When I Found You (When Series #3)

Chapter 8

ILANG ARAW nang hindi umuuwi si Sonia matapos ang naging sagutan nila ni Laarni no'ng nakaraang araw at magmula nang malaman niyang nagdadalang-tao ito. Kahit pa sinabi niya ritong may iniinda siyang sakit. Kaya naman sa bawat araw na lumilipas ay tila wala siyang karamay sa problema, idagdag pa ang mga nakaabang na gastusin na nagbibigay sa kaniya ng dahilan para lalong magsikap.

At dahil isang linggo siyang tambay ay lalo siyang naiinip sa bahay kung kaya't humanap siya ng paraan para libangin ang sarili. She did a research kung anong gulay ang p'wedeng kainin para makatulong sa pagpigil sa mabilis na pagkalat ng cancer. She make a different habit by buying green vegatables like okra, bitter gourd, horse r****h and red talbos. Napag-alaman niya kasi na makatutulong iyon na magparami ng red blood cells niya at makaka-prevent sa pagkalat ng cancer.

ONE WEEK LATER ay dumating ang araw ng ribbon cutting para sa grand opening ng itinayong coffee shop ni Mr. Lacsamana, ang, "Toffy's Taste." Ipinangalan ang coffee shop sa nag-iisang anak nitong si Toffy. May kalakihan din ang p'westong binili ng pamilya Lacsamana para tayuan ng coffee shop. At talagang maganda ang pagkaka-disenyo nito. Mayroon itong malaking art painting ng coffee sa may bandang cashier area at may mga inspirational quote na malapit sa may book shelves. May mini fountain para magmukhang lively ang paligid at mayroong mini stage para sa mga p'wedeng mag-perform na banda every weekend. Sa tabi ng fountain ay mayroong money plant sa magkabilang sides dahil naniniwala si Mr. Lacsamana na magiging law of attraction ang dami ng kita sa araw-araw kapag may money plant ka sa negosyo. Nagkikintaban din sa gawang marmol ang bawat round tables na may walong bilang at may apat din itong chairs sa bawat tables, may free wifi para sa mga customers at mayroon ding mini book shelves sa paligid para sa mga book lovers.

It is also the first day of Laarni as an assistant store manager and she felt nervous and excitement at the same time. Maybe, she didn't have any experience with that kind of position and being a first timer is not easy and very challenging.

"Congratulations!" Isang malakas na palakpakan ang nangibabaw sa tapat ng Toffy's Taste matapos ang ribbon cutting para sa grand opening nito.

Naka-prepare na rin ang mga inihandang free taste para makakuha ng loyal customers at magtitiwala sa lasa at kalidad ng kanilang produkto.

At dahil grand opening ng Toffy's Taste ay hindi p'wedeng mawala ang chef at seasonal chef. Dahil sila ang nag-bake ng mga cupcakes at doughnuts para sa free taste. At sa tulong ni Laarni ay isa-isa niyang in-assist ang bilang ng cupcakes at doughnuts na nasa mini paper cup para sa free taste kung saan ay nakatoka ang dalawang barista na sina Mika at Jiro.

The grand opening has been successful, the thing that Mr. Lacsamana has to be thankful. "Congrats again for your business, Mr. Lacsamana," wika ni Laarni habang patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-abot ng flyers sa mga taong dumadaan.

"Thank you, Laarni. You know what, before I got this, I've been in a tough times, and I admit that I used to surrender. But there's a scenario that God tests my belief on him. He gave me the biggest trial I had never been before. My wife got a sick so that I wouldn't able to fulfill my job role. Her hospital bill and the expenses for maintenance got me worst, because even my saving money was exhaust in just a snap. But I still believe in God's plan. Few weeks after, my wife was already healed. And I thank God so much. I owe God too much, and I let everything on him. So after the dark times, I remained stronger. But you know what made me stronger? My weakness. And I used it as a motivation, for changes and for success." Laarni just smiled after she heard those words and it serves as an inspiration to her. That no matter how unsure that life is, God will provide. Just trust him.

Doon na siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon para maglabas ng saloobin kay Mr. Lacsamana, "Mr. Lacsamana, I have something to tell you," panimula niya.

"Go for it."

She took a deep breath and slightly smiled then said, "It's like an answered prayer when you offered me a job and I am really thankful to you forever. Sa katunayan, kaya ko tinanggap ang trabahong ito ay hindi lang para makatulong sa business mo, kundi.. pati na rin makatulong sa akin financially."

"Well, good for you. You already said that it will help you so much."

She nod her head. At ang inakala ni Mr. Lacsamana na tapos na siya sa sasabihin ay sinundan pa niya ng mga katagang nagpatahimik dito. "And also, I took this job because--" She started to cry but it doesn't stopped her to tell the words she wanted to say, "I-i a-am struggling with chronic l-leukemia and I am going to undergo a chemo therapy so that I need to have an enough savings for my future."

And a moment of silence disappeared when Mr. Lacsamana has begun to ask with multiple questions, "Chemo therapy? So you are struggling with cancer? How long have you been struggling with that illness? At bakit hindi mo 'to agad sinabi sa akin?"

Laarni just stared somewhere while tears from her eyes were falling. At doo'y nagsimula siyang magsalita, "It's been three months since the first time I knew this illness. I admit that I was break down and even lost hope to live. In three consecutive months, there were a lot of symptoms that I had been through. No'ng una ay nagtaka ako and then bigla na lang akong nasanay.. at kasabay no'n ang takot at pangamba. I even became desperate to get married and have a child immediately. Simply because, I am running out of time."

"You are wasting your time, Laarni. You should take a medical treatment as soon as possible before it became worst. And you have to tell it to your parents, friends or even your boyfriend."

"But, Mr. Lacsamana, I don't want them to worry about me. So, please.. don't tell it to anyone and mostly to Dave Chua."

"Dave Chua? Our seasonal chef?" She suddenly nodded.

At ang nagtatakang mga mata ni Mr. Lacsamana ay napawi sa sinabi niya, "He's my boyfriend." Sandali pa siyang napabuntong hininga. "Makakaasa po ba ako sa'yo, Mr. Lacsamana na hindi mo ito sasabihin sa kaniya?"

At parang pilit ang pagtango ni Mr. Lacsamana sa pakiusap niya. Maybe because it was unfair for Dave side. So he took a deep breath and make sure that the words he was going to say will make Laarni felt worthy. "Ganito na lang, because I am willing to help you, I will give the advancement of your salary for six months before regularization as soon as possible. Wala ka na rin po-problemahin sa magiging gastusin sa hospital. And I understand if you would not able to do your job consistently, because I understand the symptoms. But promise me, na magpapagaling ka." And Laarni didn't used to smile, simply because she has a pending plan in her life before she will undergo to medication. Isa pa ay ayaw niyang samantalahin ang kabaitan ni Mr. Lacsamana.

"Thank you so much but I am sorry, Mr. Lacsamana but I am more blessed if you could help me again. I'd rather to suffer from my job to get paid. Your help to gave me a higher position in this job is a big thing for me. And I don't want to take advantage your kindness." Hindi nakapagsalita si Mr. Lacsamana sa sinabi niya at doo'y lihim itong napahanga sa kaniya. And in order to help her without a notice, Mr. Lacsamana on the other hand would find a way to help her in other way.

-

"Kanina ka pa tahimik, ano na naman bang iniisip mo?" wika ni Dave nang pauwi na sila galing sa Toffy's Taste. Magtatakip-silim na rin nang makarating sila ng bahay ni Laarni. At kasalukuyan silang nagpapahinga sa may sofa.

"Hindi naman ako nawawalan ng isipin, Dave. Sa rami ba naman ng obligasyon ko sa buhay, e," sagot niya na nagpangiti kay Dave. Hindi dahil sa gusto niya lang pikunin ang nobya kundi para iparamdam dito na hindi ito nag-iisa.

So he decided to lean Laarni's shoulder by his head and gently hold her hand while saying, "My loves, hindi naman ginawa ang buhay para lang maging masaya, siyempre may mga pagsubok para malaman kung hanggang saan ang katatagan mo." Saka niya hinuli ang mga mata ng nobya gamit ang kaniyang tinging nakatutunaw at muling nagsalita, "Pero asahan mong sa kahit na anong laban ay kasama mo ako, my loves."

Laarni was gently smiled. At sapat na 'yon para maramdaman ni Dave na nagtitiwala ito sa mga sinasabi niya.

Mag-aalas otso na ng gabi nang magdesisyong umuwi si Dave. At para bang may nagtutulak sa kaniya na pigilan itong umalis dahil makararamdam na naman siya ng lungkot. Tipong kapag nag-iisa siya ay lalo lang siyang hindi pinatutulog ng problema. Bagay na ayaw niyang gawin sa tuwing nag-iisa pero hindi niya maiwasan. Isabay pa ang mga sintomas na hindi niya maiwasan bago pa man matulog. The night sweat, vomitting, a discomfort in tummy and heavy head aches. Napansin niya rin na tila mas lalong umimpis ang pangangatawan niya. So instead of wearing fitted shirts, she has more comfortable on oversized shirts.

Para bang napaka-unfair sa kaniya ng mundo kung iisipin. Naisip niya na lang na baka parusa iyon sa kaniya ng tadhana dahil sa pagiging bully rin niya dati kay Jasmine bukod kina Hanna at Sabrina.

Pero noon 'yon at malaki na ang ipinagbago niya ngayon. She's become mature and her only mindset is to have a great future, lot of savings and get married.

Until one name on the phone screen got her more thinking when it rangs. It was a call from her close friend, Sabrina. Siyempre nagtaka siya sa biglaang pagtawag nito. Madalas naman ay tanging sa chat lamang sila nag-uusap dahil hindi rin nagtutugma ang free time nila. The phone has continously ringing so she did picked up the phone and answer the call but she does not ready on what she heard, "Brat, may dapat kang aminin sa amin ni Hanna and nagtatampo kami sa'yo kasi nagiging masyado ka nang malihim."

"Sab.. ano bang sinasabi mo?"

She heard Sabrina's laugh. "Ano 'to? Pretending to be? Brat, you should explain to me on why you wouldn't tell us na sinagot mo na pala si Dave." A couple of second remain silence, while she has taking a deep breath. Buong akala niya ay may nalalaman na ito tungkol sa sakit niya.

So she laughed and then put aside her legs on the bed. There is nothing to worry about. So she said, "Iyon lang ba? Well, I'm sorry, brat. I've been very busy these past few days. I did resigned with my previous job for a new offered job. And if you know that, things became uneasy for me. Saka mahigit one week pa lang naman no'ng maging kami ni Dave."

"Laarni, this is not my point. My point is, bakit ganoon kabilis? My goodness, hindi ka man lang nagpakipot, brat!" Na-i-imagine niya kung paano ang reaksyon ng mukha ngayon ni Sabrina habang pinapagalitan siya at sigurado siyang mas doble pa ang reaksyon ni Hanna kung kausap din nila ito. Ang kaso ay busy rin ito sa pag-aasikaso ng wedding. "Ano? Bakit hindi ka makapagsalita? Brat naman, ikaw itong matagal na naghintay kay Dave pero siya hindi man lang nahirapan na manligaw sa'yo? At isa pa, Hanna is getting mad at you, hindi ka raw sumasagot sa email niya. My goodness, brat, parang huli ka na sa balita."

"Hah? Na ano?"

"O, see? Ikakasal na si Hanna this week! So you better check your email dahil doon niya sinend ang invitation, Hay, Laarni!"

"O-okay, pero agad-agad?" hindi makapaniwalang aniya.

"Laarni, matagal ng plano 'yon nina Hanna at Andrei, ikaw nga, e, atat masyadong sagutin si Dave. Pero bakit ka nga ba kasi nagmamadali? Hindi ka pa naman mamamatay," pahapyaw na wika pa ni Sabrina na nagbigay ng lungkot sa kaniya.

"Maiintindihan n'yo rin balang araw, brat. Sige na, matutulog na ako," pagpapaalam niya rito.

"Uy, 'wag mong seryosohin 'yung huling sinabi ko, hah? Na-miss lang kita! Saka hindi ako galit sa'yo, si Hanna lang. O, sige na, tulog na rin ang mag-ama ko, e. Goodnight, brat!"

"Goodnight." At tuluyan na niyang ibinaba ang linya. At doo'y naging palaisipan sa kaniya ang lahat ng nangyayari.

At maraming katanungan ang pumasok sa kaniyang isipan na unti-unting nagpapatak ng kaniyang luha, "Masyado nga ba akong nagmamadali? E, paano kung last chance ko 'to para gawin ang mga nais kong gawin sa buhay? At paano kung hindi na ako gumaling sa sakit na 'to?"

Itutuloy..