Fiery Temptations Book 1

Chapter One : Life's so unfair

Kakatapos lang ng burol ni Daddy. I'm standing here infront of his grave. Maulan-ulan pa, tila ba nakikisabay ito sa aming pagdadalamhati ni Mommy.

I'm all in black, and so is my mom. She's sitting in a chair while weeping silently. How could life be so unfair? Sometimes I just wonder why we had to go through all of this pain. Too much drama ba? Siguro ganito lang ang pakiramdam ng nawalan. To be more specific, hindi lang ang aking ama ang nawala, but all our properties are extremely in danger and any moment the bank can simply take it away from them just like a piece of cake.

Moment of silence...

Ang dami kong gustong itanong kay Daddy, "why's and so many why's".

"H-He--- HELEINA!" My mom just screamed na pumukaw sa akin. Oh god help me! I saw her fell from her chair. Hawak-hawak ang kanyang dibdib.

"Mommy!" I hysterically screamed. "Tulong! Anyone! Tulungan niyo kami!" I'm screaming at the top of my lungs.

Did I mentioned walang katao-tao ang naiwan? Yes totoo yun, konti lang ang dumalo at nakisimpatya. My Dad, ah well. He's not a so good person. Come on! Kahit gaano pa siya kasama he's still is my Dad and so sad, nothing's can't change that fact, I need to defend my father.

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Nasa labas ako ng emergency room, I don't know what and how to feel. I'm exhausted and super stressed this past few days. Lord don't tell me kukunin mo na rin si Mommy? Napangiwi ako na isipin iyon. She's the only family I've left.

Isa, dalawa, tatlo, I counted the hours had passed. Then out he came, lumapit ang doktor sa akin. I don't know mukhang bad news ata ang meron siya para sa akin, I can see it through his facial expression.

"Miss. Aragon," he called me. Lumapit ako. "Ma'am your mother is fine as of the moment, we discovered may congenital heart didease ang iyong ina, and this is not good for her age." Ano kaya ibig sabihin niya, I innocently looked at him waiting furthermore explanation. "We need do more test and after that I will confirm it to you if she needs a heart transplant very soon." Oh my! Did I just heard him right? 'Heart transplan'.

"D-doc, how much will that heart transplant c-cost me?" My voice is shaking, I have greatful fear sa maari niyang isasagot.

"As of now I can't tell you how much money you need to prepare, kailangan pa natin dumaan sa ilang test, after that we will find a heart donor."

This is such a torment, I need to check how much money is left on my account. Mabuti na lang I had this pastry business at least I have saved money. Sumasakit ang ulo ko, hindi ko alam kung saan ako lulugar at ano ang uunahin ko, wala man lang akong kaibigan na pwedeng dumamay sa aking pinagdadaanan.

I sigh, "Doc please do inform me as soon as possible. As of the moment I need to go home so I can be back and tend my mom's need," I bit my lower lip, nahihiya at nag-aalanganing makiusap but then I have to. "Pwede po bang iwan ko muna ang aking ina?"

"Don't worry Ma'am, mababait ang mga staff ng hospital namin. You may go and come back as soon as you're finished with your stuff," the doctor smiled. Somehow I felt relieved. Ang hirap pala kung hindi kayo in good terms ng inag kamag-anak, yes---it's just me and mom now.

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Bumaba ako lulan ng taxi, I need to hurry up. Just then before I could get in, nakita kong naka-impake na ang tatlo naming kasambahay. Looks like they are waiting for our return. Naka-itim din ang mga ito, kasama kasi namin sila kanina sa cemetery pinauna lang naming pauwiin.

Alanganin ang mga ngiti ng makita nila ako, mga ngiting may kalakip na lungkot sa mga mata. Sabagay, sino ba naman ang matutuwa sa isang iglap lang ay mawawalang ng trabaho.

"Ma'am Heleina," sambit ni Cloudia, siya ang nakakatanda sa tatlo. I guess nasa 40's na ito. Lumapit siya sa akin at may dala rin itong mga envelope.

"Aalis na po ba kayo?" I politely ask.

"Opo ma'am, hinintay lang namin ang iyong pagbalik," Claudia paused for a while. "Ah Ma'am saan po si Madam? Mukhang ginabi po kayo?"

I wasn't able to answer her question immediately, I just burt into cry. "Ma'am bakit po kayo umiiyak?" She's so worried, habang inaalo niya ako. Lumapit din ang dalawa pang kasama niya.

"Manang, please..." I pleaded between my sobs. "Mommy's in the hospital, inatake sa puso. Ewan I just don't know! Pagod na pagod ako, ang dami kong problema," I can't help my heart out.

"Diyos mio! Ma'am huwag na po kayong umiyak," alo ni Claudia.

"Manang makikiusap lang sana ako, kahit dalawang araw lang dumito muna kayo. I badly need someone, ang lungkot ko. Kailangan ko lang muna ng karamay,"

Tumango si Claudia pati na rin ang dalawa pa, sina Consesa at Ines. Mababait naman sila, salamat at pinagbigyan nila ang aking pakiusap.

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My eyes are swollen and my head feels like breaking, pero kailangan kong basahin ang mga dokumentong pinadala ng Bank of the Philippine Islands, pati na rin ng Banco de Oro at Metro bank.

Hindi ko na talaga kaya, I took my Tramadol from my purse at ininom iyon kasama ang kapeng pinagtimplahan ni Ines. Gross! I hate medicines!

After a moment, uhg! Mas lalong sumakit ang ulo ko! Utang dito utang duon, f*ckin sh*t! F*ckin life! Just f*ck! F*ck! I'm so d*mned f*cked up!

Hindi ako palamura, but I just can't help but cuss!

Wala na... Kukunin na nila lahat ng aming properties, and even this house. Sana kahit ito na lang ang maiwan pero wala eh.

There's nothing left for us... not even a single money...

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Time check: 2 a.m.

I'm tired and exhausted but I need to get back in the hospital. Bukas ko na lang haharapin ang mga bangkong pinag-uutangan namin.

I am walking on the hall of the hospital, papuntang ICU. Oo,nasa ICU si Mommy, dito siya nilagay pansamantala. I watched her over the glass window---wala paring malay.

Ilang minuto rin akong nakatayo, pinagamamasdan ang kaniyang pagtulog. I wanted to cry but d*mn I'm just to tired to let a tear fall from my eyes.

I exhaustedly sat down on the couch, sinadya iyon ilagay ng ospital para sa mga bisita ng pasyenteng nasa loob.

Ilang minuto pa akong naka-upo, hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang pagbigat ng talukap ng aking mga mata, pilit kong nilabanan ang antok pero nakatulog ako.

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I'm gazing from a high place, kung saan nakikita ko ang mga ilaw nagmumula sa mga sasakyan at establisamento.

Naaliw ako sa ganda ng lugar, hanggang sa may umagaw sa aking atensiyon. I heard a melody playing from a far, not so sure kung anong instrumento, but one thing I'm sure about it was sad melody with a deep cut.

I followed the sound, my feet felt the coldness of the marbled floor. Slowly...

"Ma'am."

Inaramdaman ko ang mahinang tapik sa aking balikat. I lazily opened my eyes, just then I remembered nasa ospital pala ako.

It was just a dream, a weird dream.

I shook my head. Enough with the dream. Back to reality. It was the doctor, alistong tumayo ako.

"My apologies doc," nahihiya kong sabi.

"It's okay Ma'am, we're done with the test."

Oh Lord, please help me. I hope mommy's okay. "S-so ano po ang r-result?" Kinakabahan ako.

"Miss Aragon, sa aming pagsusuri you're mother badly needs a heart transplant. We found out that both of her ventricles are not functioning well and possible heart failure may occur."

I stiff as I am listening to his explanation. I can't just let my mother die, she's all I have. We only have each other, I wanted to cry but I need to be strong.

"D-doc, what are the c-chances?" I muttered nervously.

"60/ 40." He frankly aswered. "But rest assured, if the transplant goes well, heart function and blood flowwill be better than ever. Your mother is a lucky one, may donor na po kasi tayo. Bihira lang po ang ganitong situation."

"H-how m-much will I need to prepare for the operation?" Another heavy question, I'm holding my hanky, duon ako kumkuha ng lakas habang pinipiga-piga iyon.

"Frankly, this will cost you lots of money. The operation alone is already nine hundred thousound pesos, the medicines are not included. Aftery the surgery she needs to undergo therapy."

Blah...blah...blah....

Wala akong maintindihan sa kaniyang mga sinasabi...

What now? How? Where? Why? Ewan I don't know. Lahat na ng klaseng katanungan.

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"I'm sorry Miss. Aragon, but we can't do anything. All your properties are now owned by the bank." I'm talking to the over all manager of the bank.

"Sir, is m-my pastry house included?" Crossed fingers, sana hindi. Kung kasali pa yun. I don't know might as well commit suicide.

"Yes, including your pastry house. Hindi kasi iyon nakapangalan sa'yo, and it was included in your father's documents." Diretsong tugon niya. I felt my eyes are filled with warm tears.

"I'm sorry Miss. Aragon. I know you are in a financial crisis right now and you badly need for money for your mother's operation, but there's nothing I could do to help you. I'm sorry."

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Mabibigat ang aking mga paa, tinahak ko ang maiinit at maalikabok na daan. Kahit binabangga ako ng mga tao at minumura ako, the hell I don't give a sh*t!

Then I stopped infront of a church, saglit akong pumasok sa loob. I said a silent prayer, I prayed with all my heart. I need God's comfort, I need Him.

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Going back to the hospital, malungkot at ang sarap lang ng feeling magpakamatay. Kanina lang I just checked my savings. Nasa 168 thousand lang ang naipon kong pera.

Aray! I suddenly bumped to someone.

"Oucchh!" Maarteng tili ng tao, if I'm not mistaken galing iyon sa isang bakla.

I took a glance and said sorry. "I'm sorry, hindi ko sinasadya."

"Wait! Miss Heleina?!" Bulalas niya. I see the spark in the transvestite's eyes.

Tumingala ako sa kaniya. Trying to recall kung saan ko ba siya nakita at nakilala. Sorry pero hindi nakikipag-cooperate ang brain cells ng aking utak.

"I'm sorry but do I know you?" I politely ask him or her---whatever."

"Don't you recognize me anymore?" Balik tanong niya, I nod. "Ako 'to si Bambie!"

"Bambie?"

"Yes! Bambie. The one you helped in Thailand, the 'TNT'."

My face brightened, I remeber. "Bambirita! Yes I do remeber you!" Tili ko, and hugged this bubbly gayfriend whom I met three years ago in Thailand nung nagbakasyon ako.

-itutuloy-