A Letter From Heaven

CHAPTER 6

Venus' POV

Pagkarating na pagkarating naming sa St. Luke’s Medical Center ay agad kaming sinalubong ng mga nurse habang ang iba’y may dala na stretcher. Doctor ang kapatid ni Mommy dito, kaya naisipan naming na dito siya dalhin. Inilagay nila ang walang malay kong kapatid sa stretcher saka dinala sa loob ng Emergency Room. Nauna nang pumasok si Mommy. Binuksan ko muli ang pintuan ng kotse saka kinuha ang cellphone ko. Ngunit bago ko man makuha ang cellphone ko, nakita kong umiilaw ang cellphone ni Veronica. Kinuha ko iyon.

I saw a name pop on the screen, I clicked the answer button.

“Who is this?” I asked.

“Bestfriend po ito ni Veronica. Where is she po? Is she o-okay?” I heard her sigh.

Hindi ko alam na may kaibigan pala siya. Anong klase kong kapatid.

“We sent her to St. Luke’s Medical Center. Pumunta ka rito because I also want to talk to you,” I said.

Pagkatapos kong magsalita ay agad niyang binaba ang tawag.

Napaupo ako sa hagdanan. I called Dad. Wala pang tatlong ring ay sinagot na nito ang tawag.

“Dad,” pagsisimula ko.

“Yes, anak? Pauwi na ba kayo ng kapatid mo? Pauwi na rin ako,” he said. Hindi pa man ako makapagsalita ay tuluyan na akong umiyak.

“Anak, what happened? Why are you crying?” nag-aalalang tanong niya.

“Daddy, Veronica needs us now. Please come over. We’re at St. Luke’s Medical Center,” I said crying.

“Okay. I’ll be there in 15 minutes. Stay put.” Then he ended the call.

I composed myself bago muling tumayo at tumungo sa Emergency Room. Handa na ba akong malaman kung ano ang sakit ni Veronica? Am I ready to accept about her situation?

Pagpasok ko sa Emergency Room ay nakita kong nakatayo si Mommy habang umiiyak. Nilapitan ko siya and hug her tight. I know she’s in pain. Alam kong mahal niya si Veronica.

“Mom, may sinabi na ba ang Doctor? Where is my sister? Is she okay?” tuloy-tuloy kong tanong.

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Mom ay siyang paglabas naman ni Tito sa kurtina kung saan ay nasa loob ang kapatid ko. 

“We’re running out of time. She needs to undergo a bone marrow transplant. But I’ll tell you, 60% lang ang maibibigay kong assurance sa inyo, Ate.” Umiling pa siya.

“Bone marrow transplant? For what?” Mom asked out of curiosity. Pati ako ay nagtaka.

Wait, don’t tell me-

“Hindi pa ba nasabi sa inyo ni Veronica ang kalagayan niya? She has Leukemia. The last time I checked her was 3 weeks ago. Ang alam ko, may isang buwan pa siya para mabuhay. But, Ate hindi ko alam na lumala kalagayan niya. Maybe she’s not taking her medication this past few days. I’m sorry,” he sighed.

“All this time, Tito, alam mo na may Leukemia ang kapatid ko?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

He nodded. “Ilang beses ko siyang kinonvince para sabihin niya ang kalagayan niya sa inyo. But she keeps on telling me na ayaw niyang maging pabigat sa inyo.” She faced mom. “Ate, gusto ko mang sabihin sa inyo ang totoo pero binantaan ako ni Veronica na kapag sasabihin ko sa inyo ang kalagayan niya magpapakamatay siya,” tila nanlulumo nitong sabi.

“Just do everything to keep my daughter alive, Peter. Please,” Mom said calmly but with full authority.

“I will do my best, Ate.” After he said that ay binuksan na nito ang kurtina dahilan para makita kong muli ang kapatid ko. Napatakip ako ng bibig nang makita ang napakaraming pasa sa katawan niya.

“You can talk to her first bago namin sisimulan ang operasyon. Maghahanda na kami,” Tito Peter said.

Agad na dinaluhan ni Mom si Veronica. She’s crying so hard. Lumingon ako sa direksyon ng pintuan at nakita si Daddy na paparating.

“Daddy! Right here!” I wave at him. Tumakbo siya papunta sa kinaroroonan ko at agad akong niyakap. Nang kumalas na siya sa pagkakayap ay tinanong niya kung nasaan si Veronica. His eyes are red. I know he cried.

“Fidel,” Mom spoke.

I saw how Daddy’s expression change. His eyes become watery. Umiling-iling pa ito bago unti-unting lumapit sa kapatid ko. I can’t see her in that situation. But I need to. Nilapitan ko si Mom and hug her.

“Anak, nandito na si Daddy. Please wake up. Daddy loves you, okay?” Hinalikan pa nito ang kamay ni Veronica. We are all in pain. Siguro kasi alam namin sa sarili namin na may pagkukulang kami sa kapatid ko. Lahat kami’y nagkulang sa kanya.

We are all in pain because of her Leukemia, regrets and everything.

“She has Leukemia. Daddy. Itinago niya ito sa atin. She’s really strong,” I spoke.

“Anak, can you wake up? Gusto ko makita mo kami ngayon. Nandito kami para sa’yo. Nandito kami’t hinihintay ka. Nandito kami handing lumaban para sa’yo. Kaya sana please, lumaban ka rin para sa amin. Mahal na mahal kita anak,” Mom said in between her tears then she hug me.

“M-mommy...”

Lahat kami’y napatingin kay Veronica. She’s awake! Narinig niya ang sinabi ni Mommy. Naririnig niya kami.

“Yes, baby?”

“D-daddy?” she spoke again. Halata talaga na nahihirapan siyang magsalita. She looks so pale.

“Yes, baby. I’m here,” Daddy answered.

“A-ate?”

“I’m here Veronica. What do you need?” sinubukan kong pigilan ang emosyon ko.

“Is m-my bestf-friend h-here p-po?” she asked.

Before I uttered a word, a voice came up from my back.

“Nandito ako bestfriend.” I turned my back and saw a girl with her jeans and shirt standing behind me.

“I’m her best friend po. The one you talked a while ago,” she told me.

I smiled and said ‘thank you’ without making any sound. She smiled back.

“Baby, daddy’s here already. Can you make a favor for me? A last one. Can you fight for us? I know what we’ve been through but believe me I really love you. I may not be showing it Veronica but Daddy Fidel, Mommy Vanessa, Ate Venus and your best friend loves you so much. Stay for us, baby.”

She lifted her hand and caressed Daddy’s face. Blood started to run again from her nose.

“I love you, and I will always do.”