Underwater

"CONGRATULATIONS! You are chosen to experience life underwater,” a man speaks on the other line. Totoo ba ‘to? Hindi ako makapaniwala sa naririnig ko. Kung sakaling totoo nga ito ay sa wakas matutupad na ang matagal ko nang pinapangarap! “Are you still there? Hello, Adira?” "I’m sorry, Is this real?” Tell me it's not! Tell me, no! “Yes,” Tuluyang mas naging emosyonal ako sa kaniyang sinagot. Kung sa iba ay balewala lamang ang bagay na ito. Sa akin ay napakalaking bagay ang mapili bilang isa sa makakaranas mabuhay sa ilalim ng dagat. To experience living underwater is a miracle, but now, I’m almost there. I’m going to experience it now with the help of UHD’s team. I’m very grateful and thankful that they chose me to be the first woman who will live at Wival, Wival is like a house underwater. “This is true, right? You’re not making fun of me.” “This is true. I’m not making fun of you.” I can't believe it! Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. Wala akong masabi. Parang bang inalisan ako ng mga salita sa sandaling panahon para ipagpunyagi ang sayang nararamdaman ko. "This is real. Ms. Montes. Out of thousands of people, you are the lucky one." I'm so freaking out, like what the hell? I just got a piece of good news from the Under H2O Developers. It's confirmed. I am chosen to experience life under the terrifying water! "Thank you so much for the opportunity to die!" "You are very much welcome. Wait for our email for further information. It will be sent to you right after this call. Once again, congratulations." Finally, this will be the end of my f*****g life. She wants to die while he wants to survive underwater. After one week... SOME people may think I'm crazy. Some people may don't. Kung ano ang dahilan? Iba raw kasi ako sa lahat. Lahat ng tao ay gusto pang mabuhay ng matagal, pero ako? Ayoko na. Gusto kong ibalik ang buhay na ipinahiram sa akin ng Diyos. Bakit hindi? Kung sila ang nasa posisyon ko, baka matagal na silang nag-commit suicide. Pero hindi ko gagawin 'yon. Nangako ako sa ate kong hindi ko tatapusin ang buhay ko gamit ang mga lubid o 'di kaya ay pagtalon sa matataas na building. Malaking kasalanan 'yon. Minsan sa buhay natin, darating tayo sa point na mapapaisip ka na lang, 'Bakit ka pa ba nananatiling buhay?' 'Ano bang purpose mo sa mundo?' 'Ano ang misyon mo?' 'Bakit hawak mo pa rin ang buhay na pinahiram sa 'yo ni Lord?' pero kahit ano pa ang gawin mo, wala kang makuhang sagot. "Ms. Montes, tell me when you're ready. We'll give you another half an hour to think. That's the last thirty minutes you'll have and then if you're still agreed to the contract, we'll proceed to the next step." "Thank you," Mrs. Duncan's strict expression turns to soften. "This is not a joke. It's about your life, Adira." "I know. I'm doing this for myself, Alam ko ring magiging masaya si ate para sa akin. Alam kong proud siya dahil tinupad ko ang pangako ko sa kaniya." "Honey. Don't rush things. You are just twenty-three. You're still young. Think of this matter many times, not just twice, not just thrice." Pagpapaalala niyang muli sa akin. "Life is important. God gave this to us for a reason, please, don't waste it. Find your purpose instead of ending your life. I hope I can still change your mind. But if not, at least I did my best to stop you." she smiles at me genuinely. She's really kind. She's the best adviser I've ever had and met. "Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Duncan. I'm so happy to have you as my adviser for this program. You are the best woman I've ever met. I love you," "I love you too, sweetie. Will get your decision later. Don't forget to eat your lunch," She says before leaving me here alone in this big white room. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at saka ngumiti. Itong ginagawa ko ay para sa ikabubuti ng buhay ko. It's good that I'm not wasting time. It's final. I'll go for this. Kumbinsido na akong ito na ang huling pagkakataon kong mananatili sa ibabaw ng lupa. I will enjoy my one hundred and twenty days underwater. I recalled everything about this project of Under H2O Developers with known scientists all over the world. This experiment that they are doing was one of the awaited projects since it was planned in the year 1996. Hindi pa ako pinapanganak, nakaplano na itong underwater, at karangalan kong ako ang napili nila para sa experimental na ito. Hindi ito biro kaya naman suicidal na tao ang kinukuha nila para sa proyekto nilang ito. Posible kasing hindi na makabalik pa ng buhay dito sa lupa ang kung sinumang maninirahan doon. Handa silang magbigay ng $1 Million Dollars sa mapipili nila. Right after I signed the contract, a month ago, I got the cash. But I decided to donate it to all in need of money. Kaya naman kahit pa mabago ni Mrs. Duncan ang isip ko, hindi na ako maaaring mag-back out pa dito dahil hindi ko na maibabalik pa ang pera sa kanila. Kailangan ko itong gawin. This is the only way to die without committing suicide. Malaki ang binayad nila dahil buhay ng isang tao ang kanilang itataya sa kanilang proyekto, though ang pinili ay 'yung taong suicidal, they still believed that life has no price. It's precious. Kaya naman ganoon kalaking halaga ang binayad nila sa kanilang napili. Isa pa, barya lang sa kanila iyon. Iba’t ibang bansa ang nagtulungan para dito kaya hindi na nakakapagtaka pa ang binibitiwan nilang halaga para dito. For many years, imposibleng hindi nila ito ipagpatuloy, lalo na kung ang magiging dahilan lang ay ang $1 Million Dollars na ibibigay nila sa taong mapipili nilang tumira underwater to test if it was possible. Hindi sila maghihirap sa halagang iyon. Nakapagtayo nga sila ng malaking bahay sa ilalim ng tubig.