Embracing Sunshine (Completed)

"Meeting You 4'

Francisco Guerrero

He felt relieved when that woman walked out the door. The last thing he needs in his life right now is disturbance. Ayaw niya nang maingay, ayaw nya nang magulo at ayaw na ayaw nya sa bungaga nito. Within minutes na kasama nya ang babae ay alam nya na kung anung klasing tao ito. Madaldal.

He looked around him and grimace. Alam nyang nasa ospital sya but it made him feel so uneasy. Kung may lugar man ngayon sa mundo na pinakaayaw nyang puntahan, ito ay ang Ospital. Every corner of this place is reminding him of the life he is trying to forget. The life he had with Genevie. The pain he felt when losing his parent.

Sa kalagitnaan nang kanyang pag mumuni he heard the door opened. Rushing from the door is his tita Amanda . An obvious worry and sadness is reflecting in her eyes.

He looked away. Ayaw na ayaw nyang makita ang awa nito para sa kanya. Somehow he feel ashamed . Hindi ito sumusuko sa kanya but he cannot seem to find any hope nor reason to step out from the shadow of the past.

" Francisco what happened?" nag aalalang tanong nito.

"I am sorry" Usal na lang nya. wala naman syang gustong ibang sabihin dito. Alam nyang naiintindihan nang tiyahin kung bakit sya ganoon but for now he just really wants to be alone.

"Anak naman, hanggang kailan ka magiging ganito? Pag nakita ka nang mga magulang mo at ni Genevie sa ganitong sitwasyon, siguradong hindi sila matutuwa"

"I'm fine tita"

"No, you are not fine. Look at yourself! Pinayagan kitang mag-isa dito because you insisted on it. You told me you can make it. Sabi mu babangon ka but look what your doing. Instead of trying to stand again nilulumpo mo ang sarili, please son, hijo, for me, try to live again"

Wala syang masagot dito. How can he promise anything to her kung sa sarili ay hindi nya alam kung makakaya pa nya. Try to live? Surely he is trying his best to survive. Just to survive but to live this life? What's the point?

"Francisco, I miss your smile, especially your laugh. Naalala mo pa ba ang mga kalokohan mo noon? How you made paper cranes from your fathers medical books dahil inis ka dito ? It was a hard time for me controlling his anger towards you as those books were important for him." She looked at me and said " I miss those good old days from you"

"Tita, its in the past. Sabi mo nga good old days and those days are gone" It's true. Those days are gone, his parents are gone and Genevie is gone. Why remember those "good old days" if those people are gone. Yung mga taong naging dahilan nang masaya nyang buhay noon. Wala na ang mga ito , paano pa sya sasaya?.

Yes pessimistic sya but if you were in his shoes magagawa mo bang maging positive? I don't think so. The pain he feels? Unbearable. Kahit siguro sino magiging ganito kapag na experience ang na experience nya.

" But Son. You know your parents will be disappointed with this. Mahal na mahal ka nila. They gave everything you needed in lif---- "

"I am back!!!!" naputol sana ang sasabihin nang kanyang tita sa pagbabalik ni Elaine sa kanyang hospital room. They both looked at her and shock is evident in her face. Hindi siguro nito inaasahang may kasama na sya sa kwarto.

"Oh you must be Elaine?" Tanong nang kanyang tita and extended her hand to her for a handshake.

"Yes po" Mahinang tugon nito then at the same time bashfully lowered her head. Aba at marunong din pala itong mahiya. She took her titas hand and shook it.

"Thank you for calling me" He saw her tita size up Elaine then smiled. He also did the same, tinitigan nya ito. Ngayon na tahimik lang itong nakatayo at hindi nag sasalita, he can say that the lady is beautiful. Standing tall in her sunflower dress with a gorgeous long, black and silky hair.

"Andito na pala kayo Ma'am pwede na po ba akong umalis? Para kasi akong lalamonin nang pamangkin mo. Galit ata sa mundo" Biro nito. Well she can't blame her. He made it obvious that he does not want her to stay in the same room with him.

"No you stay for a bit, aasikasuhin ko lang ang papers ni Francisco dito sa hospital including bills and discharge papers. " Tumingin ito sa kanya at nag salita " Your Doctor told me na pwede kanang lumabas mamaya but please take care of yourself okay?" Pagsusumano nito.

"I will leave him to you Elaine .I will be back." Yun lang ang sinabi nito at tumalikod na ito sa kanya leaving him together with this loud woman.

He looked at her, parang nahihiya itong kausapin sya. Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan nila and somehow he felt relieve for her silence but after a few seconds , nag simula nanaman itong magsalita. Mali pala sya nang hinala. Hindi kilala nang babae ang salitang hiya.