IF THESE LAST - "Lasts Collection"

L.002 - "LAST FIGHT"

"Hija, you're here. Halika..." bati sa akin ni Tita.

Bldg 2. 5th floor. Room 129...

I will always be remembering this place. This place where you stay. This place I'll always and never tired to visit. This place where I'll always get to see you...

"Kamusta ka na, hija?" tanong ni Tita.

"Okey naman po" saad ko, "Medyo pagod sa byahe but it was still fine being with my family... 'yun nga lang... I felt like I'm missing something. Parang pinipilit akong pabalikin sa lugar na 'to. Parang pakiramdam ko 'di ko siya kayang iwan..."

"I know how you feel, Cara..." aniya habang tinatapik-tapik ang balikat ko upang ako'y kalmado lamang.

Sabay kaming pumasok ni Tita Gianne sa silid ng anak nito. Pinagmasdan ko lamang ang binatang mahimbing na natutulog sa isang hospital bed...

"I'm very sorry, hija. I'm his mom but I feel like I haven't done anything..." nalulungkot at naluluhang sabi ni Tita, "I've already lost my husband and now... hindi ko kakayaning pati anak ko rin ay mawala sa'kin..."

I hugged her tight and felt what Tita feels. Oo, mahirap nga namang mawalan ng taong minamahal...

"Don't worry, Tita. It's not even your fault. You did nothing wrong po. Alam niyo naman po na sa simula pa lang ay naging isang napakabuting ina niyo na" saad ko, "Ginagawa naman po lahat ng mga doktor ang kanilang makakaya. All we have to do for now is to believe and have faith. Magdasal at manalig po tayo..."

"Salamat, hija. I am really glad that my son had a very good friend like you... Nakikita kong palagi kang nandyan para sa kanya" aniya, "I'll excuse myself muna. Can you take care of him for me?"

"Sure po" I nodded reassuring that everything is going yo be fine and then Tita had left.

Yes... You've read that right. A very good friend like me...

I'm just a friend though.

Lumapit ako sa binatang lalaki at hinawakan ang kamay nito. Nawala lang ako sa Japan kasama ang pamilya ko sa loob ng 5 araw pero parang mababaliw ako. Hindi ko kayang iwan ang best friend ko...

"Dean..." I called out his name, "Please... wake up ka na"

Dean had been involved in an accident for 5 months and it's also been that long that he is in comatose...

"Dean... do you still remember when had we became childhood friends? You know it was exactly 10 years ago - I was 7 and you were 9... on April 12, 2006"

Patulo lang akong kumakausap sa kanya. Masakit isipin na parang wala ito sa'king tabi dahil ito'y nasa coma ngunit pilit kong dinaramdam na nakikinig lang siya...

"It is..." aniya ko, "Today is April 12..."

'Di ko man lang namalayan na malalaking butil na pala ng mga luha ang tumulo sa mga pisngi ko. Pawang nansisikip narin ang dibdib ko. Parang pinupuga ng aking damdamin ang aking puso at parang nahihirapan narin akong huminga.

Why can't you just wake up? Why does it have to be like this? Nahihirapan na ako... Akala ko ba walang mang-iiwan. Ang daya mo naman, Dean...

"H-happy 10th y-year... best f-friend" saad ko na pinipilit na maging masaya...

I was supposed to keep him strong pero bakit ako yung mismong mahina. Ako itong nawawalan ng pag-asa, na dapat ipakita ko na malakas at matapang akong maniniwala na magigising pa siya...

Tahimik kong hinahaplos ang buhok nito at biglang napangiti. Kahit tulog ito for a whole damn 5 months at alam kong wala itong ligo - bakit ba ang gwapo niya pa rin? Nasaan ang hustisya? Nung umulan ba ng kagwapuhan, gising na gising ba nun si Dean?