The Game of Fate

Chapter 20

“Lorenzo…anak,” her mom’s voice cracked and her knees gave out at napaluhod sa harapan nito. 

“Anong… Tinatanong ko lang po kung nasaan ang asawa ko bakit kayo umiiyak?” naguguluhan man pero may kutob na si Lorenzo sa kung anong nangyayari but he’s not gonna believe anything unless he sees it with his own eyes.

Biglang lumapit si Klay at tinulungan makatayo ang ina, “Tita I think it’s best kung ako ang magsasabi sa kaniya,” Nilingon ni Klay si Mon at sinabi, “Can you get a wheelchair for me? Dadalhin ko siya kay Ailra. Knowing Lorenzo, hindi siya maniniwala sa kahit na ano unless he sees it with his own eyes,” tumango si Mon at umalis, pagbalik naman nito ay may dala na itong wheelchair.

They transferred him at itunulak sa katabi lamang na kwarto, there he saw his wife lying in bed. Tear rolled down his eyes when she stills looks like how he remembered her.

Gusto niyang tumayo, yakapin ang asawa at gisingin ito, and then he’ll tell her about everything he been to. But then he noticed it was too quiet.

Lorenzo’s eyes roved around the room and landed on the heartbeat meter. Nanlaki ang mga mat ani Lorenzo at napatingin sa mga kaibigan.

He started shaking his head, at pilit na pinapaniwala ang sarili na mali ang nakikita niya. He tried getting off of his wheelchair on his own to check kung tama talaga ang nakikita niya but Mon stopped him.

“Ano ba?!” reklamo niya.

“Kahit anong lapit mo riyan hinding-hindi na magbabago ’yan Lorenzo, wala na ang asawa mo,” Klay said without even looking at him. Lorenzo’s eyes were filled with dread, hindi siya naniniwala. 

Klay sighed and pushed his seat close enough for him to touch her and then he felt it, her skin were as cold as snow and he couldn’t feel any more life from her.

Tears ran down Lorenzo’s eyes and held her hand close to him. ‘Sabi mo pag-gising ko ikaw agad ang makikita ko, nang hindi kita makita inisip ko baka lumabas ka lang saglit. Bakit naman ganito? Ang sabi mo magkikita tayo ’pag nagising ako, nakita nga kita pero bakit… hindi naman dapat sa ganitong paraan,’ he whispered to himself.

“She died a few moments after you woke up,” Klay added. 

Nanlaki ang mata ani Lorenzo nang may marealize siya. ‘Was that you? You were with me the whole time, I was willing to stay with you and forget about everything. Bakit…bakit kailangan mo pa akong pabalikin? Akala ko ba mahal mo ako? Bakit mo ako iniwan ng ganito?’

Lorenzo cried and didn’t stop until he let it all out. He faced his friends and tried to make a smile but every time he tries his lips would tremble and tears would instantly fall from his eyes. Lorenzo didn’t mind breaking down in front of his friends and didn’t judge him either instead they comforted him and waited until he was ready to speak.

“You know what? I was just with her earlier. I made a ton of wrong decisions at nasaktan ko siya. Iniwan niya ko and then I hurt her again. I tried making myself better, regaining all your trust and working hard for her. Nagiging maayos pa lang kami, kakabigay niya pa lang sa ’kin ng isa pang pagkakataon para maayos ang relasyon namin. And then she suddenly said na kailangan ko nang bumalik, I wanted to stay but she refused, ang …. Ang sabi niya magkikita kami pag-gising ko,” Lorenzo gave his wife a glance and caressed her hand, “But then I realize I was too late. I was too late to even tell her I’m sorry for all the pain I gave her and that I’m willing to change,”

Lorenzo wiped his tears and continued, “Pero papaano ko iyon gagawin kung wala na siya?” his voice broke down. 

But Klay realized something and he just had to tell Lorenzo about it, “She might have done it for you,” panimula nito.

“Ano?”

“You were between life and death and Your… Your parents were planning to pull off your life support if hindi kayo magigising sa susunod pang lingo. Tanggap na sana nila, they wanted you two to rest. But then the following day Ailra showed signs of waking up so akala namin magigising na siya, her eyes opened up for a few seconds but then her heartbeat went flat. At ilang segundo matapos yun, bigla akong tinawag ng mama mo saying you’re awake,” paliwanag ni Klay.

Lorenzo couldn’t believe what happened but the point that he left her there alone pains him. He wouldn’t be able to keep his promise but one thing is for sure, kailangan niyang mabuhay para sa asawa niya.

It might not be the same without her but what else could he do? Hindi niya pa oras.

The following days, Lorenzo went to rehab and helped himself get better. A few days later inasikaso nila ang libing ng asawa, Lorenzo bought the same house from before and held the wake there.

A few close friends went to visit to console and give their condolences. Lorenzo tried to make himself look tough in front of others but every time na mag-isa na lamang siya roon na niya nararamdaman ang void ng pagkawala niya.

He promised not to cry anymore so he’s holding himself back. His parents asked him to take a day off at sila muna ang magbabantay sa asawa, he didn’t want to leave but they didn’t stop until he said yes.

So Lorenzo thought of going to all the places they’ve been through. From the subdivision she stayed at, at sa kubo nila ’Nay Amnda at Tay Rogelio. He asked the resident if there were any with that same name and he was shocked nang malaman na mayroon.

Agad niyang pinuntahan ang lugar na iyon at nakita ang taniman ng petchay na siyang itinanim niya noon. Everything was there.

Lumabas sa kubo ang matanda and his eyes widened when he saw the same faces, naisip niyang lapitan ang mga matanda ngunit hindi niya itinuloy.  He saw them taking care of his petchay’s and that was good enough for him.

Nakangiti siya umalis sa dakong lugar na iyon at sasakay na sana pauwi nang makita siya ulit noong taong pinagtanungan niya, “Oh? Nakita mo ba? Libing na nila bukas, sasama ka ba?” kaswal na tanong nito.

“Po? Pero nakita ko po silang… Nevermind. Kailan po sila namatay?”

“Noong isang lingo ata, iho, bakit? Kaanu-ano ka ba nila?” That was almost the same day as when I woke up.

Nagpasalamat siya at umalis na as soon as he got back to city ay kaagad siyang nagpadala ng maayos na burial service para sa dalawang matanda. He also included a letter which he hopes they read.

That same day he went to the same amusement park and relived all the things they did all by himself. When nightfall came, he sat on the same bench and imagine her sitting next to him as they watch how the sun sets.  

After that day, Lorenzo realized a lot of things. But one thing was for sure, kahit saan pa siya pumunta uuwi at uuwi siya sa asawa niya. He placed the same ring he gave her before and slid it on her finger.