The Girl at 829 (girlxgirl)

Chapter 56

(Note to Readers: PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO PLAY THE SONG ABOVE ↑)

Pagdating nila sa Unit 829 ay may nakita silang palabas na mag-asawa mula sa kapatat na unit nito, ito ang dating unit ni Marsha. Hindi tuloy napigilan ni Marsha mag-isip na dapat sila ni Jane ang masayang lumalabas sa unit na iyon at hindi sila. Napansin naman agad siya ni Jane, "Hey, are you okay? Bakit ganoon na lang ang tingin mo sa kanila?" tanong ni Jane.

"Ha?—wala. May naisip lang ako. Okay lang ako."

"Are you sure? Okay lang ba ang pakiramdam mo? Please tell me if you feel any pain, okay?" dagdag pa ni Jane.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Let's go inside."

Pumasok ang dalawa sa unit ni Jane. Walang pinagbago dito. Pareho pa din ang kulay ng pintura, ang mga gamit na nakalagay, ang sofa...." Grabe, all these years...parang walang nabago dito sa unit mo," namamanghang pahayag ni Marsha.

"Yeah. Kahit na hindi ko na ito inuuwian ay weekly ko pa din ito pinapalinis tapos si 'Ta Berts naman alagang-alaga ito sa maintenance. Kaya eto, it's like we're trapped in the 90s," nakatawang kwento ni Jane.

Nag-iba ang aura ng mukha ni Marsha pagkatapos marinig ang mga salitang iyon mula kay Jane. Napansin ito ni Jane at lumapit siya kay Marsha, "Marsh, is there something wrong—Oh and by the way, wait lang may kukunin lang ako." Umalis si Jane at mabilis ding bumalik dala-dala ang kanyang bag, "I forgot to give you this." May kinuha si Jane mula sa kanyang bag at inabot ito kay Marsha, "I was supposed to give you that the day.....Well, the day that you left me. Hinanap ko talaga 'yan. I wanted to replace it with the exact one. And I was lucky to have that kasi it was the last piece that time." Inabot niya sa kamay ni Marsha ang Tamagotchi.

"Thank you!" maikling sagot ni Marsha. "Though I still regret na nasira ko 'yong dating Tamagotchi mo."

"That's okay, at least nasira siya dahil naihampas mo ito kay Rex." At nagtawanan sina Jane at Marsha. "We never had a good laugh together for a long time and I'm just glad we did that again," nakangiting sabi ni Jane. "I'll give you your meds and then you should probably get some sleep na. Maaga pa tayo tomorrow."

Pagkatapos painumin ng gamot ni Jane si Marsha at dumeretso na sila sa kwarto. At nang humiga na sila ay napansin ni Jane ang necklace na suot ni Marsha, "You still have it all these years," hinawahan ni Jane sa pendant ang necklace para tignan ito.

"Syempre naman, iningatan ko talaga 'yan kasi ikaw ang nagbigay nyan sa akin. And you know whenever I feel so low or kapag sobra kitang nami-miss, tinitignan ko lang 'yan and somewhat it gives me hope," nakangiting kwento ni Marsha. Lumapit si Marsha kay Jane at kinuha niya ang kanang braso nito para doon siya mahiga, "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," sagot ni Jane.

"I missed you, Jane...I missed you a lot." Her voice was soft and almost fading. At bago pa makasagot si Jane ay nakatulog na si Marsha.

"It must have been the tiring day and her medicines that knocked her off," naisip ni Jane. Pinagmasdan siya ni Jane, "I missed you, Marsha...You will get well...I know you will get better soon. Matatalo mo'yang Cancer, alam kong kaya mo 'yan. 'Wag kang susuko. Just hold on, Marsh," Jane closed her eyes and said a little prayer. Pagkatapos ay hinalikan niya sa noo si Marsha, "Good night, Marsh. I will love you forever."

Maaga silang nakabalik ng Tagaytay. Ngayon kasi ang flight ni Marsha pabalik sa Australia. Hinatid ni Jane sa Marsha sa garden, "So paano, I guess this is goodbye for us," pilit ang ngiti sa labi ni Marsha.

Tumango si Jane, "Yeah, I guess so. Mag-iingat ka palagi doon. At magpagaling ka. Tsaka 'wag matigas ang ulo, do what your doctors tell you. And take your medicines and vitamins on time," mahigpit na bilin ni Jane.

"Opo," sarkastikong sagot ni Marsha. At nagkatawan sina Jane at Marsha. "Thank you, Jane. Thank you for spending time with me. You have no idea how happy I was these past few days. And these memories-these new, happy memories will help me again to fight...to live. At paki sabi din kay Eric, salamat. I never met him or Nadine but I think you have a wonderful family. At sana bigyan pa ako ni God ng chance na ma-meet ko sila one day."

"Don't say that, Marsh. You will meet Eric and Nadine someday because you will get better and you will live a long, blissful life."

Pilit na ngumiti muli si Marsha at pagkatapos ay niyakap nito si Jane, "Ingat ka palagi and take it easy. Don't work too hard, okay?" Hindi na napigilan ang pag-iyak nina Jane at Marsha.

"I promise, I won't. But you have to promise me na lalaban ka kahit anong mangyari. Magpapagaling ka at magkikita pa tayo uli. You will have to meet Nadine at maglalaro pa kayo."

"Yes, I'll see you again." Paalis na sana si Jane nang muli siyang tinawag ni Marsha. "At 'yong tanong mo dati kung bakit hindi ako nagsasabi ng I love you? Hindi ko man nasabi sa'yo noong magkasama pa tayo, but please don't ever doubt my love for you. I loved you Jane...I've never stopped loving you."

Leaving with a heavy heart, Jane got into her car and broke into tears. Mahirap at masakit para sa kanya na maghiwalay sila ni Marsha sa ganoong paraan. Ni walang kasiguraduhan kung magkikita pa sila o hindi na. Then Jane closed her eyes and prayed. She prayed that Marsha would live just the way she wished and hoped—A long and blissful life.