Her Last Days (COMPLETED)

Day 26

DAY TWENTY-SIX

RYKKI

NANG malaman kong mamamatay na ako. All I wanted to was to spend my last days with the people I love the most, my daughter—Serafina Aki. I already accepted my fate that I'll suffer and die alone. Handa na ako sa mga posibleng mangyari sa akin, I was ready. I didn't even question God's plan because I trust Him.

But as I am looking at myself in the mirror wearing the altered wedding dress that I wore when Seth and I got married. I remember how I forgot him that day in Hiro's condo. I started questioning Him. I started hating His plan.

Bakit ako? How come hindi Niya magawang pagbigyan akong sumaya muli kasama ang mga taong mahal ko?

"Rykki, everything is ready..."

Hindi ko na inaksaya pang punasan ang mga luha ko at hinarap ko si Hiro na siyang maghahatid sa akin patungo sa lalaking pakakasalan ko.

"Are you okay—"

"I'm dying and I'm being so selfish marrying Seth. I may not be able to see my baby or he might not be able to live. How can I be okay, Hiro?"

Napapikit ako at napaupo nang mapagtanto ang mga sinasabi ko. Natatakot ako sa mismong sarili ko. Pakiramdam ko unti-unti na akong nawawala sa sarili ko. Nag-iiba ang ugali ko at alam kong pinahihirapan ko na ang mga tao sa paligid ko.

"I-I'm sorry, Hiro...I'm just—"

"Sshhh, you don't have to explain, Ry."

Niyakap ako ni Hiro at tinapik-tapik ang likod ko. "You look so beautiful today," aniyang humiwalay sa akin at pinunasan ang mga luha ko gamit ang panyo niya.

"Really? Even if I'm skinny and pale?"

Umiling siya. "You're still the gorgeous bride I have ever seen, Rykki. Let's go, he's waiting for you..."

Tumayo siya at inalalayan ako pero hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. "T-thank you for everything you've done for me, Hiro. Hindi ko kayang sabihin na hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga ginawa mo para sa akin kasi nga unti-unti na kong ginugupo ng sakit ko. Pero alam ko magawa man akong baguhin ng sakit ko, mawala man kayo sa isip ko, iyong puso ko palaging maalala kung gaano ko kayo kamahal at kung gaano ninyo ko minahal," Humikbi ako at niyakap si Hiro na umiiyak na rin na alam kong pinipigilan lang ang sarili niya kanina. "When I lost everything— Seth, my children, and I have nowhere to go so I chose to die, you were there for me and I couldn't thank you enough for that. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for being my family. If I d-die—"

"Oh, Rykki, please 'wag mong ituloy—"

"—I wanted you to promise me that you won't be sad for a long time. That you'll find someone who's going to replace me in your life, I want you to be happy, Hiro."

"No one's going to r-replace you, Rykki, kasi nag-iisa ka lang sa buhay ko. You're my best friend, sister and my soulmate."

Halos kalahating minuto naming kinalma ang isa't-isa at naglakad na kami palabas ng isa sa kuwarto ng resort na inokupa ni Seth ngayong araw. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil tila nakikisama ang katawan ko sa espesyal na araw ngayon. Wala akong sakit na nararamdaman. Pagkapagod lang na alam kong kakayanin kong kalabanin.

Malakas na umihip ang hangin nang tuluyan kaming makarating ni Hiro sa dalampasigan kung saan nakaayos ang set-up ng kasal namin. Palubog na ang araw kagaya ng gusto ko at napangiti ako nang makita ang mag-ama ko na inaabangan ako sa arko sa unahan kung saan kasama ang pari na nagkasal sa amin ni Seth noon.

Nginitian ko ang mga bisita namin na halos wala pang bente ang bilang. Tanging malalapit na kaibigan lang ang mga inimbita namin.

It was a very private and solemn wedding just like how I wanted it.

Humigpit ang kapit ko kay Hiro nang makita ko ang projector kung saan si Seth ay nag-umpisang kumanta habang si Sera ay naggigitara. They're singing my favorite song. The one that Seth sang to me when he asked me to marry him.

Time...

I've been passing time watching trains go by

All of my life

Lying on the sand watching sea birds fly...

Looking at the two of them waiting for me. I wanted to stop the time and cherish this moment.

Life—it might have given me a hundred times reasons to give up but then these people that I love gave me a thousand reasons to fight and stay.

Is this Your plan?

For me to at least die happy being with them until my last breath?

But will I really be happy knowing that I'll left them hurting?

If You're going to take me, could you do it once we're ready?

Nang makarating ako sa unahan ay hinagkan at niyakap ko muna si Sera bago ako lumapit kay Seth na tila hindi nahihiyang lumuluha siya.

"I-I'm still here, why are you crying?"

Ngumiti siya at hinaplos ang pisngi ko. "Because I'm happy...that after everything that happened, He still gave me a chance to marry you again."

"Are you sure you're not going to regret this?"

Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng kamay niyang nasa pisngi ko nang paulit-ulit siyang umiling. "I will never regret marrying you, Rykki."

Kung hindi pa tumikhim ang pari ay hindi pa kami aayos ni Seth. Mahigpit ang kapit ni Seth sa kamay ko.

"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of Rykki Nunez and Seth Eros Vallejo in marriage. With love and commitment, they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife."

Halos wala na akong marinig sa sinasabi ng pari dahil sa tila ugong na namumuo sa tenga ko pero nginitian ko lang si Seth at hindi iyon pinansin.

"I never thought that we'll marry each other again, Eros. We failed before and I don't want to make the same mistake, I don't want us to end up hurting each other again. But I guess that is not His plan for us." Umangat ang kamay ni Seth at pinahid ang namamalisbis na luha sa pisngi ko. Mahigpit kong hinawakan 'yon. "If someone would ask me, kung anong magandang naidulot ng pagkakasakit ko, it was having a chance to be with you again. I think this is His plan, ang ibigay sa 'kin ang sakit na 'to para muling maitama ang lahat ng pagkakamali ko noon. Para muling bigyan ako ng tsansa na makasama ang una't-huling lalaking minahal ko. Always remember this Eros, no matter how much we've hurt each other before, in my next lifetime, I'd still choose you. It just had to be you because I-I love you so m-much."

TBC