Fear To Eternity

10

Tahimik na nakahiga si Zoe while staring at the window.

"Hays." She sighed softly.

"Hayssss..." She sighed again.

"What's wrong?" Tanong ni Ken na kadadating lang.

Hindi niya nilingon si Ken at patuloy ang pagtitig sa bintana.

"Wala." matamlay na sagot ni Zoe.

Dahan dahang lumapit sakaniya si Ken at inabot sakaniya ang bulaklak ngunit hindi ito pinansin ni Zoe.

He stared at her for awhile before sitting infront of her, completely blocking her view.

"You can tell me anything.." he said while staring at her. Hindi man halata sa mukha niya na worried siya pero rinig mo sa boses niya.

"I'm scared.." matamlay na tugon ni Zoe.

"Scared?" he tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah.. I've been feeling like this after I heard them talking.." niyakap ni Zoe ang kaniyang sarili habang nakatitig sa puting kumot na nakaibabaw sa kaniyang binti.

"Sino?"

"Sila mama at yung doctor.."

"Ano yung narinig mo?"

"Sabi ng doctor na wala daw silang nakikitang improvement sa condition ko even after taking many treatments.." malungkot na sambit ni Zoe.

Natahimik naman si Ken ng marinig niya yun.

"I don't want it. I don't want to go yet. Marami pa akong gustong gawin sa buhay. Marami pa akong pangarap na gustong tuparin." She felt like she was drowning, like she was suffocating, like she was trapped in the middle of the ocean, like she was in the middle of the storm, in the middle of the hurricane.

"Gusto ko pa gawin yung mga hindi ko pa nagawa at hindi ko pa naranasan. I thought I already accept it but I can still feel it. The regret is still here. Tingin mo kung nagawa ko yung mga gusto ko hindi ko mararamdaman 'to?" Naiiyak na tanong ni Zoe.

Walang nasagot si Ken at tahimik namang nakatingin sakaniya.

"I don't want to die.." bulong ni Zoe.

He slowly put his hand on her back and gently pats it.

"Maybe right now wala silang nakikitang improvements, I'm sure tomorrow or the next day or maybe the next week or the next month.. there will be."

Natigilan si Zoe at tinignan siya.

"Kung nagawa mong masabi sakin na huwag akong sumuko then magagawa moring i-apply sa sarili mo.."

"There's still hope so don't give up..."

She felt her fears melt away, her doubts vanish, her worries dissolve, as she heard those words.

"Ken..." She slowly sit up and looks at him, feeling so touched.

Suddenly she heard something that caught her attention.

"Never back down, never what?" "Never give up.."
"Never back down, never what?" "Never give up!"
"LET'S GO! LET'S GO!"

Natahimik naman si Zoe at nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa cellphone ni Ken.

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"HAHAHAHHAHAHA" She let out a deep, belly-shaking laughter, a laughter that was filled with joy, a laughter that was filled with happiness, a laughter that was filled with life.