✓ FATE | SUNKI FF

Chapter 01

"You have been diagnosed with acute leukemia..."

"I won't sugarcoat it, Mr. Hart. The cancer is aggressive, and it has already spread to other parts of your body."

"I'm truly sorry to say this, but without immediate treatment, you only have a few months left to live."

Hindi ko pa din maproceso ang sinabi ng doctor sa'kin kanina. I can't process it. I don't want to. Ayaw ng utak ko.

I am getting married soon.

Yung kasal na inaantay ko ng ilang buwan. Yung buhay na hinahangad ko kasama ang taong mahal ko.

Alam kong mapaglaro ang tadhana pero parang mali na 'to eh. This is not the game that I want to join in. I did not sign up for this shit.

My life was perfect.

I have a loving family. I have friends who've been there for me. Lastly, I have Kairos, my soon-to-be husband, my soulmate, my solace, my other half, my love.

Pero bakit ngayon pa kami pinaglaruan ng tadhana kung saan okay na ang lahat? Kung saan  malapit na ang kasal namin?

Now...how am I supposed to tell my family, my friends...and Kairos about this? That I am dying?

It's not easy like 'Hey! I'm dying! Buwan nalang ang meron ako!' It's not easy as that.

"Umiiyak 'ata..." Rinig kong bulong ng mga matatandang babae sa gilid ko. Nakasakay ako sa bus ngayon para umuwi pero hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang umuwi. Should I act like I am well? I mean, I am well! Pero may taning lang ang buhay ko dahil sa tanginang cancer cell na kumalat sa katawan ko.

"Hijo...ayos ka lang ba?" Mahinang tanong ng isang lola. I just nod my head, I cannot lift my head kasi basang basa ng luha ang mukha ko.

"A-ayos lang, ho," nanghihinang sagot ko.

Naramdaman kong nilagay ni lola ang kamay niya sa ulo ko. She gently pats my head and softly brushes it, to comfort me. But it did not effect me, instead, I cried more.

"Nako! Pasensiya na hijo. Mayroon bang masakit sa'yo? Kanina ko pa nakikitang umiiyak ka, may nanakit ba sa'yo?" Tarantang tanong ni lola.

Umiling ako ng mahina. "P-Pasensiya na, po. Ayos lang po ako, l-lola," I replied in between my sobs.

I heard her heavy sighs. "Sige, iiyak mo lang 'yan, anak. Magiging maayos din ang lahat hanggat naniniwala ka sa diyos. Binibigyan tayo ng problema para mas maging matatag tayo, kaya huwag kang sumuko agad. Lumaban ka, anak."

Her words...I didn't think I needed it but it helps me a lot. It comforted me a lot.

"M-maraming salamat, po..."

Pagpasok ko sa bahay naabutan ko si mama at papa sa sala nanonood ng pelikula sa TV. Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti habang pinagmamasdan sila. They still look in love after all these years.

I've been hurt a lot. Disappointed by men a lot. Had a lot of failed love. But look, I am still capable of loving and believing in something spectacular. Kahit na ganon naniniwala at maniniwala pa din ako sa pag-ibig at dahil 'yon sa pagmamahalan ng magulang ko. Their love is my hope for real love. Their love testified that love last long, that it's not just short-term but a lifetime.

Dahil doon, nahanap ko ang tao para sa'kin. And speaking of, may naramdaman akong mga braso na pumalibot sa bewang ko. My smile stretched wider.

"Hi, baby," Kairos kissed my right cheek. "Where have you been?" Then he keeps on sniffing my neck, which he always does.