War of Hearts

Kabanata 26

Emptiness

Sobrang bilis ng panahon. I took my special exam last weekend and now I am back in Laguna for my Mom.

Midterms na nila Keith samantalang ako ay patapos na ang finals. The Dean talked to me about it and they said that I can pass my works every weekend.

I am thankful that I enrolled in SRCU. No wonder this school produces top notchers every year at kung hindi 100% ang passing rate, 99% ang pinakamababa.

Nakahinga na rin ako nang maluwag nang ibigay sa akin ni Earl ang bagong number ni France. She's studying med abroad and was quickly challenged on how competitive students are.

Minsan nga'y nagtutulungan kaming intindihin ang mga topics namin.

I sat on a cold metal chair at the waiting area near the clinics of the hospital. Naandito ako para makahinga nang maayos.

Ako lang ang nagbabantay kay Mama. Tulog pa rin siya. I am afraid that I'll be the first person she sees after a long period of coma.

Nang bumisita si Tita Cecil at Tito Emman, I excused myself to grab a hot water in the nursing station but here I am siting on a chair surrounded by sick people who utterly needs check up.

I am wearing my black joggers, red knitted sweater and white rubber shoes while holding a mug. Nadaanan ko na ang Nurse station ngunit tumambay muna ako rito.

I took a deep breathe and close my eyes and thought of the things I have in life. I am preparing for the worst. Mahirap. Naranasan ko ng mamatayan ng kaibigan and I think it'll happen sooner or later.

At a point in life, kailangang maging handa sa kung ano man ang mangyayari. We couldn't tell when will a person die.

Kaya ang hirap din kapag na-attach ka ng sobra sa ibang tao. Marami kang pagiiyakan. Depende na lang kung plastic iyong taong 'yon.

I opened my eyes as I felt someone staring at me. I was right. Tiningala ko ang ulo ko at nakita si Tita Cecil na malungkot na ngumiti sa akin.

Right. Tita Cecil is Andrea's mother and my mother's sister. It must be hard for her. Kahit ako naman.

"Heard from your Papa that you won't enroll next sem? Is that correct?" Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi ni Tita.

How did she know about that? Umupo siya sa tabi ko at humarap sa akin. I swallowed hard.

Plano ko lang na tumigil muna kung magiging malala ang sitwasyon ni Mama. Dean also recommended that I should stop next sem if this kept on. I was thinking about it for a while now but...

"You know how hard med school is, right?"

Tumango ako at nakinig sa kanyang kuwento.

"I remember when I was in Law School, hirap na hirap din ako mag-adjust. I am not smart. I have a pessimistic attitude and even have the urge to quit." She smiled. Probably remembering some memories. "Ang kurso ko lang naman noong kolehiyo ay Marketing. Ang taas ko rin mangarap e. Biruin mo, isang Marketing student nag-law. The nerve!"

"Importante rin naman po ang Marketing, Tita. Don't degrade that course."

She smirked at me. "I know. I just probably looked down on myself before. But then, I remember my reason why I badly wanted to enter Law School." She paused for a moment. Natigilan din ako sa kung anong rason ni Tita. Maraming problema ang pamilya namin lalo na sa hatian ng lupa but her reason shocked me.

"Noong nagtatrabaho ako sa isang grocery, nagulat na lang ako nang matanggal iyong kaibigan ko sa trabaho. I asked him what was wrong and he couldn't tell it to me. Akala ko may problema siya sa pamilya. Ayun pala, may kaso siya."