Einstein's POV
I was reading about spinal cord injuries at nararamdaman ko na susuko na nga mata ko, 2 hours ko nadin binabasa ang chapter na to.
Pagkatapos neto, matutulog na talaga ako.
After finishing the chapter, I closed the book and from my study room, sa sala nalang ako pumunta at nahiga na.
Nang biglang may nag doorbell.
"Seriously?" Sabi ko.
Salamat at napikit ako ng ilang milisecond, it was the best moment so far sa araw na to.
Pagbukas ko ng pinto, Isang Noreen ang bumungad saakin, she was holding a basket.
She was wearing different type of clothing.
Shirt that is tucked in a skirt, pero nakajacket padin sya ng pang reporter and sneakers.
-
I invited her into my house, pinatong ko basket nya sa lamesa ko.
"Wahhhh!!!" Sabi nya as she kneeled on the floor to look at my turtle named Pong. May balloon na nakatali sya kanya, Si Tanya naman ang shih tzu ko winelcome si noreen, barking at jumping at her.
"Ano mga pangalan nila?" She asked happily.
"Si Pong Pagong, and Tanya the dog" Sabi ko.
She played with them then she wandered off the house. "Wahhh!!!" She kept yelling at every corner of my house.
I boiled water and prepared. tea at nag set up na ako sa lamesa.
Just in time na nalibot na nya ang buong bahay ko, she jumped on my couch.
"Xbox ,playstation, Wii!" Sabi nya. "Can I play?" She asked.
"Go ahead" Sabi ko.
"Kain ka muna dito, hatid na kita pauwi" Sabi ko.
Lumapit na sya sa saakin, Sa mataas na stool sa may counter, she sat down.
"Why are you so nice to me?" she asked me.
"Hmm?" Sabi ko.
"Are you really like this?" Tanong nya.
Come to think of it , I don't even trully know myself.
"I think so" Sabi ko.
Pagkagat nya sa cupcake, she wandered off again while holding the cupcake.
"Oh?" Sabi nya. She paused at pinatong nya ang cupcake sa shelf, May hinawakan syang frame. "Ako to ahh, tsaka si...Kuya?" She said. She was smiling then she started to...Cry?
Napabitaw ako sa kinakain ko tas nilapitan ko sya. She hugged the frame.
"Kuya ko" Sabi nya.
Ahh picture namin yun nung bata pa kami
She started to cry hard, really hard grabe na sya mag sob, mamaya mahimatay nanaman to dahil sa hyperventilation.
"Umiiyak ka..." The stupid and the obvious came out from my mouth as I don't know how to react.
"Shh, shh tahan na" Sabi ko sa kanya, not knowing what to do... Is it a proper thing to do? I argued with myself.
"Kuya Ezra" Sabi nya, then she hugged me. She squeezed me tightly.
Kuya Ezra...Upon hearing it, memories started to flash before my eyes, unconscious thoughts became conscious. Naalala ko moments nung bata pa kaming tatlo, We would ride our bikes tapos naka angkas sya kay N. During our elementary days, magkaschool pa kami, I would give her piggy back rides as we were fond of each other.
My heart felt warm and I squeezed her back...Gale is all grown up or atleast, her physique.
"Shh Gale" Sabi ko while rubbing her back.
"Miss ko na kuya ko" She sobbed.
-
She sobbed then she sobbed, parang niagra falls ang mata nya, sa totoo lang antok na talaga ako and we moved sa couch, naka stare nalang sya habang tumutulo luha nya, Binigyan ko sya ng tubig tapos umupo ako sa kabilang side ng couch, facing her.
"Nasaan ba si N?" Tanong ko.
"England, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, America and maybe Thailand? I don't know... It's been a year" Sabi nya. Pinunasan nya ulit luha nya, then she smiled at me.
"So di mo alam kung nasaan sya talaga?" I asked.
"Yes" Sabi nya. "I'm sorry, Emotional lang talaga ako and I really miss him, he's all I have left" Sabi nya. "But meeting you, I felt close to home again" Dagdag nya.
I smiled at her. "That's...nice" Sabi ko.
"Miss ko na kuya ko" Sabi nya.
"Uhh...Well, I can be your kuya. I mean , Kuya mo naman talaga ako, remember?" Sabi ko.
She smiled at me again, And finally nag kalight na expression nya.
"You must be wondering why I'm always out at night? Lumalabas ako kasi, Di ako makatulog...I'm tired but I can't sleep, I don't feel safe and binabangungot ako, I'm scared" Sabi nya.
Kaya pala parang nocturnal tong babae na to, Kung bakit sya putla at bakit sya puyat.
"Why are you scared?" I asked.
"Because I was asleep at home when my parents died at pagkagising ko wala na sila... I'm scared" Sabi nya. "Scared that I might lose someone, that i might not be safe, it haunts me na wala man lang ako nagawa para iligtas sila" Sabi nya.
"Gale, things happen for a reason. Kapag nandyan na ang bagay nandyan na, Ang macocontrol mo nalang ay ang paraang ng pag react mo sa bagay na yun. At dito sa case na to, acceptance and forgiveness. Accept the events, forgive others and yourself, and lastly, don't blame yourself. Wala kang kasalanan" Sabi ko.
She was quiet and I can tell na pagod na sya.
"Can I sleep here?" Sabi nya.
Nagulat ako sa pagsabi nya yun, pero napaka groggy, tired and weak nya tignan. It's already 2:00 a.m. and I can also get some sleep, I deserve one and may quiz pa ako bukas ng 8:00 a.m. and responsibility ko na sya ngayon, What am I gonna do?
"Uhh...Sleep here?" Sabi ko.
"Not next to you, just here on the couch, Aalis ako sa kinaumagahan" Sabi nya.
I think I'm crazy and medyo magulo isip ko, I think I'm dreaming, did I just allow a girl to sleep here in my house?
I suddenly remembered the rumors about me na lagi daw may babae sa condo ko.
First time na nangyare to actually, and I see na wala naman siguro masama?
She asked and she's peacefully sleeping on my bed as I insisted na doon sya at ako nalang sa couch, I tucked her in my blanket.
Ang sarao ng tulog nya and I can tell na matagal na syang hindi nakatulog ng ganyan.
She looks like a child hugging my stuffed pikachu as she's asleep.
-
Sa couch ako natulog, morning came it was 5:45 a.m. I checked up on her kasi iniwan ko lang nakabukas ng door, she was still asleep kaya pinabayaan ko muna sya.
Nagprepare ako ng breakfast bago ako maligo, Iniwan ko sya ng share nya at cinover eto with a note.
Nakabihis na ako ng uniform, nag a- argue padin sa isipan ko kung gigisingin ko ba sya o hindi and so, nag iwan nalang ako ulit ng note.
Pumasok na ako sa school, if you need anything just text me
And, sinulat ko din number ko.
7:00 a.m., I left home and went to school.
-
Noreen's POV
I was asleep, It was comfy and it felt safe, the last time I felt this was when kompleto pa pamilya ko, Si mom, Si dad , Si ate, Si kuya at ako.
I can still see their faces in my dreams, we were happy, we were together , strong as a unit. We didn't have any problems, we loved each other, It was always the same dream. I would get the same aura, Bright flashy lights, the faces of my parents and ate, then suddenly.
I would hear a gunshot and I would wake up.
It happened back when I was 12, My ate was 20 years old, Doon kasi ako nag highschool sa Cebu where my Ate was studying Pre med.
Gabi yun, Si ate pinuntahan ang kwarto ko at kiniss nya ako goodnight, we were happy.
Magulat nalang ako sa isang malakas na tunog ng alas dos ng gabi, And I woke up with the front door open and my bleeding sister on the floor. It was tragic, I didn't know what to do, It haunted me. Walang man lang ako nagawa na kahit ano para pigilan yun mangyare.
8 years later, Sumunod naman magulang ako, both of them died in a car crash. It was also night, tulog din ako, pag gising ko nalang sabi ni kuya, wala na kaming magulang.
Kuya became my pedestle, the one I lean on, he was strong and I am counting on him, he's the only sense of security i have left as I doubt the safety of the world.
-
Nagising ako, hindi dahil sa alarm, sa tunog, sa nakakairitang pakiramdam pero dahil kompleto na tulog ko. Comfortable ang mattress na parang sinusundan shape ng katawan ko, ang unan na sobrang lambot at ang warm ng kumot na gamit ko.
At bigla kong narealize...
"Nasaan ako?" Biglang bangon ko tuloy nahilo ako.
Carpet ang sahig, at may fluffy slippers na nakaready pero hindi sya saakin, suot ko padin ang damit ko pagcheck ko. Ang bag ko naman nasa upuan sa tapat ng kama, sinundan ko ang liwanag sa malaking glass window at kita ko ang view ng city.
Lumabas ako sa kwarto at sinalubong ako ni Tanya, na paikot ikot na tumatakbo saakin.
nag stretch ako at muling inappreciate ang kagandahan ng condo ni Ezra.
Ang sala, ay nasa baba, may stairs pababa bale baliktad sa kanya ang main door, tapos kusina at dining area doon din kwarto nya at ang bathroom for guests and may sarili din syang bathroom sa room nya. He also has a walk in closet sa other side, where he keeps his classy clothes, mahilig sya sa suits, long sleeves and bow ties.
Sa baba naman, Sala with fur carpet na kahit doon nalang ako matulog okay lang.
with a huge flat screen tv complete with x box, playstation, wii and may mic pa.
May guitar din sya and keyboard, He also has his study room sa baba, na mukhang library, may desk at may couch din sa loob nun.
Bumalik ako sa taas, sa kitchen, doon nakalagay sa shelves ang mga picture frames.
Their family portrait, He has an older brother.
A picture of us three, and a picture of him, kuya and 4 other guys.
I walked around and I noticed a note sa isang tray na may cover.
Your breakfast....
If you need anything just text me...
I opened the cover, Pancakes, egg and bacon.
"Wew" Sabi ko, As I never had proper breakfast in such a long time.
Kumain ako sa kusina as if it's my house then hinugasan ko ang pinggan na nasa lababo.
-
Einstein's POV
"Some people get confused with the dilemma that they experience upon losing a loved one, It's between denial and acceptance.
As we all know, the grieving process starts with denial and it should end with acceptance.
It our job as health care providers to take care of the spirituality of our patients and their loved ones, So that they will successfully end on the stage of acceptance" Ang ending ng report ni Sheila, It was about death and bereavement. Upon the death of a loved one, matitira ang mga bereaved o ang mga tao na naiwan dito sa lupa.
Bereavement is the sadness that you feel upon losing a parent, a friend or someone special.
I can't imagine losing someone, until...bigla ko nalala.
May babae nga pala sa bahay ko, She hugged me and it felt so nice, as if it's familiar and it brings me back to the happy times of my life.
It was 10:00 a.m. , I was about to go home, Nakasakay na ako sa motor ko sa may gate banda.
"Ezra" Said a familiar voice.
It was balm, Her real name is Dhonnabelle Go but peoole calm her balm
"Balm" Sabi ko.
"I need a ride" Sabi nya.
"Goodluck on getting one" Sabi ko as I wore my helmet.
She blocked my way and she looks upset. "I NEED A RIDE" Sabi nya ulit.
"Why? You have a driver, you have your own car, even your father can call a helicopter and land it there on the field" Sabi ko.
"Just do it, just drop me off my building" Sabi nya.
"Give me two reasons why" Sabi ko.
"How about I'll give you something you want?" Sabi nya.
"I'm contented with my life kaya bye bye" Sabi ko.
"Can you atleast be a gentleman, my feet hurt from these heels at ang layo ng building ko" Sabi nya ng nakaabante na ako sa kanya.
"Ikaw, Kaya mo ba maging magalang at sabihin na Mr. Yang, Pwede po ba maki angkas? Masakit na po kasi paa ko sa mga takong na to dahil pabebe akong tao" Sabi ko, I grinned at her. I know she's annoyed and desperate at the same time.
"Mr. Yang..." She took a deep breath. "Pwede po ba ako maki angkas sa iyong pangit na motorcycle? Masakit na po kasi paa ko sa heels na to dahil tiis ganda ako" sabi nya with a fake smile.
"May mali sa sinabi mo" Sabi ko.
"Dahil pabebe akong tao" She tried to remain calm sabay ngiti ulit saakin.
"Hop on" Sabi ko.
"Whatever" Sabi nya, sabay umangkas na sya.
"Bakit ba hindi ka mag flats?" Sabi ko.
"Flats are for the low class people, Unlike heels" Sabi nya.
"At saan mo nakuha ang logic na yan?" Sabi ko.
"Mostly from my brain" Sabi nya.
"Your twisted brain" Sabi ko.
She stopped talking and nakadating nadin kami sa building nya.
"Bye madame" Sabi ko ng pang asar.
"Whatever Ezra. Oh, I remember! May dinner tayo mamaya with your dad and my parents and they asked me to tell you" Sabi nya. "Be there" dagdag nya.
Tinalikuran nya ako, sabay adjust sa heels nya looking uncomfortable sabay rampa as if her shoes is not killing her.