Young Romance: Gon Gregorio

EVERYONE is so happy when they’ve found out about Melisa’s pregnancy. Sa wakas, magkakaroon na rin ng apo sina Donja Esmeralda at Don Lorenzo Gregorio. Walong buwan ang nakalipas nang ipinanganak ang kauna-unahang anak nina Melisa at Jeffrey Gregorio. Pinangalanan nila itong Gon, Gon Gregorio. Years have passed, no one knows what their son would be in the future. “Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo, Gon? Are you feeling alright?” said the old lady wearing a white outfit while sitting on the fluffy grey couch. “I’m fine, doc,” mahinang sabi ni Gon, at saka siya marahang tumingin sa ibaba. “What’s wrong? Alam na alam ko na ang behavior mo kapag may problema o bumabagabag sa iyong isipan.” Her voice became softer. “Tell me, hijo.” “It’s nothing,” he shortly said with his heavy voice. Pero hindi pa rin nakumbinsi ang doctor ni Gon. Binigyan lang siya nito ng matalim na tingin–nag-alala at gusto nito malaman kung ano ang iniisip ng kaniyang pasyente. She already has her thought about it, but she chose to let him talk about it. “Fine,” umayos siya nang kaniyang pagkakaupo, “do you think that everything we did for a month and a half, magbabago ang buhay ko? Does these therapy and medication will help me survive from the outside world?” He’s not mad. He’s just scared about what would other people think about him, his condition when they have the chance to know about it. “You don’t have to think about your condition anymore. You can start leaving it here. Hindi mo na kailangan pang mag-alala tungkol dito. You did a good job, Gon. You spent your time for this. And now, you are ready to go. Give yourself some more time to adapt the world again. You don’t have to be scared or think about what others might think about you. Live your life, Gon. You deserve it.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Gon na may tingin nang pagbibigay kaginhawaan. “Okay?” Ramdam ni Gon ang totoong pagmamalasakit ng doctor niya sa kaniya. Sinuklian lang niya ito ng isang salita, “Thank you, doc.” At saka siya munting ngumiti. Then the door suddenly opened. Hindi nila narinig ang tatlong beses na pagkatok bago bumukas ang pintuan dahil sa pag-uusap nilang dalawa. “Oh,” tumayo si doktora, “your parents are here.” At saka niya nilapitan sina Melisa at Jeffrey upang salubungin nang nakangiti. “Good morning, doc. How is he?” said Melisa after they shook hands. “He’s all right. Gon?” she called him with a look of giving him more positive spirit. “Your parents are here to get you out of here. You’re going home.” Hindi maipaliwanag ni Melisa ang nararamdaman niyang saya para sa anak. She couldn’t imagine losing her one and only child. Even it sacrificed her child’s freedom to live the outside world, she did, just for her son. Sa wakas, makakasama na niya ang kaniyang anak. “Come here, you sweet-cupcake!” She aggressively hugs him very tight wit her tears coming down from her swollen eyes. She’s been crying for this day to come. “We’re going home.” “Thank you, Doctor Anna, for everything,” wika ni Jeffrey. “You’re welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Gregorio. I am so happy for both of you. Please take good care of him.” “Thank you, Doc. Anna.” Niyakap ni Gon si Doctor Anna bago sila lumabas ng gusali. PAG-UWI nila sa kanilang bahay, may tatlong malalaking maleta ang nakapuwesto sa gilid ng kanilang pintuan pagkapasok nila sa loob ng bahay, habang ang kanilang mga katulong ay nakatayo sa gilid ng nakabertikal. “Welcome home, Sir Gon!” Binati siya ng mga ito na may ngiti sa kanilang mga labi. Their happiness is real. Hindi sigurado si Gon sa kaniyang sarili kung dapat ba siya maging masaya marahil ay sa wakas nakauwi na rin siya, o ang mamoblema sapagkat bumalik lang sa kaniyang alaala ang mga masasamang memorya niya sa bahay na ito. “Gon, what’s wrong? Is there something you want to–Um, Yaya Rose?” nag-aalalang sabi ni Melisa sabay hawak sa balikat ng kaniyang anak. Agad na lumapit si Yaya Rose. “Yes po, ma’am?” “Handa na ba ang mga gamit namin? Lahat ba nakalagay na sa mga maleta?” “Opo, ma’am. Lahat po ng nasa checklist na ibinigay n’yo po sa akin kanina ay ayos na po lahat.” “Good. Thank you, Yaya Rose.” “You’re welcome po, ma’am.” “Hon, I have to make some call. Pagpahingahin na muna natin si Gon, and we’ll go right after kapag ready na siya. Okay?” Jeffrey said while holding his phone in his right hand. Tumango lang si Melisa, at saka siya hinalikan ni Jeffrey sa kaliwang pisngi niya. “Come on, Gon. Samahan na kita sa room mo. I’m sure na mi-miss mo na ‘yong room mo,” nasasabik na wika ni Melisa sa anak. Gon didn’t say a word and he just come along with her mother. He’s happy but not as the same level of happiness her mother feels right now. And it only makes him uncomfortable. Hindi niya kayang pantayan ang saya na nararamdaman ng kaniyang ina. Pagdating nila sa harap ng kwarto ni Gon. “Mom, I’ll take it here. I just want to have some rest. That’s all. Please stop worrying about me. Okay? I love you.” Hinalikan niya sa pisngi si Melisa, at pagkapasok niya sa loob ng kuwarto ay agad at marahan niya itong isinara. Melisa can’t stop herself from worrying about her son. She just wants to make him feel welcome, and to let him feel that there’s nothing has change. “I love you, my son, Go.”