Enough Reason To Fight

*Alec's Flashback*

"Tita, a day has passed." I said. "Hindi parin siya gumigising."

Tita Ella has been Theia's doctor since day 1. She's the only one that I can trust when it comes to her. Alam niya lahat lahat. She is Mommy's bestfriend, Gab's mother and Nathan's aunt as well. Kapatid niya si Tito James.

"Is she going to be okay??"

"I'm going to tell you the truth, Alec." She stared at Theia while talking. "We've run some tests last night and the result wasn't what I was expecting.."

"This is not about that.. right?"

"I hate to say this. But.." She sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. It's her DCM."

Oh god..

"Her heart's getting weaker, Alec. It's not getting the blood that she needs."

"Is there anything else that we can do?"

"We can only prescribe her new sets of meds for now." She answered. "But this will be different from what she took last time."

"How about operation?"

"It's not possible now, Alec." Umiling siya. "Theia's body is at it's weakest point. We might lose her habang inooperahan siya."

"I'm looking for other ways. We can't operate on her here. States was the best option." Sabi niya. "They have advanced machines that we don't have which can help Theia get through it."

I held my face between my hands. Hindi ko mapigilang umiyak.

"I know it's hard, Alec." She patted my back. "You have to take extra care of her. We can't afford any sort of complications that might affect her heart or else.."

"Oh, Theia.." I held her hand.

Am I going to lose you?

"This is the 2nd time she fainted. I can't guarantee that her heart can take it if this happen again."

"Kuya?"

We both looked at the door and saw Charm.

She's crying.

***

"Theia.."

Iyak siya ng iyak.

Hindi ko alam kung may magagawa pa ko para mapatahan siya.

"I'm sorry naging pabaya ako." Sabi niya. "I'm sorry kasi mukhang mamamatay lang din pala ako."

I promised myself that I won't make her cry pero ito siya umiiyak sa harapan ko.

"I'm really sorry, Kuya. Sorry kasi hindi manlang ako gumaling.." She cried. "I didn't know this would happen. Wag ka na magalit please.."

"Hindi na. Wag ka lang umiyak."

Kahinaan ko ang pag-iyak niya.

"But you have to promise me na hindi ka mamamatay at hindi mo kami iiwan."

"Hindi ko pwedeng ipangako ang isang bagay na imposibleng mangyari." Sabi niya. "Hindi ko hawak ang buhay ko. If I did, hinding hindi ko kayo iiwan kahit kailan."

I know.

"You never did tell me what happened." I said. "Sabi ni Charm kausap mo daw si Ry."

"Nag-usap nga kami."

"At wala kang balak sabihin sa'kin kung anong nangyari?"

"Wala." Sagot niya. "Quits na tayo."

"Okay, fine." Iniwan ko siya sa lamesa at kinuha yung carbonara. "May gusto rin akong sabihin pero wag nalang."

"Eeeehhh!" Sinundan niya naman ako. "Ano yun, Kuya?"

"You don't fight fair." I told her. "Ayaw mong sabihin sa'kin yung pinag-usapan ninyo ni Ry but you want me to tell you?"

"Hmp."

She crossed her arms at dumiretso sa sala.

"That won't work, Aletheia." I sat on the couch beside her. "Now, tell me."

She stared at her hand for a second.

"Naghiwalay na daw sila ni Ivy.." Bulong niya. "She even told Ry that she still loves Nate."

And for that, I have no idea what to say.

There were no words that can comfort her.

"I know this shouldn't affect me." Sabi niya. "But it just hurts too much, Kuya."

"When he had the accident, pinilit kong kayanin. Nung nagka-amnesia siya, lalaban pa sana ako para maalala niya." She cried. "Pero ngayon, hindi ko na alam. After hearing that I might die and knowing she still loves Nate, ano pang dahilan para lumaban ako?"

"Hindi ko naman siya sinisisi dahil naaksidente siya." She held her face while crying. "Pero bakit? Bakit ako pa yung hindi niya maalala?"

"Ang alam niya lang, mahal niya si Ivy." She said. "But what about me? For him, isang nalang akong babae na nagpupumilit ipaalala sa kanya."

Wala akong magawa. Wala akong magawa para sa kanya.

I feel worthless as her brother.

"Ano bang dapat kong gawin, Kuya??"

Hinintay ko siyang tumigil sa pag-iyak bago ako sumagot.

"Do you really want me to tell you kung anong tingin ko? Alam nating hindi mo magugustuhan yung sasabihin ko."

"Go ahead. Tell me."

Nagtatapang-tapangan nanaman siya.

"Kung papalayuin kita sa kanya, magagawa mo ba?"

Umiling naman siya.

Paano kita mapipigilan kung first love mo si Nathan?

"See? Hindi rin madali 'to para sa'kin. Kapatid kita and I don't want to lose you but I know you don't want to lose him too."

"But.."

"Ano bang gusto mong gawin?"

"I wanted to let him go.." Sagot niya. "Pero gusto ko din lumaban kahit mukhang talo na ko."

"Theia, saan ka ba mas masasaktan?" Tanong ko. "Kapag lumaban ka o kapag sinuko mo siya?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Mahirap lumaban ng hindi mo alam kung mananalo ka pero mas mahirap sumuko kahit alam mong may pag-asa pa." I said. "If you don't do anything, Ivy's going to win. You're letting your nightmare eat you."

Her nightmare.

Yung panaginip na nagkabalikan sila Nathan at Ivy.

"Pero paano kung.."

"You're doubting yourself again."

"Natatakot ako.."

"Kasi?"

"I don't know what's the right thing to do.."

Ano nga ba?

"Theia, you love him right?"

She nodded in response.

Naluluha nanaman siya.

"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin alam." Sagot ko. "Pero mahal mo siya. For me, that's enough reason para subukan mo ring lumaban."

"Will you let me fight, Kuya?"

Ayoko sana.

Fighting could cost you your life, Theia..

But how can I stop you?

Kung sa buong buhay mo, siya lang ang minahal mo ng ganyan?

"If that's what you really want, then do it."

Fighting for the person you love will hurt you. But it will also make you happy. Hindi ko kayang makita kitang magsisi sa dulo.

I can't take another happiness away from you.

"Thank you, Kuya."

I wiped her tears away.

"Is this my job already?" I asked her. "Taga punas nalang ba ako ng luha mo?"

"Uy, privilege kayang punasan yung luha ko! Hindi lahat nagagawa yan no."

I chuckled.

Iba talaga siya mag-isip kapag umiyak.

"Privilege? Sa lahat ng trabahong ibibigay mo sa'kin, yan pa talaga." Biro ko. "Sa gwapo kong 'to, taga punas lang ako ng luha mo?"

"Alis nga!"

"Ang arte."

I held her face kahit na umiiwas siya.

"Kahit punasan ko pa ng paulit ulit yang luha mo, ayos lang. Kahit paulit ulit ka pang umiyak, sige lang. I'm just here, Theia. Don't ever forget that."

"I know, Kuya." She smiled.

*clink*

We both stood up.

"Ano yun?"

Parang may spoon or fork na nahulog.

"Sa dami ng nangyayari, minumulto narin ba tayo?"

Di ko ba nasabi sa inyo?

Takot si Theia sa multo. HAHAHA.

"Wag kang ganyan, Kuya!" Kumapit siya ng mahigpit sa braso ko.

Sabi ko sa inyo takot siya e.

HAHAHAHAHA.

"Aray naman." Nakukurot niya na kasi ako.

Bakit ako yung sinasaktan niya? HUHU.

"Kuya, nandun yata sa kusina."

"Yung multo?" Pangaasar ko ulit.

I'm having fun sa totoo lang. Hahaha.

Pinalo niya 'ko sa braso.

"Hindi yun multo!"

"Aray ha! Nakakadalawa ka na."

"Ikaw kasi! Tignan mo na dali!"

Naglakad na kami papunta dun sa may nahulog.

Gusto ko siya asarin ulit. Hahaha.

"Paano ka nakakasiguradong hindi multo yun?"

"I can feel it."

She looked so serious. Natatawa ako sa kanya.

"Umiyak ka lang, pati multo nararamdaman mo na?"

Palapit kami ng palapit sa kusina.

"What if multo talaga yan?"

"Eeeh! Quit joking around, Kuya!" Sabi niya. "Mamaya magnanakaw na yan e!"

Alam ko naman kung sino yun.

Lumapit kami sa kitchen counter and I peaked.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba.

Naka-peace sign na agad yung nilalang na nakaupo sa sahig.

"Oh? Anong meron?" Tanong ni Theia.

"May nahulog lang na tinidor."

Nakayakap kasi siya sa'kin kaya hindi niya nakita agad.

I was trying hard not to laugh.

Sumenyas ako sa kanyang lumapit siya.

Sumunod naman siya at hinawakan yung paa ni Theia.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"

******