JIYA (COMPLETE)

Epilogue

And you're here! Thank you so much for giving me a chance to express myself here. This is one of the peculiar juices from my imaginations. Love you so much! Sana ay may natutunan kayo c;

This chapter is dedicated to @arisshuuuu thank you sa comments and support mo :)

-w

Epilogue

"Akala ko'y katapusan ko na. That was my deepest downfall. May ihuhulog pa pala ang buhay ko. Akala ko ay noong nawalay ako sa aking anak." She wiped her tears running down in her face.

Her cracked and soft voice brimmed the hall. Ang mga nanonood ay hindi na rin mapigilan ang umiyak.

Hindi maiwasan ni Gerard na maiyak na rin habang pinapanood ang si Jiya. Tahimik na nakaupo si Gerard sa unahan.

Having a deficiency in immune system is hard. Our immune system fights for us, protects our body.

It's difficult to fight for something already falling. Its more devastating when you know there's no way to fight back.

It was a stupid idea. Dapat ay hinayaan niya ang babae na makasama ang pamilya niya. Nakinig dapat siya sa mga hinaing ni Jiya. Inalu niya dapat ito tuwing umiiyak  ng gabi noong pinagbubuntis pa niya si Sander. She should've trusted her.

Nissam is a good man. He knew from the start that they are not the reason why Nissam is always on their college. He was never clingy to the both of them. Si Rodd lamang ang clingy sa kanila. Nissam's shamelessly stare Jiya way back in college. Ramdam niya na matagal ng may gusto ang kaibigan sa nobya. Napipigilan lamang iyon dahil sa pagkakaibigan nila.

Wala siyang tiwala kay Nissam pero hindi dapat niya kinwestyun ang pagmamahal ni Jiya sa kanya.

Jiya is there when he's lonely. He wasn't there when she needs him the most. If he open his mind more, at least tried to understand that he's not the only people she need. Jiya needs her family.

I was so selfish! An immature!

Gerard is a broken soul who need an angel to guide him.

Gerald is still on the run. Magaling magtago ang kapatid niya. Hindi niya pa rin kayang tanggalin na nangyari sa kanyang kapatid.

He was gentle and caring when Gerald open his home for them. Maunawain ang kapatid. Gerald's persistent everytime he cries. Nandoon ang kanyang kapatid noong panahon na akala niya ay mauubos na siya.

Hindi niya lubos akalain na kinuha niya ni Gerald katauhan niya sa Pilipinas. Habang siya ang nagpapagamot ay naghihirap na pala ang mag-ina niya.

It was November when she received an invitation from the school she was enrolled years ago. Kararating lang nilang mag-ama noong makuha ang imbitasyon. She was asked to be a guest of honor for the World Aids Day Celebration in December. Agad naman siyang pumayag. Ilang taon na siyang nakikipaglaban sa sakit.

Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang mikropono bago magsalita muli.

"I was harrassed and used. They drugged me. Kalaban ko noon ay sarili ko. Dignidad, prinsipyo at pananalig. Ilan lamang iyan na tinapon ko sa aking sarili."

His eyes automatically went to a man who's sitting on the table on the stage. Kumislot ang kanyang puso nang makita si Rodd na nakaupo sa mesa ng mga panauhin. He's scribbling a paper. Nasa regional trial court na ang kaso ng kaibigan. Isa si Rodd sa mga guests sa event. Rodd was diagnosed with HIV months ago. Lalong siyang nagalit sa kaibigan. Ginalaw nga niya sa Jiya.

HIV and AIDS are sexually transmitted disease!

Thank god! Hindi siya magsasalita. Sinama lamang ito dahil walang kasama si Jiya na kapareho niya. The sense of belonging.

The event is a close door celebration. Pinakiusapan niya ang mga organizer na walang kukuha ng litrato o video. Hindi rin ito magpapakilala. Katulad niya ang ilang libong nabiktima ng sakit na hindi pa kayang magpakilala. Takot sa diskriminasyon.

"Every soul has a role in this world."

She wants to be the living testimony proving that HIV or AIDS is not contagious. Hindi lahat ng nakakakuha ng sakit ay ginusto nila o gusto nila. They are just a victim.

"We have different reasons. A million reasons to prove why we chose that. For me, it was son. My dearest son. I regret when I left him with his father. Ilang taon akong hinahabol ng maling desisyon ko."

Mahigit isang taon na din siyang nakikipaglaban. Hindi siya iniwan ng kanyang pamilya.

I am so proud of you.

"AIDS lang 'to, hindi ako cancer. Mabubuhay ako. Ganyan lamang ang naiisip ko. Iyan lang ang pakonswelo ko sa sarili."

She wiped her tears again. She paused and titled her head. Pilit na pinipigilan ang mga luha.

"People often asked me, why I did that? Dapat ay dumaan ako sa abogado o di kaya sa batas. Paano ko naatim na gawin iyon? Sex is sacred between the two people."

She started to walk the platform. She smiled confidently.

"Alam niyo kung ano sagot ko?" She paused. "The courage is mystery to me. All I know, I am mother."

Jiya never failed him. From the start she knew that she's something. Something peculiar. Someone worth to keep.

Even though she left. She was willing to do whatever what it takes just to be with his son. Mother's love? There's no word to describe what she did. It was mystery.

~W~