Our Fallout: A Second Chance

Thirty One

Chapter 31:
Remembering forever

"Can you imagine that? In those one year that we're all together like a happy fucking family. We were almost step sisters, Aaliyah. Fucking step sisters with no papers pero sa ginawa palang nila para na tayong magkapatid." mahina pero diing sabi ko sakanya.

Umiling siya sa akin.

"You were never my step sister and even though we almost stay in one house there was never a moment, I saw you as my sister—" "Does that even matter? Your Mom treated me as her own daughter at ganon din si Mama sayo. We're basically sisters." inis kong sabi sakanya.

"No. Ikaw lang ang nag iisip niyan. Hear my Mom's side first then think again if we're basically sisters." hamon niya sa akin hanggang unti unti akong napatango.

"Are you sure about this?" nag aalalang tanong sa akin ni Rob. "There's still time for you to go back to her. We can finalize our annulment—" napatigil siya nung humagulgol ako sa pag iyak ng ibigay ko sakanya ang resulta.

Napaluhod siya sa nabasa niya. "Hindi ko na mabilang ang sakit na dulot ko sakanya. Maybe this is my time to step back. She's at the peak of her career right now. I can't ruin that or I can't let her give it up just for me." napailing si Rob.

"No. This is a lie. We uhh, we can have a second opinion abroad—" "That was my medical diagnosis at London." naiiyak kong sabi ng mapatingin siya sa logo nung taas.

He cried.

He cried with me.

Rob was like my soulmate. A platonic soulmate I can always rely on. It may have not worked between us but our relationship is the same. We care and love each other in a platonic way.

"What's your plan then? We can go back to London for your treatment. We can uhh..." natatarantang sabi niya pero napailing ako.

"I don't wanna be unfair to you. Go and live your life. Don't be stuck with me—" "You are still my wife, Tin. I won't leave you alone to suffer here." saka niya ako niyakap ng mahigpit.

Nagising siya nung marinig niya pag iyak ko ng madaling araw. "Tin, are you okay? May masakit ba sayo? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" sunod sunod niyang tanong at agad siyang nagbukas ng ilaw para kunin ang susi ng kotse at dalawang jacket namin.

"No. I just want to live my own life, Rob. I want a life... to be alive. I want to live." as I cry my eyes out. I've been questioning everything about me.

Bakit ako pa? Bakit yung sakit pa na walang lunas? Bakit kung kailan gusto ko ng lumaban para makasama si Celestine. Bakit? Bakit laging pinagkakait ang kasiyahan ko?

"Rob, I want live. I want to love. I want to grow old. I want to have a family. My children. Rob, please... help me. Ayoko pang mamatay parang awa mo na." I pleaded as he nod at me. "Gagawin natin yan, Kristine. We will do that." he said trying to comfort me until I fall asleep.

I almost stayed for years at London due to my treatment. Nagkaroon din kami ng anak na si Celeste but I call her my Cece. Nasundan agad ng kambal. And luckily they're all healthy.

Pabalik balik na kami ng pinas non. Rob was always there to take care of us. Minsan naawa na nga ako sakanya eh kasi siya na lang ang nagtratrabaho sa amin kaya ang kambal nasa mga Lolo't Lola niya sa US para mas maalagaan sila.

Si Cece naman ang kasama ko dito sa London. And then I told Rob to continue my treatment here in the Philippines. I know I don't have a lot of time so I wanna spend it at home with them.

"Baka next week pa makakauwi ang kambal dito." sabi ni Rob sa akin ng ibaba niya ang phone niya. "I need to go now. We have a meeting this afternoon." and then he looked at Cece.