Your Universe

#YU25

•MAINE•

Patakbo kaming pumasok ni RJ sa ospital, diretso sa room ni Tita Rio. Nung huling beses na dumalaw kasi kami sa kanya right after RJ's championship game, she wasn't really feeling well due to high fever. Hindi nga namin siya masyadong nakausap because she was advised to rest more.

RJ abruptly opened the door and we saw the doctors trying to revive Tita Rio. Tito Richard and RJ's siblings are there too, and they were all crying. Dahan-dahang lumapit si RJ, until we all heard the sound we were all dreading to hear.

He stopped in his tracks as we heard one of the nurses say, "Time of death, 11:33pm."

The doctor turned to Tito Richard and apologized. "We did everything we could to revive her, Mr. Faulkerson. But her lungs were severely damaged already as the cancer cells have completely spread out," he took Tito Richard's hand and held it. "I'm really sorry."

I saw Mary and Angel walk towards their mom and cried. Nasa likod nila si Kuya Dan, crying silently as he started stroking his sisters' back, trying to console them, kahit alam kong hirap na hirap din siya. Lumapit din si Tito Richard sa hospital bed ni Tita Rio and kneeled in front of her and held her hands tightly, "Rest, my love. You have fought a great battle," he started kissing her knuckles as he cried.

Inaalalayan ko si RJ na nakatingin lang sa mommy niya, his tears streaming down his face. Hindi ko kaya yung ganito, umiiyak siya pero wala kang tunog na maririnig. They say it's more dangerous when you cry silently. Nag-aalala ako for him. Napaupo siyang bigla sa floor and I sat beside him as well, consoling him.

"RJ..."

Umiiyak pa din siya pero nagulat ako nung tumayo siyang bigla saka tumakbo sa labas.

"RJ!"

Hahabulin ko na sana siya pero naramdaman kong may pumigil sa'kin. Si Tito Richard.

"Let him be, Maine. I know it's harder for him to accept this, sila kasi talaga ng mommy niya ang pinakaclose. Let's give him more time."

***

Umuwi muna ako para sabihan sina nanay at tatay tungkol sa nangyari kina RJ at nagpaalam na rin ako na magtatagal muna doon. Buti na lang, start na ng sembreak at walang classes kaya pumayag naman si tatay at nagsabi na dadalaw din bukas to pay their respects.

Pagdating ko sa bahay nina RJ, nakaayos na lahat for the wake. I saw their relatives as well, even RJ's grandparents. Nilapitan ko sila para magmano and paid my respects to them.

I tried calling RJ a couple of times since I got here pero hindi siya sumasagot. Sinubukan ko na ding puntahan sa kwarto niya but he wasn't there, nakaayos pa rin yung kama niya. Umupo muna ako sa gilid ng kama niya and pulled my phone out of my hand bag. I tried calling him again pero hindi talaga siya sumasagot.

"RJ, pick up, please..." I whispered to myself with my phone in my hand.

"Ate Maine?"

Tumingin ako sa pinto and saw Mary and Angel looking at me. I motioned for them to sit beside me on the bed.

Pagkaupo nila, niyakap ko silang dalawa and they started crying. Hindi ko na rin napigilan yung sarili ko na umiyak, it must be so hard for the girls, especially Angel at her young age, to lose their mother.

I pulled them off out hug and wiped their tears. "I'm here for you girls, ha?" I told them. "Kung kailangan niyo naman ng makakausap, or someone to have a girl talk with, I'm here."

"Ate, nag-aalala kami kay Kuya RJ," Mary said in between sobs. "Siya yung alam naming pinakanahihirapan sa ngayon."

"Uuwi ba siya ngayon, ate?" Angel asked. She moved closer to me and rested her head on my chest.