KEEPING UP WITH HER CHEERFULNESS

CHAPTER 20

ZHYCARICH REIL POV.

In order to keep Papa safe, I must first get him far from whatever endangers him... then do everything I can to help him get completely well..

"Ipinagkakatiwala ko sayu Ang Buhay ni papa.. Sana maalagaan mo Siya ng maayus Doc. Kiro.." I said.. at inabot Ang kamay ko sa kanya para makipag shake hands..

"I will not let you down, Ms. Chavez.. It is a great honor for me to be trusted by you.."

Sagut nito at nakipag shake hands sakin..

"Alright.. let's get back to our conversation..

Kiro.. don't ever forget to always check on his condition every day.. Zhycarich will call you to ask about her dad..

I hope you take this job seriously, Kiro.. We're counting on you.. And as your friend.. I have great faith in you.."

Saad pa ni Clayden..

At nag yakapan..

Napatingin Ako Kay papa.. nang Makita ko itong naka tingin pala sakin.. I mean.. sa Amin..

Linapitan ko ito at umupo sa harap niya..

"Papa.." Isang salita palang Ang binanggit ko.. pero maiiyak na Ako..

Sinubukan kong pigilan Ang mga luhang namumuo sa mga mata ko..

"Papa.. I hope you won't be sad about what I'm going to do.. but... I just want to say.. I'm doing all of this for you.." Nang banggitin ko iyun.. naiyak nalang din Ako nang Makita kong pumatak Ang mga luha nito..

"Papa.. plss.. don't cry.." Saad ko at pinunasan Ang mga luha Niya..

"Alam kong madami Kang gustong Sabihin sakin.. pero ngayun palang.. nababasa Kona sa mga mata mo.." I said, at pinunasan ang mga luha ko sa mata..

"We will get this through, papa..

I know it might take a while, but.. it has to be done.. I need to take my first step for VELOX first..

And you?..

You need to get well.. But not beside me though... The farther away you are, the safer you'll be.."

ALAM KONG NAGUGULUHAN SIYA SA MGA BAGAY NA NANGYAYARI NGAYUN..

"Papa.. pag magaling kana... pangako.. sasabihin ko sayu Ang lahat.."

"an..niya...k... b..bia..ca.."

Medyu napawi Ang mga ngiti sa labi ko..

Hanggang ngayun.. iniisip parin pala Niya si Bianca...

that crazy woman!..

"Don't worry papa..

I..I will take care of her..."

Salitang kailan man ay Hindi ko gagawin!..

of course!. it was a lie!..

"N..n.."

"Papa.. Oras na..."

pag putol ko SA sasabihin nito..

Tumingin Ako Kay Doctor Kiro..

Tumango ito.. senyales na aalis na sila..

"papa..You have to go.. "

I said, at tumayu na sa harap niya..

"Sir.. I promise to take care of you to the best of my ability.. I hope you will trust me.."

Doctor Kiro said, at Sinimulan niya nang itulak Ang wheelchair nito..

My heart tightened at the look my papa gave me..

A smile with tears in his eyes..

Na para bang sinasabing..

Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita anak..

"Wait!.." Tawag ko, dahilan ng pag hinto ni Doctor Kiro at lumingon sakin..

I immediately ran closer. I wanted to hug papa..

Agad ko itong niyakap..

Hindi man Niya kayang igalaw Ang kamay niya para yakapin Ako pabalik.. pero..

I can feel it..

Dinadama Niya nalang Ang yakap ko..

Ipinikit nito Ang mga mata Niya.. habang yakap yakap ko Siya..

"Take care papa..."

~ ~ ~ ~ A WEEK HAD PASSED..

CLARA'S POV.

Another morning breaks..

A fresh start unfolds before me..

Yet...

Each single day.. a bitter, tight smile tugs at my lips. I try so hard to suppress it, to brush it away like dust from my skin, but I'm powerless to stop it..

What's done is done..

and what must be, will be..

"Clara.. nanditu kalang pala..

kanina ka lang hinahanap ng kuya mo.."

Ate Zhy said habang papalapit sakin..

I quickly wiped away my tears.. before facing her.

"Pupunta Ako.." I said..

"Clara?.. parang may malalim ka yatang problema.. ano Yun?.." She asked curiously..

"It's nothing ate Zhy.. I just prayed that hopefully.. everything would be alright.. "

She took my hands in hers.. and gave me a smile..

"I hope so..

pero Clara?.. nababasa ko sa mga mata mo..

may malaking tinatagu ka..

what is it?.."

I just smiled at her again..

"Ate Zhy.. It's nothing.. I just got dizzy.. Come on now.."

I said to her..

I CANNOT TELL HER.. I DON'T WANT TO ADD TO HER PROBLEMS..

"Ate Zhy.. pasok na tayu.."

I said.. Sinimulan konang hilain Siya..

~ ~ ~ ~

F. O. R. W. A. R. D

ZHYCARICH REIL POV.

These past few days.. so many things have been running through my mind..

Si papa, Ang VELOX.. and that devil woman..

And now.. even Clara too..

Nagtataka Ako.. parang may Malaki siyang tinatagu..

"Zhy Reil.. we will carry out the plan... but not right now.. Can you wait?.."

Clayden ask..

Agad ko Naman siyang tinanguan.. bilang sagut..

"Yess.. iisipin ko muna siguro Ang kalagayan ni papa sa US.. Bagu Ang lahat.."

Heto..

ngayun naka tanaw lang muna Ako sa VELOX..

walang magawa.. habang tinatanaw Ang babaeng masayang naka upo sa upuan ni papa..

Sa office ni papa.. Ang kapal Niya!..

mas makapal pa sa semento Ang Mukha Niya!..

"Zhy Reil.. let's go.."

Clayden said..

We're heading to the amusement park now..

kahit na subrang dami ng iniisip ko..

~ ~ ~

Nagawa pa talaga Niya akong e pasyal Ritu..

For once.. my problems are gone.. replaced by happiness..

Too bad Clara isn't here.. She didn't come along.. because she has homework..

Natauhan nalang Ako ng maradaman kong may malamig na bagay na dumampi sa pisngi ko..

And.. that was...

Ice cream pala..

"Wait?.. Anong ginawa mo?.."

I said, at nginusuhan Siya..

Nilagyan Niya ng Ice cream Yung pisngi ko!..

"Hahaha!.. You're always thinking so deeply.. Can't you.. just set aside all the problems running through your mind right now?..

Zhy Reil..

Just this once..

Can you focus..

on me instead?.."

I suddenly froze at what he said.. It was like I was doused with ice-cold water..

WHAT DOES HE MEAN?!

"Let's just enjoy this first.."

He said, and pulled me along..

OMAYY!...

Why am I so nervous?..

I mean YES!..

Who wouldn't be nervous?..

he's holding my hand!..

"Where do you want to go?"

Anito habang hawak hawak parin Ang kamay ko..

SHOCKS ZHYCARICH REIL!..

Para akong sasabug!..

AND WHY I'M FEELING THIS?..

HUH?. ANONG IBIG SABIHIN NITO?..

"Wait.. let's fix your hat first.. someone might recognize you.." Anito at inayus Ang sumbrerong suot suot ko..

Hindi Ako naniniwala sa salitang SLOWMO!..

Pero..

Sa nangyayari ngayun..

parang nag SLOWMO nga..

WAIT!.. WHAT?...

ZHYCARICH REIL!.. WAKE UP!..

Sinampal ko ng mahina Ang Mukha ko..

para matauhan..

"Why did you slap yourself?"

SHOCKS!..

BOBA ZHYCARICH REIL!..

Ano bang nangyayari sayu!?.. huh!?..

"H..huh..ah.hehehe..

w..Wala.."

Palusot ko..

Pero naka kunot parin Ang kilay nito habang nakatitig sakin..

"Kasi ano... ahmm.."

[Isang matandang babae Ang lumapit]

"Magandang Gabi sa inyung dalawa..

iha.. iho.. nag bebenta Ako ng Pulseras..

At heto.. bagay SA inyung dalawa ito,

Kayu ba ay mag Asawa o mag jowa?..

Meron akong pang paris na Pulseras para sa mag Asawa at mag jowa.. pangpa tibay ng relasyon.. " Nakangiting Sabi ni Lola..

pero..Napangiwi nalang Ako sa sinabi nito..

"So this is a Pulseras?.." - Clayden

TEKA?.. DON'T TELL ME BIBILI SIYA..

"Ahh.. hahaha.. Lola.. magkaibigan lang po kami.." Saad ko at pinigilan Ang mga kamay ni Clayden..

"G..Ganon ba.. haha..Nako pasensya na..

Akala ko ay mag jowa kayu.. ah sege.. Mauna na Ako.. naway maging Masaya kayu.." Anito at umalis..

Clayden and I stared at each other..

"B..bili tayu ng cotton candy.. "

I said, Nagulat nalang Ako ng tumawa ito

WAIT?.. ANONG NAKAKATAWA?..

"Cotton candy huh?.."

He pulled me along and we went over to the cotton candy vendor..

I looked at Clayden with a furrowed brow,

He whispered something to the cotton candy vendor..

Ano Naman kayang binulong Niya?..

"A..Anong binulong mo?.."

Bulong ko sa kanya..

"Secret.." Sagut nito..

May pa secret secret pa siyang nalalaman..

Maya Maya pa.. namangha nalang Ako sa Nakita..

Y..Yung cotton candy.. ginawang rose..

"Do you like it?.."

Tanong nito..

"Ang Ganda!.."

Sagut ko, habang nakatingin parin sa tindiro ng Cotton candy..

"Ang galing!.."

~ ~ ~ ~

"Why aren't you eating that yet?"

"Parang ayaw kong kainin..

sayang.. masisira Yung rose.."

Saad ko Ritu..

"I'll buy you real roses.."

HUH?..

"I mean.. oo.. kakainin ko na.."

I said, as I slowly started eating the cotton candy.. I saw him laugh softly..

"P..pano ka?.. di kaba kakain?..

Malaki to.. share tayu.."

saad ko.. at nilapit sa kanya Yung cotton candy..

"I bought that for you.. Not for me.."

"Hindi ko Naman mauubos to ehh...

da diabetesin Ako nito!.. subrang laki.."

"Alright alright... So we can both get diabetes together.."

Sagut nito..

Sabay nalang kaming napatawa dalawa..

"ohh.."

Saad ko, At kumuha ng maliit na piraso nito para isubo sa kanya..

WAIT?.. BAKIT KO GINAGAWA TO?..

he stared at my hand..

Hindi parin Niya ibinuka Ang bibig Niya..

kaya medyu mas nahihiya na Ako..

"ayy.. sorry.. hahah.. baka madumi Yung kamay ko.. Ikaw nalang kumuh.."

I stopped, ng agad nitong kainin Ang isinubo ko..

SHOCKS ZHYCARICH REIL!..