A Letter From Heaven

CHAPTER 5

Veronica's POV

“Ate,” naibulong ko na lang and suddenly I vomit.

“You’re bleeding! Oh my Gosh, sis! What happened?!” nag-aalalang tanong niya.

Medyo nanlalabo na ang paningin but I still manage to smile at her. Yeah, nobody really knows about my situation. But when I smiled at Ate Venus, I was able to see a woman behind her. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, it was Mom. She’s here. Is it for me? For us? Or just for Ate Venus?

“Mommy! Mommy, please help me! Dalhin natin si Veronica sa hospital!” Ate exclaimed. Hindi ko namalayang nakalapit na siya sa akin.

“Mom- Ahhhhhhh!” My head aches again. I can’t take this anymore.

“A-anak… Anak!”

“Mommy, please drive for us! Dalhin natin siya sa ospital Mommy please,” rinig ko ang paghagulgol ni Ate Venus. My head still aches, but I tried to open my eyes. Nasa tabi ko na si Ate Venus. She rested my head on her arms. Habang hawak-hawak niya ang panyo na nakatakip sa ilong ko. I think, it’s still bleeding.

“Y-you’re pale,” I heard mom say.

“I-I’m okay, M-mommy.” I smiled at her. I felt a warm hands touch mine. Ang kamay na iyon ay galing sa kamay ni Mom. She’s holding my hand habang ang isa niyang kamay ay nakahawak sa manibela. If I am not mistaken, I can see tears running down from her eyes. Is she crying?

“Mommy, a-are you c-crying?” nahihirapang tanong ko. My eyes are a little bit blurry, but I can still manage to see them. Si Ate ay nanatiling tahimik. I know kapag ganito siya’y nag-iisip siya. Instead of answering me, she just squeeze my hands.

Nahihirapan na akong huminga.

“I c-can’t breathe well,” I uttered.

“Please fight, lil sis. Please,” Ate Venus said. She kissed me on the forehead.

“Ate, I look like a mess. M-may suka ang damit ko. Hindi ka ba nandidiri?” I asked my sister.

But before she can utter a word, sumuka ulit ako. Kaya lalong nagpanic ang kapatid ko.

Ramdam ko ang bilis ng takbo ng sasakyan. I know they are all worried. Alam kong malalaman din nila yung sakit ko, but not this time. Pero sa tingin ko, hindi ko na matatakasan ito. My doctor told me that I have still 1 month to live. But why is it to early?

Pagod na ako.

“Mommy, Ate...can I sleep?” I asked.

Nagkatinginan pa silang dalawa.

“Anak, don’t. Can you stay awake for me? Never close your eyes. Please keep it open hanggang sa dumating tayo sa hospital. I will take you there. We will. Please fight for us, baby. Huwag ka ng magsalita. Just keep your eyes open,” she paused. She averted her gaze at me. “I love you, anak,” she uttered.

I heard Ate cry. Pati ako ay umiyak na. Is it really true that a person will only know your worth kung kailan mamamatay ka na? Mahal ka nila kapag mamamatay ka na. Maaalala ka nila kapag mamamatay ka na. Ayaw ka nilang mawala kung kailan mawawala ka na. But no, kahit gano’n sina Mommy sa akin, I know that they love me. Kasi kung hindi nila ako mahal, sana pinalayas na nila ako no’ng dumating si Ate Venus galing States. Kung hindi nila ako mahal, sana wala ako sa estado ng buhay ko ngayon. It was just they were blind by the fact na napamahal na rin sila sa akin.

“But Mommy, you told me a while ago that the thing that can make you is happy is when I’m already gone. Mommy, eto na yun.” I started crying. Ramdam ko pa rin ang sakit ng ulo ko ngunit nilalabanan ko ito dahil gusto ko pa silang makausap kahit sa sandaling ito man lang.

“Ssssh. Stop talking. Malapit na tayo,” pigil niya saakin.

Hindi ko na pinansin ang sinabi niya at nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagsasalita.

“Mommy, kung mawawala ako sana maging masaya ka, ha? Don’t be mad at yourself. I know na may mga araw na hindi tayo nagkakasundo. Sinisigawan mo ako. Pinapagalitan mo ako. Kinukumpara mo ako kay Ate. But Mommy, alam ko naman na kahit gano’n ka ay mahal mo naman ako, ‘di ba?” Pumikit ako saglit nang maramdaman kong sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko.

“Ver-“

“But Mommy, tatandaan mo na kahit gano’n kayo saakin, hindi ko kayo kailanman kinamuhian. Nagtatampo, oo. Pero kahit kailan hindi ako nagalit sa inyo ni Daddy. Dahil mahal na mahal ko kayo, M-mommy. Kayo ni Daddy at Ate Venus ang buhay ko. Ayokong mawala kayo. Ayokong n-nasasaktan kayo. Ayokong nadi-disappoint ko kayo but I always failed to make you proud. Mommy, never blame yourself, okay? Thank you for adopting me. I owe my life to you. But sorry if nilihim ko yung sakit ko. Ayoko lang na maging pabigat sa inyo. Ayokong mag-alala kayo. M-mahal na mahal ko kayo. Ate...” Binalingan ko naman ang napakagandang kapatid ko.

Susulitin ko na lang ang natitirang oras ko.

“Little sis? I love you,” she said while crying. She even kissed me on my forehead.

“I love you most. Ate, can you please do me a favor?” I asked. She nodded.

“Please take care of Mom, okay? As well as Dad. But I know Dad will take care of the both of you. I know how much he loves you and Mom. Thank you for making them proud. Thank you for making them happy. ‘Coz I always failed to do it. Thank you for staying and for treating me the way I want everyone would treat me. No matter what happens, I wil--- ahhhhhh!” hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang makaramdam muli ako ng matinding sakit sa ulo.

“Sis, ang init mo!”

“Mommy please drive faster!”

"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!"

“Veronica, please fight for us!”

And everything went black.