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Pagpasok ko sa lobby ng hospital, may kakaiba na agad akong napansin. Maraming tao sa lobby and it seems like they are preparing and decorating the area for an event. Mula sa pintuan ng hospital nakikita ko kung gaano kasaya ang mga tao sa pagdedecorate. Nurses and some doctors are there to decorate the area also and some patients are there to help too.
I can't help but smile. This hospital is one indeed one of a kind.
Inilibot ko ang tingin ko sa mga taong naroon, umaasa na baka naroon din si Thalia and I was right. She's there. Napabaling ang tingin nito sa akin. She smiled and waved her hand happily.
Napangiti ako sa inakto niya atsaka naglakad papunta sa kaniya. I was almost there when she lost her balance on the chair she's standing at.
"Oh my gosh!, Thalia!," people are shouting because of shocked to what is about to happen.
But since I was quick and almost near her, I catch her unscathed.
"Careful," I said.
Napakurap kurap siya and then she bit her lower lip. She's doing that when she felt embarrass. Nakahinga naman nang maluwag ang mga tao sa paligid. Ang mabilisang pag aalala kanina ay napalitan naman ngayon ng mga tukso.
"Aww! There's so bagay!"
"Ang romantic!"
"Ayieeee!"
"Ang galing naman mag catch! Kinikilig si Thalia! Hahahaha!"
Mas lalong sumiksik sa dibdib ko si Thalia dahil hiyang hiya na talaga siya. I laugh a bit at that.
"Put me down now," she murmured to me.
I look at her first before I slowly put her down. Ang mga tao sa paligid ay may mga nanunuksong tingin sa aming dalawa.
"Ma issue kayong lahat! We're just friends,"she said trying to ease the embarrassment she's feeling.
Kinalabit niya ako or more like kinurot niya ako.
" Say something, "she mouthed at me. She's really embarrass. Too much attention for an introvert like her.
Napatingin muna ako sa kaniya bago sa mga tao sa harapan namin na nasa amin parin ang atensyon na para bang isa kaming love team sa isang telenovela.
" We're just friends, best friends,"I said.
" Ah, friend daw pala kasi sila hahaha, "sabay sabay na sabi nilang lahat.
" Doon naman nag uumpisa yun eh, " tukso pa nung isang nurse.
She glared at each one of them that made them stop from teasing at us and go back to what they are doing a while ago.
Tumingin siya sa akin at basta na lang inihagis sa akin ang hawak niyang tarpaulin at masama ang tingin na iniwan ako doon.
I just laugh a little about that atsaka ako tumulong sa pag aayos dito sa lobby.
It was exactly 2:00 pm when the event started. Magkatabi kami ni Thalia na hawak ang camera niya para i-video ang buong event. I smiled at her when she look at me.
This event is a show they made for a kid name Hexy who loves to play piano. She's about to undergo her surgery for kidney transplant the day after tomorrow. She's only 8 years old and you can see her determination to fight even though she suffers pain.
She bowed down to all of us before she started playing the Night and Dreams (Nacht und Traume) by Schubert.
We enjoy to hear the girl played the piano piece and we're all smiling for her.
"You should play piano with her. I can still remember how you play piano before, secretly," Thalia whispered through my ears.
Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "You want me to play piano with her?"
She nodded. "She would be extra happy to do that," she said and urge me to do what she said.
I looked in front when the little girl has already finish the last key on the piece she played. All of the audiences clap their hands for her and she looks happy.
"Go," Thalia whispered so I stand up and walked towards the little girl Hexy.
"Hi!," bati ko kay Hexy.
Napatingin ito sa akin at saka nag bow ng kaunti bago ako nginitian.
"Do you want to play the piano with me?," I asked.
Napatingin muna ito sa magulang niya na nasa harapan, they nodded to her so she nodded to me too.
"What are we going to play?," she asked cutely.
I smiled and whispered to her, "Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven do you know how to play that?"
Hexy nodded to me. I smiled and guided her back in front of the piano and we both sat on the chair. Nagtinginan muna kaming dalawa bago namin inumpisahang tugtugin ang Moonlight Sonata.
While we are playing that piano piece, I smiled bitterly knowing that any moment from now, something would change.
We bowed down to our audiences when we finish playing the piano piece. I patted Hexy's head and was about to leave the stage when she said something.
"Why are you sad?," she asked.
Lumingon ako kay Hexy. "I'm not sad," I said.
Umiling siya. "No, you're sad. While we're playing earlier, it seems like you're about to cry."
Hindi na ako nakasagot pa sa kaniya at nginitian na lamang siya.
Nakaupo ako sa buhanginan habang nakatingin nang malayo sa dagat na nasa harapan ko. I kept on sighing. I need to do something for Thalia not to leave this earth and I keep on thinking what I should do.
Would she be happy if I do that? Gusto niya ba ang gagawin ko?
Those questions are keep on popping on my head but I don't want to back down. I want her to live.
"You're here."
Napalingon ako kay Thalia nang magsalita ito at tumabi nang upo sa akin.
"Ang lalim naman nang iniisip mo. Baka malunod ka diyan," sabi pa niya.
Napatawa ako nang mahina sa sinabi niya.
"Do you want a piggy back ride?" I asked.
She looked at me suspiciously.
"What?"
" Baka naman may kapalit yan ha?"
Umiling ako na natatawa.
"Sure?"
I nodded.
"Okay!" masayang sabi niya at basta na lamang ikinawit ang mga braso sa leeg ko.
"Hey! You're choking me!"
"Hurry up! Piggyback ride! C'mon!"
I sigh.
I carry her on my back and we walk near the shore. She keeps on talking while I just there and and keep on listening.
" Thalia," I called out her name.
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"You're already asking a question. Hahahaha!"
Tss.
" Thalia, please."
"Hahaha, okay okay what is it?"
I sigh before I ask her. "If I will become a bad guy, will you still look at me and treat me as your friend?"
"Hmm, even if you will become a bad guy of course you're still my friend but I won't tolerate you're bad actions. Kung may masasaktan kang ibang tao, I would be the first person who will punish you."
"Hindi magbabago ang tingin mo sa akin?"
"Hmm, If you will become a bad guy, still won't. Maybe you have a reason why you have to be a bad guy. You're like that eh. You wouldn't be a bad person without a reason."
I smiled bitterly.
You cannot say that, Thalia when it happens.
******
" Don't be discouraged by the things or people who will bring you down. Gamitin mo yung pangungutya nila sayo para magpursige at patunayan sa kanila na kaya mo. Huwag mong masyadong isipin ang mga sinasabi nang iba sayo. That's their opinion to you and you shouldn't care about that. Just focus on your goals and the dreams you wanna achieve because that is what matter and not the things people say to you. Let them bark kasi papansin lang sila at naiinggit lamang sila. Pursue your own dreams don't let others dictate your life. Thalia Stella, I honestly feel broke right now but I'm rooting and cheering for you! Fighting! "
******
K i a z y h y u n
Expect the unexpected.
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