The Last Summer

The Date

Pagsapit ng alas-siete, sinundo ni Leiah si Lance. Ngayong gabi ay walang wheelchair na itutulak. Nakahawak si Lance sa balikat ni Leiah habang ginagabayan niya si Lance sa paghakbang.

“Can I ask?” imik ni Lance.

“Ano yun?” tanong ni Leiah.

“Saan tayo pupunta?”

“Sa rooftop.” Ngisi ni Leiah.

Sakay ng elevator, naka-akyat ang dalawa nang hindi hinihingal. Doon ay may nakahandang telescope at picnic basket. Inalalayan ni Leiah si Lance hanggang makaupo ito.

“Ano gagawin naten dito?” tanong ni Lance.

“Well, most people would call this a date,” umupo si Leiah sa tabi ni Lance. Nagsalin ng mainit na kape sa tasa niya. “Let’s call this a friendly date.”

Saglit na natigilan si Lance. Lumunok. Natawa.

“Kanina tinawag mo ‘kong ‘brother’, tapos ngayong friend naman. Grabeng rejection na talaga ‘to ah.” Tawa ni Lance.

Tumawa si Leiah, “Rejection? FYI, that’s a special treatment! I never considered anyone else my brother and I never took anybody else on a friendly date.”

Umiling si Lance na natatawa, “Right. Special treatment it is.”

“I also called this a date, though?” protesta ni Leiah.

“With a thick invisible high wall,” sagot pa ni Lance. “Anyway, nagkakape ka. Eh, ako?”

“Mmm! Speaking!” kinuha ni Leiah ang isang tumbler na may straw, handed it to Lance, “I made you a smoothie. Healthy smoothie.”

“Bakit?”

“You’ll need that. I heard you’re getting a donor. And that means there’ll be an operation, so you’ve got to be healthy before that day. It’s a big day for you.” Sagot ni Leiah sabay higop ng kape.

“Ayoko na makakita.”

Parehas silang natigilan. Parehas nabigla sa sinabi ni Lance.

“Why would you say that?” inis na sabi ni Leiah. “Don’t ever ever say that again. Please.”

Hindi rin alam ni Lance kung bakit sinabi iyon. Napainom na lang din siya sa smoothie na ginawa ni Leiah.

“I’m sorry.” Umiling si Lance. “Ang sarap pala ne’tong gawa mo.”

“Thanks.” Naiinis pa rin si Leiah. “You’re going to get to see again.” Diin ni Leiah.

“Of course.” Iling ni Lance. “Well, let’s not ruin the night just because I’m insensitively stupid. I’m really sorry.”

“Tama na yan,” Leiah patted his head. “I didn’t mean to sound agitated. I’m sorry.”

“Leiah,”

“O?”

--Wala ka bang ibang nararamdaman para sa’ken?

“Lance?” pag-aalala ni Leiah.

“Wala. Ano bang gusto mo gawin dito. I mean, you know I can’t do anything much yet.”

“I’m going to watch the stars. I usually do this alone every summer.”

“We’ll do this again next summer. By then, I can also watch the stars,” sagot ni Lance.

“No, Lance. This is the last summer.”

Maalinsangan ang ihip ng hangin. Hindi kasing lamig ng nasa panaginip nila.

“Bakit naman? Dahil aalis ka?” tanong ni Lance.

“Yep.” Masiglang sagot ni Leiah.

“Ah,” bumuntong hininga si Lance.

“So, pagdating ng kapatid ko, welcome her just like how I treated you, ok?” nagsimula si Leiah na sumilip sa telescope. “She has a temper. Please understand. Ni hindi kasi yung dumaan sa pagbe- baby talk yun eh.”

Kibit-balikat na tumango si Lance.

“I’ll be nice.” Sabi pa niya.

“Wow!” bulalas ni Leiah. “My summer triangle is here!” tawa niya.

“Summer triangle.” Ulit ni Lance.

Napabuntong hininga si Leiah sa sobrang saya.

“I’m so happy. Summer is complete.” Sabi niya pa. “Thanks, Lance.”

“Like I put them there, right?” tawa ni Lance.

Naupo si Leiah, humigop ng kape.

“Don’t be mad when I ask this. Promise me,” sabi ni Leiah.

“Ang seryoso naman ng tono mo. Ano ba ‘yun? Di ako magagalit.” Sagot ni Lance.

Leiah cleared her throat aloud.

“When I leave this hospital, visit my dad. In case matagalan umuwi dito yung kapatid ko,” she sighed.

“You kept saying that you’re leaving. Nalulungkot ako. Saan ka ba kase pupunta?”

“You’ll know soon.” Sabay higop ng kape.

Umihip nang malamig ang hangin.

“Don’t stop listening to the audio bible.” Sabi ulit ni Leiah.

“Siyempre naman.” Bumibigat ang pakiramdam ni Lance sa mga sinasabi ni Leiah.

“I’ll miss you a lot.” Sabi ulit ni Leiah.

“Put me in your pocket.”

Tumawa si Leiah. Tawang may kasamang luha pero hindi siya humikbi. Agad niyang pinunasan ang pisngi at tuluyang tumawa na lang. Nakisakay na lang si Lance sa pag-tawa ni Leiah, nakinig at sumabay sa pinatutugtog nila sa cellphone. Nanatili silang dalawa sa rooftop hanggang sunduin sila ng guwardiya.

Alas-onse noon nang bumaba sila.

Sa pagbaba nila ay sinamahan pa ni Leiah si Lance sa kwarto. Doon ay hinihintay ni Pastor Sam ang anak, saka sinamahang papunta sa sarili nitong silid.

Matapos ang gabing iyon, isang linggo silang hindi nakapag-usap.

(To be continued)