Sheena's POV
The doctors decided to run more tests for Gweneth. Her parents talked to Colet's parents to provide her with a stay-in doctor and nurse in their house.
Nahatid ko na rin sila sa kanila. I decided not to stay over even though she wanted me to. Alam kong kailangan niya ng oras para mapag isa.
I closed the door behind me and leaned on it, closing my eyes. "Sheena ... love, I think, I'm dying."Â Gwen's voice kept on replaying in my head. Dahan dahan akong napa-upo at tinakpan ang mukha ko gamit ang mga kamay ko.
I sobbed quietly into my hands. I've never cried in front of anyone before. Kanina pa ako nagpipigil ng luha dahol gusto kong magmukhang malakas sa harap niya. She's not dying. She can't die. I can't imagine a day without seeing her face, hearing her voice, getting called out because I cursed someone out.
Different scenarios took over my head, causing me to cry out. I've already started to see the pain of life. If I lose her, I'm going to lose myself.
My hands went over my head as I folded my legs up to my chest. Kada iyak ko ay nahihirapan ako sa paghinga.
"Amma, Appa ..." I sobbed. Bullshit. I closed my eyes shut and covered my ears. "Please, no... Please, help me. Talk to Him to not take her away from me. I-I love her so much. Please ..."
I felt arms rescued me and when I looked up, I saw Maloi, Mikha, and Colet. Behind them was Stacey who's also crying like a mess.
"Shh. We're here. You're safe." Maloi whispered.
Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako sa sofa. My phone rang, Gwen's name appearing. I quickly answered it.
"Hi." she weakly uttered. I sniffed and scratched my nose. Her voice sounded calming.
"Hi. Is everything okay, love?" I asked as I glanced at our best friends na pinagkasya ang sarili sa mattress na nilatag sa sahig. Si Stacey kasi ang natulog sa isa pang sofa.
"I'm okay, Shee." she chuckled softly. "Hindi ka pa natutulog?" A feeling of relief washed over me. Akala ko ay may nangyari na naman sa kanya.
"Not yet." I lied. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihing nakatulog ako sa kamay ng mga kaibigan ko dahil umiyak ako nang umiyak. "Sleep ka na." I told her.
I can hear her pout from here. Napangiti ako. She may be nonchalant outside pero baby pa rin siyang dapat ituring kapag kaming dalawa nalang. "Bebe ... you need to rest." I said.
"Hmm. I can't sleep. Paano kung," she trailed off.
I hummed in question. "Paano kung?"
"Paano kung hindi na ako magising?" I can sense the fear in her voice. It makes me want to spend each second with her. Dahan dahan na namang tumulo ang mga luha sa mata ko. Sobrang sakit na ng ulo ko kakapigil sa pag-iyak.
"Don't say that, okay? I'll be right there. Matutulog tayo." I said.
Whenever, wherever, I will try my best to protect her.
I quickly changed clothes pero bago ako makalabas ng condo ko ay nagising si Maloi. She's looking at me worriedly kahit pa halos parehas kaming mugto ang mata.
"Shee, where are you going?" she carefully asked.
"To Gwen's. Matutulog kami ng sabay. Natatakot kasi siyang baka hindi na siya magising kapag natulog siya." I answered.
"Sama kami." she said.
"Ha? Sama tayo?" Mikha asked mindlessly. Nakatulala pa siya dahil kakagising niya.
"Bungol ka? Oo, sasama tayo." Maloi said at ginising na sila Colet at Stacey.
Sumakay kami sa kanya-kanya naming sasakyan papunta kila Gwen. When we finally arrived, she welcomed us with warm smile. Ganyan siya eh, tinatago niya 'yong sakit sa mga ngiti at tawa niya. She's stronger than me.
Stacey ran towards Gweneth, dala-dala ang mga libro. "Gwenny ... I bought some books. A-at, kinopya ko rin 'yong module niyo sa kakilala ko. Please ... tell me if you need something. A-ako na ang gagawa para sa'yo. Magpahinga ka lang." she said while hugging my girlfriend.
Nang maghiwalay sila, Gwen faced her and mouthed 'thank you'.
"When's here surgery? Tangina bakit pinapatagal pa nila?" Colet asked.
"I don't know. They're not sure pa about her disease eh. Sana nga pwedeng isipin na hindi malala, sana pwede kong isipin na joke time lang." I answered.
"Maloi, can't you shift? Aralin mo sakit ni Gwen for fuck's sake! We're not letting her go." Colet angrily stated.
I hugged her at kasabay noon ang pagdalo ng iba pa naming mga kaibigan. Nagkwentuhan pa sila at nagpaalam na rin pagkatapos dahil inaalala nila na kailangan na magpahinga ni Gwen.
Kumuha ako ng maiinom bago umakyat sa kwarto ni Gwen. I leaned against the foor and watched her in her slumber state. She looked so beautiful.
Maya-maya ay tumabi sa akin si Tita. "She's still so young, Sheena.". I pursed my lips. "I talked to the doctors. After some findings, mukhang stress at pagod lang naman daw pero need pa rin siya i-observe. Somehow, I felt relief dahil maitutuloy niya pa ang buhay niya."
"Pero ... paano kung bumalik talaga, Shee? Hindi ko kakayanin. Hindi ko kayang makitang maghirap ulit ang anak ko." Tita continued.
"We'll fight for her, Tita. Hindi natin siya isusuko." sambit ko.
She turned her head to me and smiled. "Gwen ... she's a bright kid. Despite her condition, ang saya saya niyang bata. Sometimes, I get worried because she's taking this too well than I am."
When I got to know her, I was fascinated. How can she be sick yet be so happy? What's her secret? "Pero nang malaman namin na possible na gumalik ang sakit niya ... grabe 'yong iyak niya sa CR. I don't think it was because she was scared for herself, I think she was scared how this was going to affect you."
I swallowed hardly and bit the insides of my cheek. She shouldn't worry about me. This is all about her. "She's so brave." I whispered.
After weeks of looking out for Gwen, we observed that she's getting healthier and better each day. Wala na rin ang mga stay-in doctors and nurses sa bahay nila dahil wala na rin siyang symptoms ng metastatic melanoma.
We continued living our life. Ito nga, nag-enroll agad ako at nakapagtapos na. Without flying colors pero at least, I can now flaunt my diploma and license to my family. Mikha's finally running her family's business. Colet graduated with a latin honor. Of course, she's the real badass of the group. After 2 years, sumunod si Gwen sa amin habang si Stacey and Maloi ay nasa med school pa.
And syempre, bumalik na ang mga nawala at umalis. Jhoanna and Aiah finally came back. Sobrang saya na nung dalawang torpe at manhid. Our bond with our friends grew stronger. We learned to appreciate each other's differences, to support each other through thick and thin.
Looking back, those struggles made our friendships even more valuable. They taught us the power of empathy, forgiveness, and the importance of fighting for the people who matter most.
Sana ganto nalang parati. Kung pwede lang.
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Matagal pa bago 'to matapos, marami pang mangyayari :)