"La-Langga . . .?" Yohan breathlessly whispered while walking slowly towards the woman sleeping peacefully in the bed . . . or is she? "Langga," he called out again before kneeling down at her side. Maingat nitong hinawakan ang malamig nitong kamay, isang indikasyon ng kalagayan nito ngayon. "Langga, gising na . . . nandito na ako."
He kept on waking her up but she remained silent . . . lifeless.
"Oh God . . . no, no, no. Don't do this to me, please." Nilagay nito ang kamay ng dalaga sa may noo nito at doon umiyak. "Please, I can't . . . please. Not like this." He kept mumbling to himself as if reciting a chant.
She is not dead. It cannot be.
Ayaw pa rin niyang maniwala sa binalita ni Kuya Zy sa kaniya kaya naman nang sabihin nito iyon ay halos masuntok niya ito. She can't be dead. Marami pa silang plano para sa kinabukasan nila. Babawi pa sila sa mga taong nasayang dahil sa nangyari noon. Ayaw niyang maniwala ngunit pagkakita pa lamang niya sa namumulang mata ni Kuya Zy ay kaagad na rumehistro sa kaniya na hindi ito nagbibiro o nagsisinungaling.
Kuya Zy never cries. Ever.
Isang beses lang niya itong nakitang umiyak at iyon yung panahon nang magbigti si Ate Louisa. After that, he changed. He became stoic and cold, a man who can endure pain and hardship without showing any emotion.
Seeing his bloodshot eyes were enough indication that he was telling the truth. Apple Pie was really dead.
Kaagad naman siyang nagwala. It felt so unfair. Maayos na sila diba? Natagpuan na nila ulit ang isa't-isa diba? Bakit may ganito pa? Bakit kailangan pa siyang kunin?
Sabi ni Kuya Zy ay hindi na daw kinaya ng totoong katawan ni Apple Pie ang matagal na pagkawala ng kaluluwa nito. She was already in the past for almost a year. Ilang buwan na rin itong tulog sa hinaharap. They already have gone back and forth from the future and the past but Apple Pie was still there. Simply put, it was like a human not sleeping for a whole month. Ganuon ang sitwasyon ni Apple Pie. Ni minsan ay hindi nito pinahinga ang katawan at kaluluwa at nagpatuloy sa pamumuhay sa nakaraan.
Just like Xav pointed out in his own situation, as much as he wanted to stay in the past for good, sadly he can't. Kahit pa man nandoon na ang asawa nito at anak ay hindi pa rin nito maaaring iwan ang totoong katawan sa hinaharap. He needs it. They all need to comeback every now and then to replenish their energy.
Noong una ay napag-usapan pa nila iyon ni Xav. He warned him of the possible effect that would happen to Apple Pie because of her prolong stay in the past. Noong mga panahong iyon ay hindi niya iyon ininda. Akala niya ay special case lamang ang babae kaya naman nakakaya nitong tumagal sa nakaraan.
Ayon nga rin kay Kuya Zy ay report daw ng mga nurses na nagbabantay kay Apple Pie na biglaan na lamang daw itong nag-seizure ng ilang ulit for the span of few days until her heart suddenly stopped. Ginawa daw ng mga ito ang lahat upang masagip ang babae ngunit bumigay na daw ang puso nito. Kuya Zy ordered to let Apple Pie stay in the bed as if it was just sleeping because he wanted him to make the decision. Nais nitong hintayin siya upang pumili kung ililibing na ba nila ang babae. He was so thankful that they didn't put her in a coffin. Hindi na niya alam ang mararamdaman sakaling makita ang babae sa loob ng ataul.
"Langga . . . please don't do this. Nangako ka . . . babawi pa tayo diba? We would get married, live together and build a family, right? I never sold our apartment. Our stuff was still there. Wala akong ginalaw. Look, the wedding ring that I bought for you years ago is still here with me." Para siyang tangang kinakausap ito sabay kuha pa sa isang maliit na kahon kung saan niya tinago ang wedding ring na binigay niya dito noong naglive-in sila. Nanginginig niya itong binuksan bago ito pinakita sa nakapikit na babae. He was still hoping that she would open her eyes and smile at him, assuring him that it was all a nightmare.
But that didn't happen. He was only greeted by silence.
Binaba niya ang kamay sa panghihinayang bago maingat na kinuha ang kamay ng babae. Gusto niyang maiyak dahil kahit pa man dalawang taon silang naghiwalay ay suot pa rin ni Apple Pie ang promise ring at engagement ring na binigay niya dito noon. Bahagya niyang hinaplos ang mga singsing na iyon bago unti-unting isinuot ang singsing na kulang sa kamay nito.
Their supposed-to-be wedding ring.
That simple band that he proudly bought using his own money when they were still mere young adults. Noong mga panahon na walang-wala pa sila ngunit masaya silang nagsasama. That time when they were both planning for their future.
Nang maisuot na niya iyon ay naluluha niyang tinitigan ang tatlong singsing na inalay niya sa babae upang patunay na kaya niyang gawin ang lahat para dito.
Kahit pa man sabihin nating nasa nakaraan si Apple Pie at buhay pa, hindi pa rin maaalis ang katotohanan na dadating ang araw na pipilitin siya ng mismo nitong kaluluwa na bumalik sa hinaharap. At kapag dumating ang panahong iyon ay wala na siyang babalikan na katawan. She is already a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode. She would die no matter what.
Those were the words of Xav. Apple Pie has no choice but to die. He would lose her over and over again.
YOU ARE READING
My Everything In His Past (2nd Book of 'In His Past' Series)
Historical Fiction"I wish I realized much sooner how important you are, my wife, my president, my everything."
