Belle Ame: A Beautiful Soul (DS Auxiliary)

Chapter Eleven (Part 2)

Chapter Eleven

(Part Two)

***

April 2007.

AFTER my encounter with Alessandro, I caught a fever. Sumasakit ang buong kong katawan at ni hindi ako makabangon ng kama sa loob ng tatlong araw.

"You've been stressed," my heart doctor said. "Santino, dapat kang umiwas sa mga bagay na nakakasama sa kalagayan ng puso mo. Alam mong..." He sighed. "I'll talk to your wife."

"Josias," tawag ko rito bago tuluyang lumabas. "When will this end? How much time do I have left?"

"No one knows, Santino. But if you keep on getting upset and it leads to depression, your heart will give up on you. It will just stop beating one day. That one day we don't know."

I stared at the ceiling as I stayed lying down on my own bed. May sakit lang ako ngayon, pero buhay pa din... Nararamdaman ko ring pabuti na ang kalagayan ko...

I'm still alive. "Hindi madaling mamatay ang masamang damo," sabi ko.

Napailing ang doktor. "Can I give you an advise, not as a doctor, but as a family friend?"

Napabaling ako sa kanya.

"I don't know exactly what you're going through, Santino. Just always remember that in every situation—the good and the bad, is an opportunity for the Lord to display his great power," he gently said, with a comforting smile in his face.

"Every person—the righteous and the wicked, does not invalidate God's love for them. Even to you, Santino. Kahit gaano pa kasama ang tingin mo sa sarili mo, hindi nagbabago ang tingin sa'yo ng Panginoon."

I opened my eyes. "I didn't know you're a believer, too."

He chuckled and lightly tapped my shoulder. "Hope, Santino. Not in your situation. Not on who you are nor what you have done. Not even on the things you can do. Hope in Christ that has the power to redeem you."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "C-Can you... c-can y-you..." I swallowed down my pride. "Can you pray for me then, Dr. Valleroso?"

He nodded and laid his hand on my head. I closed my eyes when he uttered a short prayer of healing and hope.

"Thank you, Josias."

"Take care of yourself, Santino."

Lumabas na ito ng silid. Aya was waiting outside. Nag-usap ang dalawa para sa ilang mga bilin.

Bumangon ako at isinandal ang likod ko sa headboard ng kama. Tumanaw ako sa labas ng bintana... The skies are bright.

"How are you feeling?" tanong ni Aya pagbalik niya nang silid.

"Better..."

Umupo siya sa kama, humarap sa'kin at hinaplos-haplos ang buhok ko. "I'm sorry it didn't go well with Alessandro..."

"I was not able to say I'm sorry..." Hinuli ko ang kamay niya at idinikit sa pisngi ko. "But there will be another chance, r-right?"

Agad siyang tumango. "Yes, there will be! There will be other days and other ways. Sa ngayon, magpahinga ka na lang muna."

Hinalikan ko ang kamay niya. "Kung h-hindi ako patatawarin ng mga anak ko, kung hindi pa man ngayon habang nabubuhay pa 'ko... tatanggapin ko, Ysabella. Dahil matapos man ang buhay ko, patuloy ang plano ng Diyos sa buhay ng mga anak ko, hindi ba?"