Write-A-Thon Challenge 2.0

ENTRY 05 | Cheers, to my October

"Breakthrough"
-by _mnnty_

Everything is now over. No more lockdown. Masks. Quarantine. Stay at home. Freedom! All we have now is freedom to scream! To shout until we run out of voice. To dance 'til we break our bones. To drink 'til we passed out.

Happiness, indeed. And freedom it is! No liquor band for tonight. Everyone are given this one night chance to drink free! To be happy for free!

"Woah! This is what I imagine after that pandemic!" rinig kong sigaw ng isang babae kasama ang mga barkada niya.

Nagraramihan ang mga tao sa kahit saang sulok ng mundo. Nakadisplay sa gilid-gilid ang mga wine. May banda sa malaking stage. May pafireworks. May palibreng pulutan. May tugtugan. Everything is on fire. The whole world is on disco!

Nagsisiksikan ang mga tao sa paligid at naiwan 'ata ako sa gitna na pinapanood silang nakangiti. Iyon bang ignorate pa at hindi pa makapaniwalang nangyayari na nga ito. The different year for all.

"Cheers to the year of joy! Cheers to the year of shots!"

"Cheers to our freedom!"

"Cheers to our success!"

"Cheers for surviving!"

"Cheers for finally getting over the past!"

"Cheers for being brave!"

"Cheers for self-love!"

Naghiyawan ang buong katao at nagsasayawan. Napangiti lamang ako at hinanap ang kasiyahan ko. Ano ba ang dapat na isigaw ko sa mundo? What should I cheer for? Napangiti akong napatingin sa harap ko when I finally found what I long for.

Hinakbang ko ang mga paa ko at nakipaglaban sa siksikan ng nagraramihang tao. Wala akong pakialam kung nababangga nila ako, they are just enjoying the night, no harm, no hurt feelings, no war, just fun.

Nagtungo ako sa harap. Napangiti akong napatingin sa nagraramihang chichiria at bote ng wine sa lamesa. Nauubos na nga iyong iba at nabubuksan na.

"Ma! You are going to fight right? You're strong, nakaya nga nating mabuhay na tayong dalawa lang 'di ba?" nangingiyak na wika ko sa telepono habang nakatayo ako malayo kay mama na nasa loob ngayon ng malaking quarantine building.

Hindi kasi ako puwedeng pumasok doon kaya hindi ko nagagawang mayakap siya at makausap nang malapitan. Kaya nandito lang ako sa labas. Tanging staffs lang kasi ang kumukuha ng mga pagkaing niluluto ko para ibigay kay mama. Mahirap na ganito lang kami kalayo sa isa't-isa.

"Yes, sweetie. Lalaban ako. And if ever, I won't make it. Kapag wala na ako sa tabi mo," natigilan siya at parang maiiyak at ganoon din ako.

"I want you to stay healthy and if this will finally end. I want you to find your happiness. If you don't want to study in that expensive university, then don't! If you don't want to stress yourself having a good grades, then don't. If you don't want to be an Engineer, Doctor, Teacher, Businesswoman, Lawyer, please don't force yourself. Don't force yourself to earn that degree or to earn money. My savings is enough for you to live your life. Go find your ways to be happy, to enjoy the rest of your life," dagdag niya.

Nag-umpisa nang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

"If you want to eat chichirias and drink a lot! Go for it. Hindi na kita pipigilan. I know, you know your limits. I won't stop you, but be responsible. I won't stop you, but stay healthy. I won't stop you, if that makes you happy. I love you so much, my princess."

Masaya sana ma, kung kasama rin kita ngayon na tumatalon sa tugtog ng kanta. I grabbed the foods in front of me. Kinakain ko iyon at uminom din. Hindi lang iyon ang ginawa ko nagtungo pa ako sa itaas ng stage at inagaw ang mikropono sa isang lalaki at kumanta nang paglakas-lakas. Wala namang nagreklamo dahil lahat ng tao rito ay nandito para magsaya. Walang kill joy.

Napatingin ako sa phone ko na nagring kinuha ko iyon at sinagot. Nakikita ko siya sa malayo nakaupo at nakangiti.

"Anak, basag na basag ang boses mo. Pero sige lang, basagin mo ang mga tainga namin."

Natawa ako nang pagkalakas-lakas na rinig na rinig ng marami.

"Ma, masaya ako dahil lumaban ka. Masaya ako dahil nandito ka pa rin sa tabi ko. Kahit bawal kang magtatalon-talon at uminom. Ako ang iinom para sa 'yo," sabi ko sa tapat ng mikropono kaya rinig iyon ng maraming tao.

"Thank you, my princess. For patiently waiting. For living."

"Thank you. Salamat din sa lahat for living their life to the fullest. For fighting, despite the heartbreaks we felt during those days. I know, it wasn't easy. It wasn't fun to live knowing someone is dying, someone you love is crying, and everyone is suffering. But, you still find a way to create this happiness. To step here. To enjoy! You are all brave. Whatever happens from the past will remain a lesson. A memory. Remember, no one has to be blame for the lives that was taken because of the pandemics. No one has to mourn for regret. We should never live again with regrets. But, grateful and blessed. Let us live the lives of those people who weren't able to enjoy it. Tayo ang magpapatuloy sa saya para sa kanila. And let's cheers for happiness for this year and the coming years!" itinaas ko ang bote ng wine sa ere at naghiyawan silang lahat at sabay-sabay na nag-inuman.

This what I cheer for. For everyone to get over from the heartaches they felt. For them to fully moved on and just enjoy the rest of their lives. To love themselves more. And to choose happiness over regret, over sorrow, over hates, over war, over every painful thing. We should just live like this. No worries at all. No hates. No fights. But, respect for those who are just having fun. Because, this is what we all need. A breakthrough.