We're outside the ICU, sitting on the chairs, looking at somewhere.
"One-week nang brain dead si Sun," Dad started talking, "ano nang desisyon natin?" he asked.
"Sky," Mom called me. "Anak, anong desisyon mo?"
I was silent for a minute, then I sighed, "gusto ko siyang mabuhay," sabi ko. "P-pero, alam kong 'di na 'yon mangyayari. Gusto ni Sun na palayain natin siya, iyon 'yong hiling niya," I added, wiping my tears. This is the hardest decision I've made, but I know this will make Sun be placed in peace.
"Veia," Dad called him.
"G-Gusto ko siyang maging masaya...kaya kung...h-hinihiling niyang palayain natin siya...o-okay lang po sa'kin," and she burst in tears, hugging me.
"Hillary," I called her. She looked at me, somehow confused. "Your Sun's friend, we need to hear your side," I added.
She took a deep breath, "let's set him free," she replied and looked down immediately.
"Mom, Dad...okay, let's no longer prolong his agony...this is so hard, but we should let him go," I uttered and I heard Veia cried too much.
"Iyong operation mo anak," Mom reminded.
"Gaya ng sabi ni Sun, I'll accept his last gift," I replied. "Bago natin ipatanggal 'yong life supporter ni Sun, let's remove his heart first and I'll undergo an operation right away," I added. A heart can be kept viable for transplantation for only six hours kaya kinakailangan kong magpaopera agad.
Dad smiled at me, "you're so brave, Son, I admire you for that," he said.
I need to be strong and be brave for these women, Sun loves them so much.
***
"Sky, hihintayin ka namin," Hillary said.
I smiled at her before I finally went inside the operating room (OR). It's been two hours that the Doctor removed his heart and his life supporter as well. Sun's body is currently at the funeral home. Ipinakalat na rin namin ang nangyari so that they can go at Sun's wake.
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na tuluyan na namin siyang pinalaya. Pero, masaya ako kasi bago siya mawala, he made sure na nagkaroon muna kami ng, pag-uwi namin kahit pagod siya, ipinagluto niya sina Mommy at Daddy, two days before our challenge happened, he made things clear with Hillary, and he spent a day with Veia.
"Sky, please be relaxed, and for the meantime huwag ka munang mag-isip ng kung anu-ano," the Doctor said and I just nodded. Then, I felt sleepy after a nurse injected the anesthesia.
***
After 4 hours, I am finally awakened. I am no longer in the OR. I am in the ICU for my recovery. Later on, I'll be transferred in another room to continue my recovery for three days. Gusto ko na sanang puntahan si Sun ngayon na, pero hindi pa talaga pwede.
I roamed around, trying to know who's with me, then I saw Hillary and my Mom at the couch, sleeping.
"S-Sky?" Hillary's awaken. "Sky! At last, you're awake," she exclaimed and run through me, she even hugged me and I smiled right away. "S-Sorry, masaya lang," she uttered.
I nodded, "okay lang," I almost whispered. I still haven't regained my whole energy.
"Sky," Mom touched my face, "huwag mo 'kong iiwan ha," at umiyak na naman siya.
"Shh," I said, wiping her tears. "That won't ever happen, Mom, I'll always be by your side, especially that now...I am fine...I am so grateful for my donor," I tried not to weep dahil hindi ako pwedeng maging masyadong emotional, 'yan 'yong bilin ng Doctor. "Gusto ko na siyang makita, sana mabilis lumipas ang tatlong araw," I hoped.
"Kaya magpagaling ka agad," Hillary said and I smiled once again.
***
After I went out of the hospital, dumiretso na kami sa burol ni Sun. Malayo pa lang ako ramdam ko na ang mga luha kong gusto na naman kumawala.
"Sky, don't be too emotional, kagagaling mo lang sa operasyon," Mom reminded. Pero, sh*t, gustuhin ko man, pero ang hirap-hirap! I am crying to death while I am walking through him. Mas lalo akong humagulgol nang makita ang malaki niyang litralo na sobrang laki ng ngiti.
"Sun..." I uttered his name in tears and I hugged his coffin, "Sun," I just keep on muttering his name while I felt my Mom caressing my back. I am also hearing sobs from other people.
"Sky, tama na, anak," Mom whispered. "Tama na. 'Di ba sabi ni Sun ayaw niyang umiiyak ka. Sige ka magagalit 'yon."
Hindi ako nakinig at patuloy lang ako sa pag-iyak. Tapos bigla na lang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan kahit tirik na tirik 'yong araw.
Hindi ko namalayang napangiti na ako, "galit na nga yata si Sun," I chuckled.
Mom smiled, too, "kaya halika na't maupo na tayo," she then accompanied me to sit beside Daddy Tyrone.
"Vee," she's on my right side, but she's not even moving. I placed my arm over her shoulder, "Veia," I called her again.
She placed her head on my shoulder, weeping, "miss na miss ko na siya," she uttered.
"Tahan na. Lumalakas 'yong ulan, oh, nagagalit si Sun," I replied. Hindi na rin siya muling nagsalita at ilang sandali lang ay tumigil na siya kakaiyak.
I looked around, I saw our classmates, schoolmates, our teachers, and my relatives. Some of them muttered, condolence' as our eyes met. I'm so grateful for these people, who're here, helping us and encouraging us to be strong.
I saw Zeus with his friend, but, I noticed something, "Dad, where's Hillary?" I asked.
"I-I don't know, Sky. I last saw her yesterday morning at 'di ko na siya nakita pa," he replied.
I excused myself and I approached Zeus, "si Hillary?" I asked him.
"Nasa bahay, Sky, sinabihan ko siya kaninang sumabay sa'kin, pero sabi niya inaantok pa siya, eh," he replied.
"Sige, thank you."
"Condolence ulit."
I smiled and said, "thank you, " then I went back to my seat. "Mom, Dad, may kailangan po akong puntahan," I uttered.
"Sino?" Mom asked.
"I need to go to Hillary. 'Di ba ayaw ni Sun na umiiyak tayo? Mom, Hillary's been crying and she needs someone to talk to," I replied.
"Sige, balik ka agad, ha."
"Yes, Mom," then I faced Veia, "Vee, alis muna ako," she just nodded and I caressed her back. Nagpunta muna ako kay Sun at sinabing pupuntahan ko si Hillary, then I left too soon.
Alam ko naman 'yong bahay ni Hillary kaya pinuntahan ko na 'yon agad.
"Sino ho sila?" one of their maids asked.
"I'm Sky, Hillary's friend," I answered.
"Ay, sige po, Sir, pasok kayo."
I went inside and I saw a woman sitting at the couch, "you must be Sky Abellera," she said, smiling.
"Opo," I replied. I guess this is Hillary's Mom, they're looked-a-like.
"I heard about what happened, condolence to you and your family, Sky."
"Thank you po. Hmm, pwede ho kayong pumunta ro'n. I guess Daddy has been wanting to see you."
She smiled and said, "I am planning to go with Hillary, but my daughter has been locking up herself in her room. Kanina pa ako nag-aalala, 'di pa 'yon kumakain."
I knew it!
"Pwede ko ho ba siyang puntahan? I'll try to convince her."
"Sige, Sky, please. Baka mamaya mapano na 'yon, eh."
Hay, Hillary's making her Mom feels so worried. Tsk!
Itinuro niya na lang sa'kin 'yong kwarto ni Hillary dahil napagod na siya kakaakyat-baba sa hagdanan nila. I knocked on her door several times, but she's not answering. I even state my name, pero wala pa rin. The door's not locked, so I went inside and I've seen no one. "Hillary?" I uttered, but she's not answering until I heard her sobs. Nakaupo siya sa gilid ng kama niya, holding a paper. Ito yata 'yong xerox copy ng letter ni Sun. Oo nga pala, walang alam si Veia sa liham ni Sun. Hillary doesn't want Veia to know what Sun had written in his letter, ayaw niya nang gulo. Besides in his letter, he haven't talked so much about Veia. At, ang alam ni Veia ako lang at ang mga magulang ko ang nakabasa ng liham ni Sun. I think it's better na rin that she doesn't know about it.
I took a deep breath before I approach her, "Hillary," I called her again.
"Sky..." she said in tears, "paulit-ulit ko nang binabasa ang linyang 'to," she pointed the part wherein Sun talks about Hillary, "at paulit-ulit din akong nasasaktan. So stupid, 'di ba? Alam nang nasasaktan, binabasa pa rin," she uttered.
I sat beside her, "hanggang ngayon 'di pa rin tumitila 'yong ulan dahil may isang tao rito na iyak nang iyak," I uttered and she looked at me with knitted brows. I chuckled, "tahan na. Hindi titigil ang ulan, iiyak at iiyak si Sun hangga't umiiyak din tayo. Let's accept what's happening and let's be happy kasi at last, Sun's no longer suffering. Mahirap maging masaya sa mga panahong 'to, pero iyon 'yong hiling niya kaya dapat sundin natin, ha, kaya tama na, Hillary, stop crying," I said as I am continuously wiping her tears.
"G-Gusto ko na siyang makita," she uttered.
"But, for now, you need to eat."
"Wala akong gana."
"Dali na, kahit konti lang."
She stood up and looked at me with knitted brows, "fine, Dad!" she said and went out of her room.
And, she left me shaking my head, smiling. That's it, be happy, Sky, not for yourself, but for your Twin.