsan...without me. Haay I'm tampo talaga tatay."
"Oh huwag ka ng magtampo, We promise na next bond, tayong tatlo na, okay?"
  "Hmm, okay."
"Okay?"
  "Okay. Okay, tatay."
"Oh, I have to go, I have a meeting with a client pa."
  "Okay tatay, love you, Bye!"
"I love you too, Czar."
   "Say my I love you to Mama Cy, pretty please. Byeee!"

I hope she's old enough to understand.

The ringing of my phone disturbed me. Unknown caller. Thoroughly thinking if in any chance may pinagbigyan ba ako ng personal contact number ko but I don't recall giving it to anyone.

Just when I'm about to answer it, the call ended. So, I decided to go back with what I am doing earlier—unread papers. Then a flashing motion of my cellphone screen interrupted me again from what I am doing.

'Xyle, this is Tito Al. Can you please meet me—anytime when you're free. Dra. Mendoza talked to me.'

May mas ilalala pa pala ang araw na to. Wala ng paligoy ligoy pa, I immediately dialled Tito Al's number and thank God he picked up after the first three rings.

  "Thank you for calling, I'm expecting this."
"Uhm Tito Al..."
  "You know that this is already a serious matter Calixto yet both of you tend to kept it as a secret to everyone—even to us!" This is what I'm saying. Tito Al and Dra Mendoza are colleagues.
"Tito, please calm down. Y-you know Cy, she wouldn't do this if she had a choice, she wouldn't do this for herself only—you knew how selfless she is when it comes to you—her family."
  "Oo! Andun na tayo Calixto but! hindi niyo maalis sa amin ang mag-alala."
"She said she'll tell her family but not now...let's just respect Cy's decision Tito."
  "I know,I know pero Calixto, oras ang kalaban ni Cyrine dito!...Dra Mendoza also informed me na dinedelay ng dinedelay ni Cyrine ang surgery niya, alam niyo ba kung ano ang consequences nito?" Hindi ako nakasagot kasi alam ko na tama ang pinopoint out ni Tito Al. Silence then followed.
  "Calixto, I'm begging you...not as just her Tito—Cy is like a daughter to me. Please, please talk to her and try to convince her to take the surgery as soon as possible..."
"Tito, ginagawa ko po ang lahat to convince her pero... kahit po ako hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang pumipigil sa kaniya." I melancholy said.

A sigh is the first respond I heard.

  "Ayaw niya talagang ipaalam sa lahat—sa amin ang lagay niya, alam niya na magtataka kami kung malalaman namin na she'll undergo a serious surgery—and we all knew that she needs to take chemo therapy after her surgey..."
"...Tito, I don't know how this will sound on you but I think Cy wants to settle things first so she'll be at ease when she undergo surgery...and Tito, hindi man po nagsasabi si Cy pero alam ko po—alam ko na suporta mula sa pamilya ang pinaka kailangan niya ngayon, ayun na lang din po ang alam ko na makakapagkumbinse sa kaniya na tumuloy na sa surgery at kailangan niya rin po kayo para paghugutan ng lakas ng loob..."
  "Dad! Kanina ka pa po tinatawag ni Granny..." As what I've heard from the other line. "...Uh hello? Calixto, let's me tomorrow, diyan na lang siguro sa cafe niyo. Let's fix this problem, for now I got to go. Salamat sa pag aalaga mo kay Cyrine. Salamat."
"Wala po iyon, Tito Al." Call ended.